Office!

As I stood outside the office, a cocktail in hand, I hesitated before knocking on the door.

“Come in!”

The voice inside had already called me in, indicating that my new boss was well aware of my presence. It was no surprise, really, considering there were cameras everywhere. Feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation, I glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby and finally entered the room.

Closing the door gently behind me, I found myself in a dimly lit space. The darkness was suffocating, triggering my claustrophobia and causing me to tremble. Just as I began to struggle with my discomfort, a voice broke the silence and a light flickered on in the corner of the room, revealing my boss sitting in a chair.

"Do I make you nervous?" he asked, his voice cutting through the tension. I couldn't see his face clearly yet, but the sound of his words sent shivers down my spine.

"No, it's not you. I've always had a touch of claustrophobia since I was a child. No idea why," I rambled, realizing that I was babbling to my new boss.

“I think that it was growing up in the orphanage, we had small rooms and there were always too many of us sharing.”

Why would I tell him that?

He must think I'm a mess, taking forever to bring him a simple drink and now blurting out personal information.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize," he said, standing up and flipping the switch on the wall to illuminate the room fully.

Oh, he was referring to me being claustrophobic, not about being an orphan.

Relief washed over me as I stopped twitching and finally took in the full view of my boss, who now stood behind his desk, studying me intently.

I waited for him to speak, but the silence stretched on, making the passing seconds feel like an eternity. Then I found myself finding my voice, and remembering why I came in here in the first place.

"Here's your drink," I offered, hoping to break the tension.

A sense of apprehension swirled in my stomach as he nodded and gestured with a wave of his hand for me to take a seat in an empty chair. I felt intimidated, not only by his silence, but also by his captivating eyes that seemed to penetrate every part of my being.

"Ms. Rivers, I'm your new boss, Xavier Darkwood," he finally introduced himself, his slow nod implying he expected a reaction. "Technically, my brother Lucian Darkwood is, but I'm filling in for him due to unforeseen circumstances. I introduced myself earlier, but you were in the changing rooms at the time—"

"Sorry," I interjected suddenly, eager to acknowledge my lateness in case he wanted to address it.

“I’m so sorry, I was late. I’m not usually.”

He chuckled, “That’s what Nora said. I assume that you’re friends.”

Best friends.

But, I wouldn’t tell him that, I’d already said more than I should have said in a short space of time.

"It's not a problem. I simply like to get to know everyone who works for me," he reassured, finally shifting his gaze away from me and approaching where I sat.

"Sebastian has been the assistant manager for the previous owner, but I think I'll be making some changes," he continued, and I couldn't help but sigh, unsure of where this conversation was headed.

"Yes, I like to—" Before he could finish his sentence, there was a forceful knock at the door, indicating urgency. The bouncer, a new face I hadn't seen before tonight, burst in without warning.

"There's an issue. The crowd is getting too large, and we're on the verge of violating the safety code of the building," the tall, pale bouncer informed us.

"Stop letting anyone else in," Xavier commanded with a nod, as if they had some secret understanding. The bouncer swiftly moved aside and disappeared back into the club.

"You may leave now," Xavier said, turning my chair to face him directly. I contemplated whether I should stand or wait for him to move, but sensing his proximity, I decided to rise quickly.

In my haste, I nearly stumbled into him, yet he remained perfectly still as I sidestepped away. Just as I reached for the door handle, he spoke again, his words sending a tingle down my spine. "If you had fallen, I would have caught you."

What the hell?

With that, I closed the door and let out a sigh. There was an undeniable attraction between us, but I couldn't help but wonder if Xavier Darkwood, with his striking looks, would be seen as creepy if he didn't possess such magnetism.

Walking down the long hallway, descending the stairs, and returning to the club, I couldn't help but think to myself, He's not creepy. He’s hot.

Too hot, to be with someone like me.

I couldn’t keep him interested for him to stay. This was my issue, thoughts like that did keep men at bay, especially the likes of someone like Xavier Darkwood.

* * *

"You working tonight, Eva? I never checked the schedule," Nora chimed in, effortlessly strapping on her red heels to match her dress.

How the hell does she manage to look drop-dead gorgeous with zero effort?

Yet, I could never be jealous of her. I loved her too much for that.

“Nah, not tonight. I've got some serious thinking to do," I replied, sinking deeper into the sofa in my comfy PJs. The club had been acting all weird ever since Xavier took over. My shifts got slashed, and I needed the cash—bills ain't gonna pay themselves, you know? Besides, idle thoughts are a dangerous playground for me. I mean, it ain't the salary that keeps me going, it's those sweet tips.

I could rake in an extra hundred bucks on a good night. Missing out on two shifts meant missing out on a whole lotta moolah. Sure, I had some savings, but I didn't want this becoming a weekly thing. If I flunked my exams and had to find another job or move out, I'd be screwed. The college had some bizarre grading holdup this year, and the whole thing was giving everyone a major headache. They were tight-lipped about it, and it's been dragging on for weeks now.

"Come on, Eva. You've been going steady with Des for a year now. And seriously, screw school grades. What the hell am I supposed to do?" I sighed, feeling a tinge of sadness.

"Where did that come from? Did Des say something to you?" Nora inched closer, concern etched on her face. I shook my head. I had a feeling her silence meant she had something to spill.

"Well, you're right about one thing. Des and I talked, and we're thinking about taking things to the next level," she sighed, and I sensed a "but" hanging in the air.

"But here's the deal. If we move in together, he'll move into my place, but only if you're cool with it. I'd never kick you out, and—"

I cut her off before she finished her sentence. The sight of her staring at the floor was creeping me out. "It's fine, Nora. We can't be roomies forever." I gave her a tight hug, but deep down, I couldn't help feeling a twinge of nerves about the impending changes. What if I flunked my exams? What the hell would I do? Where would I go? I took a deep breath as she hugged me back, her internal struggle evident. I couldn't just keep dwelling on my own problems. I had to be there for her too.

She stood up, attempting a hasty exit, which was quite the challenge in those goddamn towering heels she was wearing. Her makeup seemed heavier than usual, which was odd. She was never one for caking it on. I shrugged as she called out that she'd pick up my paycheck and wished me a good night.

There was only one thing to do on nights like this, and it had been way too long. A visit to the casino seemed like a damn good idea. I had a little cash stashed in my bag, so I could afford to loosen up a bit tonight. I never played with my cards; it was all for pure pleasure, not for shitting my pants later, worrying about bills piling up from a losing streak. No, gambling was my guilty pleasure, not a pain in the ass and I planned to head there tonight.

Some people took drugs.

Some drank.

Some stole.

I gambled, I was only human, and I had my own addiction just like everyone else.