6

XADEN

I nursed my drink, the liquid warming my palms as I gazed into the crowd, all up in my head, trying to drown my sorrows. 

I felt a nudge below the stool. At first, I thought it was just the nail on the stool that was catching my trousers, so I shifted my leg to adjust my position. But then, I felt the tug again - a gentle tug on my trousers. I looked down, annoyed, expecting to see a stray thread and misplaced nail. And that's when I saw her - a small, curious face peeking out from beneath the stool, her big green eyes gleaming, a little smile gracing her lips. She was the one tugging on my trousers.

I placed my cup back on the table, my mind foggy from the alcohol. I glanced around the room, scanning the sea of faces to see if anyone was missing their little one. How did this kid even end up here? Who would be so irresponsible to let their child wander around in a setting like this? The bar was no place for a kid, with its loud music and rowdy patrons.

My gaze returned to the kid, who was still tugging on my trousers. I sighed, wondering what to do. I wasn't exactly the most responsible person myself, but even I knew that a kid didn't belong here. I hesitated for a moment, then reached down to gently pry the kid's fingers loose. "Hey, little one, where're your parents?" I slurred, trying to sound friendly. 

The kid just looked up at me with those big, round eyes, sparkling like emeralds. And in that instant, I felt a spark in my chest - a softening, a melting. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was the alcohol warming my blood, or maybe it was the kid's aura of innocence, but something about that gaze reached deep inside me and tugged at my heartstrings. Whatever it was, it made me want to help, to protect, to make sure this little one was safe and sound. 

I frowned, feeling the tug again, this time tighter. I gazed down, seeing the same small kid, gazing up at me. She was still tugging on my trousers, her tiny fingers wrapped around the fabric like a vice. I felt a spike of irritation, but as I looked into her face, I couldn't help but be charmed. She was a tiny ball of energy, her curly hair bouncing.

As I crouched down to her level, my mind wandered to a strange place, a very strange place. I imagined having a kid of my own, one who looked just like her - curious and adorable. My face relaxed, and I felt a heat spread through my chest. It was a feeling I hadn't had in a long time, a thought I hadn't had in long while, something completely new to me.

"Hey, little one, are you lost?" I asked gently, trying to sound calm. The kid nodded, her eyes wide, but she didn't say a word. I wondered if she was okay, if she was scared. But as I looked into her eyes, I saw something there that gave me pause. It was as if we'd known each other before, and I couldn't quite explain it. When I took the kids' hands, a warm smile spread across my face, tendering the toughness in my heart. She smiled back, her eyes shining, and I felt my heart skip a beat.

There was something about this kid that drew me in, something that made me want to protect her, to care for her. I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs. What was I thinking? I was a bachelor, a loner. I didn't need a kid in my life. But as I looked back at her, I knew that I couldn't just walk away.

I asked again, "Do you know where your mummy is? Can you show me?" The kid nodded, and I picked her up from the ground, her tiny hands grasping my fingers. She pointed in a direction that seemed to lead nowhere, just a wall of bottles and glasses behind the bar. I wondered if she meant the other room, maybe a back area or a hallway. I started walking in that direction, the kid pointing and babbling excitedly.

As we turned a corner, I heard a woman's desperate cry greeted my ears. "Kaylee! Kaylee, where are you?" The kid squealed and wriggled in my arms, pointing towards the voice. I quickened my pace, relief washing over me as I saw a harried-looking woman rushing towards us.

"Oh, thank you so much!" she exclaimed, taking the kid from my arms and hugging her tightly. "Her mother has been worried sick!"

I smiled and nodded, handing her over. "Glad to help," I said, "but maybe keep a closer eye on her, huh? Don't want her wandering off again."

The woman nodded fervently, still clutching her child. "Absolutely, thank you again!" She hurried off, Kaylee giggling and waving at me over her shoulder. I watched them disappear into the crowd, feeling a fleeting ache of parting, like I'd briefly grasped something precious and now it was slipping away. I shook my head, a wry chuckle escaping my lips. Must be the alcohol whispering sweet nothings in my ear, I thought.

I dipped my hands in my pocket, strolling back to the bar, my gaze drifting aimlessly across the crowd. With the kid safely in hand, the mission was officially a success. But as I walked away, my mind slipped back into its old habit, consumed once more by the very same thought, the same memory of the woman who had caged me for years. Soraya.

I was starting to get lost in her thoughts, replaying our memories. 

Then, I heard a voice, that sweet serenity. Wait, what? No, she didn't just... Did she? No, I must be hallucinating. 

I whipped my head around, scanning the crowd, my eyes darting wildly as I searched for the source of that sultry voice. My heart racing, I spun around, my gaze raking over the sea of faces, desperate to find her. Where was she? Who was she? The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, teasing me, taunting me, driving me wildly insane.

The alcohol was definitely doing too much now. Hypnosis? Telepathy? What was the term for hearing someone's voice when they hadn't said a word? I racked my brain, trying to remember, but my thoughts were slow. This drink really was living up to its name: Death in the Afternoon. 

As I spun around, my heart racing like a wild animal, I thought to myself, “You're losing it, man. Get a grip.”

As I turned back, my brain seemed to freeze, my neurons screeching to a halt like a car slamming on the brakes, connecting the dots between my memories and the woman standing at the side of the counter. It was as if my mind was racing to catch up with my eyes, to process the hand-stopping shock of her presence. My thoughts stuttered, and then, like a key fitting into a lock, everything clicked into place.

My eyes had landed on her - the woman who had consumed my every waking moment. And there she was, in the flesh, as real as the breath I caught in my throat.

Her name escaped my lips, “ Soraya.”

My eyes devoured her. Her curly brown hair was tied back, catching the light. She was engrossed in conversation with someone, her green eyes gleaming as she spoke. My gaze roamed over her, drinking in the changes in her appearance. She wore a stunning red evening gown, its fabric hugging her curves in all the right places. I wondered what it would be like to hold her close again, what it would be like to touch her, to caress her skin, and to feel her body against mine. I remembered the way she felt in my arms, the way she moved beneath me…

"Soraya," I whispered. This was real. She was here. And I had no idea what to do next.

It took every ounce of restraint not to sprint towards her, to sweep her into my arms and never let her go. But I forced myself to move slowly, to play it cool, as I began to approach her. 

Right then, a man appeared out of nowhere, slithering his arms around her waist like a snake. He planted a possessive kiss on her cheek, and I felt a growl rise up in my throat. I gritted my teeth and tightened my knuckles, struggling to control my instinct. Who was this guy? And why was he touching her like that?

I slowed my approach, my eyes narrowing as I took in the scene. Soraya didn't seem to mind the guy's attention, didn't pull away or push him off. Instead, she laughed and playfully rolled her eyes, her smile radiant. 

I stopped in my tracks, unsure of what to do next. Part of me wanted to confront the guy, to tell him to keep his hands off her. But another part of me knew that would be a mistake, that it would only push her further away. So I stood there, frozen, as the guy continued to fawn over her.

As I gazed at Soraya, I got a clearer view of the man she was with. And that's when my world came crashing down. The man she was laughing and smiling with, the man who had his arms around her, was none other than Jeremy Blackwood. My arch-nemesis. The one person I hated more than anything in this world.