Far from all the chaos, in a dimly lit club, Eve stood alone, watching people her age laugh and dance with their partners. It wasn’t her first ti in a club, nor her second but every ti she ca, it felt the sa. She never found her rhythm. No matter how much she tried to blend in, it always felt like she didn’t belong in this noisy, chaotic world.
She tried dating, more than once, but every ti a guy got close, she would see Syres in his face, and just like that, everything would fall apart.
If only there were a cure for this love-sickness. She thought staying away from him for a while might help, but it only made her feel even lonelier. She missed him so badly it felt like she would shatter if she didn’t see him again. That was why she had agreed to the yacht vacation in the first place.
With a sigh, she turned back to the bar and said, "One more shot. No mixing." Determined to drown her sorrows before her rushed wedding. This was her one chance to cry it all out before reality locked her in. Her family only speeden up the wedding date because of Syres, but to her, it didn’t matter whether it was rushed or not. If Syres never accepted her love, the outco would always be the sa.
"Are you sure?" The bartender asked, eyeing her petite fra with doubt.
"It’s none of your business. Just pour the damn drink," she snapped.
He hesitated, but then shrugged and refilled her glass. The sign behind him clearly stated the bar took no responsibility for overindulgence, if she wanted to get wasted, that was on her.
"Another," she said after downing the shot. But just as the bartender reached for the bottle, a large hand ca down over her glass.
She frowned, assuming it was the bartender again, until she looked up and t the eerie smile of a stranger who had taken the seat beside her.
"It’s no fun drinking alone," he said, leaning closer to be heard over the music. "How can a fine lady like you be here all by yourself?"
"I ca to drink alone. Is that not allowed?" She replied curtly, snatching her glass back and gesturing for the bartender to refill it.
"Of course, of course," he said smoothly. "But I am alone, and you are alone. Why don’t we have so fun sowhere quieter?"
He inched closer, his presence making her uncomfortable. Eve instinctively leaned away, scowling.
"I said, leave alone. I don’t need company."
But instead of backing off, the man leaned even closer, lowering his voice beside her neck. "Oh sweetheart," he murmured, "I can sll the freshness of your virgin pie. Let give you a good first experience."
Her body recoiled instantly in disgust.
Without thinking, she slapped him hard across the face. "How dare you?!" She shouted, standing up and putting distance between them.
"Oh, that only turns on!" The maniac growled, grabbing Eve’s wrist and yanking her toward him.
"Leave alone!" She shouted, struggling against his grip. But he was easily ten tis stronger than her and only seed more amused by her resistance.
"Not until I have had a taste of your pie," he sneered like a beast, pressing in closer, sniffing her skin with disgusting eagerness. Eve turned toward the bartender, eyes pleading but he just ignored her, looking the other way like he couldn’t care less.
Of course, she thought bitterly. It was a club, anything could happen here. If you weren’t careful, you could be dragged out and sold before anyone blinked. She had been careless. This ti, she hadn’t brought anyone with her. But then again, that would have defeated the whole point of her "alone ti."
As she frantically scanned for sothing to defend herself with, a loud crack echoed and the man suddenly groaned. Glass shattered across his head, and he collapsed to the floor, releasing his hold on her.
Eyes wide, Eve stared down at the unconscious man, blood trickling from his scalp. Shards of the broken bottle glittered on the floor beside him.
Then she looked up and her breath caught. Those icy blue eyes t hers. Syres. He stood there, expression hard, gaze furious... at her?
"Why are you here with no company?" He asked coldly.
His voice snapped her out of her trance, yanking her back to the reality that he had once left her alone to cry, without even as much as batting an eyelid.
"What I do has nothing to do with you," she muttered, dropping her gaze and attempting to walk away but he caught her arm.
"I will get you a cab," he said, already tugging her toward the exit.
"No! Let go, I don’t need your help!" She yelled, trying to wrestle herself free.
"You did a few seconds ago," he shot back, glancing at the unconscious creep on the floor.
"That... was... one... ti!" She snapped, breathing hard between each word. Without warning, she bent her head and bit down hard on his hand.
He recoiled with a grunt, finally releasing her.
Exhaling sharply, she hissed, "We parted ways, rember? Don’t co acting like you care, I will have my husband do that."
Her voice dripped venom as she glared at him before storming off, right back into the chaos of the club.
She stomped through the crowd, bumping into people and mumbling apologies, her directionless steps fueled by anger. Who was he to act like he cared now? After leaving her to break down in the rain, after all the tis he pushed her away, how dare he!
Scoffing, she muttered under her breath, waving her hands in the air in a mock imitation of him. "I will get you a cab. Stay safe, Eve," she mimicked bitterly.
"Hey! Do you need a man?" A voice suddenly rang out, and a figure appeared in front of her, startling her.
She flinched, taking a step back.
"Oops, sorry!" The figure, clearly female, said, raising her hands.
"It’s fine," Eve sighed, brushing it off. But as she tried to walk past, the woman stepped in front of her again, this ti with a smile that made Eve pause, her frown deepening. What did she want?
"I know you are here to have fun," the woman said smoothly. "And don’t worry, we keep every VIP’s secrets locked down tight here. All you have to do is follow to a room, and we will get you a man. But it will cost you... a lot."
Eve blinked at her, then quickly shook her head. "No! I don’t need a man. I just want a quiet space to drink in peace." She turned to walk away, but once again, the woman stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"What do you want?!" Eve snapped, groaning with frustration.
The woman tilted her head. "Don’t you want one last wild night before the big day? I an, it wouldn’t hurt to have a little fun before things get boring."
Eve froze. "How do you know I am getting married?" She asked, her voice low, suspicious.
The woman smirked. "Seriously? Rough-looking hair, casual clothes, no makeup, that anxious energy? It’s written all over you. I have served too many won not to recognize the signs. Reading people is part of my job."
"Oh..." Eve glanced down at her outfit and muttered, suddenly self-conscious. She didn’t look sexy like the other won in the club. No wonder Syres never saw her as anything more, she always looked too plain, too put together. She didn’t even know what it felt like to be kissed or touched. She had kept herself for Syres, only to end up being promised to a stranger.
"I have no experience... I haven’t..." she started, but couldn’t finish, her voice trailing off with embarrassnt.
"You have never been with a man? That’s obvious." The woman chuckled lightly. "But don’t worry, I have got the perfect match for you. He’s good and discreet, but you will have to pay extra."
"I have money... but I am not sure." Eve raised her eyebrows, torn between reason and impulse. She couldn’t imagine sleeping with a man she didn’t love, but maybe that was exactly what she needed. Her future husband was known to be a chronic cheater. If she was going to be miserable anyway, maybe she deserved this one taste of freedom. Just once.
"You won’t regret it," the woman assured her, already pulling her by the wrist.
anwhile...
Syres sat in his booth, swirling the drink in his glass, his mind far from the noise and lights. He couldn’t stop thinking about Eve. That cold, distant look she gave him, it unsettled him. He wasn’t used to her being like that. She was always soft, warm, and sweet. Her anger today felt unfamiliar... and strangely alluring.
He glanced at the bite mark on his hand and smirked. Her teeth marks were small, but sothing about them stayed with him. For once, he didn’t see her as the delicate, untouchable girl. She felt like a woman. A fierce one, and he liked that.
He liked it a lot.
"Where is she?" He asked the mont he sensed Jude approaching.
"In one of the VIP rooms," Jude replied.
Syres’s mood shifted instantly. His gaze sharpened, his jaw tightened.
The VIP rooms were private, used by the elite to indulge in things they didn’t want the world to see. Powerful n. Dangerous ones. And the thought of Eve being in that space, vulnerable, possibly being touched by soone else, made his blood boil.
No one had the right to touch her. Not unless he allowed it.
"Follow ," he ordered, his voice low and lethal, as he stord toward the VIP section, fury burning with every step.
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