ALL NOVEL Chapter 5: More Heat
It was past 10 PM, and La Belle Club was pulsing with life. The bachelor and bachelorette parties were well underway, yet Katy wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. Instead, she was seething. Sonia’s meddling and Tom’s betrayal had fanned the flames of her frustration.
“No way,” Katy declared, snatching her purse. “I’m not letting this slide.”
“Katy, don’t,” Julia pleaded, running after her. “It’s the night before your wedding. Don’t let Sonia ruin this for you.”
Katy didn’t respond. Her heels clicked with determination as she stormed down the street, her friends trailing behind like a reluctant entourage.
“Where are you even going?” Mia asked, exasperated.
“La Belle,” Katy said, her voice tight.
Sam gawked. “How do you know where they’re partying?”
“Tom’s calendar,” Katy muttered, recalling the moment she spotted the club’s name scrawled on his phone during one of their planning meetings. She hadn't thought much of it then, but now, it felt like a beacon.
When they reached the club, the neon lights glared like a warning. The music thumped so loudly that Katy could feel the bass reverberating through her chest. A bouncer stood at the entrance, crossing his arms as Katy attempted to push past him.
“Excuse me, ma’am, do you have an invite?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Julia quickly stepped in, grabbing Katy by the shoulders. “Hey, hey! Calm down, Katy. Take a deep breath. You’ve worked so hard for this wedding, and it’s going to be perfect. Don’t let Sonia or Tom ruin it.”
Katy’s lips tightened, but she stopped struggling, if only for a moment. Julia smiled, thinking she’d succeeded in reining her in. Then, with an almost comical shove, Katy pushed past her and stormed into the club.
“Oh, for crying out loud,” Julia groaned, throwing her hands in the air before following her.
Inside, La Belle was alive with pulsing beats and flashing lights. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and sweat. The dance floor was packed with writhing bodies, and a group of dancers clad in leather spun expertly on a raised platform. Katy scanned the crowd, her sharp gaze slicing through the chaos.
“Katy, maybe we should—” Mia started, but Sam interrupted, pointing across the room.
“There they are.”
In a corner booth illuminated by flickering neon lights, Tom and his friends were laughing loudly, clinking shot glasses. Two women perched on either side of Tom, leaning in with exaggerated familiarity. Katy’s jaw clenched, and she marched forward, her friends trailing her like ducklings behind an enraged mother duck.
Ric, one of Tom’s friends, spotted them first. His wide eyes and sudden silence alerted the others. Slowly, the group turned toward Katy, who stood there with her arms crossed, glaring daggers.
“Katy?” Tom said, standing up, his smile faltering. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” Katy’s voice was sharp, cutting through the music. “What are *you* doing here, getting cozy with strangers while Sonia plans to ruin my wedding?”
Tom blinked, confused. “We talked about this, Katy. Why are you so upset?”
“Because you didn’t just talk to her—you *invited* her!” Katy’s voice rose, drawing the attention of nearby club-goers.
Tom winced, realization dawning. Sonia must’ve spilled the beans. “Katy, I didn’t mean to upset you. Can we talk somewhere private?”
“No,” Katy snapped, her voice unwavering. “You decided to go behind my back and invite the one person I explicitly didn’t want at the wedding.”
Tom glanced at his friends, who suddenly found their drinks or the ceiling very interesting. Even Katy’s friends seemed to judge him. Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer to her, his expression softening.
“Katy,” he said gently, “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I thought it was the right thing to do. She’s your sister. I hoped you’d feel differently once the day came.”
“Feel differently?” Katy scoffed, her tone dripping with disbelief. “You mean after she humiliates me in front of everyone?”
Tom took her hands, his eyes earnest. “If she does, I’ll kick her out myself. I swear. But I would never intentionally hurt you, Katy—not for her or anyone else. You’re the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Katy hesitated. His sincerity cut through her anger, softening her resolve. “Tom…”
“I’ll fix it,” he said quickly, sensing her wavering. “If you want me to uninvite her, I will.”
Katy sighed, her shoulders relaxing as some of the tension bled out of her. “No, it’s fine. I don’t want to start a fight with her now. Just promise me there’ll be no more secrets. We make decisions together, okay?”
Tom nodded, relief flooding his face. “I promise.”
As the tension eased, Tom pulled her into a hug, and the room erupted in cheers and applause. Katy rolled her eyes but smiled, letting herself relax in his arms.
“Aww, this is so sweet,” Mia said, dabbing her eyes with a napkin she’d grabbed from a passing waiter.
Julia shot her a mock glare. “Get a grip. It’s not your wedding.”
Katy and Tom broke apart, sharing a small laugh as they turned toward their friends.
“Who’s ready to party?” Ric shouted, raising his glass. The crowd cheered, the mood shifting from tense to celebratory.
For the first time that night, Katy felt like she could breathe. Maybe this wouldn’t be the disaster she had feared.
She even allowed herself to crack a smile as Tom playfully tugged her toward the dance floor. The air felt lighter, the beat of the music finally matching her heartbeat in a way that wasn’t driven by anger. But just as Katy allowed herself a moment of reprieve, a familiar voice sliced through the noise.
“Well, well, look who’s playing nice.”
Katy turned, her smile evaporating. Sonia stood by the bar, a cocktail in hand, her signature smirk firmly in place.
Tom tensed beside Katy as Sonia sauntered over, her tone dripping with mock concern. “Isn’t this cozy? But, Katy, mixing your party with the boys? Tsk, tsk. That’s not very traditional.”
Katy’s jaw tightened. “What do you want, Sonia?”
Sonia tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Nothing at all. I’m just here to enjoy the night. But, you know, I can’t help but wonder…” She leaned in slightly, her smirk widening. “What’s going to happen tomorrow when things don’t go quite as planned?”
Tom stepped forward, his voice firm. “Sonia, that’s enough.”
Sonia held up her hands in mock surrender. “Relax, Tom. I’m just teasing. But really, Katy, this is going to be one for the books. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
With a wink, Sonia turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Katy and Tom standing in uneasy silence.
“She’s not going to ruin this,” Tom said, placing a reassuring hand on Katy’s shoulder.
“She’d better not,” Katy muttered, but her voice wavered. As she stared at the spot where Sonia had stood, a knot of unease tightened in her chest.
The wedding day was looming—and with it, the storm Sonia seemed intent on bringing.