MY VALENTINE’S WISH

CHAPTER 3 : HERE FOR YOU

The bartender, a middle-aged man with kind eyes, gave her a knowing look before nodding. “Rough night?”

Debbie let out a dry laugh. “You have no idea.”

A moment later, a glass of amber liquid was placed in front of her. She grabbed it without hesitation and downed the first gulp.

The alcohol burned its way down her throat, but she welcomed the sting. Maybe if she drank enough, it would erase the memory of Mark’s betrayal.

Maybe it would erase the image of him with another woman.

She reached for another sip, then another.

But no matter how much she drank, the pain refused to leave.

Then, someone slid onto the barstool beside her.

“Drinking alone on Valentine’s?” a deep voice asked.

Debbie turned her head slightly. The man beside her was tall, well-dressed, and devastatingly handsome. He had dark, piercing eyes that studied her with curiosity, his lips curled into a small smirk.

“What’s it to you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He chuckled. “Just seems like a waste of a beautiful night. A woman like you should be out celebrating love.”

Debbie scoffed. “Love? Love is nothing but a scam.”

The stranger tilted his head, intrigued. “That bad, huh?”

She took another sip. “Worse.”

For the first time that night, a small smile tugged at her lips. Maybe talking to a stranger wasn’t the worst idea. Maybe, for a few hours, she could pretend that Mark never existed.

Maybe, just maybe, she could forget.

The stranger’s phone rang just as Debbie was about to respond. He gave her a charming smile before excusing himself and stepping away to take the call.

As soon as he disappeared into the crowd, Debbie’s mind raced back to why she had gone to Mark’s house in the first place.

She had wanted to give herself to him.

After four years of being in a relationship, she had finally decided to let Mark touch her, to cross that final line of intimacy. She had worn the perfect outfit, sprayed his favorite perfume, and even prepared a meal for him.

And what had she gotten in return?

Betrayal. Humiliation. Heartbreak.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

If Mark didn’t want her, someone else would.

She looked around the club, scanning the room full of men drinking, laughing, and enjoying the night. She needed to feel something—anything—other than this unbearable pain.

Turning back to the bartender, she leaned in and whispered, “Is there any hot man here that can get laid with me?”

The bartender, who had been wiping a glass, froze mid-motion. His eyes widened in shock as he processed what he had just heard.

“What?” he asked, as if making sure he hadn’t misheard her.

“You heard me,” Debbie said, her voice laced with a mixture of desperation and defiance.

The bartender looked her up and down. She was undeniably beautiful, with striking features and a body that most men would kill for. Why would a woman like her need to search for someone to sleep with?

His silence made Debbie feel pathetic.

“I get it,” she said, forcing a cold smile. “I’m not worthy of the rich men here, am I?”

The bartender shook his head quickly. “That’s not what I—”

“I don’t care who he is. I don’t have money, I don’t have a job, but I promise him one thing—he will never regret it.” She took a deep breath, then added the words that made the entire bar go silent.

“Because I am a virgin.”

The moment the words left her lips, heads turned. A murmur spread through the crowd.

A virgin?

Men exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued.

Some smirked. Others whispered among themselves, wondering if she was serious.

Then, one by one, they stepped forward, eager to fulfill her wish.

Hey, beauty,” a voice called out.

Debbie turned to see an older man approaching her. He had a round belly, a thick mustache, and eyes that gleamed with lust.

“How much for a night?” he asked, pulling out his wallet. “What about $300? Don’t be greedy, beauty.”

Disgust twisted in Debbie’s stomach. She clenched her fists and glared at him.

“You are not worthy.”

The man’s face darkened. “You should be grateful I even offered, you little—”

But before he could finish his sentence, she turned her back on him. He scoffed and stormed away, muttering curses under his breath.

A second man approached her—a younger guy, maybe in his late twenties. “Hey, beautiful. I can make you feel good.”

Debbie looked him up and down. He wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t what she was looking for.

She shook her head. “Not interested.”

The man frowned but didn’t push further.

Another man came forward, but Debbie wasn’t impressed by him either.

She scoffed at their advances, feeling more and more frustrated.

Is there no hot man in London who can fulfill my Valentine’s wish?

She was about to give up when a deep, confident voice cut through the air.

“Do you see anyone in this city as handsome as I am?”

Debbie’s breath caught in her throat.

She turned around and found herself face-to-face with the same stranger from earlier.

He was leaning against the bar, smirking at her, his piercing eyes filled with amusement.

And damn it—he was breathtaking.

His sharp jawline, perfectly styled dark hair, and expensive-looking suit made him stand out. There was an aura of power around him, a kind of effortless confidence that made every man in the room seem ordinary.

Debbie’s eyes traveled down to his Adam’s apple, watching as it bobbed slightly when he spoke.

Why the hell does that turn me on? she wondered.

The stranger took a slow step closer, his smirk deepening.

“You’re really out here auditioning men, huh?” he teased.

Debbie crossed her arms. “Maybe. You interested?”

He chuckled. “Interested?” He reached out and tilted her chin up with two fingers, forcing her to look into his eyes. “Baby girl, let’s make this night unforgettable.”

A shiver ran down her spine.

For a second, she hesitated.

But then she remembered Mark.

Remembered how he had thrown money at her like she was a beggar.

Remembered how he had chosen another woman over her.

She tilted her chin higher, meeting the stranger’s gaze with a newfound boldness.

“Let’s go,” she whispered.

His smirk widened. Without another word, he took her hand and led her out of the club.

The night was just beginning.

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed bringing it to life. Let me know your thoughts—I’d love to hear them!