After That Night

Star City — Hook Bar The noise coming from inside Hook Bar was enough to make Violet Cooper regret coming in the first place. Loud music shook the walls, while scantily dressed men and women danced beneath the flashing lights, seemingly oblivious to everything around them. The air was thick with perfume, sweat, and the unmistakable smell of alcohol, making her wonder how anyone could stand being in such a place. Yet, despite her growing discomfort, Violet lifted her chin and walked inside. She had come too far to turn back now. Taking a deep breath, she folded her arms and glanced around the crowded bar. This was her first time visiting a place like this, and her youthful appearance made her stand out more than she would have liked. She wasn't accustomed to this kind of environment, but she refused to let anyone notice her uneasiness. If she was going to do this, she might as well do it properly. Her heart pounded as she moved through the crowd, her steps slow and deliberate. The red sleeveless gown she wore hugged her figure, revealing her thighs and drawing the attention of several men as she passed. Some openly admired her, while others whispered to one another, their eyes following her every movement. A few women glanced at her with poorly concealed envy. Violet noticed every stare, even though she pretended not to. For the first time in a long while, she was experiencing what it felt like to be desired, and the sensation was strangely thrilling. There was something satisfying about knowing she could attract attention simply by walking into a room. At the same time, the intensity of those lingering gazes made her uncomfortable, leaving her caught between enjoying the attention and resenting the men who seemed to think they were entitled to her. "This prostitute would be good in bed. She's still fresh." The comment came from a drunken man sitting nearby. Violet's expression darkened. She turned her head slightly, narrowing her eyes at him, but she didn't bother responding. His words were disgusting, and she had half a mind to give him a piece of her mind. However, she reminded herself why she had come here in the first place. She wanted attention. She wanted attraction. And more importantly, she wanted to prove something to herself. She wasn't here to sell herself to anyone, and no man's crude assumptions would change that. Before she could move any farther, another drunken man stepped directly into her path. He looked her up and down with a shameless grin, his breath heavy with alcohol. "How much for a night with you, baby girl?" He reached toward her arm as though he had every right to touch her. "Excuse me!" Violet pushed his hand away and stepped around him, shooting him a cold look that made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. The man muttered something under his breath, but she was already walking away. She had expected attention, but she hadn't anticipated how quickly it would become irritating. There was a difference between being admired and being treated as though her appearance gave strangers permission to disrespect her. Nevertheless, she refused to let the experience ruin her plans. The red dress had done exactly what she had hoped it would. It accentuated her figure, complemented her complexion, and gave her an unfamiliar sense of confidence. She felt beautiful in it, perhaps more beautiful than she had allowed herself to feel in years. If people wanted to stare, they could stare. She wasn't going to hide herself simply because they couldn't behave. Violet adjusted the hem of her dress and continued through the bar, keeping her back straight and her chin raised. Although the smell of alcohol made her wrinkle her nose, she forced herself to remain composed. She had made a decision before coming here, and she wasn't about to abandon it because the place was unpleasant. She was here to free herself from her fiancé. And, as far as she was concerned, cheating on him was the best way to do it. The thought alone brought a bitter smile to her lips. She wasn't merely planning to betray him. She intended to enjoy herself while doing it. After everything he had put her through, she wanted him to understand that he wasn't the only person capable of making choices that could hurt someone else. Perhaps it was reckless. Perhaps she was allowing her pain to make decisions she would later regret. But right now, she didn't care. She had spent far too long swallowing her feelings, pretending everything was fine when it was anything but. She was tired of being the woman who endured everything in silence, and she was done allowing her fiancé to dictate the terms of her happiness. This was her way of taking back control, even if it meant making a mess of her own life in the process. More than anything, she wanted to look him straight in the eyes and tell him that he no longer had the power to hurt her. No one dares Violet Cooper. The words echoed through her mind, strengthening her resolve. However, there was one small problem. Although she had come to Hook Bar intending to cheat on her fiancé, she had no intention of spending the night with just any man who happened to show an interest in her. The drunken men who had already approached her were the last people she wanted to entertain. If she was going to do this, she wanted someone young, handsome, and confident enough to match her own fiery personality. Someone who wouldn't immediately fall at her feet simply because she smiled at him. Someone who could meet her gaze without looking intimidated and hold a conversation without making her regret starting one. In short, she wanted a man who would make the experience worth remembering. Violet bit her lower lip as her eyes moved across the room, searching for a suitable target. She studied the men sitting at the bar, dismissed a few who appeared too old for her taste, and ignored another who was already watching her with an unsettling grin. Then her gaze landed on him. A man sat alone at the far end of the room, seemingly untouched by the noise and chaos surrounding him. Unlike the others, he wasn't busy drinking with friends or attempting to attract the attention of the women passing by. He simply sat there, his presence somehow commanding attention without requiring any effort. Violet slowed her steps. Now, that's more like it. A small smile crept across her face as she examined him from a distance. He looked exactly like the kind of man she had been searching for, and the fact that he appeared uninterested in everything happening around him only made her more curious. Perhaps Hook Bar wasn't such a terrible idea after all. Taking another deep breath, Violet adjusted her dress and headed toward him, trying to appear far more confident than she actually felt. However, the moment she got close enough to see his face clearly, her confidence nearly deserted her. He was devastatingly handsome. His features were sharply defined, his jaw firm, and his blue eyes so striking that Violet found herself staring a second longer than she had intended. There was something about him that made the other men in the bar seem unremarkable by comparison. For a brief moment, she forgot the music, the crowd, and even the reason she had come there. Then she remembered herself. She had approached him for a reason, and she wasn't going to let a handsome face make her lose her nerve. "Hey," she greeted him, fluttering her eyelashes as she offered him what she hoped was an irresistible smile. The man lifted his eyes toward her. For a moment, he appeared to be expecting someone else. But when he realized the woman standing before him wasn't the person he had been waiting for, his expression changed. His face hardened, and an unmistakable air of displeasure settled around him. He gave Violet another glance, taking in her red dress and the amount of skin it revealed before looking away. Unbelievable. Of all the women who could have approached him that evening, it had to be someone like her. The dress was revealing, her smile was unmistakably flirtatious, and her intention seemed obvious enough to him. He had no interest in entertaining a woman who appeared to be trying so hard to get his attention. He had been waiting for someone else, someone quieter and far less exhausting. Not her. His jaw tightened as he returned his attention to his drink. Women like this always wanted something. Money, attention, validation—whatever they thought a man like him could provide. And judging by the way she was looking at him, she was probably no different. He had no intention of finding out. Unfortunately for him, Violet didn't seem to understand the meaning of being ignored. Instead of taking the hint and walking away, she remained where she was, studying his face as though his obvious disinterest were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. He could feel her gaze on him. It irritated him. A few seconds passed, and he finally glanced up again, expecting to find her gone. Instead, she was still standing there, looking at him with an expression that was equal parts curiosity and determination. His brows drew together. Why wasn't she leaving? And why, despite his irritation, had he begun paying so much attention to her? He quickly dismissed the thought. There was nothing interesting about the woman standing before him. She was simply persistent, and he had encountered more than enough persistent women to know that acknowledging them only encouraged them. He looked away again, deliberately refusing to give her another opportunity to speak. Violet, however, wasn't ready to surrender. She had always known how to flirt when she wanted to, but this man was proving to be a different challenge altogether. Most men would have been eager to entertain her by now, yet he behaved as though her presence were an inconvenience he couldn't wait to get rid of. It was annoying. It was also strangely intriguing. Violet had come to Hook Bar looking for someone who wouldn't fall at her feet the moment she approached him. Now that she had found exactly that, she wasn't about to abandon the opportunity simply because he wasn't making things easy for her. If one approach didn't work, she would try another. With that thought in mind, she moved closer to the table and pulled out a bar stool. Before the man could object, she sat down opposite him, resting her hands on the counter as she studied his handsome face. Up close, his blue eyes were even more mesmerizing. Violet fought the urge to stare and instead tilted her head slightly, arranging her expression into something softer and more inviting. If he wanted to pretend she didn't exist, she would simply have to give him a reason to acknowledge her. The man noticed her movement and slowly turned his eyes toward her. His expression remained cold. "Can I help you with something?" he asked, his voice flat and impatient. Violet's smile widened slightly. Finally. He speaks. She leaned forward just enough to make her question sound more personal, then softened her voice into the sweetest, most feminine tone she could manage. "Please, I'm looking for the hotel. Could you show me the way?"