We turn onto the ramp of the underground car park, and all I can think is: whatever’s waiting down there… I’m not ready for it.
SEBASTIAN
Ian doesn’t leave my side as we walk into Be At One with Noah, who starts glancing between us in a way that makes me wonder if he’s picked up on Ian’s lingering attention.
Maybe I’m imagining it.
Noah’s still his usual cheerful self, chatting, smiling, but there’s something in the way he watches me now.
Quietly protective. Almost like he knows I might need it.
I’m doing my best not to encourage Ian, but I also don’t want to be rude. He’s kind, he’s charming, and, objectively, he’s exactly the kind of person I should be open to. But my heart, inconveniently, is already elsewhere.
It’s my first time in this club. While we wait for the others, still parking, I take in the space around us.
The entrance opens into a wide, semi-circular hall that leads into a narrow corridor, dimly lit by clusters of flickering candles and a black crystal chandelier. Burgundy silk lines the walls, broken only by cascades of white flowers spilling from tall glass vases on sculpted pedestals.
The whole place feels intimate, theatrical, like something out of a dream.
Beautiful. A little surreal.
But none of it is enough to distract me from the weight of Ian’s presence beside me, or the ache that’s quietly blooming in my chest for someone else entirely.
The atmosphere is lush, dramatic, and just the right side of decadent.
I’m relieved I dressed up, my outfit fits the vibe perfectly.
Dance music hums faintly behind the walls, strangely at odds with the opulent décor. But I suspect the contrast is intentional, like everything here is designed to keep you slightly off balance.
A queue has formed by the coat check, where people collect wristbands for their drinks. We join the line just as the rest of the group arrives.
Remi heads straight for me. He looks tense, focused, eyes scanning my face like he’s searching for signs of distress.
He touches my arm, warm and gentle, and leans in close to speak.
“You okay, Seb? I’m sorry I didn’t stop Ian, he caught me off guard. I hope he didn’t make you uncomfortable.”
His lips brush my ear as he speaks, and a sudden flash of heat races down my spine, settling low in my stomach.
I flinch, just slightly, and try to keep my expression steady.
“I’m fine, Remi. Honestly. He’s just a friend.”
Remi tilts his head, clearly unconvinced, but doesn’t press.
He gestures down the corridor, and we fall into step with the others, heading toward the main room.
As I walk, I can feel Remi’s eyes on me, trailing warmth along my back.I knew this top would get attention, maybe I even wanted it. Sometimes, I flirt a little too close to the flame.
A few steps ahead, Ian glances over his shoulder and gives me a look that leaves little to the imagination. Remi notices.
For a moment, I’m caught between their stares, the tension between them sharp enough to cut through the air.
It’s almost too much.
Remi’s probably still worried Ian could set me off,
but now that I’ve come out, there’s nothing to hide.
