"Zain, look what I got for you!" Adina skipped into the small apartment, her voice light with excitement as she held up a set of oil paints and drawing paper.

At the sound of her voice, Zain emerged from his room, his amber eyes widening with surprise.

"Here, these are for you," she said, placing the supplies in his hands.

For the first time in a while, his expression changed—faint but unmistakable joy flickered across his face.

"But… this must have been expensive," he hesitated, running his fingers over the smooth paper.

Adina ruffled his hair with a gentle smile. "Your sister has a job now. I can afford to support my little artist."

Her voice was lighthearted, but deep down, her heart ached. She knew how much Zain loved painting—how much he had lost. If giving him a few art supplies could bring back a piece of what was taken from him, she’d do it a hundred times over.

---

PONY BAR

By nightfall, the city came alive. The neon lights outside the Pony Bar flickered in an array of blues and pinks, casting an intoxicating glow over the busy streets. Inside, the bass thrummed in sync with the heartbeat of the crowd, voices blending with laughter and clinking glasses.

On the dance floor, men and women moved against each other, bodies pressed close, exchanging glances thick with unspoken promises.

Behind the bar, Adina wiped down a glass when Maeve, her closest friend, waved her over.

"Come here for a sec." Maeve’s voice barely carried over the music.

Adina hesitated, glancing around for the supervisor before stepping closer. "What’s up?"

Maeve leaned in, lowering her voice. "I heard Eclipse Enterprises is hiring an administrative assistant. Didn’t you study management? You should apply. This job… it’s not forever."

Adina blinked. "Eclipse?"

She barely had time to think about it before a deep male voice interrupted.

"Hey, gorgeous. Care to join me for a drink?"

Adina turned to find a man at the bar, his whiskey glass raised in invitation. He had that effortless, sharp-dressed confidence—his suit tailored to perfection, the top two buttons undone, revealing a chiseled collarbone. His deep blue eyes glinted under the dim lighting, cool and unreadable.

Adina smiled, sliding onto the stool beside him. "What should I drink?"

"Let me choose for you," he mused, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. "How about... a Passionate Kiss?"

The air between them thickened with something unspoken.

Adina held his gaze, neither confirming nor denying. Instead, she gave a slight nod, the corner of her lips curling in amusement.

A moment later, the bartender set the drink in front of her, ice cubes clinking softly in the glass.

The man raised his whiskey, tapping it lightly against hers. "I’m John. And you?"

"Adina."

John repeated her name, rolling it over his tongue like he was testing the weight of it. A slow, knowing smile stretched across his face.

"A beauty like you... are you here alone?"

Adina swirled the drink in her glass, watching the liquid catch the light. "I work here."

John’s gaze drifted over her, slow and deliberate. "I bet you’re popular."

Adina met his stare head-on. "What do you think?" She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, straightening her posture slightly, as if daring him to keep looking.

---

Upstairs

From the VIP section above, Alaric watched.

His fingers curled into a fist, his jaw tight as he took in the sight of Adina—laughing, leaning in, letting another man touch her.

The ice in his drink cracked as it melted.

"Let's go," Caleb, his business associate, clapped a hand on his shoulder. "We’re waiting on you."

Alaric didn't respond immediately. His gaze remained locked on the scene below, something dark flickering in his eyes.

---

THE HOTEL

The night air was cool as John slipped his coat around Adina’s shoulders.

"Where do you live?" he asked, pulling out his phone to call a ride.

Adina exhaled, blowing out a thin stream of smoke. "Not far."

John glanced at her, nodding before tapping on the screen.

Minutes later, they stepped into the Grandé Hotel.

The moment the elevator doors closed, John pressed her against the wall. His hand brushed over her cheek, his thumb tracing her lower lip.

"You’re tempting, you know that?" His voice was low, rough around the edges.

The heat between them coiled tighter.

When his lips finally found hers, they were slow at first—testing, savoring. But it wasn’t long before restraint snapped. His kiss deepened, stealing her breath, leaving no space between them.

Adina’s fingers curled into his shirt, her body arching into him as the world outside blurred away.

---

Adina woke up feeling like she'd been run over. Her body ached, sore in ways she hadn’t expected.

John stirred beside her, tightening his arm around her waist. His voice was still thick with sleep as he murmured, "Stay a little longer."

"I need my phone." Her throat was raw, the words barely audible.

John let her go, and she sat up, searching the scattered clothes on the floor.

When she finally found her coat, she pulled out her phone—only to see dozens of missed calls and texts.

Her stomach dropped.

Maeve. Zain.

Just as she was about to reply, Maeve called again.

"Adina! Where the hell have you been? If you didn’t answer, I was about to file a missing person report!"

Adina winced, holding the phone away from her ear. "Something came up."

Silence.

Then Maeve sighed, her voice dropping. "Where are you?"

"At a hotel. I’ll be back soon."

"The kids were looking for you last night. Your phone died, so they called me. I didn’t want to worry them, so I told them you stayed at my place."

Guilt settled heavily in her chest.

"Thanks, Maeve. I’ll be home soon."

She ended the call and turned, only to find John watching her.

A cigarette dangled between his fingers, the sheets pooling around his waist, exposing his toned chest. The soft morning light cast a golden glow over him, making him look effortlessly seductive.

"You leaving?" he asked.

"Yeah."

John extended a hand. "Give me your phone."

Adina hesitated but handed it over.

A few taps later, he handed it back. "My number. Call me if you need anything."

He smirked. "Or even if you don’t."

Adina’s lips curved slightly. She turned to leave, but John grabbed her wrist, pulling her back for a slow, lingering kiss.

His lips brushed against hers, teasing, savoring.

"Good morning, Adina."

She pulled away, shaking her head with a small smile, before walking out the door.