Chapter 1
Aevia POV
The bass from the lower level echoed through the floorboards of Velvet & Ash, a low, subtle hum that felt more like a heartbeat than music. It was the city’s most coveted, hyper-exclusive restobar a dim, moody sanctuary of dark velvet, amber lighting, and crystal glassware.
“To Illiana! Happy birthday!”
I smiled, clinking my glass against theirs as laughter spilled over our corner booth. Illiana was glowing at the head of the table, having pulled endless strings just to book this private section. Beside her, Sunee was already snapping aesthetic photos for her feed, while Brielle giggled as she poured another glass of sparkling wine.
The energy around our table was bright and lively, but I couldn’t shake the strange, prickling sensation on the back of my neck.
Like dark, heavy eyes watching my every move.
I took a slow sip of my drink, letting my eyes drift up toward the private VIP mezzanine overlooking the main lounge.
Sitting in the shadows behind a smoked-glass railing was a man I had never seen before.
My chest tightened. He wasn’t drinking. He wasn’t talking to any of the high-profile guests in the room. He was simply sitting back in a leather armchair, a heavy crystal glass resting in his hand, his dark gaze locked directly onto me.
He looked less like a businessman and more like a dangerous secret. He wore a crisp black shirt with the top buttons undone, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms to reveal lean muscle painted in dark, intricate ink. A striking snake coiled around his left wrist, its fangs tucked just under his cuff, while a series of mysterious geometric symbols ran along his inner forearm.
“Aevia, are you even listening?” Sunee nudged my arm, laughing. “Illiana said the owner of this entire place is actually here tonight!”
“The owner?” I murmured, my eyes briefly darting back up to the shadow on the mezzanine.
“Yeah!” Brielle leaned in, whispering, “Word is, the guy is an absolute titan. He owns half the real estate and luxury towers in the country, but he opened this restobar just as a personal playground. He even cooks the private menu himself sometimes.”
“I need to use the washroom” I whispered, getting up before my heart could run away with itself. “I’ll be right back.”
I stepped away from the noise, making my way up the quiet side staircase toward the upper hallway. But as I rounded the corner near the private kitchen corridor, my heel caught on a wet patch of freshly polished marble.
I gasped, losing my balance completely—
A thick, hot forearm locked around my waist, catching me effortlessly before I hit the cold floor.
The scent of cedarwood, crushed rosemary, and expensive liquor hit me like a physical wave. I was pulled flush against a broad, solid chest, my hand instinctually reaching out to steady myself. My palm landed directly over the smooth, warm skin of his forearm right over the tattooed snake.
“Careful, soft girl.” a low, gravelly voice rasped right above my ear.
I looked up, my breath hitching in my throat.
It was him. The dark stranger from the mezzanine.
Up close, his presence was suffocating. Sharp jawline, dark eyes that looked almost pitch-black under the dim lights, and a cold, unyielding aura that made my pulse hammer against my ribs.
He didn’t let go. Instead, his dark eyes scanned my face, dropping to my mouth for a fraction of a second before rising back to meet mine. His grip on my waist tightened just enough to pin me gently against him.
“I... I didn’t see you” I breathed out, my voice trembling.
“Clearly.” His thumb brushed a slow, unconscious line against my hip through the fabric of my dress before his jaw set tight, catching himself. “You don’t watch where you’re going, do you?”
“Thank you for catching me,” I whispered, feeling the burning heat radiating from his hands. “I’m Aevia.”
A faint, dangerous shadow of a smirk touched his lips, though his eyes remained deadly cold. He slowly unclasped his arm from my waist, stepping back just enough to let the chill of the hallway rush between us.
“I didn’t ask for your name” he murmured, his low voice sending a shiver straight down my spine. “Go back to your friends, Aevia.”
I blinked at him, letting the cold edge of his words settle between us. Most people probably flinched when a man looking that intimidating used such an icy tone. But despite the dark ink coiling around his forearm and the sharp, dangerous angle of his jaw, I leaned back just a fraction of an inch, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You didn’t ask for my name” I said softly, a tiny, teasing smile touching the corner of my lips. “But it’s polite to introduce yourself to someone right after you practically wrap your entire arm around their waist.”
His dark eyes narrowed, his gaze locking onto my face with a heavy, dangerous stillness. “Is that what you call an introduction?”
“Well, you did save me from a very embarrassing floor-level meeting with this expensive marble” I replied smoothly, my voice calm despite the wild hammering in my chest. “So I’ll give you a pass on the bad manners, Mr. - I’m Aevia.”
A beat of absolute silence stretched between us. He didn’t blink. He just stood there, towering over me, his shadow completely swallowing the dim light of the hallway.
“You talk too much, Aevia” he rasped, though the muscle in his jaw flexed, telling me he wasn’t nearly as indifferent as he pretended to be.
“And you don’t talk enough” I countered gently, stepping around him toward the stairs. I paused just as I reached the top step, looking back over my shoulder with a cheeky smirk. “Thanks for the rescue. Try not to glare too hard from the balcony, you’ll ruin the ambiance.”
Before he could respond, I slipped back down the staircase, leaving the tall, dark stranger standing alone in the shadowed corridor.
When I sat back down at our corner booth, Sunee immediately leaned over, her eyes wide with suspicion. “Why is your face so flushed? Did you run into someone?”
“Just the floor,” I lied smoothly, picking up my water glass. “It’s slippery up there.”
“Right,” Brielle giggled, raising her glass. “Anyway, Illiana was just saying we should order the signature seared ribeye, but the server said it’s completely sold out for the night.”
“It’s fine,” Illiana smiled gracefully. “The birthday girl will settle for pasta.”
Ten minutes later, the head waiter approached our table carrying a large, silver-domed platter. The rest of the lounge fell quiet as he set it directly in the middle of our booth, lifting the lid to reveal four perfectly seared, dry-aged ribeye steaks garnished with fresh rosemary. Alongside it was a small, elegant bottle of vintage wine.
Brielle gasped. “Wait, we didn’t order this! The waiter said it was sold out!”
“Compliments of the house” the waiter said politely, bowing his head slightly. “The owner wanted to make sure Miss Aevia and her party enjoyed the evening.”
Sunee’s mouth dropped open, her eyes darting between me and the platter. “Miss Aevia?! Since when do you know the mystery billionaire who owns this place?!”
I froze, my hand hovering over my napkin. Slowly, my gaze drifted back up toward the VIP mezzanine.
He was still there, leaning against the glass railing. He held his crystal glass in one hand, his black shirt sleeves still rolled up to reveal the dark snake inked on his skin. As our eyes met across the dim room, he raised his glass in a slow, quiet toast—his face entirely emotionless, but his dark eyes burning into mine.
“I don’t,” I whispered to my friends, a small smile tugging at my lips as I took a slow sip of my drink. “He’s just making up for his bad manners.”
