One Night Stand

Chapter 1 : Just one night The music pulsed through the walls of the rooftop bar, vibrating like a second heart in Bella's chest. Lights flashed, laughter echoed and glasses clicked in celebration of Friday night freedom. She leaned against the counter, swirling the drink in her hand, not just savouring it, not really tasting it, just savouring the burnt it left in her throat She needed this. Just one night to forget everything. The stress of moving to a new city. The pressure of starting a new job on Monday. The loneliness that always crept in when the world slowed down. She wasn't looking for love. Not tonight. Maybe not ever. "Mind if I sit here?"a deep, smooth voice asked beside her She glanced up and froze. Tall, sharply dressed, with a jawline that looked like it had been carved by someone with strong opinions and sharp knife.He had intense eyes that flicked over her like he was trying to read something she wasn't out Loud. "Free country", she said, raising her glass. He smirked and slid into the seat beside her." You don't seem to enjoy your drink". "I don't look like I'm trying to ", she replied, arching a brow. That made him chuckle. "Tough week?" "Tough year", she said. He nodded, took a sip of his whiskey. "Same". The silence that followed wasn't awkward - it was charged, crackling. She didn't know his name. She didn't need to. She could already tell what type of night this could become. "No offense," he said suddenly, turning his body slightly towards hers," but you seem like a type who doesn't do this often". She smirked "Do what? Talk to attractive strangers? "No",His eyes darkened slightly. "Consider taking them home". Bella tilted her head, "Who said I'm considering that?" He didn't blink."Because if you weren't, you would've walked away ten minutes ago ". God he was right And maybe it was alcohol or the city lights, or the way his voice dipped just enough to make her stomach flip, but she didn't argue. "I don't even know your name,"she said quietly. He smiled "Do you want to?" "No," she whispered. He stood, offered her a hand. She took it. They didn't talk much in his car His hand rested on her thigh. Hers curled thighly around his. Her pulse pounded in her ears, anticipation humming under her skin like electricity. They barely made it through the door of his apartment before his mouth was on hers. Hot. Desperate. Like he'd been starving and she was the only thing that could satisfy him. She responded just as hungry, tugging at his shirt, fingers flipping in his hair. It wasn't love. It wasn't sweet. It was raw. Breathless.Wild. Clothes hit the floor. Skin met skin. And for few hours, nothing else existed. No jobs. No real names. No consequences. Just the heat. The morning sunlight streamed in, uninvited and bright. Bella stirred, groaning softly as reality seeped back in. Her head pounded,her throat dried. The unfamiliar room slowly came into focus- clean, minimal, masculine. And then she saw him, lying beside her, bare-chested, fast asleep. Her heart thudded once, hard. What did she just do? What did she just do? She slid out of bed slowly, careful not to wake him. Found her dress on the floor. Her shoes by the couch. Her purse- thank God. She didn't leave a note. She didn't say goodbye. Just slipped out the door like it never happened. Because that's what it was supposed to be. Just one night. Right ? Chapter 2: Right? "Right?" Bella whispered to herself as the elevator doors closed behind her. One Night. That's all it was supposed to be. No names beyond a first, no numbers exchanged, no reason to see him again. Just memory sealed in the dark city night. She repeated the word in her head as she walked down the street. Right? Right to leave. Right to feel this... emptiness? Or was it relief? She didn't know. Three weeks later. "Bella! Meeting in five minutes!" her supervisor called out. She groaned. Closing her laptop. Mondays were cruel enough this one had started with her spilling coffee on her blouse and her forgetting her ID card. Now a random team meeting. She grabbed her notebook and made her way to the 12th floor boardroom. When she walked in she paused. At the head of the table stood a man. Broad shoulders. Clean white shirt. Dark eyes that froze the room the moment they met hers. Her breath caught in her throat. No. It couldn't be. Not him. But it was Andres. He looked just as surprised for half a second then his face went unreadable. Her mind scramble from logic. What was he doing here? Why hadn't he said something that night? Why didn't she ask more? "This is Andres Vergara,"her manager announced."He's the new Senior Strategy Lead. He'll be overseeing cross-department collaboration on the Mitchell account. You'll all be working closely with him." Closely. Perfect. Bella forced her legs to move, choosing a seat far from him. But her eyes betrayed her. They kept flicking back, wondering if he would say something acknowledge her, nod, anything. He didn't. Andres remained calm, focused and professional. Like they were strangers. Like she hadn't woke up in his bed less than a month. After the meeting, she headed straight for kitchen. Her fingers shook as she poured water. She wasn't even thirsty. "Bella". His voice. "Hi," she said flatly, trying not to read into anything. "You work here,"he said, almost more to himself. She raised a brow. "So do you". There was a pause. Not awkward. Just heavy. "I didn't expect to see you again," he said finally. "Neither did I," she replied. Another silence. Then she added, "You could've said something." "I didn't think it was a right time. We were at the meeting." Her jaw clenched. "Right. Professional. He looked at her, unreadable as ever."You left. Without a number. Without a note." "That was the point,"she said, voice tight. A pause. "I know," he said quietly. He stepped back. "We'll keep it professional." She nodded."Good." But as he walked away, she leaned against the counter, heart racing. Because everything about him screamed unfinished. And this time, they couldn't walk away.