Chapter 4 Getting married before my birthday

Tyler's POV

After a few minutes of staring at the screen of my phone, I felt the frustration bubbling inside of me. I needed to get my mind off everything off the pressure, off the constant expectations. I needed to blow off some steam.

I scrolled through my contacts, my thumb hovering over a few names before landing on one. *Ruby.* She was always available, always ready to keep me company when I needed to forget about the world.

I dialed her number, leaning back in my chair. The weight of my father's demands still hung over me like a dark cloud. He insisted that I get married before my birthday-something that felt impossible and suffocating. My phone buzzed, and I was snapped out of my thoughts as Ruby picked up.

"Hey, Tyler," her voice was warm and welcoming.

"Ruby," I said, my voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. "I need to forget about everything for a while. Are you free tonight?"

"I'll always be free for you," she replied with a chuckle. "Where do you want me to meet you?"

I gave her the details, then hung up. As I waited, I felt the familiar gnawing at the back of my mind. What if I didn't find someone before my birthday? What if I was forced into a marriage with someone I didn't even care about? The thought was maddening.

The door to my penthouse suddenly knocked. I got up, already knowing it would be one of my guards.

"Yes! Yes!" I muttered under my breath as I rushed to open the door. I was ready to blow off some steam.

"Ruby's here, sir," the guard said, stepping aside.

I smiled, nodded, and waved him off, letting Ruby in. She entered with a playful smile, dressed in something a little too revealing, but I didn't mind. Tonight was about losing myself at the moment.

Karie's POV

After a long day at work, I was finally on my way home. I could still hear Clara's voice ringing in my ears, reminding me not to forget about the concert tomorrow. I had promised her I'd go, but part of me was still unsure. It wasn't really my thing, and I didn't exactly understand what everyone saw in Tyler Dalton. But Clara was my friend, and she was practically begging me to go. Maybe I would enjoy it more than I thought.

When I got home, I was greeted by the familiar smell of my mom cooking dinner in the kitchen. I waved to her and went to freshen up in my room. The soft hum of the shower helped clear my mind. I tried not to think about the concert too much, but it kept creeping back into my thoughts. It was just a concert, right? Just a few hours of music and screaming fans.

After dinner, I felt the familiar weight of the day press on me as I tried to unwind in my room. I was about to drift off to sleep when my mom knocked softly on my door.

"How was your day at work?" she asked, peeking her head inside.

"It was fine, Mom," I replied, trying to hide my exhaustion behind a smile. "Just another busy day."

She nodded, stepping inside. "I just wanted to check on you before bed. You know you can always talk to me about anything."

"I know, Mom," I said, offering a tired smile. "I'm good, really."

She kissed my forehead and left me with my thoughts. But as the door closed behind her, my mind wandered back to the concert. Clara's obsession with Tyler Dalton was one thing, but I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to see him perform live. Maybe I would finally understand what all the fuss was about. But then again, maybe it was just a waste of time.

I turned off the light and curled up in bed, hoping that sleep would come quickly.

Tyler's POV

The club was loud, the music thumping through the walls, vibrating the floor beneath my feet. Richie was already at the bar when I walked in, nursing a drink with a half-smile on his face. He didn't even need to say anything; I could tell something was off. I could always tell when something was wrong with him.

"Hey, man, what took you so long?" Richie called out as I walked over to him. "I thought you'd be here sooner. Don't tell me you're late because of a girl?"

I chuckled, though it didn't feel like a real laugh. "Nah, just traffic," I lied. I didn't want to get into it. I didn't want anyone to know what was really going on in my life. The last thing I wanted was people asking too many questions.

"Right, traffic," Richie said with a knowing grin. He leaned back against the bar, sizing me up. "So, what was it you were talking about on the phone? What fire is on the mountain? You look like shit, man. What happened?"

I could feel the weight of the conversation crashing down on me. Richie was one of the few people who knew everything about me. He knew my past, my struggles, and he knew how much pressure my family put on me. But this? This was different. This was about my future, and I didn't know what to do about it.

"My dad's on my case, man," I said, leaning in closer to him, my voice quieter now. "He wants me to get married before my birthday. And I don't even have a girlfriend, let alone someone I could marry. You know how it is, Richie. He doesn't care about my feelings. He just wants me to follow the family rules."

Richie raised an eyebrow. "Your dad's a man of his word, dude. If he says you need to get married, he won't let it slide. But... you don't even have anyone in your life right now. What the hell are you going to do?"

I sighed deeply, grabbing my drink and taking a long swallow. "I don't know. I need to figure something out, fast. My birthday is in a month, and I'm running out of time."

Richie looked around the club and nodded, his gaze landing on a girl dancing on the floor. "Well, if you need to take your mind off things, you know where the action is," he said, giving me a playful nudge.

I couldn't help it. My eyes followed the girl, and my body reacted before my mind could catch up. She was beautiful, sexy in a way that made it impossible to look away. I didn't even know what happened next. My legs carried me toward her without me thinking, my pulse quickening.

Richie gave me a knowing look, tapping me on the shoulder. "I see that look, man. You've got that 'I'm about to get distracted' face."

Before I knew it, I was at her side, my hands on her waist, pulling her close. She turned around and smiled, her eyes sparkling with recognition, but I kept my face partially hidden behind a mask, trying to keep a low profile. The last thing I needed was paparazzi catching me in a moment like this.

She smiled again and began to dance for me, a slow and seductive movement that made the air between us crackle. I glanced back at Richie, who gave me a nod as if to say, "You're doing it."

I didn't need any more encouragement. I grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd, heading straight for the restroom.

To be continued...