CHAPTER 2: A NIGHT AT HIS CLUB

Mirabelle

My heart beat so fast I could barely breathe.

My hands shook as they slipped down the straps of my dress.

Tears blurred my eyes.

“Tania… you can stop this now,” I whispered.

“Why would I?” She stood there with her hand on her hip, acting like she could control everyone. “What are you waiting for? Take the damn dress off.”

My lips trembled.

She was really going to make me do this.

“That’s enough.”

Sam interrupted.

I let out a shaky breath.

Tania scoffed. “It’s only enough when I say it’s enough.”

Sam stepped closer and pulled her into him, wrapping an arm around her waist like I wasn’t even there. She leaned into him, almost melting in his hold, neither of them caring that I was standing right in front of them, falling apart.

“Come on, babe,” he murmured against her skin. “Let that be our parting gift to her. The only good thing she’ll ever have in this life.”

He moved slowly and pressed a kiss to her neck.

Tania giggled and drew herself deeper into him. “You’re right.”

Then she turned, smirking at me. “You know what? We’re best friends after all, Belle. I’ll let you keep the dress.”

I stared at them, first at Tania, then at Sam, then her again.

This couldn’t be real.

I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand… and left.

***

My heart ached so much I could barely stand.

My vision blurred with tears as I returned home. Jenna had graciously let me live with her after college.

I banged on the door with both fists, shaking so badly I could hardly breathe.

The door flew open.

I threw my arms around her, sobbing.

“Belle! What’s going on?” Jenna grabbed my arms so she could look into my eyes.

“They betrayed me in the cruelest way possible,” I cried, my voice shaking.

She pulled me inside. “Who’s they?”

“Sam has been cheating on me… with Tania. For months.” Saying it out loud made everything hurt even more.

I lost my boyfriend and my best friend on the same night.

“Oh my God…” Jenna dropped onto the couch like her legs couldn’t hold her. “Belle…I’m so sorry.” She drew me close, hugging me tight.

“I’m sorry too,” I whispered, wiping my swollen eyes. “I don’t want to ruin your night. You and Jason should go without me.”

“Heck no.” Jenna lifted my chin gently. “This was supposed to be a double date. And guess what? I’m not leaving without you. Screw Sam. You have me.”

Her phone beeped. She checked the screen. “Jason’s outside.”

“No, Jenna… I can’t.”

“You’re going out with me,” she insisted, grabbing my hand. “And you’re going to have the best night. If Sam and Tania think you’ll hide in a corner and cry, they’re wrong.”

“I… I don’t know.”

“Well, I do.” She squeezed my hand. “Let’s go.”

***

Jason drove us to Secret, a dark billionaire club located in the richest and wildest part of the city. The moment we walked in, the loud music welcomed us, the bass thrumming through my ears. People danced with no care in the world. Bodies pressed together. Some kissed against the walls. Some looked drunk, others clearly high. Waitresses moved through the crowd carrying trays of shots. If sin was a place, I was standing right in it. And somehow… It felt like exactly what I needed.

We pushed through the crowd toward the VIP section.

“Gosh, Jason, how did you even get us up here?” Jenna looked around with wide eyes, impressed and excited.

“I saved for six months.” Jason grinned like he’d just won a trophy. “Tickets were crazy expensive.”

We finally reached our table, and the waiter immediately set down a full row of shots.

“Here we go,” Jenna giggled, already grabbing one. She pushed another toward me.

I picked up the first shot and swallowed it in one go. The burn raced down my throat and hit my stomach fast.

I coughed, sucked in a breath, then grabbed another and drank that one too. And then another.

Warmth spread through me right away. I could feel it doing its magic, loosening everything inside me. And hopefully, by the time I was done drinking, I wouldn’t feel the pain anymore.

That was the goal.

“Go, girl!” Jenna winked, surprised as she gulped her own shot.

“I’m going to drink until I forget everything about tonight,” I muttered, almost proud of myself.

“Nope.” Jenna shook her head. “Tonight is about you, girl. You want a total reset? Then that’s exactly what’s going to happen. We just need the right man for you.”

“Jenna…”

“Nope.” She shut me up with one look and started scanning the whole VIP area.

“How about that one?” She pointed at a man who raised his drink at me.

“Uh… no.” I quickly looked away without giving him a second thought.

“Bummer. Okay, what about that one?” She pointed at another man who licked his lips.

It made me feel weird, and I turned my head again. “Not him either.”

“At this rate, you’re not going to get laid tonight.” She sighed.

“Belle, you’re picking the man who’s going to give you mind blowing sex, strong enough to knock Sam out of your system completely, not a husband.”

“Jenna…” I hissed.

She ignored me and pointed at another man. This one opened his jacket and showed off his broad chest like it was supposed to impress me.

Instead, it only made me feel creeped out. “Absolutely not,” I muttered under my breath.

“Matchmaker, give her a moment to breathe,” Jason teased.

“Fine, only for a few minutes,” Jenna made sure to warn me.

Then she and Jason melted into their own little bubble, laughing, kissing, whispering to each other.

Good.

I wanted a moment alone with my own thoughts.

I let my eyes wander through the club.

And then…

My eyes landed on him.

The most strikingly handsome man I’d ever met, sitting at the most expensive spot in the VIP area, behind dark glass.

My heart stopped.

He had a full view of everything going on in the club. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d noticed me at all tonight. He seemed untouchable, not the kind of man who was easily accessible. I spotted two big men standing behind him like protectors, probably his bodyguards.

He leaned back in his seat like he owned the entire club, or more, the entire city.

I tilted my head to see him even closer. My eyes traveled over his strong jaw, defined cheekbones, and lips that looked too tempting to ignore.

Until his dark green eyes locked on me with a force that made a shiver run straight through my core. I’d never felt anything like it before.

And for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Then he stood.