Chapter 4

I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my knuckles hard against my forehead. The weight of Damien’s cold, absolute demands in his office was still suffocating me.

"I can't go, Jade," I said softly, my voice tight. "I... I just can't."

"Ariana, what are you talking about? You need to get out of that house—"

"No, I won't be able to come," I cut her off, my tone rising as frustration flared in my chest. "I don't want to go out! I think I just want to be on my own tonight, okay?!"

"Babe, listen to me," Jade tried to push, her tone shifting to concern. "Sitting in that dark room by yourself isn't going to fix anything. Just come for an hour—"

"I said no! I don't want to come!" I yelled into the receiver, my breathing ragged. Silence fell over the line, and I immediately swallowed hard, rubbing my eyes. "Jade... I'm sorry. I'm sorry I shouted at you, baby girl. I really am. But... maybe some other time. You just go have fun, okay?"

Before Jade could answer, a low, hesitant knock sounded at my door.

I looked up. My mother was standing in the doorway. She had heard me screaming.

"Ariana..." she whispered, her voice trembling as she took a slow step into my room. "I'm really  so sorry. I know you hate me. I know I ruined your life... but please accept my apology."

Seeing her stand there, offering apologies that couldn't undo the one-million-dollar contract she had signed away, made the room feel microscopic. The guilt, the grief, and the bitter sting of betrayal rushed back instantly, making my chest ache so hard I couldn't breathe.

I lifted the phone back to my ear, my eyes locked on my mother's tear-stained face.

"Jade?" I said into the phone, my voice dropping into a cold, sharp line. "Change of plans. I'd rather come to the party and be with you than sit here in this house with her, because I can't even stand to look at her face right now."

My mother winced as if I had slapped her, her lips trembling as she backed out of the doorway.

I pulled the phone from my ear for a second, glaring at my wardrobe. "Hold on... I need you to help me pick an outfit for tonight."

On the other end of the line, Jade let out a wild, victorious cheer. "Now that is my girl! Forget being sad—we are going to turn that party upside down!"

Five minutes later, we had settled on a dress. I actually didn't want to wear it at first. I decided to just show it off because it's a dark pink leather dress I made for my class project. I guess I just felt self-conscious because it shows a lot of cleavage and the fabric clung tight to my skin. But tonight, breaking every single rule Damien Voss laid out was the point.

“Rock, paper, scissors! Shoot!!” A roar of laughter followed. I smiled and walked past the group playing near the living room rug.

“So how was your meeting with the soon-to-be husband?” Jade asked, sitting down next to me in the corner booth. I knew she had been itching to know.

“Got the surprise of my life. You remember the man that wanted to dance with me at the club?”

“Yes, I do...”

“Well, that was Damien Voss,” I said.

“How?!” She asked in disbelief.

I chuckled. “That I don't know, but I met him and I was very surprised and angry at the same time.”

“Why? Guilty conscience would have judged you if you slapped him?”

“Jade!” I laughed. “No, I just didn't know how to react, but trust me, I gave him a piece of my mind.”

“Go girl! That's why you have the best teacher here. So what did he want to tell you?”

“He said he wanted me to move into his apartment,” I said, leaving out the seven controlling rules because I knew she would make me break all seven tonight if she knew. “I just want to have fun and try not to think about it all,” I confessed.

She hugged me tightly. “That's why I'm here for you. Now drink up and let's party!” She cheered, handing me a shot of vodka. I threw it back, letting the heat burn away the cold tension lingering in my chest.

“They are playing truth or dare! Come, Ariana, let's join!” Jade yelled across the room a few minutes later.

I wanted to say I don't play games like that because they can lead to bad decisions, but right now I was going against my whole moral standpoint. So fuck the bad decisions.

I stood up and joined the circle on the rug. They were spinning a bottle, and if the bottle landed on you, someone got to ask you truth or dare. My heart raced every time the glass spun. We were about twelve playing the game—six girls and six boys.

The bottle landed on Jade. “Truth or dare?” a boy asked her.

She smiled and said, “Dare.” Everyone cheered.

“I dare you to kiss me for thirty seconds.”

I choked on my breath—a quick reminder that I should avoid choosing dare. I didn't want to share saliva with any guy here. Pretending I hadn't noticed their eyes on me all night was already a lot to handle.

Jade stood up in honor of her dare and sat right down on the guy’s lap, smiling. Everyone started shouting: “Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!!”

With a blink of an eye, she locked lips with him. The countdown followed: 30, 29, 28... all the way down to 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, until she broke the kiss. The game continued like that—guys and girls giving each other sexual dares like lap dancing, dry humping, gripping, and light physical acts. I was enjoying the show until the bottle wobbled, slowed, and landed directly on me.

“Truth or dare?” the guy in the black hoodie asked.

“Dare,” I answered. I know I vowed never to choose dare, but what was the point of playing it safe when the main reason I came to this party was to loosen up?

“Kiss me for one minute,” he dared.

Kiss him for one minute? I took one look at him. His beard was neatly trimmed, his dreadlocks looked clean, and his whole aesthetic was effortless. What did I have to lose? I stood up and moved closer to him, contemplating whether I had to sit on his lap.

“You can sit on the couch,” he said smoothly, making room. I did, smiling gratefully.

“What's your name?” he asked.

“I'm Ariana. And you?”

“I'm Shan,” he said, his voice soft and relaxed. “Are you ready to kiss me, Ariana?”

I nodded.

We leaned in closer and closer while the crowd cheered around us until the space between us disappeared completely. It suddenly felt very real. I lightly brushed my lips against his before gradually taking in his lower lip and interlocking our lips together. Shan took charge gently, caressing my waist and deeply kissing me. But despite the warmth of it, I found myself focusing more on counting down the seconds than enjoying the kiss—and deep down, I knew exactly why.

“Ariana, can I have a moment with you in the backyard, please?” Shan asked after the timer ran out.

“Yes,” I said, taking my fifth shot of vodka for the night to steady my racing pulse. He stood up and stretched out his hand, and I took it as we walked side by side toward the service door, wondering what he wanted to say.

Damien’s POV

My phone buzzed on the counter. I picked up on the second ring.

“Speak,” I commanded.

“Sir,” Bruce said, with thudding bass behind him. “She’s at a house party on the East side with her friend.”

I stared out at the skyline. Hours after setting clear boundaries in my office, she’d walked straight into a crowded party.

“A house party, Bruce?” My voice remained dangerously smooth. “Get inside and pull her out. If anyone gets in your way, break their hands.”

“Understood, sir.”

I hung up and grabbed my jacket. She was stubborn enough to make a scene with my guards, and I wasn't having a public spectacle.

I reached the elevator, but my phone vibrated again. Bruce.

“What is it?”

“Sir...” Bruce hesitated, the muffled noise of party music echoing behind him. “She's kissing a guy.”

“I’ll be there,” I snapped quietly, and hung up.