CHAPTER 2 — Strange Transaction
1829 Words
Lydia's POV
I lifted my chin, matching his stare. “Lydia.”
He lingered on the name for a beat too long. “Adrian Wolfe.”
The name sounded like it should have meant something to me. It sounded like power and influence but I didn't give him the satisfaction of flinching.
“Well, Adrian Wolfe,” I said, “I wasn't aware I needed your permission to exist in a public room. Or a semi-public one.”
“You don’t,” he said, his gaze hardening. “But it’s usually helpful to know your place before you get in over your head.”
I let out a quiet, dry laugh and set the champagne glass down on the table with a sharp sound. “Trust me, Mr. Wolfe. I am very aware of exactly where I stand.”
I turned back and walked away before he could get another word in. My heart was thudding against my ribs like a trapped bird, but I refused to look back.
“Rough start?”
A new voice, warm and surprisingly gentle, broke through my internal panic.
I turned and found a man standing by a large floral arrangement. He was the polar opposite of Adrian. Where Adrian was all sharp edges and cold shadows, this man was approachable. He had a kind face, light brown hair, and a smile that actually reached his eyes.
“You could say that,” I replied, trying to slow my breathing.
“I saw that exchange,” he said, stepping toward me. He didn't crowd my space, he just offered a friendly presence. “Don’t take it personally. Adrian has a unique talent for making people feel like they’re trespassing on his planet.”
“Is he always that 'charming', or did I just catch him on a good day?”
The man laughed, a genuine sound that made the room feel a little less suffocating. “That was a good day. I’m Sebastian, by the way.”
He held out a hand. I hesitated for a second, then took it. His grip was steady and warm.
“Lydia.”
“It’s a pleasure, Lydia. Even if the circumstances are a bit... abrasive.” He tilted his head, looking at me with a thoughtful expression. “You don’t look like you’re enjoying the party much.”
“Is it that obvious? I thought I was doing a decent job of blending in.”
“To most people, maybe,” Sebastian said. “But you have this look in your eyes. Like you’re waiting for someone to ask for your pass. It’s refreshing, honestly.”
I blinked, surprised by the bluntness. “Refreshing? Most people here seem to think it’s a crime.”
“Because they’re all trying too hard to impress each other,” he said softly. “You aren't. That makes you the most interesting person in this room.”
I felt some of the tension drain out of my shoulders. For the first time all night, I didn't feel like I was about to be caught.
“Well, this is a cozy little scene.”
The third voice was light, brimming with a sort of restless energy.
I turned and sighed. Apparently, I was a magnet tonight.
This man looked like he’d been born in the middle of a party and hadn't stopped moving since. He was handsome in a way that felt dangerous, not the cold danger of Adrian, but the kind of danger that involved fast cars and bad decisions. His bow tie was slightly crooked, and he held a drink like it was an extension of his hand.
“You two look far too serious,” he said, sliding into the conversation as if he’d been there the whole time. “Should I be worried? Is there a plot afoot?”
“No plot, Cassian,” Sebastian said, though he sounded more amused than annoyed. “Just meeting Lydia.”
The man, Cassian, grinned at me. It was a bright, infectious smile that felt like a trap. “Lydia. What a classic name. I like it already.”
“That was fast,” I said, crossing my arms.
He tilted his head, his dark eyes scanning my face with a playful curiosity. “I’m a fast learner. And I have a feeling there’s a lot to learn here. Have we met before? You look incredibly familiar.”
My stomach did a sudden, violent flip. The question felt less like a compliment and more like a probe. “No. I doubt it.”
His smile widened, turning into something a bit more mischievous. “The way you said that makes me think I’m right. Now I’m definitely interested.”
“I’m not an exhibit, Cassian,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.
“Of course not,” he purred. “Exhibits stay still. You look like you’re ready to run.”
He wasn’t wrong. Between Adrian’s judgment, Sebastian’s kindness, and Cassian’s prying, I felt like I was being pulled in three different directions.
“I should find my friend,” I said, backing away.
“Already?” Cassian teased, raising his glass. “We were just getting to the good part.”
“Don’t let them overwhelm you,” Sebastian added, his tone protective. “It was nice meeting you, Lydia.”
I didn't stay to hear anything else. I turned and pushed through the crowd, ignoring the curious glances from the socialites. I didn't stop until I was back out the glass doors and standing on the sidewalk.
The night air was freezing, biting at my exposed shoulders, but it felt like heaven. I leaned against a stone pillar, closing my eyes and trying to shake the feeling of those three sets of eyes on me.
“Never again,” I whispered to the empty street. “Nora can find a new plus-one.”
My phone buzzed in my purse. I pulled it out, expecting a frantic text from Nora asking where I’d gone.
Instead, it was a message from an unknown number.
Two words, Check your account.
My heart skipped. My first thought was a scam, or worse, a notification that I was officially overdrawn. With trembling fingers, I opened my banking app. I waited for the spinning icon to load, ready to see the red numbers.
The screen refreshed.
I froze.
My balance wasn't twelve dollars. It was thousands.
I scrolled down to my transaction history. My rent, paid. My electric bill, paid. My credit card debt, cleared.
Everything was gone. The weight that had been crushing my chest for months had vanished in a single click.
I looked back at the glowing hospital doors, the shadows of the people inside dancing against the glass.
“What the f**k just happened!!!“ I screamed in excitement mixed with shock.
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