Drunken Night

Gabrielle’s POV

“But why not?” I asked, my eyes fixed firmly on his face, searching for an answer, yet also daring him to give me one.

Aiden leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze locking with mine. His presence was magnetic, and I could feel the tension hanging in the air between us.

“Give me a reason to have lunch with you,” he said, his tone deep and controlled, while his eyebrows rose with a teasing challenge.

I felt a small smirk tug at the corner of my lips. He wanted me to give him a reason? As if I was desperate to beg for his attention. I straightened up and flipped my hair backward in a slow, deliberate motion, letting him see that I wasn’t going to play his little game.

“It’s fine,” I muttered with a light shrug, turning on my heels.

I took a step toward the door, determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing any disappointment on my face. But just as I was about to leave, his voice echoed behind me.

“I’ll go with you.”

I stopped in my tracks, my heart betraying me with a small skip. Slowly, I turned back to him, my lips curving into a faint smile as if I had predicted his change of mind.

Aiden stood up from his chair, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt with his usual composed demeanor. He was about to walk past me when I raised my hand gently, stopping him. His eyes narrowed slightly, curious about what I was doing as I moved closer to him.

I smiled up at him and reached out to adjust the lapels of his suit, straightening the fabric with care. My fingers brushed against his chest, but he stood still, watching me silently.

"But why the sudden change of mind?" I asked myself quietly, though my lips still wore a polite smile as I looked into his eyes.

He said nothing, his face giving away no emotion, so I dropped my hands to my side and we both headed out of the office.

The elevator ride was quiet. Neither of us spoke, but I could feel the weight of his gaze on me as we descended. When we reached the parking lot, he unlocked his sleek black car and gestured for me to get in. I slid into the passenger seat, adjusting my dress as I sat. The silence continued as he started the engine, and though no words were exchanged, I could feel his eyes occasionally glancing in my direction as he drove.

The restaurant wasn’t far from his company. It was a quiet, elegant place, tucked away from the busy streets. When we arrived, he parked the car and led the way inside, his pace steady and unhurried.

A staff member welcomed us and guided us toward a private section, far from the bustling main area. The walls were lined with soft lights, giving the room a warm and intimate feel. We entered one of the smaller private rooms, and Aiden took his seat across from me.

A waitress appeared shortly after, her smile bright and practiced. She greeted us politely and handed us the menu, waiting patiently as we scanned through the list of dishes. Aiden kept his composure, not once looking in my direction as he placed his order in a calm and precise tone. Once he was done, I gave the waitress my order as well. She nodded, thanked us, and left the room with the same cheerful smile she had when she arrived.

Not long after, the waitress returned, balancing a tray with our meals. She carefully set our plates down before us, and once everything was arranged, she bowed slightly and exited the room, leaving us alone once again.

We both began to eat in silence. The only sounds in the room were the soft clinks of cutlery against the plates. I would occasionally glance up at Aiden, hoping to catch his eyes, but he kept his focus on his food, ignoring me as if I were invisible.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Mr. Aiden, thank you for coming to lunch with me,” I said, breaking the heavy silence that had settled between us.

He nodded, but not a single word left his lips. His indifference annoyed me, but I kept a small smirk on my face, pretending not to care.

“You have been in business for how many years now?” I asked, trying to spark a conversation. My eyes remained on him, hoping to see a crack in his icy composure.

He looked up at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. His tone was sharper when he replied, “Is there something you want to say? You can go straight to the point.”

His response made my lips press together tightly. I paused for a few moments, staring down at my plate. Part of me wanted to confront him, but another part of me wanted to keep this lunch civil. I lifted my head slowly and spoke.

“I just want us to—” I began.

But before I could complete my sentence, his phone began to ring. He held up a finger, signaling for me to wait as he answered the call. I nodded, forcing a polite smile, though my patience was wearing thin. His voice was calm and professional as he spoke to the person on the other end. I could only hear snippets of the conversation, but it was clear that it was work-related.

Once the call ended, he looked back at me. His expression had not softened.

“I have something urgent to take care of at the office,” he said without hesitation.

“But we are—” I started to protest, but he raised his hand slightly, interrupting me before I could continue.

“I’m sorry, but I have to go. This is urgent.” His tone was final, leaving no room for argument. He stood up, adjusted his jacket, and walked out of the room.

I remained seated, my fists clenching tightly on the table as I watched his retreating figure disappear through the doorway. My jaw tightened, and I could feel a flush of anger rising to my cheeks.

“Fuck,” I cursed beneath my breath, glaring at the untouched meal before me. The taste of disappointment was stronger than anything I had eaten.

—

Later that night

Hours had passed, but the bitterness from the afternoon still lingered. I could not shake off the frustration that had built up inside me. Aiden’s cold dismissal echoed in my mind, fueling my anger even more.

I needed a distraction. Something that would drown out the irritation boiling within me.

Without thinking much about it, I slipped into a short black gown that clung to my curves, accentuating every line of my body. The fabric was soft against my skin, but the cut of the dress was bold. Tonight, I didn’t care about subtlety.

I grabbed my small purse and headed out. My destination was clear—a bar where I could numb the disappointment.

When I arrived, the bar was already alive with people. Loud music echoed through the space, and the dim lighting made the entire place feel like an escape from reality. Couples were dancing, some pressed tightly against each other, their hands roaming freely. Others were tucked into corners, lost in their own private moments.

I made my way to the bar counter, my heels clicking sharply against the floor. I found an empty seat and sat down, crossing my legs as I leaned forward slightly.

“Can I have one hard liquor that can calm my nerves down?” I asked the bartender, my tone laced with exhaustion.

He looked at me and smiled, his face friendly. “Sure. I got you covered,” he said with a reassuring nod.

I watched as he began to mix different liquors together, his hands moving skillfully as he crafted the drink. After a moment, he placed a small glass in front of me.

“Try this,” he said.

Without hesitation, I took the glass and downed the drink in one go. The liquid burned its way down my throat, the heat spreading quickly through my chest and up to my head. My eyes watered slightly, but it was exactly what I needed.

“Fuck,” I muttered, feeling the rush hit me.

I placed the empty glass back on the counter. “More, please.”

The bartender obliged, pouring me another. And then another. Soon, I lost count of how many drinks I had consumed. The world around me blurred slightly, but I welcomed the dizziness. It was better than focusing on how Aiden had walked away from me earlier.

Time passed, and the need to use the washroom hit me suddenly. I stood up from my seat, feeling the world tilt slightly beneath my feet. I staggered, gripping the edge of the bar to steady myself.

“Shit, why am I suddenly having the urge to pee?” I muttered under my breath, annoyed at how my body was betraying me.

I started walking unsteadily, pushing open doors in search of the restroom. My movements were clumsy, and every step felt heavier than the last.

Then, as I flung open another door, my eyes widened.

There he was.

Aiden.

Standing right there.

I blinked hard, rubbing my eyes, thinking maybe I was too drunk. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. How could I be thinking of Aiden at this moment?

How could I be seeing him right now?

To be continued…