Between Two Kings

Chapter 8

The club was alive in a way Catherine had never experienced before.

Loud music spilled out from the club doors in waves, mixed with laughter, chatter, and the distant rhythm of people completely lost in the night. The lights outside flickered in different colors, reflecting off cars, faces, and the glossy pavement, setting the tone before they even walked in.

Catherine hesitated slightly.

Her fingers tightened around the small purse in her hand as she looked toward the entrance. People moved in and out confidently, like this was their world... like they belonged here.

Unlike her.

Annie noticed immediately.

"Don't even start," she said, grabbing Catherine's wrist gently. "You already agreed. No backing out now."

Catherine let out a soft breath. "I'm not backing out... I'm just—"

"Nervous?" Annie finished, raising a brow.

Catherine gave a small nod.

Annie smiled, her expression softening. "That's normal. But trust me, once you get in there, you'll be fine."

Before Catherine could overthink it any further, Annie pulled her along.

When they got in,the place was already quite crowded with both men and women.

She looked around and saw that the place was filled with all sorts of different people.

There were some wild and dangerous-looking people with lots of tattoos and piercings,she also saw some better looking people in business suits. People laughed freely, danced without hesitation, and moved like nothing else mattered in that moment.It felt like a different world.

"Come on," Annie said, leaning close so she could be heard over the music. "Let's get a drink first."

Catherine nodded, letting herself be guided through the crowd.

They reached the bar, where the energy was just as intense, but more controlled. People leaned against the counter, talking, flirting, sipping their drinks like they had nowhere else to be.

Annie slid onto one of the stools and turned to Catherine. "What are you having?"

Catherine blinked. "I... don't know."

Annie laughed lightly. "Of course you don't. Okay, I'll pick for you."

She turned to the bartender and ordered quickly, then leaned back casually like she did this every day.

The drinks arrived, and Annie pushed one toward Catherine.

"Just take a sip first," she said. "You don't have to rush it."

Catherine nodded, lifting the glass carefully. She hesitated for a second... then took a small sip.

The taste was unfamiliar, slightly sharp, but not as bad as she expected.

Annie watched her closely. "Well?"

"It's... okay," Catherine admitted.

"See?" Annie grinned. "We're making progress already."

They stayed at the bar for a while, talking, laughing, letting the drinks slowly ease Catherine's nerves. With each passing minute, the tightness in her shoulders faded, replaced by something lighter. She found herself smiling more.Laughing without thinking.

And for once...She wasn't worried about anything.Mot work,not responsibilities.

After a while, Annie stood up, grabbing Catherine's hand. "Alright. That's enough sitting. Let's dance."

Catherine's eyes widened slightly. "Dance?"

"Yes, dance," Annie said, already pulling her along. "Don't tell me you're backing out now."

Catherine let out a small laugh. "I didn't say that."

"Good," Annie replied.

The dance floor was alive.Bodies moved in rhythm with the music, completely lost in it. The lights flashed faster here, matching the beat, creating a blur of color and motion that made everything feel unreal.At first, Catherine felt out of place.Her movements were small and unsure.

But Annie didn't let her stay that way.

"Relax," she said, moving effortlessly beside her. "Stop thinking. Just feel the music."

Catherine tried.

Slowly, she let go.

Her body began to move more naturally, her hesitation fading with each passing second. The music wrapped around her, pulling her in. Her head tilted back slightly as Annie said something she could barely hear over the music, yet somehow understood anyway. Her body moved more freely now, her earlier hesitation completely gone. The drink she had taken earlier still lingered softly in her system, warming her, loosening the tight control she always held over herself.

Annie noticed immediately and laughed. "That's it girlllll!"

Catherine shook her head, laughing too, her hair moving slightly as she danced. For the first time in a long time, she wasn't holding herself back.

For once, she was not thinking about responsibilities.

For once, she was not worrying about tomorrow.

For once...

She felt alive.

"See?" Annie leaned closer, grinning. "I told you you'd love it."

Catherine shook her head, smiling, her hair brushing lightly against her shoulders as she moved. "Okay... maybe you were right."

"Maybe?" Annie laughed. "Give me my full credit."

Catherine laughed in response, her eyes shining in a way they hadn't in a long time.

Across the room, in a section reserved for those who did not belong to the crowd but owned it...

Alex sat still.

The noise, the music, the bodies moving around him—it all faded into nothing the moment his eyes found her. At first, he had not been sure.It had only been a glimpse.A flash of red in the crowd and a face that felt.....familiar.

But now...

Now there was no doubt.It was her.The same girl.The one from that night. The one who had somehow forced her way into his thoughts without permission... without reason.

And now she was here.Right in front of him. Breathing.

Laughing.

Moving like she had never known fear.

His jaw tightened slowly.

His fingers, resting against the arm of his seat, curled just slightly as his gaze followed her every movement with grave intensity.

She looked different tonight. The red dress clung to her body in a way that made it impossible not to notice her. Every curve, every step, every turn she made pulled attention toward her like she was unaware of the effect she had.

And that...

That irritated him.Because she truly did not know.She did not know how many eyes were on her.She did not know how exposed she was.She did not know—

His expression darkened the more.

She did not know how easily someone else could have been the one watching her right now.

The thought alone sent something sharp through him.

His grip tightened around the glass in his hand, the tension in his fingers increasing just enough to make the faintest cracking sound.

Still...

He did not look away.Not even for a second.

She laughed again.And something inside him shifted,It was subtle,but it was there.

A reaction he did not like.One he could control.

Because that sound...That soft laughter...It did something to him.Something that made his chest tighten in a way that had nothing to do with anger.And everything to do with something far more dangerous.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Why her?

Out of all the women he had seen, all the faces that passed through his life without meaning...

Why was it her?

Why did she stay?

Why did she linger in his mind this much?

Like something that demanded his attention whether he wanted to give it or not?

His breathing slowed deliberately, but his thoughts were not.They were locked on her.

Every movement.

Every expression.

Every detail.

As if he was memorizing her.

Again.

⸻

"Boss"

The voice came quietly from beside him, careful,cautious.

Alex did not respond.

The man hesitated before speaking again. "Should I—"

"No."he said with absolute authority.

Because whatever his man had been about to suggest...

It was no longer necessary.

Alex leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees now, his gaze never leaving her.

This was not a coincidence.

He did not believe in coincidences.

Not when it came to things like this.

Not when it came to people who stayed in his head longer than they should.

This was something else.

His eyes darkened as Catherine turned again, her body moving with the music, completely unaware of the storm she had just walked into.

And Alex did not like losing control.

But right now...

He was dangerously close to it.

Because for the first time in a long time...

He wanted something without understanding why.

And that alone made it worse.

His thumb brushed slowly against the rim of his glass, his gaze lowering briefly... then lifting back to her with something far more intense than before.

Catherine continued dancing with Annie, completely unaware that someone across the club had not taken his eyes off her for several minutes.

She was beginning to forget that she had never been to a club before. The loud music no longer bothered her, and the flashing lights no longer made her feel uncomfortable. She had finally relaxed enough to enjoy herself, laughing whenever Annie tried to copy her movements.

For the first time in a long while, Catherine felt free.

She smiled as Annie leaned closer and shouted something into her ear. Catherine laughed and shook her head, still moving to the music.

Then, after a few more minutes, she felt the need to step away.

"I need to use the bathroom," she told Annie.

Annie nodded. "Go ahead. I will wait for you here."

Catherine gave her a small smile before making her way through the crowd.

She had no idea that the moment she turned away, Alex's eyes followed her.

He had been sitting quietly for several minutes, pretending to be interested in the drink in his hand. But the truth was that his attention had been fixed on her since the moment he recognized her.

He watched as she disappeared into the crowd.

Something inside him told him to stay where he was.

Another part of him told him to follow.

Alex ignored both thoughts for a moment.

He had never been the kind of man who chased after women. Women had always found their way to him, and he had never needed to make an effort. Yet this woman was different.

He did not understand why.

He only knew that he wanted to speak to her.

After a few seconds, he placed his glass on the table and stood.

His eyes remained fixed on the direction she had gone.

He walked through the crowd without saying a word to anyone, his tall figure making people move aside without him having to ask.

Meanwhile, Catherine had already reached the bathroom.

After washing her hands, she looked at herself in the mirror and smiled faintly.

She could hardly believe she had actually agreed to come to a place like this.

Annie had been right.

Maybe she really did need to loosen up once in a while.

She adjusted a strand of hair that had fallen across her face and took one last look at herself before stepping out.

She was still thinking about how different tonight felt when she turned the corner.

She walked a few steps.

Then suddenly—

She bumped into someone.

Her body moved backward slightly from the impact.

"I am so sorry," she said immediately, lifting her head.And immediately she did,

Her words stopped.

Her breath caught in her throat.

For a moment, she simply stared.

Those blue eyes.

That familiar face.

The same man who had appeared out of nowhere that night and saved her when she had been certain she was not going to make it home.

He was standing right in front of her.

Neither of them spoke.

The music from the club continued in the distance, but somehow it seemed quieter now.

Catherine's heart began beating faster.

Alex looked down at her, and for the first time that night, he was close enough to see every detail of her face.

He had remembered her eyes.

He had remembered her voice.

He had remembered the fear in her expression that night.

But seeing her this close was different.

She looked even more beautiful than he remembered.

Her blue eyes were wide with surprise, and the soft light from the hallway made her skin glow. A few strands of her hair rested against her cheek, and the red dress she wore made her stand out even more.

Alex said nothing.

He just simply looked at her.

Catherine became increasingly aware of the silence between them.

She swallowed.

"Are you okay?" she finally asked.

Alex blinked, almost as if her voice had pulled him out of his thoughts.

"I am fine."

His voice was the same one she remembered.

Deep.

Calm.

The kind of voice that somehow made her feel safe.

Catherine gave him a small smile.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't looking."

"You do that often?"

She looked at him in confusion.

"Do what?"

"Apologize for everything."

Catherine stared at him for a moment before a small laugh escaped her lips.

"Maybe."

Alex's lips moved slightly, almost forming a smile.

"You remember me," he said.

Catherine nodded.

"How could I forget you?"

Something changed in his expression when she said that.

It was small, almost impossible to notice, but Catherine saw it.

Alex looked away for a moment before returning his attention to her.

"I was wondering if you would remember."

"Of course I remember," she replied. "You saved me."

He studied her face.

"You look much happier tonight."

Catherine smiled.

"It is my birthday."

His eyebrows lifted slightly.

"Your birthday?"

"Yes."

"And you decided to celebrate by coming here?"

She laughed softly.

"My friend forced me."

"Your friend?"

"Yes. She is probably wondering where I am right now."

Alex glanced toward the direction of the dance floor.

"Then you should probably go back."

Catherine nodded, but neither of them moved.

There was another silence.

This one felt different.

It was not uncomfortable.

It felt as though both of them were waiting for the other person to say something.

Catherine looked at him carefully.

She had not noticed it the first time because she had been too frightened, but now she could see that there was something about him that was difficult to explain.

He looked powerful.

Yet there was something distant in his eyes.

Something that made her wonder what kind of person he really was.

"You never told me your name," she said.

Alex looked at her with a soft smile.

"Well you never asked."

She smiled.

"Then I am asking now."

For the first time that evening, a real smile appeared on his face.

"My name is Alex."

Catherine repeated it quietly.

"Alex."

He noticed the way his name sounded when she said it.

It was strange how something so simple could suddenly feel different.

"And you?" he asked.

"Catherine."

He was silent for a moment.

"Catherine," he repeated.

The way he said her name made her heart flutter unexpectedly.

Neither of them seemed to know what to say after that.

Catherine looked down for a moment, suddenly aware of how close they were standing.

Alex noticed the slight change in her expression.

He stepped back just enough to give her some space.

"You should get back to your friend now."

Catherine nodded.

"Yes. I probably should."

She took a step forward, then stopped.

"Alex?"

He looked at her.

"Thank you. Again."

His gaze remained on hers.

"You do not have to thank me."

"I know," she said softly. "But I still want to."

For a few seconds, they simply looked at each other.

Then Catherine smiled and walked away.

Alex remained where he was, watching her disappear into the crowd.

He had followed her because he wanted to understand why she had remained in his thoughts since the night he saved her.

Instead, he had only left himself with more questions.

Why did her voice sound so sweet to his ears?

Why did seeing her smile make something inside him feel lighter?

And why did he already know that he wanted to see her again?

Across the club, Catherine returned to Annie, who immediately turned toward her with a curious expression.

"You took forever," Annie said.

Catherine laughed nervously. "I bumped into someone."

Annie raised an eyebrow.

"Someone?"

Catherine glanced back toward the hallway.

But Alex was no longer there.

She turned back to Annie and smiled.

"Yes. Someone."

Neither of them knew it yet, but that brief conversation in a quiet hallway would become the beginning of something neither of them could have imagined.