CHAPTER 01

ELYSIA. 

"Cheers!" Nova shrieked, and we clinked our glasses; the clattering sound blended in with the reverberating music that filled our ears. 

Blue and red lights spun around, adding to the fun of the club. People roamed around, both drunk and sober. 

"Finally, you bagged a fucking job!" Her voice tore through the loud music causing me to smile. 

"I need to have fun before going to meet Mom at Bel Air tomorrow." I grabbed the refilled glass and emptied it into my mouth, my face scrunched as the liquid burned its way down my throat. 

"Agreed!" Nova shrieked. The blasting music shook my insides, and like we wanted, the alcohol was hitting as much as the music was too. 

She refilled our glasses, and on the counter beside the glasses were a bottle of tequila and another bottle of vodka. 

Nova suggested it, and I agreed because why not? After months of futile search for a job, I finally got one. And it wasn't just in any company; it was one of the largest luxury hotel chains in West Hollywood. 

We agreed to get wasted tonight, and we would look for a way to cure our hangover by morning. 

Tonight, we go reckless! 

Someone sat beside me, his scent filled my nose immediately, it was overwhelming and somewhat familiar. Expensive whiskey and a faint trace of smoke lingered around him, giving off this warm yet intoxicating energy, the kind that leaves traces behind even long after he walked away. 

"A bottle of scotch." The voice said, I turned before I could think of it. 

"You!" My lips parted, the man turned, and his familiar cold eyes fell on me. "It's really you, asshole!" I spat, he raised his brows. 

"Who's that?" Nova asked beside me. 

I stretched my hand, pointing my index at him. "He's the asshole that bumped into me earlier today. The person who made me go on that interview looking like I swam in mud after spilling coffee on me and insulting me instead of apologizing." 

"Oh, he's the person you were talking about?" She slurred and I nodded. 

She got down from her stool clumsily, I had to hold her to steady her footing on the floor. I wasn't so strong either, but I was more sober than she was. 

She stood beside the man, raising her chin high in anger and demand. "Apologize to her right now!" It wasn't a request, it was a full-blown order. 

"For what? And who are you two?" He looked like he was too lazy to even speak. 

I squinted my eyes. "You don't remember me, huh? You spilled coffee on me this morning and you were like ‘learn to watch where you're going’." 

His expression changed, his once creased brows relaxed, and it was replaced with a more lazy expression. "You're that blind lady from earlier--"

"Watch it, you... Sexy-- rude man!" Nova snapped. "You're going to compensate her for the embarrassment you made her go through this morning and the insult as well."

He was quiet, taking his time to dart his gaze from Nova to me. He finally sighed. "What do you want?"

"Pay for this," Nova said immediately, weren't we supposed to agree on it first? She was pointing at the two bottles we had on the counter. 

"You should've told me you needed money instead of the shameless act you just displayed." His face was scrunched with an indecipherable countenance. 

Nova scoffed. "Just pay for it you rude jerk. Apart from being handsome, you're always very uncivilized too--"

"And rich." He cut in. 

"And arrogant!" I corrected in spite. 

He paid for the drinks and walked away from us, but not after Nova rained all the insults anyone would think of on him. He wasn't moved, his expression was as indifferent as before. 

"So riling." Nova groaned and turned, we both burst out laughing instantly. We continued drinking until our bodies couldn't take it anymore. 

The next morning, I woke up to the loud sound of my phone ringing. I reached out my hand from under my sheet and grabbed the phone from the bedside table. 

"Hello..." I groaned. 

"Oh hi, sweetie..."

"Hi mom--" I froze and my eyes went wide immediately. "Mom?!"

I pulled the phone from my ear and checked the time, it was past 9 am already and I was meant to have breakfast with her in Bel Air by 10. 

I practically flew out of bed. "Are you still asleep?" She asked. 

"I'm up. I'm up." I held my banging head. 

"The driver is on his way, he'll pick you up."

"Yeah, sure." The headache was almost blinding. "I'll be ready before he arrives," I said and she ended the call. 

I raced to the kitchen, almost tripping on my way. I took two doses of painkillers and made a mental note to get iced coffee on our way to Bel Air. 

Nova was still asleep, snoring and sprawling her limbs all over the bed. I shook my head, slipping into the bathroom to have a warm bath. 

When I came out, I felt much better than earlier, the headache was lighter and the painkillers did a lot in helping the hangover. 

The driver, just like Mom had said, arrived a few minutes after I was done. I grabbed my phone, purse, my credit card, and a few dollar notes before leaving. 

Nova would take care of herself, I just hope she takes care of the house too. 

The driver was standing beside the car when I came out of my apartment.

"Good morning, Miss. Elysia." He greeted me. "I'm your driver from Bel Air."

I nodded at him and he opened the door for me. "Thank you," I muttered. 

The morning was like no other, very friendly in terms of traffic. There was less traffic than usual, and it made our journey easier. 

Within thirty-five minutes, we arrived at Bel Air. 

"That was fast," Mom said when I got out of the car. 

I nodded, looking around. A white mansion, with a fountain in the middle of the yard, lined flower beds at almost every corner and a few lampposts placed here and there. 

"Favorable traffic." I smiled and bent slightly as she kissed my cheeks. 

"You look-- flushed?" It morphed into a question rather than just an observation, and I quickly dodged speaking about it. 

How would I be able to tell her I didn't feel exactly comfortable coming here?

The air was slightly awkward as she turned and led me inside. Marble foyer, grand chandelier that looked like it was closer to the sky, a large sitting room that could contain at least a dozen people if not more, a wide grand staircase with gold railings, and a wider dining room that didn't look like it was just for a small family. 

Or were they more? Was it an extended family? 

"You can go ahead and sit down," Mom pointed at the dining area. "I'll be back shortly." 

Without waiting for my response, she walked out. I did as she instructed and sat down. 

Since Mom announced her new relationship with a certain Mr. Steele, I only congratulated her but never made any advances at wanting to meet the person or even having that conversation with her. 

That one conversation. 

And then, she dropped the bigger bomb, he had engaged her and they would be getting married soon, this weekend precisely. It had caught me off guard, and I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid this day. 

-As long as mom was happy, I was- It was my quote. And I saw how excited she always was speaking about him, she's been alone for too long, since Dad left, it's high time she had her fun. Her life. 

"Sweetie?" I looked up at the sound of mom's voice. 

Honestly, what I was seeing wasn't what I had been expecting. Dark hair with constellations of grey scattered on it, and styled neatly backward. Warm grey eyes and an even more inviting smile. 

He looked like he was in his late thirties, whereas Mom had told me he was in his late forties. This man was specifically cherished by nature. 

I stood up immediately. "Mr. Steele, good morning."

"You can call me Dominic... for now." The sides of his eyes creased due to how wide he was smiling. "You look so much like your mother." 

"Thank you." I gave him the widest smile there was while making sure it didn't look too forced or terrifying. 

Nothing abnormal about him, no cold professional stares, businessman-like aura, or even an intimidating presence. He felt very... Normal, warm. Too average. And that alone got me on a more rustic footing. 

"You've been avoiding meeting me." He proceeded to sit at the head of the table but stopped and turned sideways. "Son?"

Son? My brows twitched. He had a child?

Almost inaudible footsteps approached the dining room until he was fully inside, my entire body froze in shock. 

Lazy stare, hazel eyes, dark slightly ruffled hair, and in all, the same intoxicating scent from last night and yesterday morning filled the dining room. Not to forget the familiar haughty expression. 

"Elysia," Mr. Steele was smiling. "Meet my son, Zane.”