Entangled to him.

The encounter

Keisha's POV

It all started with a one-night stand, the night I thought would just be a fleeting distraction from the mess my life had become. I had just broken up with Bach, the guy I thought was my everything. We had been inseparable since we were kids, and for the longest time, I thought I had the perfect life. But that was before I found out he cheated on me with a girl he claimed was “just a friend.” The betrayal hit me hard, and I couldn’t shake the images of them together, making it impossible to function.

I had just gotten the interview of my dreams at Carson Tech—my dream job, but how could I even think about that while drowning in this heartache? I almost canceled it, my mind too clouded to focus on anything else. But Alexa, my best friend, wasn’t about to let me wallow in self-pity.

“Girl, I don’t want to go anywhere,” I said, staring at the ceiling from my bed.

“You can’t keep sulking over Bach. It’s been a week, Keisha! You look a mess, and you’re hardly eating. You need to get out there and have some fun!” Alexa’s voice rang in my ears. She was right, of course. I had to stop letting Bach’s betrayal ruin my life.

I didn’t have the strength to argue with her, so she dragged me to the bathroom, practically forcing me to get ready. “Promise me you’ll be fast. I’m not doing this alone!” she called as she rushed me into the shower.

“I PROMISE!” I said, and with that, she beamed and left me to prepare.

As the cold water poured over my body, I thought of everything Bach had put me through. The humiliation, the lies—no more. From this day forward, I would be the one doing the playing. No man would have the power to break me again.

When I stepped out, I gave myself a makeover. The Keisha who once worried about looking “too much” was gone. Tonight, I was someone else. I put on a sexy makeup look and slipped into a chic red dress that screamed confidence. Tonight was all about reclaiming my power.

“I’m ready,” I said as I stepped into the living room, where Alexa was waiting.

“Girl, you look gorgeous!” she said, practically squealing. “That’s what I’m talking about! You’re too beautiful to stay locked up in this cage. Let’s go break some hearts!” She winked at me, and we were out the door.

The moment we walked into the club, I felt the energy hit me. Everyone was letting loose, dancing, and laughing. It was the perfect distraction, but my stomach twisted when I saw Bach in the crowd, his arm around the same girl who had torn my heart apart. I could feel the anger rise within me, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.

“Alexa, I’m gonna grab a drink,” I muttered, needing a moment to clear my head.

At the bar, I ordered something strong and found a seat to nurse my drink. As I watched the bartender, I couldn’t help but admire her bobbed haircut. Maybe I’d go for that new look. It felt like a fresh start, like cutting off the old me for a new beginning.

“Hey, gorgeous. What’s a lady like you doing here alone?” a voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to find the most beautiful man I had ever seen. His bright blue eyes stared into mine, and his sharp jawline had me caught off guard.

“Same question goes to you,” I said, my voice more playful than I intended.

He smiled, and the way he looked at me made my heart race. Maybe it was the alcohol, but for the first time in a while, I didn’t care. I needed a distraction, and he was the perfect one.

“Wanna get out of here?” he asked, as if he read my mind.

I didn’t even hesitate. “I’m down for whatever you’re down for,” I said, giving him a seductive smile.

He led me through a hidden door, and we ended up in a secluded room I didn’t know existed. It was intimate, private—clearly a space for those who could afford the luxury of privacy. But I wasn’t thinking about that. All I could think about was the way he made me feel.

“What do you say?” he asked, pulling me close.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, feeling the heat between us. “I like it,” I whispered back before our lips crashed together in a kiss that was intense and passionate. I had no time to think.

The tension between us was undeniable. We moved quickly, our clothes falling away as our lips stayed locked. He whispered that I was beautiful as he kissed my neck, and before I knew it, everything else faded away.

The rest of the night blurred into a whirlwind of passion, excitement, and escape. It was exactly what I needed to forget the pain of my past.

But little did I know, this one night would set the course for everything that came next.