LOGINOh, I’m not complaining either.How could I? The man standing in front of me is everything a woman could ever want. At least, physically speaking. Not only is he drop-dead gorgeous, but that body... that body is literally fire.You know the kind you see in movies? The kind where the female lead gets to run her fingers through those very edible, perfectly sculpted abs, and just watching it makes something inside you instantly want to grab onto something tight?Yup. That exact one.However, before I can even think of a smart comeback to his charming little line, he closes the space between us.He leans down slowly, giving me plenty of time to back out. But I don't. I close my eyes as his fingers gently rest against my jaw. His touch is so light it makes my breath catch. This isn’t like the wild, messy kiss inside the club meant to break Luca's brain. This feels real. Almost too real.However, our lips are a second away from touching when the universe decides it's not the right time yet.
He absolutely did.And the absolute best part? He said it with the calm, serene confidence of a preschool teacher explaining to a toddler why we don’t eat the crayons.Luca looks seconds away from exploding. His chest rises and falls with sharp breaths, and his gaze darts around the room as he realizes his own friends are enjoying every second of this humiliation. His wrist is still trapped in Sweet Poison’s grip, and judging by the strain on Luca’s face, the hold is a lot stronger than Sweet Poison’s relaxed posture suggests.“I am not saying please to you,” Luca spits out, though it loses a bit of its bite when his voice cracks on the last word.“Suit yourself,” Sweet Poison says smoothly. He gives a casual, effortless shrug, which unfortunately forces his bicep to flex right against my arm. Focus, Arianna. Petty drama first, drooling over the stranger later. “We can stand here all night. I don’t mind. I have excellent stamina.”My traitorous brain immediately latches onto that comm
It happens too fast.One minute, I’m clinging to this dark and handsome guy whose lips taste like stars and moonlight, and the next minute, I’m being ripped away from his arms—away from his lips—forcing me to scowl."What the heck, Arianna!?"It takes my brain a second too long to realize that the angry-looking man roaring right in my face is none other than Luca, my recently dumped ex-boyfriend.And when I say he looks angry, I’m clearly underselling it. With the lights back on and the music practically dead, I can see and hear much better now.And wow. He looks furious. Absolutely furious. His face has turned bright red, and his eyes have gone so wide they look like they might pop right out of his head.I flash him an adorable grin. "Nothing much. Just having some fun. What about you? Did you like my surprise? I worked really hard on it."For a second, his anger shifts into confusion before his expression twists like he wants to rip his own hair out."You call this a surprise? More
The music begins, loud and heavy, filling every corner of the room, and the girls start dancing. I do too. I may not be a professional, but Lorraine taught me this at a sleepover once. She’s also a freelance choreographer—if I forgot to mention that before.The beat drops, low and heavy, vibrating through the floor and up my legs, and for a second, I let it take over.No thinking. No second-guessing.Just movement.I roll my shoulders, let my hips follow, my body slipping into the rhythm like it’s second nature. The girls behind me fall into sync, their movements sharp and confident, their laughter soft and practiced.And me?I’m smiling.Not because I’m enjoying this. Not really.But because every pair of eyes in this room is exactly where I want them to be.On me.Especially Luca’s.He would have never guessed that I could move like this—that I could do anything e
[Benjamin]Stand there and look pretty, she said.And she said it with so much confidence that I almost gave in and said, “Why, thank you!”Which, to say the least, is worlds apart from what I should be saying to a stranger who thinks dragging me out here for God knows what is the most normal thing to do.It isn’t—just in case you’re wondering.I just had an ugly argument with an asshole assistant who, for lack of a better word, completely screwed up my entire business trip with his incompetence.You would think someone who’s trained for months would know how to handle simple tasks—like not booking the wrong flight, not scheduling meetings at impossible times, and definitely not losing my confidential files. But no. Instead of doing what he was supposed to do, he decided to act like he was doing me a favor by showing up late and expecting me to clean up after his mess.So no, I’m not in the mood to be dragged into some random club by a woman who thinks she can hire me for some vague j
[Ariana]Brimming with nervous excitement, I pace the narrow street behind the club, waiting for the hottie to show up—because apparently, my night now depends on a stranger with good cheekbones.According to Loraine, Sweet Poison—you wouldn’t really expect them to use their real name, would you?—had taken a day off for “personal reasons,” but just for me, she dragged him back.I just hope he actually shows up so my surprise for Luca lands exactly the way it plays out in my head—dramatic, flawless, and mildly devastating.I’d hate for the details to fall apart now. That would be tragic. For me. Not Luca.In a way, I’m kind of a perfectionist. So even if it’s revenge I’m after, it’s going to be organized, well-planned… and executed with style.Just then, the heavy back door of the club swings open, and a man steps out.The first thing I notice is the cigarette lit between his lips—and the way that black leather jacket clings to his broad, almost perfectly sized shoulders.Dammit. When
[Sasha]“This is taking too long,” Arthur—my brother—groans, running a hand through his hair. “I have places to be. I can’t waste my whole day in this shit.”I roll my eyes. “I have been coming over here for five days and you can’t survive a few hours? God, dad’s right. You’re too dumb to understand h
[Sasha]As soon as we take our seats, I start to speak.However, before I even get my first word out, Mr. Yardley holds up his hand and cuts me off.“Wait. I’m waiting for someone. Let them get here first.”I look at my brother, who does the same, exchanging confused glances. Who else could be needed wh
One Week Later[Caden]“What the hell is this?” I hear myself roar on what should’ve been a normal Monday morning.Why? Because the first thing I see on my desk is a court order, restraining me from being anywhere near my ex-wife. “Is this some kind of joke?”Betty Adams, my assistant, looks more anxiou
[Vivienne]I laugh at that, trying hard to hide my actual thoughts. I grab a chair and shake my head when he offers me a drink. “I’m fine. Thank you.”“As you wish,” he smiles and then leans back in his chair. “So, the dinner went well, I heard?”I think hard about what he said, only to realize maybe i







