Chapter 38

AMARA’S POV****

Jack’s idea of “something small” was apparently an apartment packed with people, loud music, and enough alcohol to drown a city.

The moment Davina and I reached the door if the apartment, bass hit my chest like a second heartbeat. The hallway already smelled like liquor.

Jack opened the door before I could knock, grinning like he’d been waiting with his hand on the handle.

“There she is,” he said dramatically, pulling me into a quick hug. “My lifesaver.”

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t start.”

Davina leaned close to my ear. “He’s so dramatic.”

“I know,” I whispered back.

Jack stepped aside to let us in, and instantly, we were swallowed by the party.

The apartment was huge. One of those New York spaces that made you wonder what kind of crime someone committed to afford it. The lights were dim, the kitchen counter was filled with bottles, and people were everywhere—laughing, dancing, shouting over the music like they enjoyed struggling.

Jack leaned closer to me. “You’re staying, right? Overnight.”

I gave him a look. “That was the deal.”

“Good.” He clapped his hands. “Because I’m not letting you leave. Not after I begged you like a man without dignity.”

Davina snorted. “At least you admit it.”

Jack laughed and offered her a drink. Within minutes, Davina was talking to someone by the kitchen like she’d known them for years.

I stayed close to Jack, not because I needed him, but because I didn’t want to be the awkward girl standing alone in a crowd of strangers.

He was showing me around when my eyes landed on a figure I knew too well.

Dorian Wellington.

He walked in like he belonged to the building. Like he owned the city. He was dressed casually, but casually on Dorian still looked like money—dark shirt, blue jeans, watch gleaming faintly under the lights.

Jayden was beside him, laughing about something, but Dorian was smiling but not fully.

His eyes scanned the room then they found me.

My chest tightened in the most annoying way possible.

It had been a week of cold professionalism. Of pretending I didn’t care. Of forcing my voice to stay steady every time he said my name.

But seeing him here, outside the office, outside the walls that forced us to behave, felt like someone had peeled my skin back.

Jack’s hand brushed my waist. “You okay?”

I nodded quickly. “Yeah.”

But I wasn’t because Dorian was staring at me like I’d done something to offend him just by existing.

His gaze dipped, slowly, taking in my dress. It was short black simple dress. The kind of dress you wore when you wanted to feel pretty without looking like you tried too hard.

Jayden spotted Jack and raised his drink in greeting. Jack waved back, pulling me along.

“Come,” Jack said. “Birthday boy wants everyone in the living room. Games time.”

I let him guide me, pretending my legs weren’t suddenly weak.

Everyone gathered around. Someone turned down the music a bit, and the birthday guy, some tall man named Leo stood in the middle holding a bottle like a microphone.

“We’re doing Truth or Dare,” he announced. “No boring people allowed.”

Cheers erupted.

I ended up on a couch with Jack beside me and Davina on my other side. Across from us, Dorian sat on a chair with Jayden, his posture relaxed but his eyes… not relaxed at all.

The bottle spun.

It landed on a girl I didn’t know. Then on a guy. Then on another girl. Laughter filled the room as people answered ridiculous questions and did stupid dares.

It was fun until it wasn’t.

The bottle spun again. It landed on Dorian.

A few people whistled.

Leo grinned like he’d won something. “Oh, Mr. Serious. Truth or dare?”

Dorian’s expression didn’t change. “Truth.”

Leo leaned forward. “If you had to spend the night with someone in this room… who would it be?”

The room went loud instantly.

“OHHHH!”

“Damn!”

“Answer!”

Jayden laughed. “Oh, he’s finished.”

Dorian didn’t smile.

He didn’t even look around.

His gaze stayed on the bottle for a second, then he reached for his drink and took a long sip.

One sip then another.

No answer.

Just alcohol.

The room laughed again, but it wasn’t teasing laughter anymore. It was that “he’s avoiding it” kind of laughter.

Leo threw his hands up. “Okay! Okay! He drank. That counts.”

His quiet refusal to answer hurt me. He wasn't one to shy away from questions. If he wanted to answer, he would’ve. If he didn’t care, he would’ve made a cold joke and moved on.

But he didn’t and somehow, that made my stomach twist worse.

The bottle spun again and landed on me.

Leo clapped. “Amara! Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” I said quickly.

Leo smiled. “Who would you never date?”

The question sounded harmless.

But I felt Dorian’s gaze shift to me immediately, like he was waiting.

I swallowed.

My mind flashed back to Sofia on his desk. Fiancée.

The way Dorian hadn’t stopped her fast enough.

Something bitter rose in my throat. I smiled, calm and pretty, like I wasn’t bleeding internally.

“My boss.”

The room erupted.

Jack choked on his drink. “WHAT?”

Davina burst out laughing. “Oh my God.”

Leo slapped his knee. “That’s a good one!”

But the laughter didn’t touch Dorian.

He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. His jaw flexed once.

And I knew I’d hit something.

Jack leaned close. “Wait… your boss? Like—your actual boss?”

I smiled wider. “Yes.”

Jack laughed awkwardly. “That’s wild.”

I didn’t look at Dorian again. I didn’t need to because I could feel his anger from across the room like heat.

The bottle spun again.

And landed on me again.

Leo groaned. “Nah, nah, she’s cursed.”

“Dare!” someone shouted.

“Dare!” another voice echoed.

I hesitated. “Truth.”

“No,” Leo said, shaking his head. “You can’t pick truth twice. Dare.”

Davina leaned close. “Say no if it’s stupid.”

I nodded slightly.

Leo grinned like the devil. “I dare you… to give Jack a lap dance. One minute.”

The room exploded. Jack’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?”

Davina’s jaw dropped. “Absolutely not.”

But people were already chanting.

“DO IT!”

“DO IT!”

I should’ve said no, I should’ve stood up and walked out but I didn’t.

Because I could feel Dorian’s eyes burning into me.

And maybe I was tired of being the only one pretending to behave.

I stood up slowly.

Jack looked worried. “Amara, you don’t have to—”

“I want to,” I said calmly.

The room went quiet enough for the music to sound distant. I straddled Jack then I moved.

I didn’t overthink it. I let my hips roll the way I had always done at the club.

The room screamed.

Jack’s hands stayed precisely on my waist like he didn't want to cross boundaries.. I leaned down close to his ear and whispered, “Relax.”

He smiled, winking at me.

I moved slowly, confidently, letting the heat of the moment do what it did best—turn everyone into an audience.

And then I looked up. Dorian was watching, his face was unreadable, but his eyes were dark.

Violent. Not loud violence. The quiet kind, the kind that didn’t need words.

He didn’t wait for the minute to finish. He turned and walked out.

Just like that.

I finished the dance because I refused to look affected. But the second I stepped away, my heart was pounding too hard.

Davina grabbed my hand. “You’re insane.”

I laughed, but it sounded forced. “I know.”

The party continued.

But I couldn’t.

Because no matter how much I tried to focus on the noise, on Jack’s jokes, on Davina’s laughter— 

All I could see was Dorian walking away.