The cool air near the pool still carried the echo of what had just happened.
Leena's footsteps faded as she walked back inside.
Sami stood there for a second longer.
Still.
Then he turned away.
Inside, the party had only grown louder.
Music.
Laughter.
Glasses clinking.
But Sami's attention wasn't on any of it.
As he walked back into the hall, his eyes moved across the crowd—
And stopped.
Near the bar.
Sam.
Leaning casually, a glass in his hand.
And beside him—
The woman in the red dress.
Sami's steps slowed.
His expression changed.
Not jealousy.
Not curiosity.
Something sharper.
Recognition.
His jaw tightened instantly.
Under the warm lights, her face was clearer now.
Too clear.
Sami's grip around his glass tightened.
What the hell is she doing here…
Without wasting another second, he walked straight toward them.
"Sam."
His voice cut through the noise.
Sam barely glanced at him.
Still smiling at the woman, still leaning close to her as if nothing else mattered.
Sami's expression hardened.
"What are you thinking bringing her here?" he said, his voice low but intense.
"If someone recognizes her—do you even have any idea how hard it is to clean up your mistakes?"
Sam didn't respond.
Didn't even look at him properly.
He was still focused on the woman.
Still enjoying himself.
That was enough.
Sami stepped forward and suddenly grabbed the woman's wrist, pulling her slightly away from Sam.
She startled.
"What—?"
Sami's voice turned cold.
"You're fired."
The words were sharp.
Final.
"Don't ever stand next to him again."
The woman looked at him, confused and scared.
"What? Why? I didn't even do anything—"
Sami leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough.
"You came here with your boss," he said.
"Dressed like this. Acting like this. And you're saying you did nothing?"
Her eyes widened.
"I—I didn't have a choice," she said quickly, almost pleading now. "He told me to come. If I didn't… he said he'd fire me."
Sami didn't hesitate.
"Now I'm firing you."
His grip loosened, but his voice stayed firm.
"Leave."
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
"Please… I need this job, I won't—"
"I said leave."
There was no anger in his tone now.
Just authority.
Final.
She looked once at Sam—
Hoping for something.
Anything.
But Sam didn't step in.
Didn't stop it.
He just watched.
That was enough for her to understand.
She turned and walked away quickly, disappearing into the crowd.
For a moment, silence stood between the two men.
Then Sami looked at Sam.
Really looked at him.
And what he saw—
He didn't like.
"I don't want to see you with office employees like this again," Sami said, his voice controlled but firm.
Sam scoffed lightly, taking a sip of his drink.
"What's your problem?" he said casually.
"I'm not in the office right now."
Sami stepped closer.
"That's exactly the problem."
Sam finally looked at him properly.
"You don't tell me what to do."
Sami's jaw tightened.
"Are you being childish or just careless?" he said.
"You don't even understand the consequences of what you're doing."
Sam's expression hardened.
"Oh really?"
Sami didn't stop.
"If your father finds out about this—"
That got his attention.
Sam straightened slightly.
"What are you saying?"
Sami's voice dropped.
"I'm saying maybe it's time he does."
A pause.
"Maybe it's time you get ready for what's coming next."
Sam frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Sami held his gaze.
"Your father is already concerned about your performance," he said.
"The company is in your hands now. And if you keep making mistakes like this—"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
"You'll be in trouble."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then Sami added, quieter this time—
"And one more thing."
Sam's eyes didn't leave him.
"You think people say yes to you because of who you are?" Sami said.
A small pause.
"They don't."
"They say yes to your father's money."
The words hit harder than anything before.
Sami stepped back slightly.
"Be a man," he said.
"Stop doing childish things."
That was it.
Sam's patience snapped.
"Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" he snapped angrily.
"You work for me. I pay you—and you're standing here lecturing me?"
Sami didn't even flinch.
His voice was calm.
Clear.
"Get this straight," he said.
"I don't work for you."
A beat.
"I work for your father."
Silence fell again.
And this time—
It was heavier.
Sami's eyes locked with his.
"And if you create any trouble…" he added quietly,
"I won't hesitate to deal with it."
Sam's anger didn't fade.
But something else appeared beneath it.
Understanding.
Tension.
A warning received.
Sami held his gaze for one last second.
"You know exactly what I mean."
Then he turned—
And walked away.
Leaving Sam standing there.
Alone.
For the first time that night—
Not in control.
The party had shifted again.
Louder now. Looser. Messier.
Laughter echoed from every corner, music pulsed deeper, and conversations blurred into noise.
But in one corner of the hall—
Leena sat still.
On a low velvet sofa.
One leg crossed over the other, her glass resting lightly between her fingers. She wasn't drinking. Just watching.
People.
Patterns.
Reactions.
Everything.
Her face calm.
Unreadable.
A sudden weight dropped onto the sofa beside her.
The cushion dipped.
Leena didn't turn immediately.
She already knew.
Sam.
He leaned back heavily, one arm stretched across the back of the sofa, the other holding a half-filled glass. His collar was slightly open now, his posture less controlled, more… irritated.
Frustrated.
Like something hadn't gone his way.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
Then turned his face—
And saw her.
Leena.
Sitting there like she belonged to none of this chaos.
Their eyes met.
A small pause.
"Hey," he said.
Leena gave a faint nod.
"Hello."
Her tone was neutral.
Almost distant.
Then she added, casually—
"Your class is over."
Sam frowned slightly. "What are you talking about?"
Leena lifted her glass just a little, gesturing vaguely toward the room.
"Everyone noticed," she said.
"You and Sami."
A small pause.
"It was… quite disturbing."
Sam let out a dry, humorless laugh.
"He's an asshole," he muttered. "What does he think he is?"
Leena finally turned her head fully toward him.
And just… looked.
Watched him.
His frustration.
His ego.
His irritation.
Then—
Slowly—
She smiled.
It wasn't warm.
It wasn't soft.
It was… knowing.
Sam caught it.
"What?" he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Leena tilted her head just a little.
"You look pissed off."
A beat.
Then, lightly—
"He's an asshole, really?"
Her tone carried something underneath it.
Something teasing.
Something sharp.
Sam exhaled, leaning forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"You don't know him," he said.
Leena's smile didn't fade.
"Maybe I know enough."
That made him look at her again.
Properly this time.
Curious.
Leena leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice just enough—
"Can I tell you a secret?"
Sam's interest sharpened instantly.
He leaned in.
Closer.
"What?"
Leena's eyes held his.
Steady.
Unblinking.
"He thinks I'm a gold digger," she said softly.
"And you…"
A small pause.
"…are my target."
Silence.
For half a second—
Sam just stared at her.
Then—
"Really?"
Leena nodded once.
Calm.
Certain.
As if she had just told him something obvious.
Sam let out a short laugh, shaking his head slightly.
"That's what he thinks?"
Leena leaned back again, completely unbothered.
"Mhm."
A pause.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the glass.
Then she stood up.
Smooth.
Effortless.
"Do you want some fresh air?" she asked casually.
Without waiting for an answer, she turned.
And walked.
Toward the balcony.
The glass doors slid open with a soft sound.
Cool night air rushed in instantly.
The balcony stretched wide, overlooking the city. Lights glittered endlessly below, the distant noise of traffic barely reaching this height.
Leena walked to the railing.
Stopped.
Placed her glass down on the edge.
Sam followed her out.
Slower.
More curious now than irritated.
He stopped a few steps behind her, studying her silhouette against the city lights.
"You just say things like that to everyone?" he asked.
Leena didn't turn.
"No."
A pause.
"Only to people I think will understand."
That made him step closer.
Now standing beside her.
Close enough.
"And you think I understand?" he asked.
Leena finally turned her head slightly, just enough to look at him from the corner of her eye.
"I think," she said slowly,
"you don't like being controlled."
Sam let out a quiet scoff.
"Who does?"
Leena's gaze held his.
"But you hate it," she corrected.
Silence.
The wind moved lightly through her hair.
Sam looked at her—
Really looked this time.
"You're interesting," he said quietly.
Leena didn't react.
"You're dangerous," he added.
That—
Almost made her smile again.
"Am I?" she said softly.
Sam leaned slightly closer.
"Or maybe," he said, voice lowering,
"you just want something."
Leena turned fully toward him now.
The distance between them—
Gone.
"Everyone wants something," she replied.
A pause.
"What do you want, Sam?"
The question hung between them.
Heavy.
Charged.
Sam's eyes didn't leave hers.
But for the first time—
He didn't answer immediately.
And Leena—
Just watched.
Waiting.
Like she already knew.
The wind had grown stronger.
It rushed across the balcony, tugging at clothes, at balance, at control.
Near the railing, the chairs stood too close to the edge.
Too dangerous.
Too deliberate.
Leena looked down at her heels for a brief second.
Then—
She slipped them off.
One.
Then the other.
Barefoot now, her feet touched the cold marble floor.
Grounded.
Steady.
Her movements were slow.
Intentional.
Sam watched her, confused—but drawn in.
"What are you doing?" he asked again.
Leena didn't answer.
She stepped onto the chair once more, balanced easily, the wind pushing lightly against her frame—but she didn't move.
Instead—
She looked at him.
"Come on," she said softly.
Something in her voice made him follow again.
He stepped onto his chair.
Now both of them stood there—
Unstable.
High.
The city stretching endlessly below.
Leena stepped down again.
Came closer.
Her hands gripped the sides of his chair.
Firm.
Controlled.
"I could make you fall," she said quietly.
A pause.
"Trust me."
Sam looked at her—
Something uneasy flickering again in his mind.
But before he could react—
Leena's hands shifted.
As if she was about to push.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Urgent.
Behind her.
Leena turned her head slightly.
And saw him.
Sami.
At the glass door.
Eyes sharp.
Locked on them.
On her.
On what she was about to do.
For a split second—
Everything aligned.
Leena turned back.
Her expression changed.
That strange, unreadable smile returned.
Her hands moved forward—
As if to push Sam.
"Leena—!"
Sami rushed forward.
Fast.
Closing the distance.
And in that exact moment—
Leena moved.
Not forward.
But back.
Her hands grabbed Sam's arm suddenly—
And pulled.
Hard.
Sam lost balance instantly.
"What—?!"
The chair tilted.
Slipped.
And both of them came crashing down.
Sami reached them at the same time.
Too fast to stop.
Too close to avoid.
He collided into them—
And all three fell to the ground.
A harsh thud.
The chair skidded away.
The glass from Sam's hand shattered somewhere nearby.
For a second—
No one moved.
Just heavy breathing.
Wind.
The distant music still playing like nothing had happened.
Sami pushed himself up first.
Anger hit instantly.
Raw.
Uncontrolled.
"What the hell are you doing?!" he snapped, grabbing Leena by her arm and pulling her up slightly.
His voice was sharp enough to cut.
Sam was still on the ground, stunned, trying to process what had just happened.
Leena didn't resist.
She looked up at Sami.
Calm.
Completely calm.
"You were about to push him," Sami said, his grip tightening. "Have you lost your mind?!"
Sam looked between them, confused.
"Push me? What is he talking about?"
Leena's eyes flicked toward him briefly.
Then back to Sami.
"And you think I did?" she asked softly.
Sami didn't hesitate.
"I saw you."
Leena tilted her head slightly.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Then you didn't see properly."
That only made him angrier.
"Don't play games with me, Leena."
Her expression didn't change.
"You ran," she said quietly.
"You didn't think."
A pause.
"You reacted."
Sami's jaw tightened.
Because that part—
Was true.
Sam finally got up, brushing his hands, still trying to understand.
"Can someone tell me what just happened?" he said, irritated now.
Leena stepped back slightly, freeing her arm from Sami's grip.
"She slipped," she said calmly.
"And I tried to pull him."
Sami let out a sharp breath.
"That's not what I saw."
Leena looked at him.
Directly.
"You saw what you wanted to see."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Sam looked between them again.
Tension.
Unspoken history.
Something deeper than just this moment.
"What is going on between you two?" he asked, more serious now.
Leena didn't answer.
Sami didn't either.
The wind blew harder again, lifting strands of Leena's hair across her face.
She didn't move them.
She just stood there.
Looking at Sami.
Like she was measuring something.
Like she had just learned something important.
And Sami—
For the first time—
Wasn't sure.
If he had just stopped something.
Or walked straight into it.