Chapter 2 A stranger in the night

Ivy's POV

The rain fell harder, drenching me completely as I wandered aimlessly through the streets without a destination.

All I wanted was to escape. My birthday dress stuck to my skin, ruined by the rain, but I didn't care. At last, I stopped in front of a building alive with music and bright lights. A club. Its lavish golden letters spelled Elysium.

I hesitated. This wasn't my usual scene. Honestly, I couldn't afford to buy a drink in a place like this, but tonight? Nothing else was important.

I stumbled into the club, drenched and shivering, with a single thought in my mind: forget. Forget Nathan. Forget Sarah. Forget that my life had turned into a public spectacle of betrayal.

The bouncer shot me a doubtful look, but I shot him a glare that said, Don't even test me tonight. He let me pass. Inside, the music was thunderous.

The air was heavy with the scents of expensive liquor and perfume. People laughed, danced, and flirted in the shadows, their lives looking perfect.

I headed straight toward the bar, my heels clicking on the marble floor. "Whiskey. Straight," I said to the bartender.

"You sure about that?" he asked, eyeing me like I didn't belong.

I glared at him. "Do I look like I'm in the mood for water?"

He didn't argue, sliding the glass across the counter. I knocked it back in one sip, wincing as it burned its way down my throat.

"Another," I requested.

"You sure?" the bartender asked again, raising an eyebrow. "Do I look unsure?" I snapped. He shrugged and poured me another drink. One drink became two, then three. I lost count somewhere around my fourth glass.

The room began to spin, and the music blurred into a muted roar. "Bad night?" a deep voice drawled beside me.

I turned, my vision slightly hazy, to see a man leaning casually against the bar.

His striking blue eyes were fixed on mine, sharp and unreadable. His dark hair was slicked back, and his fitted suit radiated wealth. A lot of it.

"That's an understatement," I muttered, gesturing for another drink.

He nodded at the bartender. "Put her drinks on my tab."

"I didn't ask for your help," I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

"No, but you look like you need it," he replied, his voice steady, almost amused. I frowned, ready to warn him to stay away from me, but something about him made me pause. He wasn't like those men who frequently come to a place like this flashy, arrogant, and desperate for attention.

No, this man was different. Confident. Composed. And dangerous.

"And who are you?" I asked, my voice slightly slurring.

"Alexander Steele," he said, extending his hand. I ignored it. "And why are you talking to me, Alexander Steele?" "Because you seem like you've made a bad decision out of frustration that could ruin your night," he said, his lips forming a smirk.

"Too late for that," I muttered, thinking of Nathan and Sarah.

"Ah, a woman scorned," he said knowingly.

"Let me guess-cheating boyfriend?"

I glared at him. "How do you know that?"

"It was just a lucky guess. You look like someone whose life has just been turned upside down.

"I tilted my head, examining him. "And you're what? Some kind of hero here to save me?"

His smirk grew wider. "Not exactly."I rolled my eyes and faced my drink again. "Well, thanks for the advice, but I don't need your help.

"He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Maybe not, but you could use a little distraction.

"His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I heated the way my body reacted to him. I shouldn't be talking to him, shouldn't even consider it, but the alcohol was dulling my restraints, and his presence was captivating.

"And what kind of distraction are you suggesting?" I asked, my voice bold.

He chuckled softly, the sound low and smooth.

"The kind that helps you forget about everything that happened."

I gazed at him, my heart racing.

This was reckless, dangerous, and just exactly what I wanted. "Fine," I said, surprising even myself.

His eyes darkened with something I couldn't quite tell what it was, and he extended his hand once more. This time, I accepted it.

Conversations turned into laughter, laughter into whispers, and whispers into something else entirely.

"Come with me," Alexander said at some point, his voice low and rough.

"Why?" I asked, though my pulse quickened at the intensity in his gaze.

"Because I think we both need to forget tonight."

His words felt like a lifeline, a chance to lose myself completely, even if only for a few hours. Without thinking, I took his hand.

The next few moments were a blur. One second we were at the bar, the next, we were in a private room upstairs.

The lights were dim and the air thick with tension."You're drunk," he said, his voice now softer.

"That's the point," I replied, my words slurring. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You're going to regret this tomorrow morning."

"Not as much as I regret trusting those I loved," I shot back, my feelings surfacing. "So, are you going to keep chatting, or are you going to take action?

"His jaw tightened, and for a brief moment, I thought he would walk away. But then he moved closer, his gaze locked on mine.

"You're playing with fire," he cautioned.

"Good," I whispered. "I want to burn."

He didn't need any more encouragement. In one swift move, he closed the gap between us, his lips colliding with mine.

The kiss was fervent, desperate, and everything I needed to forget. I barely recalled how we ended up on the bed, my mind clouded with alcohol and desire.

The outside world vanished as his hands roamed my body, his touch igniting a flame I didn't know existed. It was raw.

But just as the night peaked, darkness enveloped me. The alcohol claimed victory, and I lost consciousness in his arms, the world fading away.