I was eager the moment I opened my eyes that morning, my body pulsing with an unquenchable energy that couldn't match the sadness in my chest.
It was a confusing mix of emotions—how could I be so excited and so depressed at the same time?
I frowned at my reflection as I brushed my teeth, wondering if I was starting to lose my mind.
It wasn't hormonal; my period was still weeks away.
So No, it was everything else.
The tangled mess that had been dominating my life lately, of my fiancé, our fights, my feeling that nothing was right—was all pushing me to the edge of an emotional cliff I didn't even realize I was climbing.
In a desperate spur of hope, I texted Alexander that morning.
Just a simple good morning and a little heart at the end.
He didn't even open it.
Hours passed.
Nothing.
Maybe he was still angry, and maybe I deserved the silence for neglecting him so much... or maybe it was easier for him not to care anymore.
I hated how painful the thought was.
Yet, despite everything, I braced myself for nightfall.
I put on the purple dress I'd carefully chosen—something elegant but not too provocative, stylish but bold enough to fit the club's style, right?
I looked at myself in the mirror and forced a smile that didn't reach my eyes, then called a cab.
As I sat in the backseat, watching the city lights fade behind the window, my mind couldn't stop wandering.
What lessons would I learn tonight?
The unknown in front of me seemed so big and exciting, and despite everything that was tearing at me inside, I found myself drawn to it.
After I got inside, I instinctively looked around, hoping to see Felix, the same man who'd helped me last time.
But he wasn't there.
Maybe he was already downstairs, or maybe he hadn't come tonight.
In any case, standing there watching the crowd like a lost child wasn't going to help.
I took a deep breath.
I didn't have a card this time.
Would they even let me in?
Should I just walk in and hope no one stops me?
Gathering what little courage I had left, I headed toward the same door leading downstairs.
As I approached, my heart pounded, but to my surprise, the man guarding the entrance barely glanced at me before stepping aside and letting me through.
I simply continued moving, my heels clacking the floor as I descended the stairs.
The downstairs lounge greeted me with a lively atmosphere.
The night was full of energy.
Bodies moved together to the thumping music.
People partied recklessly without apology.
I entered, scanning the room carefully, looking for the same waiter from that night who had helped me to lanzo's office.
If I were to do this again, I would have needed a familiar face to guide me so I wouldn't get flustered and mess something up.
But as I moved through the crowd, I caught a snatch of conversation that stopped me.
A group of guests, sitting in a neat circle, were drinking greedily as if the world didn't owe them a loud farewell.
One of them leaned over and said,
"I swear I saw the boss enter the Red Room two days ago. He wasn't alone either. He must have been with a girl."
My stomach lurched.
Another chimed in.
"Yeah, he came out an hour later. He looked like he'd been through a damn storm."
The others laughed, their voices intertwined in a mixture of cruel jokes and disgusting speculation, alluding to everything he might have done inside that room.
They laughed as if in amusement.
The words rang in my ears.
Two days ago? An hour in the Red Room? With a girl?
That time... it was me, wasn't it?
I felt goosebumps.
Did they see me? Did they recognize me?
But no one looked at me strangely when I stepped outside... no one stared.
Maybe they didn't notice.
Maybe my face wasn't visible.
Yet, tension crept up my spine and settled in my shoulders.
My hands were cold and clammy as I turned around, trying to shake off the anxiety that threatened to escalate.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
I nearly screamed, my heart leaping into my throat. I turned quickly, but Felix was standing behind me, smiling a demonic grin, his hands in his pockets as if he hadn't just scared the shit out of me.
"Oh, Felix!"
I exhaled, half relieved, half embarrassed, and his smile widened.
"It's good to see you again, too."
"It's not nice sneaking up on a woman like that!"
I muttered, placing my hand on my chest as if it would slow my racing heart.
My voice was sharper than I intended, but it was worth it.
Felix tilted his head and gave me an annoyingly sarcastic smile.
"You're pretty famous these days, you know. Word gets around fast."
I blinked at him, confused and uneasy.
"What do you mean?"
He chuckled and leaned closer, as if he were confiding a secret.
"Everyone's talking about the girl the boss took to the Red Room, the mysterious girl no one ever saw clearly, and everyone's wondering what exactly happened there."
My face felt hot, so I looked away, focusing on a blurry dot in the distance.
"Felix... stop teasing me."
I said quietly, trying to sound annoyed, not completely embarrassed.
His smile widened.
"I'm just saying what I heard."
Felix looked at me with that twinkle in his eye, the one that makes you wonder if he's joking or seriously serious.
"So... how was it?"
I raised my eyebrows.
"It was good."
His smile widened wickedly, his eyebrows raised.
"Just good? Or was it really bad?"
I gave him a glare that could cut glass, as if I were scolding a naughty child.
"Nothing happened between us! Not like this! So whatever you're imagining, stop."
He chuckled, clearly showing no signs of dropping it.
"So the boss must be really bad at this sort of thing? Because that's what you were here for, and turns out he must be really bad at it, you can switch your partner."
I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
"It's impolite to talk like that! Especially to people who are older than you! Respect them."
Felix leaned lazily against the wall, smirking.
"Not if the girl is interesting. If I like her, age doesn't matter."
I sighed and crossed my arms.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you were a womanizer."
He looked offended.
"Why do you think that?"
I tilted my head.
"This is literally the second time I've seen you, and you're actually trying to flirt with me."
He raised his hands in a fake surrender, his smile still on his face.
"Okay, but what if I told you I was serious about you? That I fell in love at first sight?"
"There's no such thing as love at first sight," I sneered.
His expression softened a little, and his voice softened.
"You sounds like a jerk i know, Who hurt you?"
I didn't say anything and then he leaned closer, curious.
"Aren't you here to meet the boss? Or... are you actually looking for a new partner? One you can keep on your list and come back to whenever you want?"
I looked at him and asked,
"Where's the waiter with the raven mask?"
Felix blinked, then snapped his fingers.
"Ah! Silver."
Silver?
I didn't know if that was his real name or just a nickname, but... it's okay.
I nodded slightly.
Felix tilted his head, watching me closely.
"If you want the boss, I mean, you really want him and there's a contract or something between you, shouldn't you go straight to the office?"
I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Shouldn't I wait for someone? For permission or something?"
He gave a light, amused laugh.
"You're the permission, flesh and blood. He let you in once, didn't he? That makes you powerful now. You're doing him a bigger favor than you realize."
Confused at his last words, Before I could respond, he nodded with a wry smile and gently pushed me toward the corridor leading to the office door.
"Go, before you start beginning a nervous mess."
I looked at him and said,
"I almost stayed here all night."
He laughed, his hands in his pockets.
"You're welcome."
I rolled my eyes, but smiled faintly.
"Thanks, and I appreciate your help again."
Felix smiled cheerfully as ever as he added,
"I'll officially accept your gratitude if you ever get tired of Lanzo and decide to make me your partner."
I turned away from him and headed for the door.
"I told you last time! I don't like younger guys."
He called something after me, but I couldn't hear him clearly, but I couldn't stop smiling.
I was standing in front of Lanzo's office now.
There was no guard this time, no one stationed outside like the other day.
Just me and the heavy door separating us.
I stared at it for a long second, hesitating then raised my hand and knocked gently.
I waited, listening for him to tell me to come in.
Nothing.
I raised my hand again to knock harder...
But before my knuckles could hit the wood, a masculine hand grabbed me.
Startled, I turned quickly, my heart leaping into my throat, to find myself face to face with lanzo.
He was only an inch away, close enough for me to see every detail of his face.
He was wearing a black, formal suit, elegant and expensive, but what caught my eye wasn't the clothes, but the small cut near the corner of his lip.
It was faint, yet fresh, as if he'd been in a fight and taken a blow.
His hand tightened around mine, firm but painless, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
Swallowing hard, I looked away from his face and muttered,
"I... I came because you asked me to come tonight."
He didn't answer immediately.
He let go of my hand, but his body didn't retreat.
No, he leaned closer, almost trapping me between him and the door.
I froze when he reached out from beside me, his arm grazing my shoulder, and pushed the door open behind me.
Then his scent hit my body, an intoxicating mix of cologne and a pungent masculine scent that spoke volumes about him.
It made my skin tingle in a completely unfair way.
He looked at me, his deep voice tingling my nerves.
"Are you going to stand there all night, or are you going to move?"
I swallowed again, struggling to compose myself, and just as I was about to step aside, he added
"Come in."
His words sounded more like a command than an invitation.
I turned and entered.
Lanzo followed me immediately, and the door closed with a decisive click. The room was dark, completely dark.
I stopped, unsure whether to move any further, when a light suddenly came on overhead.
I blinked at the light and instinctively looked up at him.
He was already moving with that calm, predatory grace, sitting behind the large desk as if he owned not only the room, but everything in it, including me.
I sat down too, my eyes fixed on him as he opened a drawer.
Without a word, he tossed a card across the desk toward me.
The card stopped in front of me, catching the light, and out of curiosity, I picked it up.
It was a delicate, red card, smooth to the touch.
On its back, the words "Neon Exclusive Club" were elegantly engraved, and on the front, a simple number: 111.
I was still staring at it when I heard the faint sound of a cigarette being lit.
I looked up to see him placing a cigarette between his lips, slowly exhaling smoke as he watched me.
"Lanzo, that's... a red card," I said hesitantly, feeling puzzled.
He raised his eyebrow lazily, as if silently asking, "So what?" as if there was nothing out of the ordinary and I was just imagining things.
I frowned and said, "Shouldn't I have gotten a silver card?"
He exhaled slowly, his scent wafting throughout the room, and answered coldly.
"I'm the one teaching you. If you think I'll let you go back to those other rooms..."
He shook his head once sharply and refused.
"You're wrong. I prefer to do my work in my own space."
I looked at the red card again, running my thumb over its surface.
"But lanzo... doesn't that mean I can access the other floors too whenever I want?"
I asked in a low voice and waited for his answer.
He was silent.
Frowning, I raised my eyes to him, wondering if he'd heard me, only to find him leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed, staring at me.
No, not at me, at my body.
His gaze moved slowly and boldly to the curve of my purple dress, lingering for a very long time on my exposed legs.
Then he frowned.
It wasn't a playful frown, nor a fleeting scowl, but a disgruntled expression, almost annoyed, as if what he saw had somehow disappointed him and soured his mood.
I opened my lips to speak, but I barely managed to whisper, "Lanzo..." before he moved.
He pressed a button hidden somewhere under the desk.
Before I could process what was happening, I felt a cold metal clip around my wrists and ankles.
The chair, my chair, was equipped with a device.
I gasped as the handcuffs locked into place, restraining me helplessly.
I began to feel panic shoot up my spine.
Instinctively, I tugged at the handcuffs, trying to free myself, but to no avail.
The metal felt tight and hard against my skin.
Before I could process what was happening, I heard a soft mechanical click, another button being pressed.
My stomach lurched as the chair suddenly lifted off the floor, rising until I was eye level with him.
I was trapped and completely at his mercy.
Yoongi sat there, eerily quiet, the cigarette now burning between his fingers as he stared at me.
But his expression wasn't his usual self.
He looked... angry.
As if I'd made a terrible mistake.