Chapter Two - Eclipse
1042 Words
**Aria**
If Maya had told me I was dressing for battle, I would have believed her.
She stood behind me in my walk-in closet, arms folded across her chest, studying my wardrobe like a general preparing for war.
"No."
She tossed another dress onto my bed.
"No."
Another one.
"Absolutely not."
I raised an eyebrow.
"That one's black."
"It looks like you're attending a board meeting."
"It was expensive."
"It can be expensive and boring."
I leaned against the doorway, sipping a glass of red wine while she continued dismantling my closet with alarming enthusiasm.
"You know," I said, "most people ask before redecorating someone else's bedroom."
"I'm not redecorating."
She disappeared into the wardrobe.
"I'm saving your social life."
"My social life isn't in danger."
She poked her head back out.
"It flatlined six months ago."
I couldn't even argue.
Instead, I wandered toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Sandton glittered beneath the night sky, thousands of lights stretching toward the horizon. Somewhere down there people were laughing, celebrating, falling in love...
...and I would have been perfectly happy staying exactly where I was.
"Aha!"
Maya emerged triumphantly, holding a garment bag.
"Oh no."
"Oh yes."
She unzipped it with a flourish.
The blouse was breathtaking.
Midnight black silk skimmed the body before falling effortlessly to the hips. The neckline was elegant, the back almost completely open, and a daring drop on the chest showing just enough skin.
"I bought this for your birthday," Maya said.
"You also bought me noise-cancelling headphones."
"I know my audience."
I ran my fingers over the silk.
"I've never worn it."
"Exactly."
"It seems..."
She smiled knowingly.
"Too much?"
I nodded.
She stepped closer, her expression softening.
"Aria... you spend every day making yourself smaller than your accomplishments because you don't like attention."
"I don't."
"But this blouse paired with jeans that hug your perfect ass and 7 inch heels…isn't about attention."
She rested a hand on my shoulder.
"It's about confidence."
---
An hour later I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.
My black hair fell in loose waves over one shoulder. My makeup was subtle, highlighting my electric-blue eyes without overpowering them. Silver heels completed the look, while the my jeans did hug my ass perfectly!
I looked...
Powerful.
Beautiful, even.
It felt strange.
"You clean up nicely," Maya teased.
"I always clean up nicely."
"You know what I mean."
I rolled my eyes, grabbing my clutch.
"If tonight ends with me listening to someone explain cryptocurrency over a martini, I'm blaming you."
She laughed.
"Deal."
---
Eclipse was exactly the kind of place I usually avoided.
Luxury cars lined the entrance while sharply dressed couples disappeared beneath towering glass doors framed by cascading lights.
The bass from the music pulsed through the pavement before we even stepped inside.
Crystal chandeliers hung above a sea of moving bodies.
The air smelled of expensive perfume, polished wood and champagne.
Maya breezed past the queue with the confidence of someone who knew everyone.
"We have a VIP reservation," she told the hostess.
Within moments we were being escorted upstairs to a private balcony overlooking the dance floor.
I had to admit...
The view was spectacular.
"You don't hate it," Maya observed.
"I don't love it."
"I'll take that as progress."
A waiter appeared with champagne.
I accepted a flute.
Mostly because it gave me something to do with my hands.
For the first hour, the evening was surprisingly enjoyable.
We laughed.
Shared embarrassing university stories.
People-watched.
I even danced once, though I'd deny it under oath.
Then Maya suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
"Oh."
I followed her gaze.
"What?"
Her grin spread slowly.
"I know that look."
"What look?"
"The one that says you're about to dare me to do something I’ll hate.“
She pointed discreetly toward the bar below.
"See the man in the black shirt?"
I sighed.
"I already don't like where this is going."
"Just look."
Against my better judgment...
I did.
He stood alone at the far end of the bar.
One hand wrapped around a tumbler of whiskey.
Broad shoulders stretched the black fabric of his shirt as though it had been tailored for him alone. Dark tattoos disappeared beneath sleeves rolled to his forearms. Thick, untamed dark hair looked as though he'd run his fingers through it one too many times.
Even from this distance I could see the slight bend in his nose.
Broken maybe once or twice.
His face belonged on the cover of a men's fashion magazine.
His expression belonged on a wanted poster.
He wasn't smiling or talking.
He simply watched the room with quiet intensity.
Oddly...
People gave him space.
Not intentionally.
Just enough that no one lingered too close.
"What do you think?" Maya asked.
"I think he looks like he'd just burried a body before breakfast."
She burst into laughter.
"Exactly."
"No."
"I haven't asked anything yet."
"You were going to."
She leaned closer.
"I dare you."
"There it is."
"Go talk to him."
I stared at her.
"Absolutely not."
"Five minutes."
"No."
"You've stared down international hackers without blinking."
"They don't have shoulders like that."
She laughed so hard champagne nearly came out of her nose.
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
She nudged my arm.
"What are you afraid of?"
I looked back toward the man.
He hadn't moved.
Hadn't checked his phone.
Hadn't looked around.
He simply sat there, as if the entire nightclub existed somewhere beyond his interest.
"I am not afraid."
"Then prove it."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You are unbelievably annoying."
"I've been told."
I sighed dramatically.
"If I do this..."
"You'll finally have a fun story."
"I already know how this ends."
"How?"
"I'll say hello."
"He'll ignore you."
"I'll come back."
"You'll tell me I was right." She smiled.
"Or..."
I looked at her.
"...you'll surprise yourself."
I glanced toward the mysterious stranger one last time.
He chose that exact moment to lift his whiskey to his lips.
For reasons I couldn't explain...
Something in my chest tightened.
Not fear or attraction.
Just...curiosity.
I set my champagne flute on the table.
"You owe me brunch."
Maya's smile turned positively wicked.
"Oh, honey..."
"I know."
"You have absolutely no idea what you're walking into."
- Writer
