TENSION IN THE NIGHT 🥀
1186 Words
Chapter 4
Fashion House – 9:00 PM
Ayra exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples as she leaned back in her chair. The dim glow of her office lamp cast long shadows on the wall, the quiet hum of the city outside barely breaking through the heavy silence. Exhaustion gnawed at her, the weight of the day pressing against her shoulders like an invisible force.
Her phone vibrated for the fourth time in the past thirty minutes—her mother, again. She didn’t even need to check the screen to know who it was. She already knew the words that would follow if she picked up: You need to meet Mr. Paulson. You can’t ignore this forever. You need to move on.
Move on? As if it were that easy. Four years had passed, yet the scars were fresh, the wounds still raw beneath the surface. Pain doesn’t listen to time, she thought bitterly. Some nights, it clenched its fists around her throat and squeezed until she felt she might shatter. Other nights, like this one, it simmered quietly, waiting for the right moment to strike.
A sigh escaped her lips. Enough. She needed to leave. There was no sense in drowning in thoughts she couldn’t change. She reached for her keys just as a knock sounded at the door.
Sasha, her personal assistant, poked her head in, hesitant. "Ma’am, it’s late. I thought I’d wait so we could leave together."
Ayra arched a brow. That was… unexpected. "That’s unlike you," she noted. Her voice held no sharpness, just curiosity.
Sasha smiled sheepishly. "I, um, didn’t want you to leave alone."
Ayra studied her for a beat before nodding. "I appreciate it. But you don’t have to wait for me next time. I’ll be fine."
"I know," Sasha murmured, though she still lingered as Ayra rose from her chair. Only when Ayra stepped out did Sasha move toward the door herself.
The moment she exited the building, Sasha spotted a familiar car pulling up. Her friend had arrived. "Goodnight, ma’am!" she called over her shoulder before hopping in.
Ayra simply nodded, barely hearing her as she made her way to her car. Her mind was elsewhere.
---
Sasha’s POV
She leaned back against the seat, exhaling loudly as her friend pulled onto the road. "Damn, I thought she’d never leave."
"Long day?" her friend asked.
"More like long night." She rested her head against the window, staring at the moving lights outside. "And also… I met someone today."
Her friend smirked. "Oh?"
Sasha closed her eyes, recalling the earlier moment at the bakery—the accidental stumble, the firm chest she’d crashed into, the sharp but deep voice that had pulled her from her daze. Damon.
God, he was fine.
"He was just…" She exhaled, shaking her head. "Never mind. He was nothing."
Her friend didn’t believe her for a second.
---
Ayra’s POV
The night air was crisp as she drove, the city’s chaos thinning out the further she went. The hum of her car filled the silence, but even that wasn’t enough to drown out her thoughts. She was exhausted—not just physically, but mentally, emotionally.
She shouldn’t have stayed so late, but work was a welcomed distraction. At least, until the silence crept in.
Then, it happened.
Her car sputtered once. Then twice.
"No. No, no, no—"
The car slowed until it finally rolled to a stop.
She let out a strangled breath. "You’ve got to be kidding me."
Stepping out, she assessed the vehicle as if staring at it would magically fix whatever was wrong. She knew nothing about cars, yet that didn’t stop her from glaring at the engine when she popped the hood. "Okay, great. What now?"
Pulling out her phone, she scrolled to the number of her mechanic, tapping it quickly.
No answer.
"Oh, come on!" she groaned, kicking the tire in frustration.
A mistake. Pain shot up her foot instantly. "f*****g hell!"
She bit her lip, resisting the urge to scream. nah..she couldn't hold the scream much longer then, boom!
"argggggghhhhhh" she finally screamed out of frustration
Then, the sound of an approaching car caught her attention and then, she acted composed
---
Damon’s POV
Dorian was back. Finally.
Damon couldn’t keep the smirk off his face as he drove toward the lounge where they were supposed to meet. Two months without his best friend had been too long. Without Dorian around, everything had felt too quiet. He couldn't really point out if it's the fact that Dorian is coming that made him that happy or it it's the father that he is away from home....either way, the feeling was not something that could be replaced.
Driving but then, he looked sideways something caught his eye.
A lone figure on the side of the road, kicking a tire in frustration.
It was a lady...she looked distressed
His grip on the wheel tightened slightly. What is she doing out here alone?
Without thinking, he slowed the car and pulled over.
---
Ayra’s POV
She heard the approaching footsteps before she saw him.
"Hello, ma’am," the voice came smooth, calm. "Is anything wrong with your car? It’s not exactly safe for a woman to be out here alone."
She turned, about to snap at whoever it was—until she saw him.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, with eyes too sharp to ignore and a presence that made the air feel… different.
Who the hell is this?
"My car broke down," she answered flatly, tearing her gaze away. "I’m waiting for my mechanic."
"Right." His tone held amusement. "Except you’re standing here looking like you’re about to murder your tires."
She exhaled sharply. "I’ll figure it out. Thanks."
He rolled up his sleeves. "I can help."
"No, I don’t need your help."
"Alright." He stepped back, tucking his hands into his pockets. "But you know this road has… a history, right? Lots of accidents. Mysterious disappearances. Stuff like that.You don't want that for yourself now, do you?"
he said walking away towards his car.
Her brow twitched. Was he messing with her?
"Oh my! if he leaves, I don't have much hopes of getting home..." she thought to herself
"Wait." The word escaped before she could stop it.
He turned, smirking. Got her. His plan worked...he bent her...the smirk refused to leave his lips.
"Fine. Just—fix the damn car."
"Gladly."
He simply rolled his sleeves up... didn't take up to 5mins and boom! he was done. he asked her to start the car and then...it went on...it was fast...she admitted.
She felt a little bit of relief...she needed a hot bath
"Thank you" she said with a little smile across her lips.
He simply nodded and without saying another word, he headed towards his car...he sat there and waited for her to leave before he left.
"There was something about him...an aura...a soothing one. she didn't see him clearly but she could tell he was good looking and he was also well spoken but... she promised..." Ayra thought
"Maybe I might never see him again...and that's way better"
- Writer
