Chapter 1 –
Sofia never liked crowded places. The constant chatter, the laughter, the smell of perfume mixed with alcohol—it always made her uneasy. But tonight, she had no choice. A party at Adrian Black's penthouse wasn't something one could simply skip, not in this city where appearances mattered more than reality.
Music thumped through the marble halls, vibrations rolling up through the floorboards and into her chest. She felt out of place in her simple black dress, clutching her phone like a lifeline, scanning the room for an exit she didn't want to find. That's when she saw him.
Adrian.
He leaned casually against the balcony railing, the city lights below casting shadows across his sharp features. Dark eyes, piercing and unreadable, moved slowly over the crowd, as if he owned every person, every moment. And then their eyes met. The effect was instantaneous—her heart skipped, and a shiver ran down her spine.
"You look… different from everyone else here," he said, voice low and smooth, a dangerous charm lacing every syllable. His smile was subtle, almost knowing, and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
Sofia blinked, caught off guard, fumbling for words. "I… uh, thanks," she managed, her voice barely rising above the music.
"May I?" he asked, motioning to the empty space beside him. There was a weight in his presence, magnetic and unsettling at the same time. Her instincts screamed caution, but she nodded. Something about him drew her in like a moth to a flame.
They talked. About music, about books, about the city lights sparkling below. Every word he spoke felt deliberate, carefully chosen, weaving a web she didn't realize she was stepping into. She laughed more than she had in weeks, and every time their hands brushed, a spark seemed to ignite.
But underneath it all, there was a shadow in his eyes, a subtle flicker of something darker. Sofia didn't notice it at first, but later, she would. Later, she would realize that some hearts are poisoned even when they smile, and some smiles hide storms capable of tearing everything apart.
As the night drew on, she caught herself staring at him, wondering how someone so perfect could make her feel both safe and terrified at the same time. And Adrian… Adrian didn't look at her like anyone else in the room. He looked like he could see right through her, like he knew all her secrets before she even did.
By the time she left, her chest ached with an emotion she couldn't name, and the echo of his last words lingered in her mind:
"You have no idea what's coming."
Sofia shivered. Somehow, she knew it wasn't a warning. It was a promise.
Continue.....