Ava's POV
I wasn't planning to go out. Not after everything.
But Kylie wouldn't stop until l gave in.
"You need a distraction,baby",she said, dragging me to the loudest,wildest club in the city.
I knew deep down l wouldn't be the same after tonight.
The air was thick, sweet,perfume,and secret all blending into one.
The lights flickered like warning signs,but l ignored them. I was there to feel nothing.
I wore the shortest black dress l owned,paired with red lipstick l barely recognized on my own lips.
I didn't feel like myself and maybe that was the point.
I lost Kylie halfway through the night.
The music was loud.
Bodies pressed together like they were dancing for survival.
Then l felt him.
Someone was watching me.
Not in a creepy way but like he knew me.
I turned around,and there he was.
Leaning against the bar like he owned the place. Dressed in black. A look that said, I don't chase, they come to me.
His jawline? Sharp.
His eye? Cold and unreadable.
His energy? Dangerous.
He walked up slowly,close enough for me to catch his cologne.
"You look like trouble", he said ,voice deep,careless.
"You look like the type who likes trouble", I shot back.
He smiled, not sweetly. The kind of smile that made you forget logic.
We danced. We drank.
We didn't talk much.
We didn't need to.
And then…I let it happen.
One wild night.
One night to forget Edward.
One night to feel alive.
The Next Morning
I woke up in a hotel bed - naked, confused,and completely alone.
My head pounded. My heart? Ever worse.
What the hell did l do?
I turned and saw a black business card on the nightstand.
No name. Just a number. And a note:
"Last night was fun. Don't catch feelings. - Z?
I crumpled the card in my fistand stormed out.
Later That Day - On Campus
I had barely recovered when Kylie dragged me to some guest seminar.
"He's a big shot businessman", she said .
And might offer internships"
I walked in and nearly dropped dead.
There he was.
In a navy blue suit.
Speaking to the entire hall like he ruled the world .
Z
Except now,he wasn't a mystery. He had a name.
Zane Carter.
Fred's half - brother.
Billionaire. Untouchable. Dangerous.
And the same man who held me like a secret just hours ago.
Our eyes met.
He frozen for a second- then gave me the same smirk from last night.
I glanced back, wishing l could stab him through my lashes.
"What the hell is he doing here?" I whispered to Kylie.
She gasped. "Wait,you know him?"
"Unfortunately"
Zane's POV
I didn't expect to see her again.
Last night was supposed to be nothing.
She didn't ask for my name - I liked that.
She didn't act impressed. I liked that even more.
But now here she is.
Walking into my seminar like a plot twist I didn't approve.
Pretty. Angry. Dangerous.
Just my type.
After the Seminar
I tried walk past her to avoid any drama.
But she blocked my way.
"So.. you're Fred's brother?"she asked, folding her arms.
"Half", I said flatly "Luckily"
"Does he know you sleep around and leave notes like a coward?".
I smirked. "Only when the girl pretends she doesn't care and comes crying the next day".
She scoffed. "Trust me, I don't cry over one - night mistakes".
"Good", I said. "Because I don't date my brother's leftovers".
That hit her - her eyes lit with fire.
"Watch it, Zane. I'm not someone you can play with".
He leaned closer.
"Neither am l".
We stood there like two storms waiting to destroy each other.
And maybe we would.
But something about destruction makes it so damn hard to walk away.