ey's

t my reflection, barely recognizi

red dress clinging to my figure like second

" I whi

me, lipstick in hand.

it like yo

look

ouse fire," she winked, offe

ly as we strolled ou

*

the

Dark floors, chandeliers dripping with crystals, and

heels clicking with purpose, my heart thudd

he main lounge, private enough to breathe, close enou

night?" Aria asked, sca

hing that will makes me forget Eric

, flagging the bartender. "T

d for a fleeting moment, the pain blurred w

girl," she said, leani

rned. I let out a slight grimace, but as usual not

ia said. "

. "I think the drink is

me. "Want water?

eed to freshen

f the booth gently, legs a bit heavier than they should b

n finish half

***

he Re

I gripped the sink as if the marble was

d, and a strange heat curled i

ing is

ing through my fog. The lights blurred, the

collided with

. som

my hands instinctively curle

m

cold eyes like

e only cure to whatever I'm feeling right now. I caught his scen

," he said, voice

t's happening," I whisp

ust slightly, steadyi

errifying mo

***

hael

rack played in the background while the waitstaff moved between tables, filling gl

e table in the VIP lounge of Velvet Room, legs c

te with a chronic habit of subtle manipulation. Beside him, his dau

ichard said, pushing a glass of Macallan toward me. "We don't just w

ted her lashe

The dinner, the private setting, the flirty gla

s matc

nterest in being

od, picked up the glas

hing w

est fel

gut t

ht refused

anding with the grace of a man use

, stroding towards the restroom. His heart was thudding erratically now. His skin tingle

e to this than

ing was

ed over the sink, splashing cold water on his face, gripping

ened, and his body pulsed with so

did they put

door creaked o

ed, and

her breathing uneven. Her long legs faltered as she r

orward just a

in a collision of

e she was trying to steady her

ther

way, but he did

pinning. Her body leaned into his, almost pressing against him, yet it fe

and her scent clung to him, vanilla and c

o go," she

you," Michae

o idea wh

no time for

eeded to get her out of th

nwhi

gford checked his watch, then w

lled he

r nearly fifteen min

ir," Richard sugges

eir way towards th

d out, knocking on the do

out even a trace of

ed around and caught

"Did you see the man who wa

sir. He left about ten m

's smile

ly, masking the flicker of fru

ightening his tie. "Th

owed her eyes

t suddenly go