The choiceI shouldn’t have made.
1544 Words
Chapter 5
Layla’s POV
I didn’t know his name yet.
I didn’t know what family he belonged to.
I didn’t even know why my chest felt tight whenever his eyes landed on me.
But I knew one thing.
The moment he spoke to me, something inside me shifted.
It wasn’t just attraction.
It was recognition.
Like my body understood him before my mind could.
I tried to pretend I wasn’t affected.
Tried to act normal.
But my fingers tightened around my cup, and my heartbeat refused to calm.
“Relax,” Eunice’s voice came from behind me, smooth and light.
I turned.
She stood beside me again, smiling like everything was perfectly fine.
Like she hadn’t disappeared twice for mysterious calls.
Like she hadn’t been watching me all night as if she was waiting for something.
“You look tense,” she added.
“I’m fine,” I replied quickly.
She glanced at the man standing beside me, and her smile widened.
“Good,” she said, her tone almost… pleased.
Then, like it was the most casual thing in the world, she leaned forward and spoke directly to him.
“Hi,” she said brightly. “I’m Eunice.”
He nodded politely. “Alexander.”
Alexander.
The name rolled through my head, heavy and strange.
So that was his name.
Eunice turned to me immediately, grinning like she had just won a prize.
“Layla,” she said, “let’s not stand here like we’re at a funeral. Come on. We’re going to dance.”
I hesitated.
My throat felt dry.
I didn’t want to embarrass myself again.
But Eunice was already pulling me away before I could protest.
“Come,” she insisted.
I glanced back once.
Alexander was watching.
Not with a smile.
Not with curiosity.
With something deeper.
Something unreadable.
And for some reason, that look made my legs move even when my fear tried to stop me.
We stepped closer to the dance floor, and the music swallowed us whole.
Lights flashed.
Bodies moved.
The entire room felt like a living thing.
Eunice started dancing immediately, like she was born with rhythm in her blood.
I tried to follow.
At first, my movements were stiff.
Careful.
Controlled.
But Eunice clapped her hands and laughed loudly.
“No,” she said. “Not like that. Loosen up.”
“I am loosened up,” I muttered, embarrassed.
“You’re lying,” she replied bluntly.
She leaned closer to my ear.
“Tonight, you’re not your father’s daughter. You’re Layla. Just Layla.”
My stomach fluttered.
Just Layla.
I swallowed and tried again.
This time, I let the music lead me.
Left. Right.
My shoulders relaxed.
My hips moved naturally.
My breath steadied.
Eunice cheered as if I had just achieved something huge.
“Yes!” she shouted. “That’s it!”
Then she suddenly turned and waved at someone.
I followed her gaze.
Two men were walking toward us.
One of them was familiar.
Ragnar.
The man Eunice had mentioned earlier, like he was nothing important.
The other was… Alexander.
My chest tightened again.
Ragnar smiled widely, like he already knew what was going to happen.
Like he had a plan.
“Eunice!” he called, spreading his arms like they were close friends.
Eunice laughed and met him halfway.
“Ragnar,” she said sweetly.
Something about the way she said his name made my stomach twist.
Too smooth.
Too practiced.
Ragnar’s eyes slid to me immediately.
“Layla,” he said. “You look good.”
I forced a polite smile. “Thank you.”
He nodded at Alexander.
“And you,” Ragnar said, “you’ve been standing still all night like you’re too good for the party.”
Alexander didn’t react much. “I’m fine.”
Ragnar laughed.
“Not tonight you’re not,” he replied, then reached for the bottle in his hand. “Come on. One drink.”
Alexander glanced at the bottle, then at me.
And for a second, I thought he would refuse.
But he didn’t.
He took the cup.
Not because he couldn’t resist.
But because he didn’t want to look weak.
And something about that made my heart beat faster.
Eunice slipped closer to me and pressed my cup into my hand again.
“Drink a little,” she whispered. “Just to relax.”
I frowned. “Eunice, I’m already relaxed.”
She gave me a look.
“The old Layla would say that,” she replied. “Tonight, you’re not old Layla.”
Her words were meant to sound fun.
But something about her tone felt like pressure.
I hesitated.
Then I took a small sip.
Not too much.
Just enough.
Warmth spread through me.
Not dizziness.
Not confusion.
Just warmth.
I stayed aware.
In control.
That mattered.
Ragnar watched me, then looked at Eunice like they were silently communicating.
Eunice nodded subtly.
My stomach turned again.
What was that?
Why did it feel like they were… coordinating?
Before I could think too hard, Eunice clapped her hands and shouted over the music.
“Partners!”
I blinked. “What?”
“We’re choosing partners,” she repeated, smiling too brightly.
I stepped closer to her quickly, hoping she meant we would dance together.
But Eunice didn’t move toward me.
Instead, she took a deliberate step away.
Right into Ragnar’s space.
And then she pushed me — gently but clearly — toward Alexander.
“Dance with him,” she whispered.
I froze.
“Eunice—”
“Go,” she insisted. “Don’t be shy.”
My face heated.
My heart pounded.
I looked at Alexander, unsure what to do.
He didn’t reach for me.
He didn’t grab me.
He simply held out his hand — calm, patient, giving me the choice.
That single action changed everything.
Because it wasn’t force.
It wasn’t pressure.
It was an invitation.
My fingers trembled slightly as I placed my hand in his.
His palm was warm.
Steady.
We moved slowly at first, not too close, not too intense.
Just… swaying.
But the longer we moved, the more natural it became.
His hand settled lightly at my waist — careful, respectful.
I could feel the space he left for me to breathe.
To decide.
To pull away if I wanted.
I didn’t pull away.
I didn’t know why.
Maybe it was because no one had ever held me like I mattered.
Maybe it was because for once, I didn’t feel like a prisoner.
I felt… chosen.
Ragnar’s voice cut into the moment.
“Come on, man! You’re dancing like you’re at a business dinner.”
Eunice laughed loudly.
“Yes!” she agreed. “Do more!”
I looked toward them.
Eunice and Ragnar were dancing too, but their energy wasn’t playful.
It felt… focused.
As if they were watching us, measuring our reactions.
Eunice even lifted her phone for a second, like she wanted to record.
I stiffened instantly.
My eyes snapped to her.
She paused, then lowered it quickly like it was nothing.
“Relax,” she said, laughing. “It’s just for memories.”
But the way she said it didn’t feel innocent.
Alexander’s gaze followed mine.
He noticed it too.
I could tell.
He leaned slightly closer and spoke softly near my ear.
“You don’t look comfortable.”
My heart raced.
He had noticed.
I swallowed. “I’m fine.”
He studied my face for a moment, then nodded slowly.
“Tell me if you want to stop,” he said.
That sentence alone made my throat tighten.
Because no one had ever said that to me.
Not my father.
Not anyone.
Only him.
The music shifted into something slower, heavier.
The lights dimmed slightly.
The crowd pressed in.
And for a moment, it felt like the entire room disappeared.
Like it was just me and him.
Eunice leaned close to Ragnar again, whispering something I couldn’t hear.
Ragnar’s mouth curved into a satisfied smile.
Then he stepped closer to Alexander, speaking like a brother giving advice.
“There’s a private room over there,” Ragnar said casually, pointing toward a hallway near the bar. “If you two want some peace. Just to talk. It’s quieter.”
My stomach flipped.
I looked at Eunice immediately.
She smiled at me.
Too sweet.
Too encouraging.
“Go,” she mouthed.
I hesitated.
My heart screamed caution.
But my curiosity screamed louder.
Alexander didn’t pull me.
He didn’t drag me.
He simply looked at me, waiting for my decision.
“Do you want to?” he asked quietly.
Not demanding.
Not assuming.
Asking.
I swallowed hard.
I should have said no.
I should have turned around, grabbed Eunice’s hand, and left.
But I didn’t.
Because I wanted one thing more than I feared consequences.
I wanted to feel like my life belonged to me — even if only for one night.
I nodded.
“Just… for a minute,” I whispered.
Alexander’s hand tightened gently around mine.
And we walked toward the hallway.
Behind us, Eunice and Ragnar watched.
Eunice’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Ragnar’s expression looked like victory.
And I didn’t notice the small black camera tucked into the corner of the hallway ceiling…
quietly recording everything.
- Writer
