THE NIGHT SHE MEANT HIM
1540 Words
I didn't know where I was driving to.
I just drove.
My tears kept falling, hot and endless, blurring the road ahead. The steering wheel felt slippery under my palms.
“Julian…” My voice cracked inside the empty car. “ Why would you do this to me?”
The streetlights pass like fading memories.
“I believed you,” I whispered. “I defended you.”
His voice echoed in my head.
Roselie, I don't see anyone else when I look at you.
You’re my future.
I’ll always choose you.
I let out a broken laugh.
“Always?” I wiped my cheek angrily.
“Always lasted till the last six months”.
He hadn't even looked guilty when he ended it.
It's not working
That was all he said
No reason. No explanation. No closure.
“Was it Elise?” I asked myself, my chest tightening. “Did you leave me because of her? Were you already looking at her while you were kissing me?”
The thought made my stomach twist violently.
“Have you both been laughing behind my back?”
I hit the steering wheel. The horn blared loudly, but I didn’t care.
“Answer me!” I said to the air, but there was silence.
Then bright golden lights caught my attention.
A tall building stood ahead, glowing like something out of a movie. Luxury cars lined the entrance, sleek, expensive, intimidating.
I read the name out.
“VELVET CROWN”.
I knew that name.
“Why don't I go inside to relieve myself?”. I muttered bitterly. “My life is already ruined.”
The moment I stepped inside, cool air wrapped around me. The place smelled like expensive perfume and aged whiskey. Crystal lights shimmered above. Low music vibrated through the floor.
Conversations hushed slightly when I walked in.
A hostess looked me up and down. “Reservation?”
“No.”
Her smile tightened. “This is a private members' club.”
“I just want a drink.”
Before she could argue, a waiter leaned toward her and whispered, “Let her in.”
She hesitated.
Then stepped aside.
I didn’t know someone from across the room had just nodded.
I slid onto a barstool.
The bartender leaned forward. “What can I get you?”
“Something that burns.”
He poured me an amber liquid into a glass and gave it to me.
I swallowed it in one go.
His eyebrows shot up. “That’s a bit rushed.”
“Another,” I demanded, and I drank the second shot.
The burn slid down my throat and spread through my chest.
“Rough night?” he asked carefully.
“My sister is marrying my ex.”
He paused mid-wipe. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.”
“Give me another shot.”
I drank it while observing the environment.
Music grew louder. Laughter echoed from the VIP section.
“Maybe slow down,” the bartender said gently.
“Do you slow down when your heart gets ripped out?” I shot back.
The thought of it made my head feel lighter. The pain didn’t disappear, it just floated.
“Did he cheat?” the bartender asked quietly.
“I don’t know!” My voice rose. A few heads turned. “He just left. One day he loved me. The next day he didn’t.”
I muttered while drinking the fifth shot
“Was I that boring?” I whispered. “Was I too much? Not enough?”
“You don’t look like someone who isn’t enough,” he said softly.
The room tilted slightly.
Behind me, a deep voice said calmly, “That’s enough.”
The bartender immediately straightened. “Yes, sir.”
I turned trying to look for who owned the voice, but didn't see any.
In the VIP section, men in tailored suits sat with stiff posture. No one laughed too loudly.
And at the center… sat a man
He wore a dark suit. Sharp jaw. Eyes that didn’t wander.
They assessed.
Measured.
Owned.
“Who is that?” I asked.
The bartender swallowed. “Alessandro De Luca.”
“That rich one?”
“One of the richest.”
“And?”
“And the most dangerous.”
Dangerous.
He was watching me.
Not the dancers.
Not the crowd.
Me.
Heat crept up my neck.
“What?” I muttered under my breath. “Never seen a girl fall apart before?”
The music changed to soft piano.
Something inside me broke open.
“I need that mic,” I shouted trying not to be loud.
“What?” the bartender blinked.
“I need it.”
Before anyone could stop me, I walked to the stage.
A singer stepped down looking at me.
Well, he’ill think I'm crazy, but I'm not.
I stepped up to the stage, but the DJ tried to stop me.
“Miss…” the DJ said, but I ignored him.
“Play something slow.”
“Play it.”
The command came from the VIP section.
The entire club fell silent.
The DJ nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”
A soft piano filled the room.
I gripped the microphone. My hands trembled.
“Hi,” I said into it, my voice slightly shaky. “This one is for stupid promises.”
There were a few chuckles.
Then I began.
My first note cracked, but I had to continue.
I closed my eyes and started again.
This time it came from somewhere deeper.
“Why did you hold me close if you planned to let me go…”
The words weren’t just lyrics.
They were mine.
My throat tightened, but I didn’t stop.
“How do I breathe when forever was just for show…”
Silence filled the club.
No glasses clinking.
No whispers.
Just my voice.
Tears slipped down my cheeks. I didn’t wipe them.
I let them fall.
I sang about betrayal.
About loving someone who leaves.
About being replaced.
When I finished, my chest rose and fell heavily.
Two seconds of silence.
Then applause exploded.
Real applause.
“Wow!” someone shouted.
“She’s incredible!”
“Who is she?”
I blinked under the lights, dizzy.
For a second… I didn’t feel abandoned.
Then the alcohol rushed back.
The stage tilted.
I stepped down.
My heel twisted.
The floor rushed toward me.
Strong arms caught me.
One hand at my waist.
One steadying my back.
Warm.
Firm.
Unmovable.
“Easy,” a deep voice murmured near my ear. “Beauty… would you mind your step?”
The voice wasn’t loud.
It didn’t need to be.
I looked up slowly.
And forgot how to breathe.
Up close, he was unfairly handsome.
Dark eyes. Controlled expression. Power sitting comfortably on his shoulders.
His hand remained at my waist.
He didn’t rush to remove it.
“You’re real?” I asked faintly.
One corner of his mouth lifted. “Very real.”
“You’re… very handsome.”
“I’ve heard that.”
“And very scary.”
His eyebrow rose slightly. “Is that what they say?”
“They whisper it.”
His grip tightened just enough to remind me he was holding me.
“You shouldn’t be alone in this condition,” he said.
“I’m not alone,” I replied softly. “I have regret.”
His eyes darkened slightly. “Who hurt you?”
“My ex,” I said.
“What did he do?”
“He promised me forever. Then, disappeared. Now he’s engaged to my sister.”
His jaw shifted almost invisibly.
“That was foolish of him.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t need to.”
I stared at him.
“You own this place?”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” I blinked slowly. “Then sorry for stealing your stage.”
“You improved it.”
The people around us kept their distance.
No one interrupted.
No one dared.
His thumb brushed lightly against my waist as he adjusted his hold.
My heart was still broken.
But something else was happening now.
Something reckless.
“Why were you watching me?” I asked.
“You didn’t look like the others.”
“How?”
“You looked like you were about to either collapse… or start a war.”
I laughed weakly. “Maybe both.”
“What do you want right now?” he asked quietly.
I thought about Julian.
About Elise.
About being replaced.
About not being chosen.
“If he can replace me that easily…” I murmured.
His eyes sharpened. “Yes?”
“Then maybe I can replace him too.”
Silence thickened between us.
I looked at his face carefully.
Strong.
Unshaken.
Powerful.
A man no one walked away from.
“Tell me something,” I said softly.
“What is it?”
“Do you ever make impulsive decisions?”
“Rarely.”
“Maybe try tonight.”
His gaze didn’t leave mine.
I leaned closer, my breath brushing his collar.
“Hey…” I whispered.
“Yes?”
“You are very handsome…”
His eyes darkened.
“Can you be my fiancé?”
- Writer
