7

“I’ll be waiting,” I said, stepping back. “Tonight. Don’t be late.”

And then, without another word, I turned and walked out, leaving her alone with the invitation in her hand and the decision she had to make.

18

MARIANA

I stood there, staring at the envelope long after he had gone.

The silence in the shop felt heavier than ever, like the air itself was holding its breath.

Why couldn’t I stop trembling?

I glanced around, half-expecting him to reappear, but the shop was empty.

It was just me now.

Me and the invitation.

I didn’t know what to do.

Every part of me screamed that this was a terrible idea, that I should throw the envelope away and never look back.

But my hands moved on their own, carefully slipping open the seal.

Inside was a single card, black with gold lettering.

It was simple, elegant, and chilling all at once.

Come to me.

8 PM. The address is below.

I read the words over and over, my mind racing.

He wanted me to meet him tonight.

It was a bad idea.

A terrible idea.

But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself, I knew what I was going to do.

I was going to go.

19

MARIANA

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection for what felt like hours.

My hands were trembling, and no matter how much I tried to steady them, the nerves wouldn’t go away.

The invitation sat on the small dresser behind me, its words repeating in my mind like a warning: 8 PM. The address is below.

It was 7:45.

I had no idea what I was doing.

I should have stayed home.

I knew that.

Every instinct I had told me not to go, to throw the card away and forget Amir ever came into my life.

He was dangerous—he had to be.

The way he appeared, the way he watched me, it was all too intense, too calculated.

But I couldn’t stop myself.

Something about him pulled at me, like a force I couldn’t resist.

Even now, dressed in a simple black dress, ready to leave, my heart raced—not entirely from fear, but from something else.

Curiosity?

Desire?

I hated that I felt this way, but I couldn’t deny it anymore.

With one last glance in the mirror, I grabbed my purse, my fingers brushing against the card as I left the room.

I was going.

I had to see him.

I had to understand why this stranger had such a grip on me.

The address led me to a building I didn’t recognize, hidden away in a quiet part of the city.

It looked like some kind of private club, its entrance guarded by a tall, heavy door.

My heart pounded as I stood outside, staring at it, wondering if this was a mistake.

But before I could turn back, the door opened, and a man in a black suit gestured for me to come inside.

His face was expressionless, as if my arrival was expected.

I hesitated for a moment, but then my feet carried me forward, through the doorway, into a world I knew nothing about.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and cigar smoke.

The dim lighting made everything feel surreal, like I had stepped into a dream—or a nightmare.

The space was luxurious, filled with people I didn’t recognize, all of them dressed in elegant clothes, sipping drinks and murmuring quietly.

No one paid attention to me.

But I wasn’t looking for them.

I was looking for him.

My eyes scanned the room until they landed on him, standing at the far end near a bar, his back to me.

He was talking to someone, his posture relaxed, but I could feel the power radiating off him even from this distance.

Before I could decide what to do, he turned, his eyes meeting mine instantly.

A slow smile spread across his face, and in that moment, I felt like the rest of the room disappeared.

It was just him and me.

Without breaking eye contact, he nodded for me to come closer.

My heart raced, and my legs felt like they were moving on their own as I walked toward him, my breath catching in my throat.