Chapter 1 THE ASHES AND RED LIGHT

The dim light from the cracked window fell across Arianna's face, casting long, jagged shadow. the room was silent, save for the faint, irregular breath of mother, who lay unconscious in the bed beside her, every inhale sounded like it might be her last, and each time arianna 's gaze flicked toward her. she couldn't shake the sensation that time was running out

Her finger tightened around the prescription bottle in her hand. the pills inside were almost gone, and the money to refill them was now where to be found . Neither was the rent or the overdue bills.

Her phone buzzed on the table an anonymous number, she hesitated before unlocking it .

"job available tonight, Exclusive club. No questions asked, Dress appropriately".

Arianna 's stomach tightened ,she knew the kind of place the message hinted at the dangerous ,dark, a word she 'd never dared to enter .but there was no choice . her mother's illness had drained what little saving they had left. the weight of their circumstance pressed down on arianna's chest , a constant reminder that her life had become a series of compromises .tonight would be no different .

She glanced at her mother again Her heart heavy with the unspoken promises that she would do whatever it took.Even if it means selling whatever remained of her dignity.

The club was a universe away from the cold , grim apartment . as soon as arianna stepped through the heavy doors the noise hit her the low hum of laugher, the clinck of glasses ,and the sharp thrum of bass that seemed to shake they very air . the light were dim, but the red glow of neon seeped from every corner, casting the room in an eerie, seductive hue.

She followed the hostess through narrow corridors, her heels tapping against the sleek floors, in the dressing room, other women were already preparing, adjusting their outfits, applying makeup, rehearing their routines. Arianna kept to herself, drawing a deep breath as she unzipped the beg she came with and pulled out the dress, a figure-hugging number that barely covered more than the essentials. The fabric clung to her skin, too revealing, but it was the uniform here. And there was no room for hesitation.

The backstage area was a blur of flashing lights and muted voices, arianna's heart raced fasted as the music begun, the beat reverberating through the floor settling deep within her chest. She stopped onto the stage, each movement fluid, instinctual, a dance she didn't know she had within her. It wasn't provocative at least not in the way she feared. It was sensual, controlled, a show rhythm that felt more like a plea than an invitation.

And then she felt it.

A presence in the shadows, her pulse quickened, and her gaze darted to the edge of the stage, where he stood unseen by the others but not by her. His eyes were fixed on her, dark and intense, a magnetic force that seemed to pull her toward him even from the distance.

He was dressed in black, a silhouette against the dim glow of the club, his posture commanding, still, as though the room itself bent to his will. She couldn't tell who he was not from this distance but it didn't matter. The weight of his stare was enough to make her heart skip.

She kept dancing, focusing on the rhythm, but the sensation of his eyes on her never faded.

She knew he was watching, studying her with an intensity that unnerved her. And yet, there was something in the way he held her gaze that was almost...... possessive.

Arianna didn't know it yet, but this man the stranger in the shadows was the beginning of everything. Her world was about to shift in ways she couldn't imagine, and he was going to be the one to make sure she never had a chance to look back.