It had been a long day and Sabrina was tired. She'd had to stay late to finish a project that her boss suddenly required by the morning, which was typical! Feeling slightly rebellious, she decided to do something she rarely did. A couple of drinks wouldn't hurt and besides, there was only tomorrow to get through before it was the weekend. She didn't even have to worry about drink driving as she had decided to walk to work that morning as part of her fitness regime.
Although not a vain person, Sabrina was proud of her figure. Standing at 5'9 tall, she had a firm statuesque figure, one that used to be called hourglass in the days before supermodels made being stick thin cool. She had a bust that most women would die for and generous hips with a slim waist rounding off the effect. Pair that with dark red hair that almost glowed when the sun hit it and fell below her shoulders in shining waves, together with startling emerald green eyes, and she was a women who turned heads. Maybe that was the trouble, she thought to herself. Maybe that's why I don't get many men expressing an interest. Oh sure they stare at me, but very few have the courage to actually come up to me and talk! She was still mulling these circumstances over when she walked into a bar that was situated just down the street from where she worked.
She paused as she entered the bar, looking around to find a table. To her dismay it seemed as if all the tables were occupied. She would have no choice but to sit at the bar or find another place. Deciding she was too tired to make the effort to move on, she walked towards the bar, where, as luck would have it, there was one stool left. Sliding her pencil skirt slightly up her legs so that she could sit comfortably on the high stool, she gestured to attract the bar tender's attention. When he came over she ordered a Bacardi & coke and settled down to wait for her drink.
Slowly she became aware of the man sat next to her, who was making no effort to hide the fact he was trying to see down the front of her silk blouse. Catching her eye, he winked and suggestively said "how about you and me taking that drink somewhere private?"
Drawing herself up to her full height, Sabrina stared at the man and icily said "Whatever gives you the idea I would want to associate myself with you?"
The man's face flushed an ugly shade of purple and he grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully. Tears stung her eyes as she gasped in pain & shock at the unexpectedness of his actions. Suddenly the man's grip loosened as a strong hand reached around from behind her and clamped down on his fingers. "The lady said she doesn't want you bothering her," a deep voice said from behind. "Now I suggest you find somewhere else to be, before I decide to take things further!"
With a snarl on his face, but nevertheless making a move towards the door, the man reluctantly left. "Wise decision," the deep voice murmured.
Sabrina turned around to thank her rescuer and found herself staring up into a pair of steel blue eyes, set into a strong face complete with firmly chiselled jaw. "Thank you," she said. "I'm not usually so blunt with strangers. I guess I'm more tired than I thought I was!"
"Not a problem," the stranger said. "By the way, my name's Michael." He looked at her closely, frowned slightly and said "you look like you could do with a drink!"
Smiling shakily Sabrina replied that she had already ordered, and just at that moment, the bartender arrived with her drink.
"Please, allow me to pay for that," Michael said with a smile. "It's not often I get to rescue a damsel in distress!"
Sabrina had to laugh. She hadn't heard anything that corny in years. "Alright," she said, "Just as long as you promise not to say anything that old fashioned for the rest of the evening!" She winked as she said it, to let him know that she meant it as a joke.
"Ah, you've found my weakness!" Michael exclaimed, "but I promise, no more corn for the rest of the evening!"
Smiling, Sabrina took a sip of her drink, relishing the cool taste of the rum swirling around her mouth. However, her wrist was beginning to throb and she looked down to see an angry red mark forming.
"If you don't mind my saying, you should probably run that under some cold water to ease the pain," Michael suggested. "Don't worry," he said when Sabrina hesitated, "I'll make sure your drink's still here when you get back!"
As her wrist throbbed again, Sabrina decided it might be wise to follow his advice and made her way to the bathroom, where she ran her wrist under the tap for a couple of minutes. After splashing some water on her face to freshen up she made her way back out to the bar, to find Michael chatting amiably with the bartender. He rose to meet her and handed her back onto her stool. "Feeling better?" he asked, with concern showing in his eyes.
"Much" Sabrina replied.
Soon they were deeply engaged in conversation. Michael turned out to be widely travelled and entertained her with stories about his travels. One drink turned into two, and before she knew it, her watch was reading 10pm. "I have to go", she said. "My boss expects me in by 8am tomorrow!"
"Well, it was very nice meeting you Sabrina," Michael replied. "I hope we can meet again soon."
"I'd like that very much!" she said smiling up at him. She made to get down from the stool and suddenly the room swam. "Oh dear!" she said, putting her hand to her head, "I think maybe I shouldn't have drunk alcohol when I was so tired!"
"Are you ok?" Michael asked, frowning.
"Sure," she replied, but then swayed again.
"That does it!" Michael exclaimed. "I'm taking you home!"
Sabrina weakly tried to protest, but was really feeling too woozy to do anything but cling to him as he walked her out of the bar. "My car is just around the corner" he told her. "Hang on for a few more minutes."
By the time they reached his car, Sabrina was trembling violently and clinging to Michael to stay upright. Opening the passenger door, Michael lowered her gently into the seat and fastened her seatbelt. The last thing she remembered before passing out completely was the sound of his car starting and vaguely wondering how he knew where she lived, as she hadn't told him where to go.
Sabrina slowly opened her eyes to pitch darkness. Her mouth felt very dry and her head was pounding. "God, what a hangover!" she thought, putting her hand to her head. At least, that's what she tried to do. With rising panic she realised that she couldn't move her hands. They were attached to something above her head. Her legs had been similarly restrained.
