As I dance with Jared, our bodies moving to the rhythm, I steal another glance at Vincent. Our eyes lock for a moment, the intensity of his gaze sending a shiver down my spine.
It's a silent battle of wills, the charged atmosphere crackling between us like an electric current. I refuse to be the first one to look away, and I can feel the satisfaction swelling within me when he breaks eye contact first.
Jared twirls me around, laughing as I stumble into his arms. "You're really going all out tonight, aren't you?" he teases.
"Damn right," I retort, my heart racing with adrenaline and anticipation. "It's my birthday, after all." But that's not the only reason I'm pushing the boundaries tonight. No, it's more than that – it's about winning this power struggle against Vincent, the man who's
