Chapter 2 He's just being... weird

Late at night..

The rooftop shimmered with soft, ambient lights, casting long and elegant shadows over the bustling crowd. The distant hum of the city's nightlife blended with the sound of champagne glasses clinking and laughter filling the air.

Ava Montgomery stood at the center. Her sleek black dress clung to her in all the right places, her dark brown hair flowing in waves down her back, but the euphoria of the win wasn't settling the way it usually did. Something was off.

Dominic Kane....!!!

She caught a glimpse of his face across the rooftop. He stood on the edge of the party, silently observeing everything. His gaze was fixed on her, cold and unreadable, like a predator waiting for the right moment to pounce. The shadows seemed to cling to him, wrapping him in an aura of darkness that made her skin crawl.

Ava's pulse quickened, a shiver running down her spine despite the warmth of the night. She took a slow sip of her drink letting the bitter tang of champagne linger on her tongue to calm her nerves, as she turned away from Dominic's gaze.

"Ava!" Natalie's voice jolted her from her thoughts. Her manager who was always full of energy, appeared beside her. She was holding a glass of wine. "You were incredible tonight. Everyone's talking about you. You should be celebrating!"

Ava forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I am celebrating," she lied, glancing around the room. Photographers hovered at the edges, snapping pictures of her as though she were the only person in the world who mattered. High-profile guests mingled in tight circles, their eyes occasionally drifting toward her, filled with admiration or curiosity, she couldn't tell which.

Natalie studied her, the usual spark of excitement dimming as she frowned. "What's wrong? You don't look like someone who just won the biggest race of the year."

Ava hesitated, her fingers toying with the edge of her glass. "It's just... nothing. I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

But Natalie wasn't buying it. She tilted her head, following Ava's line of sight until her eyes landed on Dominic. "Is this about Kane?"

Ava stiffened at the sound of his name. Her gaze darted back toward him. Dominic was still standing at the edge of the rooftop, his presence a dark stain on the glittering celebration. He had an almost unsettling stillness to him, as though the chaos of the world didn't touch him. His eyes found her eyes again, locking onto her like a vice.

"He's just being... weird," Ava muttered, her voice tight. "He tried to run me off the track tonight. It wasn't just racing.. he was out for blood... And now, he's here, acting like nothing happened."

Natalie's expression darkened. "He's always been an arrogant bastard, but this? It sounds personal."

Ava nodded, her throat tightening. She knew Dominic had always been competitive, but this felt different. There was something in the way he looked at her now, something that made her insides twist with unease. It was as if he knew something she didn't. A secret, some hidden agenda that he was keeping just out of reach.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over her. Ava looked up to find Dominic himself standing there, his dark eyes gleaming with something unspoken. He was dressed in a crisp black suit, the perfect picture of elegance, but there was an edge to him that felt dangerous.

"Congratulations on the win," he said, his voice smooth but laced with something sharp. His lips curled into a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Ava's heart skipped a beat, her mouth going dry. She forced herself to hold his gaze, though every instinct screamed at her to look away. "Thanks," she said, her voice colder than she intended. "You almost had me there."

Dominic chuckled, a low, dark sound that sent a chill through her. "Almost," he echoed, stepping closer. The scent of his cologne mingled with the cool night air, a mix of sandalwood and something else, something more primal. "But almost doesn't count, does it?"

The way he said it made her stomach tighten with unease. She could feel Natalie tense beside her, her presence a silent warning.

Ava swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady. "What do you want, Dominic?"

He leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing as he whispered, "Careful, Ava. The world isn't always as it seems. Sometimes the biggest threats are the ones you never see coming."

The words hung between them, thick with menace. For a moment, Ava couldn't breathe. She stared into his eyes, trying to decipher the meaning behind his cryptic warning, but there was nothing there but a cold, unyielding darkness.

Natalie grabbed Ava's arm, pulling her back a step. "We're done here," she snapped, her voice sharp. "Come on, Ava."

Ava let Natalie lead her away, her heart pounding in her chest. But even as they moved through the crowd, she could feel Dominic's eyes on her, a heavy, oppressive weight that she couldn't shake.

"What the hell was that about?" Natalie hissed as they reached a quieter corner of the rooftop. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with concern. "He's not just being weird, Ava. He's dangerous. You need to stay away from him."

Ava's mind was racing, Dominic's words replaying over and over in her head. 'The biggest threats are the ones you never see coming.' What did he mean by that? Was he threatening her? Was this about the race, or was it something more?

"I don't know," Ava whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise of the party. "But I don't think this is just about tonight."

Natalie looked at her, fear flickering in her eyes. "You need to be careful. I've heard things about Dominic. People say he's got connections.. dark ones. I don't know what he's playing at, but I don't like it."

Ava nodded, her mind spinning. She wanted to brush it off, to tell herself that Dominic was just playing games, trying to get inside her head. But deep down, she knew it was more than that.

The way he had looked at her, the way he had spoken. It wasn't a game. It was a warning. It was a threat.

As the night wore on, the party continued.

Every time she looked over her shoulder, she half-expected to see Dominic standing there, his cold eyes following her every move. But he had disappeared into the shadows.

By the time the party began to wind down, Ava felt like she could barely breathe. The weight of the night pressed down on her, she was suffocated. She needed to get out, to clear her head, to escape the oppressive atmosphere of the rooftop and the suffocating presence of Dominic Kane.

"I'm going to head out," she told Natalie, her voice strained. "I just... I need to call Mr. Cole."