Chapter Five

Saturday Evening (Susan’s POV)

I was scared and shaky, but I promised myself I would give life another chance. So here I was.

The club looked the same as always — loud music, bright lights, and people who seemed to be living a life I could never afford. The air was heavy with perfume, sweat, and the kind of energy that made you feel like anything could happen if you just let it.

I walked in, trying to act like I belonged. I tried to pretend I wasn’t terrified. But the truth was, I felt out of place.

I wasn’t surprised, though.

Almost every woman in the room was dressed in lingerie — barely-there outfits that left nothing to the imagination. Their confidence was loud. Their movements were bold. They were all so sure of themselves, so used to being desired, so used to being taken.

And then there was me.

A woman in a red gown.

A woman who had come here not to be wanted, but to forget.

A woman who had just broken her heart and was trying to rebuild herself by stepping into the unknown.

I felt awkward.

I felt like I was wearing the wrong skin.

I walked to the bar, hoping the alcohol would help me feel stronger. I wanted something that would give me confidence, even if it was only temporary.

“Whiskey mixed with gin and lime, please,” I told the bartender.

He didn’t ask questions. He just mixed it quickly, like he knew exactly what I needed.

I took the first shot. It burned, and the burn spread down my throat like fire, making me feel alive for the first time since the breakup.

I took the second shot.

I took the third.

By the fourth shot, I noticed a presence.

It was like someone had walked into the room and the air suddenly changed.

I could feel eyes on me — watching, studying, assessing.

I was ready for it.

I had come here for a reason.

I was about to take the fifth shot when I heard a voice behind me.

“Easy tiger. You still have a long night ahead.”

The voice sounded familiar.

I turned, but everything blurred.

My vision shook.

My head felt heavy.

I took the fifth shot anyway, hoping the alcohol would make the world less sharp.

Someone held my hand.

“You’ll get drunk, and you seem alone,” he said.

“I’ll be fine,” I replied, pulling my hand away.

“You’re new here. I haven’t seen you before.”

“You know everyone who comes here?” I asked. “Or did my dress give me away?”

His smile was confident. Almost predatory.

“Well, it’s both,” he said. “But I’ve never seen anyone this hot come in. If you were in lingerie like the others, I’d probably eat you before we had this conversation.”

My body reacted before my mind could.

My heart raced.

My cheeks warmed.

I felt my stomach flip.

I wanted to be offended — I wanted to tell him to back off.

But something in me wanted to know where this would lead.

“You’re flirting with me now?” I asked, lying and going for the sixth drink.

He moved closer, and the air between us changed.

“Hey,” he said, holding my hands. “You need to take it easy. This isn’t your regular club.”

“What do you want?” I asked, licking my lips and staring seductively. “I’m sure this isn’t just care. You didn’t come to a club to care for a pretty lady.”

“I see we’re on the same page,” he said, leaning closer.

His voice was calm. But there was a dangerous edge to it — like he was used to getting what he wanted.

He placed his hands under my gown, straight to my pants, and said, “Come, let me show you.”

My body went rigid.

I didn’t know what to do.

I felt fear, but I also felt a strange curiosity.

Maybe it was the alcohol.

Maybe it was the anger inside me.

Maybe it was the part of me that wanted to feel alive again, even if it was through something dangerous.

He stood, signaled me, and I staggered.

He grabbed me like I was prey ready to be devoured.

It felt wrong.

It felt exciting.

It felt like a mistake waiting to happen.

He took me out of the club to a car — his car, because he had the keys. He opened the back door and threw me in, then followed.

The moment the door closed, the world outside disappeared.

All that existed was him and me.

“See who called me a tiger?” I said, my voice shaky. “You recognize your species, don’t you?”

He didn’t respond.

He grabbed my legs and moved between them.

“Let’s quit this conversation and get right into business,” he said, pulling down my pants.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest.

I tried to pull away, but he was stronger than I expected.

He tied my eyes, and everything went dark.

I could hear his breathing.

I could feel his hands on me.

I could feel the cold metal of the ropes against my skin.

My mind went blank.

I tried to reach for his trousers, but I couldn’t see anything.

He helped me through them, and I felt him undress.

The next moments were intense.

He pushed forward aggressively, and I couldn’t stop him.

He was forceful. Dominant. In control.

I tried to pull away, but he was stronger.

He covered my mouth and kept going, pushing and thrusting until I was exhausted.

The pain was sharp.

The fear was real.

But something else was there too.

A strange sense of relief.

Like I had finally let out everything I had been holding in.

Like I was finally releasing the anger that had been building up inside me for months.

He paused, breathing heavily.

The room felt quiet.

My body felt numb.

He untied my eyes.

“Your turn,” he said.

“My turn?” I managed to ask, shocked.

He lifted me, positioned me, and demanded I satisfy him.

My mind was clouded.

My body was numb.

I did what he said.

Because I didn’t know what else to do.

Because I was scared.

Because I felt trapped.

And because, deep down, a part of me wanted to please him.

I passed out.

When I woke up, I realized what had happened.

Was I raped?

I’d never had sex this intense before.

Part of me was scared of what kind of man he was.

But part of me was also excited because I had enjoyed some part of it.

At least I didn’t die.

Maybe this could work, I thought.

Maybe this was the start of something new.

Then I turned to look at the man I’d just had sex with.

I froze.

Greg Hale.

No, this wasn’t him.

I blinked, pinched myself, and cried.

But there he was — sleeping naked beside me.

Greg Hale.

I’d just had a one-night stand with Greg Hale?

My body went cold.

My mind raced.

I wanted to scream.

But I couldn’t.

It was too early in the morning, but I didn’t care.

I got dressed quietly and left.

My life had changed because I gave it another chance — and ended up having sex with a billionaire in his car.