Chapter 002

Sienna's POV

“Girl, you're crazy,” April muttered, staring at me as though I had completely lost my mind.

Maybe I had. Because, tell me why I was seriously considering walking up to a complete stranger just because he happened to be the most attractive man I'd seen all night.

Maybe heartbreak really did make people irrational.

Without listening to another word from my friends, I finished the rest of my wine in one gulp, placed the empty glass on the counter and headed toward the secluded corner of the club.

The man sat alone beneath the dim lighting, lazily swirling a glass of whiskey while smoke from the cigar between his fingers curled into the air. He looked completely detached from the noisy crowd around him, as though none of us existed.

Just before I could reach him, two men dressed in black stepped in front of me.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. You can't go any farther," one of them said politely but firmly.

Instead of answering him, I looked past both guards until my eyes met the stranger's.

"So you're really going to let them send me away?" I asked.

His gaze rested on me for a long moment.

His dark eyes slowly swept over me before returning to my face, and for reasons I couldn't explain, my heartbeat stumbled.

Without saying a word, he glanced back at the phone in his hand and casually lifted one finger.

"Let her through."

The guards immediately stepped aside. I smiled victoriously before walking toward his table.

"Thank you," I murmured as I pulled out the chair opposite him. "I'm Sienna."

He took another sip of his whiskey before answering. "Dylan." He said coldly and he simply stared at his drink as if I'd disappeared.

"So..." I began with a smile. "Would you like to dance with me?"

He didn't even look up when he replied me.

"I don't dance."

"You don't dance?" I repeated in disbelief.

"No."

I sighed dramatically. "You must have fun at parties."

The corner of his lips almost moved, but I couldn't tell whether he was suppressing a smile or simply losing patience.

Instead of replying, he gestured toward one of the waiters.

"A strawberry cocktail."

The waiter nodded before walking away.

A few minutes later, the drink was placed in front of me. "I didn't order this."

"I did."

I looked at the colorful drink from him before smiling. "So you aren't completely heartless."

He ignored that too but I took a sip anyway. It tasted sweet enough to make me forget the bitterness sitting inside my chest.

I tried again. "So... what do you do for work?"

My question met his silence.

"Do you come here often?"

No response. I sighed. "Do you at least enjoy talking?"I stared at him for a few seconds before throwing my hands up in surrender.

"You know what?"

He finally looked at me.

"You're boring."

One of his eyebrows lifted slightly.

"I think I know why you're sitting here all alone drinking whiskey. You probably don't have any friends."

His expression remained stoic.

"And I'm willing to bet you don't have a girlfriend either." For the first time since I sat down, I saw the faintest crack in his calm expression.

Had I actually offended him? He slowly placed his glass on the table.

"What exactly was your reason for approaching me?"

His question caught me off guard.

"My reason?"

"Yes."

He leaned back slightly.

"I don't believe you walked across an entire club just to make conversation."

I stared at him before shrugging. "I wanted to make a new friend."

His gaze stayed on mine. "I don't want to become friends with beautiful women."

I blinked frantically as the words digested in my chest. "...What?"

"I don't."

Heat rushed to my cheeks before I could stop it.

Was… Was that a compliment? Even in my slightly tipsy state, I felt my face growing warm.

"Well..." I laughed awkwardly. "Thank you, I guess."

I lowered my eyes to my drink.

"It's funny, though."

"What is?"

"Being beautiful apparently isn't enough." I laughed again, but this time it sounded painfully empty.

"I couldn't even keep the man I loved."

The words escaped before I realized I had spoken them aloud. For a moment, neither of us said anything.

Then Dylan spoke quietly. "You shouldn't measure your worth by what Jason chose."

My head snapped up.

"You know his name?"

He nodded and then swiped the screen of his mobile phone. "So..." I whispered. "You saw everything?"

"I did." His reply came sharply.

I looked away, suddenly embarrassed. I hated that a complete stranger had witnessed the worst moment of my life.

When I looked back at him, he was still watching me.

"What?" I asked.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you're allowing one person's decision to define you."

I forced out a bitter smile. "I loved Jason for years. Years, Dylan." I laughed softly. "People don't just wake up and forget someone they built their future around."

His expression softened ever so slightly.

"I know."

"I do want to forget him," I admitted. "But if I'm going to move on..."

I smiled mischievously.

"...I'm going to do it my own way."

"And what way is that?"

"You."

He looked mildly confused.

"Me?"

"You have to prove to me Jason isn't worth crying over."

"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

I rested my chin on my palm and smiled.

"By doing something Jason never did."

"What?"

"I've always wanted to go on a yacht."

His eyes remained fixed on me.

"My father never allowed it because he thought it wasn't safe. Jason promised he'd take me there on my birthday." I let out a quiet laugh. "Turns out he had other plans."

For a brief second, Dylan said nothing. Then he reached for his phone and he dialed a number.

"It's me," he said simply. "Prepare the yacht."

The call was briefly ended. Then he slipped the phone back into his pocket and looked at me. "Come with me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few minutes later, we stepped out of the club together. The cool night breeze sobered me a little as his car drove through the quiet streets.

I had no idea where we were going until the vehicle stopped near the marina.My eyes widened.

Rows of luxurious yachts floated peacefully beneath the moonlight. Then I saw one of them. Its lights shimmered across the water like stars.

"We're here." Dylan said, looking at me.

"You actually brought me to a yacht." The excitement bubbling inside me drowned out every painful thought that had followed me into the club.

Before I could think twice, I threw my arms around him.

"Thank you!"

For the first time that night, Dylan stiffened in surprise. I pulled away just as quickly, suddenly realizing what I had done.