Chapter 3 : The Red Dress And The Stranger

Kaia

I forced a smile so wide my teeth ached.

"Congratulations, Liam. I'm so happy for you both."

Liam's face lit up. He stepped around the table and pulled me into a tight hug, the way he'd hugged me at my father's funeral. His cologne washed over me, and for a second, I forgot he belonged to someone else.

I pulled back before I could do something stupid, like cry.

"I just remembered, I have a work thing. A client emailed. I have to go."

"Work? Right now?" Catherine frowned.

"I'm so sorry." I was already backing toward the foyer. "Congratulations again. Really."

I made it to the driveway before the tears came. The cold night air hit my face, and I stood there near the iron gates, shaking, ordering an Uber with fingers that wouldn't cooperate.

My phone buzzed.

> Sophia: What the hell Kaia, why did you just LEAVE like that? Get your ass back up to my room right now, I'm SO mad at you.

I stared at the screen. If I ran, she'd badger me for days. I'd have to invent a hundred lies.

I canceled the Uber and walked back inside.

___

"Why did you just run off like a crazy person?" Sophia demanded the moment I pushed her door open. She was already in a sparkly black dress, curling iron in hand. "We're supposed to be celebrating!"

"I told your mom. I have work—"

"Work can wait." She waved the curling iron dismissively. "We're all going to The Obsidian tonight to celebrate. And you're coming."

My stomach dropped. "Soph, please. I really just want to go home."

"I don't care." She stepped closer, arms folded. "You ruined the dinner moment, and I'll only forgive you if you come out tonight. Don't even try to say you don't have clothes. I already picked something."

She tossed a bright red dress onto the bed.

It was a latex dress with thread-thin straps, a neckline that plunged to my navel, and a hem that would barely cover my thighs.

"I'm not wearing that."

"It's perfect." Sophia grabbed my shoulders and shoved me toward the bathroom. "Put it on. We're going to have the time of our lives."

_____

The Obsidian was loud, dark, and overwhelming. Bass thrummed through the floor. Red and purple lights cut through crowds of rich socialites and celebrities.

Sophia led us straight to a VIP booth. I sat in the corner, feeling exposed in the tiny red dress. Nobody looked at me anyway. Across the table, Liam and Isabella were practically sitting on top of each other. She had her arms around his neck, purring something in his ear before pulling him into a long, messy kiss.

My throat tightened. I couldn't stop staring. I sat there, torturing myself, imagining what it would feel like to be the girl Liam held like that.

Liam pulled back from Isabella. His eyes caught mine.

I froze, caught red-handed. I forced an awkward smile and looked away, pretending to inspect my nails.

"Hey, Kaia!" Sophia shouted over the music. "Come dance!"

"No thanks. I'm going to get a drink."

I stood up and pushed through the crowd until I reached the bar.

"White wine," I said. Then, "Actually, cancel that. Three shots of tequila."

The bartender raised an eyebrow. "Three?"

"Three. Please."

He poured them. I didn't hesitate. First shot. Burn. Second shot. Burn. Third shot. Burn.

Ten years of saving myself for a man who didn't want me. Ten years of refusing to date other guys because what if Liam finally saw me? What if he looked up and I wasn't there?

I leaned against the bar, waiting for the alcohol to numb the ache.

The bartender slid another glass toward me.

"I didn't order this."

He pointed to the other end of the bar. "The gentleman bought it for you."

I turned. A man leaned against the counter a few feet away, tall, black shirt with the top three buttons undone, dark hair and jaw that looked like it was carved from stone. He lifted his glass toward me with an arrogant smirk.

I rolled my eyes and turned back around. "Weirdo."

"You think I'm a weirdo?"

I flinched. He was right beside me now, sliding onto the stool next to mine. Up close, he was even more handsome, with sharp features and striking grey eyes that scanned my face with intense curiosity.

"You're standing too close," I said. "Go away."

He didn't move. His eyes dropped to my body, then back up. "You look like you just got your heart broken."

"What gave it away?"

"You downed three shots in less than twenty seconds, and you've been glaring at that VIP booth like you want to burn it to the ground."

I bit the inside of my lip. "You're very nosy."

"I'm observant." His voice was low, a little gravelly. "A woman in a red dress like that shouldn't be sitting at a bar alone, looking like she just had the worst night of her life."

"Are you just trying to get into my pants?"

He didn't flinch. If anything, his smirk widened. "Yes. I find you wildly attractive, you're clearly single, and you look like you need a distraction. Why lie about it?"

I blinked. Nobody talked to me like this. Liam certainly never looked at me with raw, intense hunger like this.

"I don't even know your name."

"You don't need to." He stepped off his stool and stood in front of me, towering over my smaller frame. One finger reached out and touched the thin strap of my dress, warm against my cold shoulder. "You've been playing by the rules your whole life, haven't you? How's that working out for you?"

His words hit harder than the tequila. Because he was right. I had spent years being the good girl. The quiet girl. The patient girl. And Liam was out there living his life, getting engaged, kissing Isabella in front of me.

Why was I wasting another second crying over him?

I picked up his drink, drained it, and set it down hard on the counter.

"Take me out of here."

He smirked, took my hand, and led me toward the side exit.

Outside, my phone started buzzing. Sophia. Then Liam.

I didn't open them. I pulled my hand free, reached into my purse, and switched my phone off.

He opened the door of a sleek black car and looked at me over the roof. "No regrets tomorrow?"

I glanced back at the club, then at him. "No regrets."

I stepped into his car.