* FREE - 1K subscribers milestone * Chapter 82: Truth or Dare? When was the last time you had a one-night stand?

Ava hadn’t planned to stay long at the bar after resolving the loan issue with Rachel. She still had to figure out a construction team for Alexander’s house. However, just as she was about to leave, a familiar hand lightly tapped her shoulder.

"Ava, what a coincidence."

She turned to find Alexei standing there, his signature smirk in place. Dressed in an expensive yet deliberately casual suit, he exuded his usual playboy charm. His dark eyes gleamed with mischief under the dim lighting of the private lounge, where the chatter of the wealthy elite filled the air.

"I heard you had a falling out with Mr. Thompson?" he asked, swirling a glass of whiskey between his fingers.

Ava gave him a measured look. "Mr. Volkov, do you really have the audacity to ask especially when you are the cause of it?"

Alexei chuckled, unfazed. The atmosphere in the room was electric—soft jazz playing in the background, the clinking of expensive glassware, and the occasional bursts of laughter from nearby VIP booths.

"Come to the VIP room with me," he offered, gesturing toward a dimly lit hallway. "Maybe we still have something to talk about."

Ava hesitated. Despite Alexei’s flirtatious reputation, he hadn’t crossed any lines with her. More importantly, Volkov Co. Inc. was the largest domestic decorating firm, and they handled the handover with construction units. If she could secure their cooperation, the entire project would run much smoother.

After a brief pause, she nodded.

However, the moment she stepped into the VIP room, her stomach tightened. Alexander was there.

He sat at the center of a plush U-shaped couch, exuding effortless dominance. The dark interior, lit only by strategically placed wall sconces, cast long shadows across the polished mahogany floors and velvet furnishings. Around him sat several familiar faces—Hugo, Colton, and a few wealthy young heirs and socialites, including Farah, who looked ready to pounce.

The moment Ava entered, Farah’s eyes narrowed into slits.

"Ava, play a couple of games with me, and I’ll take care of the construction team issue for you," Alexei said, his tone light but filled with an underlying dare.

Ava’s fingers instinctively curled around the stem of her wine glass. Just a game, she reasoned.

She was about to sit beside Alexei when Farah rudely pushed her aside, wedging herself next to him. The force of it sent Ava stumbling slightly, and before she could regain her balance, she ended up sitting beside Alexander.

The heat from his body radiated through the fabric of his crisp white dress shirt, and she suddenly became hyper-aware of how close they were. Her bare shoulder nearly brushed against his sleeve, and she could feel his warmth seeping through.

Alexander, visibly annoyed by the intrusion, shot a pointed look at Alexei, who merely shrugged with a knowing grin.

Farah, however, looked smug, as if she had just won some unspoken battle. She clung to Alexei’s arm and cast Ava a triumphant glance before settling down.

Hugo, who had been watching the interaction with amusement, leaned forward and tapped his glass against the edge of the table.

"Shall we continue the game of Truth or Dare?" he suggested, his tone full of intrigue.

The sleek bottle of Dom Pérignon sat in the middle of the glass-topped coffee table, waiting to be spun. The room, already heavy with the scent of expensive cologne and aged liquor, grew even more charged with tension.

Several people voiced their agreement, their eyes twinkling with anticipation.

"Be careful if you’re here with your girlfriends," one of the heirs joked. "Alexei and Hugo play a different league."

The room erupted into laughter, but Ava remained composed.

Hugo, sensing an opportunity, turned his attention to Alexander. "You’ve never played with us before," he mused, his fingers lazily tracing the rim of his glass. "It’s boring without you. Join in."

Alexander, who had been leaning back with an air of detached amusement, finally tossed his phone onto the table and gave a nonchalant nod. "If you insist."

A hushed murmur of excitement rippled through the room. It was well-known that Alexander rarely entertained these types of games. His participation alone was enough to set pulses racing, especially among the single women present.

Ava caught the shift in energy, noticing the way some of the socialites sat up straighter, adjusting their dresses and hair.

They’re hoping for a chance to get closer to him.

Hugo, grinning like the mastermind he was, spun the bottle.

As it twirled rapidly, catching the flickering light in its reflection, Ava absentmindedly took a sip of her wine. The crisp notes of Dom Pérignon washed over her tongue, but the real taste in the air was anticipation.

The room seemed to hold its collective breath as the bottle slowed…

And then stopped.

Ava glanced down, her pulse quickening as she followed the direction of its neck.

The wine bottle spun lazily before landing on Alexei. Hugo smirked, his fingers still playing with the bottle's neck.

"Truth or dare?" he asked, his voice dripping with amusement.

"If I say 'dare,' someone will definitely take advantage of it tonight," Alexei quipped, flashing a grin at the group.

Laughter erupted, and a few people playfully shushed him, egging him on.

Hugo, clearly enjoying himself, leaned forward. "Alright then, let’s go with truth. When was the last time you had a one-night stand?"

Alexei, usually composed, stiffened for just a fraction of a second before forcing a casual shrug. "Last week."

Hugo tilted his head, feigning curiosity. "And what day was that?"

Alexei narrowed his eyes. "Hugo, that’s two questions."

Hugo simply chuckled, spinning the bottle again. "With the number of women you have, I thought you’d say tonight."

The group burst into laughter while Alexei groaned, knowing Hugo was deliberately roasting him.

As the bottle continued its game, it landed on a few more people. Each question was bold but stopped short of humiliation. Alexei, however, was grilled twice, making everyone laugh at his notorious playboy reputation. Even Ava found herself feeling a little sorry for him.

Just as she let her guard down, the bottle stopped again.

This time, on Alexander.

The room fell into a sudden hush.

Everyone wanted to know more about the enigmatic Vanderbilt heir. Unlike Alexei, who was constantly in the tabloids, Alexander’s private life was a mystery.

He exuded an effortless aura of control, and with his usual cool demeanor, he responded, "Truth."

Everyone leaned in slightly, anticipation thick in the air.

Alexei nudged Hugo, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "Don’t go easy on him just because he’s your friend."

Hugo raised his glass, grinning. "Oh, don’t worry. I’m curious too." He let the moment linger before delivering the question. "So, Alexander, when was your first time having sex?"

A few people gasped. Others stifled laughter behind their hands.

For the first time that evening, Alexander stiffened.

He wasn’t the type to be flustered, but his jaw clenched slightly as if he hadn’t expected the question.

Hugo, clearly enjoying his rare moment of victory, took a slow sip of his wine, waiting.

The assumption in the room was clear—Alexander had been with Victoria for years. Most assumed they had been together since their teenage years.

Ava, too, found herself watching with curiosity, the corners of her lips slightly curled in amusement.

When Alexander caught her expression—bright-eyed, expectant, entertained—something inside him snapped.

"It was the night of the Vanderbilt family banquet," he said coldly. "Right after I got back to the country."

The room fell silent.

Wait.

That was recent.

Everyone exchanged stunned glances.

Hugo nearly dropped his glass. "No way," he muttered.

The implications sank in fast. Victoria hadn’t been at that banquet. So… who had he been with?

Alexei’s gaze flickered to Ava, who had gone unnaturally still.

A realization settled over her like a thick fog.

That night… was his first?

But that didn’t make sense. He had been confident, controlled, and relentless—nothing like a man experiencing his first time.

Ava swallowed, suddenly feeling too warm.

The revelation had shifted the entire mood of the room. The energy between her and Alexander became charged, almost palpable. The occasional brush of their clothes against each other, the warmth of his arm barely touching hers—it all felt heightened.

She wanted to create some distance, but Farah was wedged beside her, forcing her to remain close. Her arm pressed lightly against Alexander’s, the heat of his body seeping through his crisp dress shirt.

She reached for her wine glass, taking a few slow sips to cool the unexpected warmth creeping up her neck.

The women in the room, however, were quick to adjust their strategies. If Alexander had been single all this time, he was fair game. Eyes gleamed with newfound determination.

Meanwhile, the bottle spun again, clicking against the glass tabletop as it slowed.

Alexander’s gaze followed it, his expression unreadable.

It landed on him. Again.

Hugo leaned forward, barely holding back his laughter.

"Alexander, it’s not rigged," he teased. "Everyone saw it. Now, truth or dare?"

Alexander had no intention of picking "dare." He knew how wild Hugo’s dares could be—just last time, someone had been forced to kiss a stranger at the private lounge entrance. That kind of nonsense wasn’t his style.

"Truth," he said through gritted teeth.

Hugo’s smile widened. He knew exactly what to ask.

"Was the woman you slept with that night at the banquet… here in this room right now?"

The air went deathly still.

Ava’s grip tightened around her glass.

Alexander’s gaze remained calm, but something flickered behind his eyes—something that made her stomach twist in anticipation.