Edinburgh to NYC

Dance the Night away

"George, do you know where Miss Howard is staying?" Jayden asked, his voice low and commanding.

"Sorry, sir, I don't know," George replied. After a heavy minute of silence, George added, "Do you want me to find out, sir?"

"No, no need. I'll do it myself," Jayden said. A smirk played on his lips as he closed his eyes, leaning back into the depths of his leather boss chair.

George didn't reply He clearly didn't like how much attention Jayden was giving Emma.

"I'm heading out," Jayden announced, standing up.

"Sir, may I know where? Just for your safety?" George asked, his tone neutral but probing.

Jayden paused at the door. "You don't need to know, George. And if you're worried about my safety... I am more than enough."

"Of course, sir," George said, his expression unreadable. Jayden left the cabin alone, the heavy click of the door echoing behind him.

---

Emma was already on her second shot when a deep voice spoke from behind her. "A glass of blood-red wine."

Emma turned, and her heart nearly stopped. Standing there was Jayden, looking entirely unexpected in the dim light of the club. Emma stood with her mouth agape. As Jayden took his glass and turned around, his eyes locked onto hers. He walked toward her with an effortless, predatory grace.

*I didn't realize he was this handsome,* Emma thought, her mind racing. *Never mind—why do I even care?*

"Miss Howard?" Jayden asked, raising an eyebrow with a slow smile.

"Oh! Uh, yeah... what? Were you asking something?" Emma stammered, trying to regain her composure.

"Nothing important," Jayden replied, his eyes roaming her face. "I just didn't expect to find you here. Well... do you want to dance?" He extended his hand toward her, an invitation that felt more like a challenge.

"Umm... yeah, sure," Emma replied with a confused, fluttering smile.

The air in the club was thick with heat and the pulse of a modern anthem—a seductive blend of velvet vocals and rapid-fire rap. The lyrics demanded they *“Dance the night away, stay young on the floor.”*

Jayden took her hand, and the atmosphere shifted. They didn't just move to the beat; they began a sharp, intense tango. Every step was deliberate, every turn brought them closer, their eyes never leaving each other as they moved through the crowded room like they were the only two people in it.

---

When the party finally ended, they stepped out of the club into the cool air, both breathless and laughing.

"I almost fell!" Emma cried, her laughter echoing off the brick walls.

"Maybe, but I didn't let you," Jayden replied, his own laugh deep and genuine.

Suddenly, Emma stopped. "Hey, look! It’s snowing."

As the first flakes began to drift down, Emma began to twirl near the fountains in front of the club. Jayden stood still, watching her. In that moment, the city, the lights, and the noise blurred into the background. All his focus was on her, his expression softening into something he had never felt before. He was falling, and he knew it.

Realizing the hour, he stepped toward her. "Hey, come on. I'll drop you at your place," he said with a sweet, rare smile.

"Thank you, but you really don't have to," Emma said politely. "I don't want to be a trouble."

"Miss Howard, it’s not a problem at all. It would be my pleasure," Jayden insisted.

"Umm... okay, sure. But remember, I have a name. It’s Emma," she said with a grin.

"Sure, Emma. Now get in the car; it’s freezing out here," Jayden said with a small laugh, opening the door for her. He walked around to the driver's seat of his Rolls-Royce and settled in.

"You really didn't need to do this," Emma said, looking at him as he started the engine.

"Hey," Jayden said, a familiar smirk returning to his face. "Just fasten your seatbelt. I drive fast."

---

Back at the hotel, Nell and Elena were finishing dinner in a tense silence.

"Elena, where is Emma?" Nell asked.

"I don't know, Mumma," Elena replied, her voice clipped.

"Oh? She didn't take you with her, dear?" Nell asked, her voice trailing off suggestively.

"No, she didn't," Elena muttered.

"So sad," Nell said, a slow smirk spreading across her face. Elena stopped eating for a moment, her eyes flashing with a hidden thought, before she forced herself to continue.

---

"Here you go," Jayden said, closing the car door after Emma stepped out in front of her hotel.

"Thanks, Jayden."

"My pleasure... Emma," he replied, the name sounding like a secret between them. "Hey, Emma? Do you want to go shopping tomorrow?"

"Yeah, why not?" Emma replied with a bright smile.

"Then I’ll pick you up from here."

"No!" Emma said quickly. "I mean... I’ll wait wherever you say, but you don't have to come all the way here."

Jayden studied her for a second. "As you wish. I’ll wait for you at Times Square. 10 a.m. sharp."

"Deal," Emma said.

"Goodnight, Emma."

"Goodnight, Jayden."

They both smiled as the door closed. Upstairs, Elena was standing at the window of their second-floor room. She had watched the entire exchange, her face twisted with annoyance.

"Elenaaaa!" Emma burst into the room, overflowing with excitement, and hugged Elena from behind. "I missed you so much!"

"Oh? It doesn't seem like you did," Elena said coldly, prying Emma’s hands off her and walking toward the bed.

Emma followed her, her heart sinking. "Jesus, what did I do? Anyway, whatever it was, I’m sorry—but I have so much to tell you!"

"I don't want to hear it, Emma. Please, let me sleep," Elena snapped, lying down and turning her back.

Emma’s excitement vanished in an instant. She quietly changed and lay down, staring at the ceiling. She replayed every memory from the morning, desperately trying to figure out what had made Elena so angry.

Across town, Jayden entered his mansion and walked straight to his room upstairs. George watched him from the shadows of the hallway. Jayden didn't notice him, but George remained silent, his eyes following his boss until the bedroom door clicked shut.