The room fell silent once again as the door shut, leaving behind only the low hum of the city and the fading scent of her perfume.
Still by the window, Asher stood- cigarette between his fingers, eyes distant. The suite's crisom glow painted sharp lines along his jaw and chest, but his gaze was unfocused now— no longer fixed on the skyline.
His mind, uninvited and annoyingly persistent, drifted to Jade. One way or the other. There was nothing he missed.
The memory of her voice— low, composed, laced with veiled judgment— echoed in the back of his mind. Remembering the way she looked at him earlier that day: cool, unreadable, and yet… something in her eyes stirred him. Not desire, not pleasure. It was more of curiosity, which made it was.
That irritated him.
She didn't flirt. She didn't chase. And neither she fold under his charm or his money. Not even when he had touch her. And that— against all reason— made her stick to his thoughts like a thorn beneath the skin.
Asher's brows creased in a frown as he took one last drag, the smoke burning a little harsher this time. Intuitively, he crushed the cigarette out in the glass ashtray and turned from the window, but that did little to solve anything. Jade's image still lingered in his memory.
As if on an impulse, he muttered a curse under his breath as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Focus, Asher. You shouldn't let her get under your skin."
But that rather came too late. Everything about her is already gnawing at his mind and he can't seem to stop it.
---
Jade
The evening had deepened into a moody dusk. City lights flickered awake across the skyline as Jade pulled into the underground lot of the building housing the famous Jitter's Ember. Parking a level below the elite entrance, she walked in through a private entrance tucked along a quieter side of the building.
Jitter's Ember surely lived up to its name. Moody lighting, jewel-toned décor, and a heady mix of sultry music, coupled with soft murmurs of conversation. Gold fixtures glimmered against the matte black walls, and the smell of aged whiskey and exotic perfumes hung like a seductive veil.
Jade was immediately egulfed by the buzz of music and chatters that filled the warm air of the downtown pub. It was nothing too loud, nor rowdy— just the right kind of noise to take the edge off a long day.
She slipped through the crowd, her coat draped over one arm, her heels clicking lightly on the floor. Her eyes briefly scanned the room and spotted her friend waving from a booth near the back. A relieved smile tugged at her lips as she made her way over.
"There you are," Seinna grinned, standing up slightly for a brief hug. "I was about to text you again. Thought you bailed on me."
"Never," Jade said, settling into the seat. "I had to stay back longer than I thought. Thankfully, Eliana covered the end for me."
Seinna flagged the server and ordered another round. "Rough day, huh?"
Jade gave a tired sigh, then laughed under her breath. "You could say that. Second session with Mr. Arrogant Billionaire himself."
Seinna raised an eyebrow. "The Asher Cross?"
"Mhm," Jade said, accepting the drink with a soft 'thank you' to the server. "And he's exactly what the media paints him as. But also… something else."
"Something else?" Sienna smirked. "Spill."
Jade took a sip of her drink, choosing her words carefully. "It's like… he's hiding behind the persona. There is charm, sure. But it's curated. Controlled. He tries to own the room even when he's being psychoanalyzed."
Sienna gave a low whistle. "Dangerous territory."
Jade nodded, eyes thoughtful. "Exactly. But interesting."
Seinna couldn't help but smile at her friend's answer. "Interesting huh?" She teased, "Don't tell me he has gotten to you already." She wiggled her brows.
"Come on...Sei, you know me." Jade scoffed.
Seinna nodded, taking a sip of her drink. "Maybe you should loosen up. Free your spirit. You know what I mean?" She laughed.
Jade smiled, slightly shaking her head. "I sure have a crazy friend."
The two women clinked glasses, the noise of the pub rising around them like a soft haze. For now, Jade let herself unwind. Just the perfect break from the day's stress.
As the minutes swayed by in their moments of escape, Jade laughed softly. Swirling the last of her cocktail in her glass as Sienna told a story that barely made sense anymore. The lights of Jitter's Ember swam in warm, golden tones, flickering like candlelight through a haze of music and murmurs.
But something was… off.
A strange warmth was spreading through her body. It wasn't the alcohol, that she was certain of. This was different. Intense. Her pulse spiked, her skin prickled. Her breath caught.
Her smile faltered.
"Too hot…" she muttered, fingers brushing her neck as if to cool it.
Beside her, Sienna blinked slowly, her words slurring mid-sentence. Her head swayed suddenly, like it was too heavy for her shoulders. Then, without warning, she slumped forward, cheek hitting the table with a dull thud.
"Sienna!" Jade gasped, reaching out— but her arms moved sluggishly, like the air had thickened around her.
She tried to rise, a growing panic in her chest— but her legs were leaden. Pulsing heat surged through her once again, stronger this time. Centered low in her belly. Her breath stuttered. Her thighs pressed together. Her nipples tightened painfully beneath her blouse.
The horror dawned instantly.
They had been drugged.
Her eyes darted around, desperate for someone to help, to see, to intervene— but faces blurred, shadows stretched. Everything was tilting, warping. She couldn't tell if she was sinking or the room was spinning.
Then… a familiar figure caught her wobbly gaze.
Tall, composed, walking through the haze like he owned the world.
He cut through the crowd with unhurried grace, heading directly toward her table. His suit immaculate, his expression unreadable. His sharp and unreadable haze locked with hers.
"Asher…?" she whispered, half-slurred, half-drenched in confused relief. "What did he do to her?" She inquired- subconsciously.
But before she could make out the words, her vision blurred. The floor swayed. Her body pulsed with a heat that was no longer hers. She felt her knees buckle— just as a strong hand reached her.
The last thing she saw before the darkness took her was his face— serene, controlled—as he leaned in, lips parting as if to speak.
But he said nothing. Or it was her who heard nothing?
And then everything went black.