Jalen stood frozen in the dim hallway outside the ladies' washroom, with his ego bruised as he runs a hand through his hair in frustration.
No one... no one ever pushed him away like that.
He wasn't used to being denied. He wasn't used to feeling... anything that wasn't cocky confidence or detached amusement. But here he was chest tight, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.
"What the hell was that?" he muttered under his breath.
For a moment, he entertained the idea of shrugging it off writing her off as just another girl who didn't know what she was missing.
But deep down, he knew it wasn't that simple.
There was something about Aurora.
Something electric, something real and it infuriated him.
He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets and leaned back against the wall, trying to collect himself.
His mind replayed her words on loop:
> "I'm not one of your easy conquests."
Jalen exhaled a slow, unsteady breath.
Maybe he wasn't the hunter this time.
Maybe... he was the prey.
Inside the ladies' room, Aurora leaned over the sink, gripping the cool marble countertop.
Her heart was racing far more than she wanted to admit.
She stared at her reflection the slight flush on her cheeks, the wild spark in her eyes and groaned softly.
"Get it together, Aurora," she whispered to herself. "He's just a guy. A very... Annoying, stupid but yet a very attractive guy."
The applause still echoed faintly from the main lounge as Sophia stepped off the stage, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor backstage. She was radiant in her post-performance glow, breath slightly shallow, heart still pulsing in rhythm with the final notes of her song.
As she reached the makeup mirror, dabbing lightly at her temples with a silk cloth, a slow clap echoed behind her.
"Well, well... another night, another standing ovation," came a voice edged in saccharine sweetness.
Sophia turned to see Brittany Hale, one of the club's other singers, leaning casually against the wall. She was dressed in a glittery silver mini dress, her honey-blonde curls falling over one shoulder. Though her words were wrapped in flattery, the undertone wasn't hard to miss.
"Thanks, Brittany," Sophia said politely, already turning back to the mirror. "It was a good crowd tonight."
"Mmhmm. Seems like they always eat out of your palm," Brittany added, arms crossed. "I mean, I can't remember the last time Jeremy personally introduced one of my sets."
Sophia offered a cool smile. "Maybe it was during one of your smoke breaks."
Before Brittany could fire back, Jeremy stepped in through the backstage door, hands tucked in his pockets and a proud glint in his eyes.
"Sophia," he said, cutting through the tension like a warm knife. "Absolutely electric. You owned that stage tonight."
Sophia turned with a genuine smile. "Thanks, Jeremy. It felt right tonight. The vibe, the crowd... it all just clicked."
Jeremy nodded, glancing briefly at Brittany. "Well, the audience is still buzzing. You have a gift, Sophia. I hope you know how rare that is."
Brittany shifted uncomfortably, her forced smile cracking for a split second.
"Anyway," Jeremy continued, eyes now back on Sophia, "you free for a drink later? We should toast to another killer performance."
Sophia raised a brow. "Only if it's top shelf."
Jeremy grinned. "Wouldn't dare offer you anything less."
As he exited with a wink, Brittany's expression twisted ever so slightly.
Sophia didn't miss it. "Careful, Brit. Jealousy isn't a good look on you."
Brittany huffed and turned on her heel, striding out with her heels clicking sharply behind her.
Sophia sighed, then turned back to the mirror, her confidence unshaken. Tonight, she was untouchable.
As Sophia stepped out into the lounge again, her eyes scanned the room. She paused when they landed on Gerald Wayne, seated at a booth with none other than his sister, Genevieve.
She walked over confidently.
"Didn't expect to see you here," she said.
Gerald stood and smiled. "You were phenomenal tonight."
"And you," she nodded at Genevieve, "must be the sister I've heard about."
Genevieve rose with poise and offered a hand, her smile cool but not unfriendly. "So this is the friend of the woman who's got my brother suddenly showing up at jazz clubs and asking about mic setups. A true cultural revolution."
Sophia laughed. "He's subtle."
Gerald gave her a look. "You're not."
They all sat down, conversation beginning to flow easily until Aurora arrived, expression a little off, eyes heavy with distraction.
Aurora approached the booth slowly. She greeted them and took a seat beside Sophia, though her thoughts were clearly somewhere else.
Sophia noticed the shift. "You okay?"
Aurora forced a smile. "Just a long night."
Genevieve gave a knowing glance. "Let me guess it him nodding towards Jalen's direction.
Aurora gave a confirming looking.
"Well, well, well," Sophia said with a teasing grin. "Looks like someone needs a cold drink."
Aurora let out a breathless laugh. "Or a cold shower."
Sophia leaned towards towards her, eyebrow arched.
"What happened?"
Aurora straightened, her cheeks still pink. "He happened."
Sophia's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Ohhh. Do tell."
Aurora rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips.
"He tried his whole charming, ego-driven thing on me," she said, mimicking his deep voice dramatically. "'Maybe I'm just too good-looking to ignore.'"
Genevieve burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
"Oh, please tell me you didn't fall for that."
Aurora snorted. "Are you kidding me? I shoved him back like a linebacker."
The girls laughed even harder, the tension melting into the shared moment.
Then Sophia smirked. "You know what they say, right?"
Aurora arched a brow. "What?"
Sophia winked. "The bigger the ego... the harder they fall."
Aurora laughed, shaking her head. "Well, if he thinks he can just flash those stupidly perfect cheekbones and have me drooling, he's got another thing coming."
Sophia chuckled. "I give it three weeks before you're doodling hearts around his name."
Aurora shot her a glare.
"Keep talking and I'll shove a glass cup down your throat."
They all dissolved into laughter again, loud and carefree.
But deep down, as Aurora thought to herself one last time, she wondered:
Was she really as immune to Jalen Harris as she wanted to believe?
Across the club, Jalen and Collins entered.
"You've been staring," Collins said as they neared the bar.
"She's complicated," Jalen muttered.
"Or just not impressed."
Collins raised a brow in agreement.
As the evening wound to a close, Gerald offered to drop them the girls off.
"That's sweet," Sophia said, "but we're good. Thank you, though."
Back home, the trio gathered on the couch. Aurora was quiet, thoughtful.
Then Chloe burst in.
"Okay big news. Emery asked me to be his girlfriend!"
The apartment erupted in cheers and hugs.
Aurora smiled genuinely, even with her heart still conflicted.
Sophia laughed. "One down. Now let's fix this one's love life," she pointed at Aurora.
Aurora groaned. "Hard pass."
Laughter filled the room. The night may have faded, but their stories were only getting started.
Back at the club leaning against a shadowed pillar with a drink in hand, Jalen Harris stared across the crowded dance floor, but his mind wasn't on the music.
It was on her.
The flash of Aurora's defiant gaze, the flash of fire in her eyes, the firm press of her small hand against his chest it played over and over in his head, igniting something inside him that both infuriated and fascinated him.
No woman had ever stood up to him like that.
He found himself smiling into his whiskey glass, the sting of rejection transforming into something far more dangerous:
Obsession
Collins watched Jalen with an amused smirk, sipping his drink.
"Well, well," Collins said, nudging him lightly. "There goes Mr. Ice King himself. Brooding like a rejected prom date."
Jalen scoffed without looking at him. "You're seeing things."
Collins chuckled. "Sure. And I'm the Queen of England."
Just then, the entrance doors swung open, and Derek stepped inside, adjusting the collar of his dark navy jacket. His arrival was casual but effortlessly commanding he was every bit the polished heir to the O'Brien fortune.
Derek spotted Collins first and made his way over, grabbing a drink along the way.
"Evening, boys," Derek greeted, flashing a grin. "Judging by the look on Jalen's face, either business went south or love's got him tangled."
Collins barked a laugh. "Oh, love's got him good."
Jalen gave them both a sharp look but said nothing, taking another long sip of his whiskey.
Collins leaned closer, teasing. "She's just a game, right? That's what you said. Just a little challenge to pass the time."
Jalen shrugged, but it was forced. "She's nothing serious."
Derek smirked. "You keep telling yourself that, bro. Meanwhile, every muscle in your body is screaming otherwise."
Just then, Jeremy appeared, sliding up to their group with a cocky grin.
"Talking about Aurora again?" he asked knowingly, his drink swirling lazily in his hand.
Jalen's jaw tensed.
Jeremy raised his glass in a mock toast. "A little competition never hurt anyone, right?"
Collins snorted. "Another hunter just showed up"
Jeremy shrugged easily. "I'm not ashamed to admit when she such a masterpiece."
Jalen forced a smirk, but deep down, something primal flared inside him.
Aurora was a prize he wasn't about to lose.
Without another word, Jalen finished the last of his drink and clapped Collins on the back.
"I'm calling it a night, boys."
Derek raised an eyebrow. "Running already?"
Jalen smirked faintly. "The real moves are made in silence."
And with that, he turned and disappeared into the city night, leaving a trail of heat and tension behind him.
He wasn't going to walk away from Aurora.
No.
He was going to break down every wall she thought she could hide behind.
And when he did, she wouldn't just want him.
She'd need him.