Want To Get Out Of Here?

The bar thrummed with low chatter, the clink of glasses mingling with the sultry hum of live jazz from a corner stage. Warm, amber light bathed the room, casting long, flickering shadows across polished wood floors. It was cozy, intimate—the kind of place where memories were meant to fade.

But Emma Winters knew better. Memories didn’t fade so easily.

She sat across from her sister, Evelyn, staring at the pale pink cocktail in her hand. Its soft, playful hue felt mocking, a sharp contrast to the ache coiling deep inside her chest.

She ran her fingertip along the rim of the glass in slow, absent circles, lost in the storm of thoughts she had tried for weeks to bury.

Liam.

Even now, his name was a wound that refused to heal. The image of him smiling at her, the woman Emma hadn’t even known existed until three days ago haunted her.

How did two years unravel so easily? And why, despite everything, did she still feel this hollow ache inside her?

Moving to Zeden was supposed to be a fresh start—a way to outrun the pain. But it lingered.

Emma inhaled sharply, shaking herself from the memory. She had to keep it together. Tonight was supposed to be about new beginnings.

“So…” She broke the silence, her voice softer than she intended. “This company I’m starting at—JB Enterprise. Do you know anything about the CEO?”

She lifted her drink and took a small sip, wincing at the unexpected burn. Stronger than she had anticipated, but maybe that was exactly what she needed tonight.

Evelyn tilted her head, swirling the amber liquid in her own glass. “Hmm. Not much. Only that he’s super private. No one really sees him. Not even his staff. Some say he runs the company through emails and his assistant alone.”

Emma frowned, gripping the stem of her glass tighter. “That’s… odd. He’s taken over the company after his father’s death, right?”

Evelyn nodded. “Yeah. Rumors say he’s a bit of a control freak and wants everything done the way he wants. But hey, it’s not like you’ll be working directly with him, right?”

Hearing Evelyn's question, a twist of guilt curled in Emma’s stomach.

'Actually, I will,' she said in her head.

She hadn’t told Evelyn the full truth about her job at JB Enterprise. She was the CEO’s secretary, a position she was taking under Ivy’s name.

It had been a reckless choice, but Emma had needed the clean slate. She wasn’t proud of it—but it was survival.

She opened her mouth, ready to explain but the buzz of Evelyn's phone on the table stopped her.

Evelyn took one glance at the screen, and her entire expression shifted. Gone was the teasing playfulness, replaced with something urgent.

“It’s the hospital,” she murmured, already standing. “I need to take this.”

Emma nodded, watching her disappear toward the back hall.

A few minutes passed, the cocktail glass untouched between her fingers, when Evelyn returned, her face apologetic.

“I have to go. Emergency call.” She hesitated, reaching for her purse. “Are you sure you’ll be okay here? I can drop you off before—”

“I’m fine,” Emma interrupted with a small smile she didn’t quite feel. “Go. Seriously. I’ll finish this and head home.”

Evelyn leaned down, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “Text me when you get back, okay? And call me if you need anything,” Evelyn said before leaving.

After Evelyn left, the bar suddenly felt louder with people laughing and chatting and yet, all she felt was the echoing emptiness in her chest.

She should leave. Go home, crawl into bed, and pretend she wasn’t hurting. Pretend she wasn’t lonely.

But instead, she took another sip of her drink, the warmth blooming in her throat dulling the ache—just a little.

“Mind if I join you?”

The voice, deep and smooth, cut through the noise like a low melody.

Emma’s head lifted immediately.

He stood at the edge of her table, tall and confident, with tousled dark brown hair and sharp features softened by a smile that was almost… careful.

His crisp white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled back to reveal strong forearms. But it was his eyes that held her attention. They were piercing blue, steady and watching her as if he could see straight through her walls.

Her heart gave a traitorous flutter and she swallowed.

“Uh… sure,” she said, gesturing toward the chair Evelyn had vacated.

He slid into the seat, offering his hand. “I'm Chris.”

She hesitated for a beat before placing her hand in his. His grip was warm, firm, lingering just long enough to stir something unfamiliar in her chest.

“Emma,” she replied, barely above a whisper.

The silence stretched for a heartbeat longer than expected. Not uncomfortable, just… charged.

“So,” Chris broke it, voice low and smooth. “What brings you here alone?”

“My sister was here,” Emma explained, forcing a small smile. “She’s a nurse. Got called to the hospital.”

Chris nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. “And you stayed behind because…?”

Her fingers curled tighter around the glass. Why was she being so honest with a stranger?

“I didn’t feel like being alone tonight,” she admitted softly. “I just moved here today and… I’m not sure how lonely it’s going to feel once I get home.”

The words felt too raw, but Chris didn’t flinch. If anything, his expression softened, his brows drawing together in quiet understanding.

“That makes sense. Moving somewhere new… it can feel like starting over. Harder than people think.”

Emma swallowed the lump rising in her throat. Why does he get it?

“Yeah. It wasn’t exactly planned either. I—” she hesitated, but something in his steady presence made her continue. “A friend offered me a job she didn’t want and I took it. I just… needed a change.”

Chris tilted his head, voice gentler now. “Running from something?”

Emma exhaled shakily. Stop. Say something light. Not the truth.

But instead, the words spilled out like a confession like she was under some sort of a truth spell.

“A bad breakup.”

Chris nodded, not pressing further. Just listening.

And for the first time in a long while, Emma felt… seen.

They talked for longer than she expected. The night stretched on, the conversation flowing effortlessly. Chris wasn’t just charming—he was thoughtful. Attentive. He asked questions, and listened to her answers like they mattered.

As the crowd began to thin, Emma’s heart felt lighter.

For the first time in days, the ache wasn’t so unbearable. Maybe she should throw caution to wind today and just let herself live, enjoy what it means to be free.

She thought and before she could second-guess herself or stop herself from saying what was on her mind, she leaned in, her voice quiet.

“Do you want to get out of here? I… I like your company.”