It was 7:00 pm now, "Okay, new plan!" Sofia announced, breathless from dancing, eyes sparkling with mischief.
Ember barely had time to process before Sofia grabbed her arm again.
"We are not ending the day here."
A chorus of agreement followed instantly.
"Yes!"
"Somewhere louder!"
"Somewhere with better drinks!" Antoinette shouted.
Ember laughed softly despite herself. "Aren't you all tired?"
"Absolutely not," Sofia said. "Today is a reset day."
"And resets require chaos." Another colleague said.
Ember slowed the moment the car pulled up. Tensions rose as she spotted the club from a distance. God! She didn't want to come back to this place.
Her stomach dropped, she knew this place more than she knew anyone in that car.
"This is…" she started.
Sofia grinned. "Fancy, right?"
Ember didn't answer. To them it was a fancy club, but to her it was that club.
"Come on," Sofia urged, pulling her forward. "You're going to love it."
Immediately she entered, memories brushed her mind, fragments of laughter, a drink in her hand, her friend Bella dancing on the dance floor with a stranger and another stranger's gaze locking hers.
"Ember?" Sofia's voice cut through. "You okay?"
She nodded quickly. "Yeah. Just… remembering I've been here before."
Sofia's brows lifted. "Oh? And you didn't tell me?"
Ember forced a small smile. "It wasn't… memorable."
They moved toward the bar, drinks flowing quickly, laughter rising again.
Sofia was in her element; teasing, dancing between conversations, pulling everyone into her orbit like she was determined to make the night unforgettable.
The others followed easily, the energy was contagious, the music wrapping around them like a pulse they couldn't ignore.
For a while, Ember let herself sink into it.
She laughed when she was supposed to, sipped her drink and let Sofia drag her onto the dance floor again.
But no matter how she tried, her mind kept drifting back to that Monday night.
"Ember!" Sofia called, pulling her back into the present. "Where did you go now?"
Ember blinked, forcing a smile. "Nowhere."
"Liar," Sofia said, but she was smiling but Ember didn't laugh back.
"Okay, you're definitely not here," Sofia said, waving a hand in front of her face.
Ember blinked again, grounding herself. "I'm here."
"No, you're physically present," Sofia corrected. "Mentally? Gone."
Ember exhaled softly.
"I've just been here before," she admitted.
Sofia leaned in instantly. "With who?"
Ember hesitated, her eyes flicked just for a second then she smiled.
"Ouu… with that rich gentleman who came to the office last week I guess." Sofia teased her.
Ember nodded. She knew it was a lie but how could she tell her colleagues she was there with their boss and that they ended up spending that night together. Worst of all, he didn't remember or recognize her. It was a horrible thing to tell someone.
"Okay, that's it."
Sofia caught her wrist mid-step, pulling Ember back just enough to make her stop.
"You've been physically here and mentally somewhere else all night," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Spill."
Ember forced a small laugh, trying to ease the tension. "I'm fine, Sofia. Just a little tired."
"Mm-hmm," Sofia hummed, unconvinced. "Tired doesn't look like you are staring into space every five seconds like you're reliving something. Did you guys break up?"
"God! No Sofia." She laughed "I just need a minute," Ember said, gently pulling her hand free. "I think I've had too much to drink."
Sofia studied her for a second longer.
Then sighed. "Fine. Bathroom break. But you're not escaping me tonight—we're talking."
Ember nodded. "Deal."
She turned quickly before Sofia could say anything else and slipped through the crowd.
"Such a pompous girl." She murmured.
The music grew louder as she moved deeper into the club, bodies pressing closer, lights dimmer, shadows stretching across unfamiliar corners.
She should have remembered the layout. But nothing felt the same now. She slowed, frowning.
"This isn't…" she muttered under her breath.
The noise from the main floor dulled behind her, replaced by a quieter, more intimate atmosphere. The lighting shifted softer, it was a more private area.
"Ooopps wrong directjon." She whispered. "I guess I should head home." She brought out her phone and sent a text to Ethan asking him to pick her up.
She then traced her steps back into a corner of the club but made it out the back door.
She heaved a sigh of relief once she was out in the open air. Oakbluffs was very cold that night, she blew hot air into her palms as she searched her way to the entrance of the club.
Then she spotted across the street, a sleek, black vehicle, tinted windows catching the glow of streetlights. She knew that car from her office building.
Her heart froze as she laid eyes on Edward inside the car.
She blinked rapidly, trying to shake the image. "You're drunk," she muttered to herself. "You're hallucinating. Too many drinks."
But her gaze refused to move. He was there, sitting in his car. His eyes were fixed on his phone.
Her body stiffened as the memories of the gala, how she had shoved him away. The memories crash back in vivid waves. In that instant, she does something she shouldn't have.
Her heels clicked sharply against the pavement as she crossed the quiet street. As she reached the car, Edward's eyes met hers through the windshield, widening with surprise.
She pressed her hands against the glass, leaning slightly closer, and her voice trembled as she spoke.
"I… I'm sorry," she blurted, almost desperate. "I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have come over. I wasn't thinking—"
Her words faltered, and her gaze dropped to the asphalt between them.
"And… and I'm sorry for the way I talked to you at the gala," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I shouldn't have—pushed you away like that. I didn't know what I was doing… I just… I—"
Her words choked off, and she looked up, meeting his eyes. Then he lowered the glass.
"Miss Woods, what are you doing here at this time? You've been mouthing through the glass. I couldn't hear you." Edward said, his voice was low but tinged with amusement and a hint of concern.
"I… I came to apologize," she said quickly, her voice shaking despite her best efforts. "For… for the way I acted at the gala. I shouldn't have—pushed you away like that. And… and for talking to you the way I did…"
Edward tilted his head slightly, "Oh that's okay. You were just overwhelmed." He looked closely at her and then back at the club.
"Miss Woods, have we met before?. I'm sorry but your look like someone I.."
A car horn blared behind her. She turned instinctively. Ethan's car had arrived.
"Hey! You okay?" he asked, stepping out. Concern laced his voice as he approached.
"I…I'm fine," Ember stammered, glancing back at Edward. He hadn't moved.
Ethan followed her gaze, "Hi. I'm here to take her home." He said to Edward. His wolf growled within him, he didn't respond.
As she climbed into Ethan's car, her hands trembled slightly, she looked back at him and for a moment, he was certain he knew her way before the office introduction.