The night at The Velvet Cage was over, and the dressing room hummed with the sounds of heels clicking against the tiled floor, laughter, and the soft rustle of clothing being tossed aside. Veronique sat in front of her mirror, carefully removing her makeup with practiced strokes. Her lips still carried a faint smile, one she wasn't even aware of.
Behind her, Rebekah leaned against the wall, her arms crossed and her sharp, emerald-green eyes watching Veronique closely. "You're smiling," she said with a raised brow.
Veronique's hand paused mid-swipe, her reflection betraying her surprise. "Am I?"
Rebekah smirked and pushed off the wall, walking closer. "Don't play coy. I haven't seen you smile like that since…" Her voice trailed off, and she tilted her head. "Actually, I can't even remember the last time. Who is it?"
Veronique turned back to the mirror, trying to focus on her mascara, but her friend'spresence was impossible to ignore. "It's nothing," she said lightly. "Just a good night. That's all."
Rebekah snorted. "Right. A good night." She perched herself on the edge of the vanity, her eyes narrowing. "Wouldn't have anything to do with the guy in the private section, would it? The tall one with the brooding look?"
Veronique froze. She glanced at Rebekah, her molten-gold eyes narrowing. "You were eavesdropping?"
Rebekah shrugged, unbothered by the accusation. "We both know super hearing makes privacy a little… tricky." She leaned closer, her tone turning playful. "So? What's the story? Why didn't you feed on him and compel him to forget?"
Veronique sighed, setting down the cotton pad and spinning her chair to face her friend.
"It's not like that," she said firmly. "Damian Valko isn't just some mortal to drain and forget about. He's… different."
Rebekah's playful smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Different?" she echoed, her voice tinged with skepticism. "You've said that before, Veronique. Remember what happened last time someone was 'different'?"
A flicker of pain crossed Veronique's face, but she quickly masked it. "That was a long time ago," she said quietly.
Rebekah's eyes softened, but only for a moment. "Exactly. And every century, it's the same story. Some man catches your eye, and suddenly you're walking straight into a disaster."
Veronique stood, her expression hardening. "I'm not the same person I was back then," she said sharply. "I'm stronger now. Smarter."
Rebekah arched a brow. "Are you? Because it seems to me like history's repeating itself. You didn't feed on him, did you?"
"No," Veronique admitted.
"Why not?"
Veronique hesitated, searching for the right words. Finally, she said, "Because there's something about him. Something… compelling. I can't explain it, but I know he's not just another human."
Rebekah groaned and ran a hand through her hair. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. You get attached, and then everything falls apart. And who's left to pick up the pieces? Me."
"That's not fair," Veronique said softly.
"Fair?" Rebekah snapped. "Do you think any of this has been fair? Do you think I wanted to spend centuries cleaning up your messes?"
The room fell silent, the tension thick. Finally, Rebekah sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Look, I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm just… tired, Veronique. Tired of watching you get hurt over and over again."
Veronique's gaze softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on Rebekah's arm. "I know you're tired. And I'm sorry. But I promise you, this time is different."
Rebekah shook her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. "I hope you're right," she said quietly. "For both our sakes."
The room fell silent again, the sounds of the other girls fading into the background. For a moment, the two women simply looked at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between them.
⸻
Across town, Damian Valko sat in the head seat of a long, polished table in his company's boardroom. The room was filled with his top executives, each of them presenting projections and strategies for the coming quarter.
Damian couldn't focus on a word of it.
His mind was elsewhere, fixated on a woman he couldn't get out of his head.
Veronique.
He had told himself she was just another girl, a fleeting distraction from the mess his life had become. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop thinking about her.
The way she had moved, the way she had looked at him, it was like she had seen straight into his soul.And those eyes.
Golden, like the richest sunset, they had burned into his mind, refusing to fade.
"Mr. Valko?"
Damian blinked, snapping back to reality. He realized everyone in the room was staring at him, waiting for a response.
"Yes?" he said, his voice clipped.
His CFO cleared his throat. "We were just asking for your approval on the revised budget for the new acquisition."
Damian glanced at the papers in front of him, barely registering the numbers. "Fine. Approved," he said dismissively.
The room exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared question him. Damian Valko was not a man to be challenged.
As the meeting droned on, Damian's thoughts drifted back to Veronique. There was something about her, something that felt… unfinished. He told himself it was just curiosity, but deep down, he knew it was more than that.
The memory of her scent, her touch, her voice, it was all consuming. And every time he tried to push it away, it only came back stronger.
His body reacted before his mind did, a pulse of heat surging through him. He shifted in his chair, adjusting his suit trousers as his frustration mounted.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered under his breath.
But no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he knew he wouldn't be able to focus until he saw her again.
⸺
Back at The Velvet Cage, Veronique leaned against the counter in the dressing room, watching the other girls as they laughed and chatted about their plans for the night.Her thoughts were still on Damian, on the strange connection she had felt with him. She knew she should stay away—he was a human, and getting involved with him would only complicate things. But something about him called to her, like a moth to a flame.
"Still brooding?" Rebekah asked, her tone lighter now.
Veronique glanced at her friend, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Just thinking."
Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Well, don't think too hard. You'll only give yourself more reasons to make a bad decision."
Veronique chuckled softly, but her smile faded as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Deep down, she knew Rebekah was right. But she also knew that walking away from Damian wasn't an option.
Not anymore.
Damian stood outside the club, the neon-red sign glowing above him. He wasn't sure how he had ended up here again, but something had drawn him back.
As he stepped inside, his heart raced with anticipation.
This time, he wasn't leaving until he saw her again.