M

surrounded by strangers in glittering gowns and sharp

e evening with nothing more than a

e chandeliers overhead sparkle like stars, but I can't seem to

f mystery that draws me in despite myself. Just enou

of the way my heart races in my chest, my pulse quickening in a way that feels

ut before I can stop them. I feel a flush creep up my neck, embarrassed by my

like I half-expect him to. Instead, he looks at

ner of the room. The noise of the party fades into the background as we step into

all night. "You'll never have to dance again in your life if you don't want to," he murmur

ns it, that this isn't just some line he's using to keep me close. But still, I can't help the sk

words seem to draw him closer, as if he's intrigue

challenge and promise. It's vague, almost too good to be true, and yet... there's

the way he looks at me, the way he talks, makes me want to share more than I normally would. Maybe it's

t down my guard just a little. "My mother's necklace was stolen from my apar

nd they kept my last paycheck so I can't even afford my bills this week. My roommate

I got a fresh hole in my sweater today. Oh, and I to

n't strike me as the type to show much emotion, but something about my story seems t

t you took

the sincerity in his voice catches me off gu

y that feels both terrifying and liberating. "It's not valuable. My mom m

sing all sorts of different materials. She made the necklace for me that day. It was like having a pi

er. The loss of the necklace is like losing her all over again, a fresh wound layered

id she

er.Couldn't find anywhere to keep her stuff. I just took the necklace with me. I got lucky, met Mi

e takes on a distant quality, as if he's remembering something from long a

m, curious. "Wi

hing that makes him seem less like the untouchable man I first thought him to be. "N

h me. I can't imagine growing up without my mom, even though she wasn't

a secret. "Private school, private tutors... they were always busy with society events, charity galas, wo

s face. I feel a lump form in my throat, a mixture of sadness and something else-som

maybe, or something darker. It's gone almost as soon as it appears, and I wonder if I imagin

wall behind his eyes, one I'm not sure I'm ready to breach. Instead, I let the silence

ngs and wealth are more reliable than people. They don't disappoint you. They don't push you away." His expression hard

I've always felt like I was at the mercy of forces beyond my c

to knock me down again. And here is this man, this powerful, enigmatic man, who

say, my voice gaining strength as I speak. "I lost my job tonight. Fired for standing up to a boss who was doing something wrong

here before. "The world is rigged," he says, his voice firm. "But that doesn't mean yo

only left me tired and worn down. But there's something about the way he says it, the conviction in his voice, th

ctricity through me. It's such a simple gesture, but it feels like mor

a long time, I feel something other than fear or sadness. I feel... hope.

a seriousness in his eyes that tells me he means every word. "Just one night, and then we go our separa

t, longing-all swirling together in a dizzying mix. I should say no. I should

erability that mirrors my own, a desire t

and the uncertainty, or I could take a chance, step into the unknown with this

of everything I've lost, everything I've fought for, and something inside m

d I know I've made my choice. Whatever happens next, I'm ready for it. For the first t

acutely aware of his hand still holding mine, of the way his t

t the two of us standing in this darkened corner, the

if I'm asking about tonight or something more,

arm against my cheek. "That's up to you," he says softly, his eyes locked on mi

trol. But with Lucas, I feel like I can take back some of that control, even if just for a night. I

ecklace, the way Lucas has seen through all the layers I usually hide behind-and

say, my voice steady despite the f

on I've made. He nods, squeezing my hand gently before releasing it. "Let's go," he