Episode One
The night I met him, I wasn’t myself.
A few hours before, I’d walked in on my fiancé kissing someone else. In our apartment. On our couch. The same couch we picked out together like idiots in love.
I didn’t cry. I didn’t scream. I just left
Now it was a Saturday night, and the city was noisy as usual, cars honking, lights flashing, people closing their businesses and people leaving their work place to go home, people laughing and talking.
I had no real reason to be here, wearing a tight, short dress I wasn't used to, holding a glass of wine I couldn't really afford. But my best friend had told me to “get out and forget”, so there I was, standing at the bar in a fancy hotel, glasses clinking around me, feeling out of place, pretending like i fit in.
Then he walked in.
A tall guy, in a sharp black suit, with dark eyes. He looked dangerous, but in a way that drew me closer instead of pushing me away. I should have looked away. But I didn't.
He scanned the room and then stopped when he saw me. His eyes locked on mine, and he smiled. It wasn't a friendly smile. It was the kind of smile that said I wouldn't be going home alone tonight.
I swallowed hard. This wasn't me. I'm not the type of girl who flirts around with strangers or thinks about their hands on me. But my body wasn't listening to my brain.
He walked up and said,” It looks like you need another drink.”
I froze. No words came out. Me, a writer, lost for words. He was close now, close enough that I could smell him. Expensive. masculine. strong.
“Let me guess,” he said, still smiling." You don't do this often.”
“Do what?” I asked, my voice shaky, clutching my glass.
“Stand alone at a bar. Talk to a stranger. Think about breaking your rules for a night,” he said.
My chest felt heavy. I should've laughed it off.but something about him made me bold, which made me say something that surprised me.
“What if I want to break them?”
His eyes got darker, as if I had said the right thing. He leaned a little closer. “I hoped you'd say that,” he said.
He waved to signal the bartender.” Two glasses of Louis XIII,” he said.
I frowned. “I didn't ask for that,” I said.
“You didn't need to,” he said. “Trust me, that's better than anything else here.”
My cheeks became warm. He wasn't just talking about the wine, and I knew it.
When the drinks arrived, he raised his glass. “To breaking rules” he said.
I tapped my glass against his, and at this moment, my heart began to beat fast. “To one night,” I said, not sure if I meant it.
“One night can change everything,” he said softly, his eyes still stuck on mine.
My tummy felt funny. Who was this guy?
“What's your name?” I asked.
He smiled like he was playing around. “Does that matter?” he said.
“Yes," I said quickly. If I should trust you, I need to know.”
He laughed a little. “Alright, I'm Adrian,” he said.
Adrian. Even his name sounded like trouble.
“And you? He asked.
“Emma,” I answered.
“Emma," he repeated slowly. “Pretty name for a pretty girl.”
My heart started beating fast again.
“So, Emma,” he said, leaning closer. “What do you want tonight?”
I didn't know what to say. I wasn't even sure of what I wanted.
He came closer, his voice soft." Let's keep it simple. One night. No strings. No regrets.”
I let out a breath. My mind told me to be careful, but my heart wanted to see what would happen.” Okay,” I whispered.
He grinned, looking sure of himself. He held out his arm. “Let's go,” he said.
I stopped for a moment, my heart beating fast, my chest feeling tight. This wasn't like me. But maybe tonight I could try. I took his hand, and my skin felt warm when he touched me. I didn't know what would happen next, but I knew it wouldn't be simple. Adrian was going to change everything.
