Chapter 09: Between Water And Memory.

Bree.

I had been standing outside for longer than I wanted to admit, trying to ignore the way the cool evening air brushed against my skin.

My outfit alone said enough.

The black dress hugged my body in all the right places, smooth and tight, with a slit that ran just high enough to turn heads without looking desperate.

My heels added just the right height, making every step feel deliberate, controlled. My hair fell perfectly over my shoulders, styled in soft waves, and my makeup was bold but clean.

Exactly how I wanted it.

My thoughts wandered back to everything that had happened earlier, the phone call, his tone, the way he spoke like I was nothing more than part of a schedule. It made something inside me tighten again, but I forced it down.

Tonight, he would learn.

The sound of a car approaching pulled my attention forward, and within seconds, his car rolled smoothly into view, stopping just a few steps away from where I stood. The engine went quiet, but I didn’t move immediately. I just stood there, watching.

The door opened. And then he stepped out.

For a moment, everything else seemed to fade.

Mr. Billionaire stood there like he belonged to a different world entirely, dressed in a clean, sharp outfit that screamed money without even trying. His presence alone carried that same cold confidence that always made people feel smaller without him saying a word. But this time, something else lingered between us.

He paused. His eyes landed on me, and he didn’t look away. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy, filled with something I refused to name.

His gaze moved slowly, taking in every detail of how I looked, and I could feel it, the weight of it, like he was trying to understand something he didn’t expect.

I tilted my head slightly and smiled, slow and deliberate, letting just a hint of something dangerous slip through.

Then I walked toward him, my heels clicking softly against the ground, each step confident, controlled, like I had practiced it in my head.

When I got close enough, I lifted my hands slightly, the way a woman would when she expected a man to take them and lead her into the car like a gentleman. I didn’t say a word. I just held the position, waiting.

He looked at my hands. Then at my face and without a single word....He turned and walked past me. Straight to the driver’s seat.

For a second, I stood there, frozen, the embarrassment hitting me so fast it almost felt physical. My hands slowly dropped back to my sides as I watched him get into the car like nothing had happened, like I wasn’t even there.

The door shut. The engine came alive again, as the car window rolled down.

“Aren’t you getting in,” he said, his tone flat and almost irritated, like I was the one delaying things, “or are you planning to stand there all night?”

The words hit harder than they should have, but I swallowed it immediately, forcing my expression to settle into something calm, something unreadable. I couldn’t afford to lose control now.

Without a word, I walked to the other side and opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat with as much grace as I could manage.

The moment the door shut, I turned slightly toward him, a small smile forming on my lips like nothing had just happened.

“You look… low-key bad in that outfit,” I said, my tone light but intentional, watching closely for his reaction.

He didn’t look at me immediately. Instead, he focused on the road as he pulled the car forward, his expression calm, almost bored. Then, after a brief pause, he spoke.

“If you are gonna be the judge of my outfit,” he said slowly, his voice carrying that usual arrogance, “then calling it bad is actually a compliment.”

I blinked once, then let out a soft laugh, tilting my head slightly. “Oh? And what exactly is that supposed to mean?”

“It means,” he continued, finally glancing at me for a second before returning his attention to the road, “your opinion is not needed here. So it would be best if you stayed quiet and let me drive.”

The calmness in his tone made it worse. There was no anger, no frustration..just pure, controlled dismissal.

I turned my face away, looking out the window so he wouldn’t see the way my jaw tightened. Inside, I was boiling, every part of me wanting to snap back at him, to wipe that calm look off his face.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I leaned back slightly, crossing my legs as I stared outside, my thoughts running wild.

The rest of the drive passed in silence, but it wasn’t a comfortable one. The tension sat between us, thick and unspoken, like something was constantly about to break.

When the car finally stopped, I looked up to see a large, lively place in front of us, lights glowing, music faintly spilling into the night. People moved in and out as laughter filled the air. It looked expensive, loud, and full of life.

Sukato.

We stepped out of the car, and without waiting for him, I walked ahead slightly, my heels clicking against the ground as we entered the place together.

The inside was even more alive, music louder now, people talking, glasses clinking, everything moving at once.

We found a table, and I sat down, crossing my legs neatly as I looked around, taking everything in.

He didn’t say much. He simply ordered a drink and a meal for me without asking what I wanted, then placed it in front of me.

“Eat,” he said shortly.

I raised a brow slightly but said nothing, picking up the glass and taking a slow sip instead.

Then, just like that...He stood up.

“I’ll be back,” he added briefly before walking off toward a group of men across the room.

I watched him go, my expression slowly shifting from calm to disbelief.

“Wow,” I muttered under my breath, staring after him. “What kind of man brings a woman out and just leaves her like that?”

I let out a small, bitter laugh, shaking my head as I looked down at the drink in my hand.

“Of course,” I whispered to myself. “He’s a devil.”

For a moment, I sat there, thinking about everything, the attitude, the arrogance, the way he treated everything like it was nothing. Then I sighed and pushed the thoughts away.

No. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my night. Not again.

I stood up slowly, picking up my drink as I moved away from the table, deciding to explore the place instead.

The further I walked, the more the noise changed, until I found myself near a more open area at the back. And then I saw it. A pool.

People were gathered around it, some inside, laughing, splashing water, playing games I didn’t fully understand. The atmosphere here felt lighter, freer, like a completely different world from the table I had just left.

I stepped closer, leaning slightly as I watched them, sipping my drink slowly, a small smile forming on my lips without me realizing it.

They were carefree. Happy. It felt… nice.

Before I could fully process anything, a sudden push came from behind, unexpected and strong. My body moved forward. And the next second... I was in the water.

The cold hit me instantly, stealing the air from my lungs as I struggled to find my balance. Panic shot through me when I realized something terrifying.

I couldn’t swim.

My arms moved wildly, trying to stay above water, but it wasn’t working. The more I struggled, the worse it got.

Water filled my mouth, my nose, my chest tightening as fear took over completely.

People around started shouting, their voices distant and distorted. “She’s drowning!”

The world blurred. My body felt heavy. And just when everything started fading...

Someone jumped in.

Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me up, dragging me out of the water. I coughed violently, my body shaking as I tried to breathe, my vision still unclear.

A face came into focus. Close. Concerned.

“Stay with me,” he said urgently, his voice low but firm, holding me close as his hands supported me. “Don’t close your eyes.”

I couldn’t respond. My body felt weak, my mind slipping.

Then his lips pressed against mine, forcing air into me, pulling me back, his grip steady, desperate.

And in that moment, without thinking, without knowing...

“Marcus…” I whispered weakly. “Please… don’t go…”

His expression shifted slightly, but his hold didn’t loosen.

“I’m here,” he murmured softly, his voice closer now, almost gentle. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The words wrapped around me like something familiar. Safe.

And then....Everything went dark.