Chapter 2 The first glimpse

Atticus wiped the sweat from his brow as he stepped off the stage, his heart still pounding from the energy of the performance. The roar of the crowd lingered in his ears, but something felt different tonight. He didn't feel the usual adrenaline rush that kept him going after a show. Instead, he felt strangely empty, like a piece of the night was missing.

Jaxon met him backstage with a bottle of water and an excited grin. "That was incredible! You crushed it, man. The crowd was losing their minds!"

Atticus gave a half-hearted smile, taking a long swig of water. "Thanks, Jax. But I don't know... I'm just not feeling it like I used to."

Jaxon raised an eyebrow, concern flickering across his face. "What do you mean? You're at the top of your game. What's going on?"

Atticus shook his head, wiping his face with a towel. "I don't know. It's like... I'm performing, but I'm not living. It's just the same thing over and over, you know?"

Before Jaxon could respond, one of the crew members poked their head in. "There's a group waiting outside to meet you, Atticus. VIP guests."

Atticus sighed, not in the mood for more superficial meet-and-greets, but he forced another smile. "Alright. Let's get this over with."

---

Meanwhile, Ivan stood in the sleek lobby of the arena, hands in his pockets, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd. He had taken Aiden's advice and attended Atticus Monroe's concert, but not because he was a fan of the pop star. No, Ivan never did anything without reason. Tonight was about business.

His company had been in talks with the entertainment industry for months, and this concert was an opportunity to mingle with the power players in that world. He wasn't here for music or fun-he was here to close deals.

Aiden nudged him, grinning like a kid. "See? I told you this would be fun. You've got to admit, the guy's got talent."

Ivan's expression remained unreadable as he looked around. "If by talent, you mean knowing how to manipulate a crowd, then yes, I suppose he does."

Aiden rolled his eyes. "You're such a cynic. Anyway, we're on the VIP list to meet him, so try to loosen up, okay? Just this once."

Ivan's jaw tightened. He hated these kinds of events, but Aiden had dragged him into this one, and now he had no choice but to play along.

---

Backstage, Atticus stood in a small lounge area where a handful of VIP guests were already gathered, buzzing with excitement. He plastered on his charming pop star smile, the one that everyone expected of him, but his mind wandered as he greeted each guest. It was always the same-people gushing over him, wanting selfies and autographs, but never really seeing him.

Then, as the next group entered, something shifted in the room.

Ivan walked in, his tall, imposing figure cutting through the crowd like a knife through silk. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his dark hair perfectly styled, and his sharp, calculating eyes scanned the room with cool detachment. He wasn't like the others. He wasn't here to fawn over Atticus or get a photo.

Atticus's gaze locked on him almost immediately, a strange pull drawing him toward the man. He had no idea who this person was, but something about him-his intensity, his presence-made Atticus's heart skip a beat.

Jaxon leaned over and whispered, "That's Ivan Laurent. Billionaire tech mogul. The guy's worth more than the entire venue we're standing in."

Atticus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He had heard the name before, but he never paid much attention to the business world. "And what's he doing here?"

Jaxon shrugged. "No clue. But he doesn't exactly look like a fan, does he?"

Before Atticus could respond, Ivan and Aiden approached, and for the first time that night, Atticus felt something close to genuine interest.

Aiden smiled wide and extended his hand. "Atticus Monroe, right? Huge fan! I'm Aiden, and this is Ivan."

Ivan nodded politely but kept his distance, his eyes studying Atticus like he was analyzing a business deal. "You put on quite a show," he said, his voice smooth and low.

Atticus smiled, trying to gauge Ivan's mood. "Thanks. It's what I do."

Ivan's lips twitched into something that resembled a smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It seems you've mastered the art of keeping people entertained."

There was something about Ivan's tone that set Atticus on edge, but not in a bad way. It was challenging, almost as if Ivan wasn't impressed by the fame or the performance-but rather, by something deeper. Something he hadn't quite figured out yet.

Aiden, ever the social butterfly, jumped in. "So, what do you say, Atticus? Why don't you join us for a drink after this? Celebrate a successful night."

Atticus glanced at Ivan, who remained silent but watchful, and for some reason, he found himself agreeing. "Sure. Why not?"

---

Later, the three of them found themselves at an exclusive bar downtown. The dim lighting and low music provided a more intimate setting, far from the chaotic energy of the concert.

Aiden chatted away, keeping the conversation light and casual, but Atticus's attention kept drifting back to Ivan. There was something about him-something guarded and cold, but also magnetic. He couldn't help but feel drawn to it, like he was trying to solve a puzzle he didn't even know existed.

"So, what brings a tech billionaire to one of my shows?" Atticus asked, finally addressing Ivan directly.

Ivan leaned back in his chair, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Business, mostly. But Aiden here convinced me to enjoy the... experience."

"And? Did you?" Atticus challenged, his eyes locked on Ivan's.

Ivan's eyes met his, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of something in them-something that made Atticus's heart beat a little faster. But then it was gone, replaced by the same cold indifference Ivan had worn all night.

"I don't let myself get caught up in entertainment," Ivan replied smoothly. "But I can see why so many people do."

Atticus smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You know, you could try having fun sometime. It won't kill you."

Ivan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the boldness of Atticus's comment. "Fun? And what would that look like in your world?"

Atticus leaned forward, his gaze never leaving Ivan's. "Maybe I'll show you sometime."

There was a pause, heavy with tension, before Ivan smirked. "I'll consider it."

---

As the night went on, Atticus couldn't shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something-something complicated, something intense. He had no idea where it would lead, but one thing was certain: Ivan Laurent was not someone he could easily forget.

And as Ivan left the bar that night, a small smile played on his lips. He had spent years building walls around himself, but for the first time in a long time, someone had managed to slip through the cracks.

Neither of them knew it yet, but their worlds were about to collide in ways that would leave them both changed-forever.