Chapter 4 Whiskey, Sweat , collision

The bar smelled like whiskey, sweat, and something bitter Maya couldn't name. Neon lights flickered above her, casting soft blues and reds across her face as she made her way to the counter. Her heels clicked against the floor, but she barely noticed. She didn't even feel them.

"Something strong," she told the bartender, her voice flat. "Doesn't matter what."

One drink turned into four. Her hands trembled slightly, her head heavy but not numb. She just wanted everything to stop spinning for a while.

"You alright, sweetheart?" a voice slurred next to her.

She didn't even look. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," the guy said, moving closer. "Wanna dance? Get your mind off whatever's messing with that pretty head of yours?"

"I said I'm not interested."

The guy laughed, low and mocking. "You think you're too good to talk to me or something?"

She finally turned toward him, eyes red but sharp. "Back. Off."

Instead of backing off, he scoffed and shoved her,just enough to knock her off balance.

Her heel twisted, and she stumbled backward with a gasp. Her arms reached out, desperate to catch something, anything. The bar doors had just opened.

Nathaniel had walked in, tall and calm beside Jason, unaware of the chaos happening right in front of him until it was too late.

Maya's body crashed straight into his chest. The impact threw them both off balance. Nathaniel instinctively grabbed her, but she was too unsteady, and his footing slipped on the slick bar floor.

They went down.

He landed on his back with a heavy thud and she landed right on top of him.

Their faces collided and their lips touched

It wasn't planned. It wasn't slow. Just the awkward, breathless crash of two people in the wrong place at the right time.

For a second, everything froze.

The music stopped. People turned. Even Jason's mouth fell open in shock.

Maya's eyes widened as she realized what had just happened. She scrambled off him, horrified.

"Oh my God....I'm sorry, I didn't..I didn't mean to...." she stammered, cheeks flushed, hair falling into her face.

Nathaniel blinked up at the ceiling, then sat up slowly, lips still parted like he hadn't quite processed it.

Jason finally spoke, voice a little too loud. "Did she just....did you two kiss?"

No one answered.

Everyone was staring.

And Maya wanted the floor to swallow her whole

"I'm so sorry," Maya said again, breathless, her voice shaky as she scrambled to her feet.

Nathaniel stood up more slowly, brushing himself off. His expression didn't show annoyance or even surprise-just calm, like nothing truly rattled him. He looked over at Jason without saying a word, just a slight tilt of his head.

Jason caught the signal immediately. No hesitation. He walked straight toward the guy who had shoved Maya.

"Let's have a little chat outside, yeah?" Jason muttered, grabbing the man by the collar. The guy tried to protest, but Jason already had him halfway to the door before anyone could hear what he said next.

Nathaniel turned back to Maya, his voice low and warm. "Are you okay?"

It took her a second to realize he was talking to her really talking to her. Not yelling, not mocking. Just... asking.

She nodded slowly, then wiped at her face with the back of her hand. "Yeah. Yes. I'm okay. Thank you... and I'm really sorry about that. I didn't mean to "

"You don't have to apologize," he said gently, a tiny smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Not your fault."

Maya looked up at him properly then. For a second, she forgot where she was. His eyes were soft, steady, and nothing like the people she'd been trying to drink away tonight.

"Still... thank you," she whispered.

Nathaniel gave a small nod. "Anytime."

The music started again in the background, like the bar was trying to pretend nothing had just happened. But the air still felt charged, like something had shifted.

And maybe, in some quiet, strange way it had

-------

After the whole scene, Nathan stayed with her a little longer just to be sure.

She sat quietly on the barstool,a little shaken but trying to play it off like she was fine. Her fingers were wrapped loosely around her glass, but she wasn't drinking anymore. Nathan leaned closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

"You sure you're okay?"

Maya nodded quickly. "Yeah... I'm fine. Just... surprised, that's all. And... sorry again."

He gave her a small smile. "No need to apologize. You didn't do anything wrong."

She didn't know what it was about his voice maybe the calmness, maybe how it felt like he genuinely meant what he said but for the first time that day, she felt a tiny bit of the weight in her chest loosen.

He watched her for a second longer, then stood. "If you feel dizzy or anything, don't try to walk out alone,also drink more water. Got it?"

She nodded again. "Got it."

Satisfied, he gave her one last glance, then turned and made his way to the VIP section. Jason was already there, waiting with a drink in hand and a grin on his face.

Nathan sat down, sinking into the plush leather seat. "She's fine."

Jason raised a brow. "You sure?"

Nathan gave a nod and took the drink from his hand. "Yeah. Just drunk. Not my business anyway."

Jason smirked. "Still... not exactly the kind of entrance we expected, huh?"

Nathan chuckled under his breath. "Definitely not."

Just as he was starting to relax, his phone buzzed. He answered with one hand while sipping his drink.

"Where are you? Why does it sound like you're in a war zone?" the voice on the other end asked.

Nathan leaned back, half-laughing. "I'm in a club."

"A club?" The voice paused. "What club?"

He glanced around briefly. "Velvet Room. Why?"

"Be there in five."

The call ended before he could say anything else.

Exactly five minutes later, the entrance lit up again,this time with someone else.

She walked in like she owned the place,tall, striking, and dressed to turn heads. The music didn't stop this time, but you could feel the shift. People turned. Conversations died. Phones came out.

Jason let out a low whistle. "Well... there's our next wonder of the night."

Nathan barely reacted. He just watched her walk in, unfazed.

When her eyes met his, she smiled and made her way toward their table. He stood up slowly, then hugged her with the same calm he gave everyone-steady, effortless, like this wasn't even a big deal.

Across the room, Maya caught the hug out of the corner of her eye.

And even though she knew it had nothing to do with her, for some reason... it stung. Just a little.

She looked away quickly, trying to ignore the weird twist in her chest. Then her phone rang.

It was her mom.

"Where are you?" her voice was quiet, worried. "You said ten..."

Maya exhaled and ran a hand through her hair. "Yeah. I'm leaving now."

"Please come home safe, sweetie. We're just worried."

"I will. Don't wait up."

She ended the call, grabbed her bag, and walked toward the exit,her steps slow, heavy. One last glance toward Nathan, still smiling with the other woman, then she turned and walked out the door, disappearing into the night