The sun was beginning to set, casting long, golden shadows across Lili's apartment when her phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a call from Luca.
"Hey, mission accomplished," Luca's voice crackled through the speaker, sounding cheerful. "I dropped the letter off. I had to interrupt a super serious board meeting, but I placed it right on his desk. He looked as stoic as ever, but don't worry—he got it."
Lili felt a flutter of nervous excitement in her chest. "Did he say anything? Did he look... annoyed?"
"Leo? Annoyed? He always looks like he's about to fire someone," Luca laughed. "But he didn't throw it away, so that's a win in his book. Forget about my grumpy brother for a minute, though. Maya and Rohan just texted. There's a huge college party tonight at a club near the campus. They want us to go."
Lili hesitated. A party? She had only been in the city for a few days. Part of her wanted to stay in her pajamas and hide, but the other part—the part that had survived the bullies and met a handsome CEO—wanted to actually live her life.
"I don't know, Luca... I don't really have 'party' clothes," she murmured.
"Wear that denim jacket! You look great," Luca encouraged her. "Come on, Lili. You've had a stressful week. You deserve to dance and forget about Sociology and mean girls for a few hours. I'll pick you up in an hour. No excuses!"
Lili smiled, finally giving in. "Okay, okay. One hour. But if I'm awkward, you have to stay with me."
"Deal. See you soon, Bestie."
Lili hung up and stood in front of her mirror. She felt a surge of happiness she hadn't felt in a long time. She spent the next hour getting ready, brushing her hair until it shone and putting on a bit of lip gloss. She looked at herself and realized she wasn't the scared "New Girl" anymore. She was a student at Evergreen State College, and she had friends who actually wanted her around.
She didn't know that while she was getting ready to dance the night away, Leo was sitting in his quiet office, still thinking about her letter. And she certainly didn't know that the party they were going to was at a club owned by one of Leo's business associates—a place where the CEO often spent his Friday nights.
The club was a kaleidoscope of pulsing neon lights and thumping bass that Lili could feel vibrating in her chest. For a girl who had spent her first day hiding in a lecture hall, this felt like stepping into another dimension. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the energy of hundreds of students finally letting go of their stress.
"Welcome to the best night of your life!" Maya shouted over the music, grabbing Lili's hand and pulling her toward the center of the room.
Luca and Rohan followed close behind, acting like bodyguards as they carved a path through the dancing crowd. The club was spectacular—golden chandeliers hung from high industrial ceilings, and velvet booths lined the walls where the city's elite sat sipping drinks.
Lost in the Rhythm
At first, Lili felt a bit stiff, her shoulders tight as she looked around at the sea of strangers. But then, a song she loved started to play. Luca caught her eye and started doing a ridiculous dance move just to make her laugh.
"Come on, Lili! No one is watching!" he yelled, spinning her around.
She laughed, finally letting her guard down. She danced with Maya and Rohan, jumping to the beat and feeling the weight of the past week finally melt away. She wasn't the "New Girl" anymore; she was just a twenty-year-old girl having fun with her best friends. They felt invincible.
Lili stepped away from the pulsing lights of the dance floor, her throat dry from laughing and dancing. She headed toward the long, polished bar to grab a soda, weaving through the crowd. Luca and the others were still lost in the music, and for a moment, she was alone.
As she waited for the bartender, a guy who looked a few years older than the college crowd leaned heavily against the bar next to her. He smelled strongly of alcohol and had a sharp, unpleasant smirk on his face.
"Hey there, New Girl," he slurred, reaching out to grab Lili's arm. "You look a little lost. Why don't you come hang out in a real booth with me instead of these kids?"
Lili pulled her arm back, her heart beginning to race. "No, thank you. I'm just getting a drink."
"Don't be like that," the boy said, stepping closer and blocking her path. He reached out again, his hand moving toward her waist in a way that made Lili freeze with fear. "I'm just trying to show you a good time."
Lili opened her mouth to call for Luca, but before she could utter a sound, a dark shadow fell over them.
THUD.
A heavy, bone-crunching punch landed squarely on the boy's jaw. The harasser spun around and collapsed onto the floor, clutching his face in shock.
Lili gasped, looking up. Standing there was Leo. His black silk shirt was perfectly crisp, but his knuckles were clenched, and his eyes were dark with a cold, terrifying fury. He didn't look like the calm CEO from the office anymore; he looked like a predator protecting his own.
"Don't ever lay a finger on her again," Leo said, his voice a low, lethal growl that cut through the loud music.
The boy on the floor scrambled backward, terrified by the sheer authority in Leo's gaze, and disappeared into the crowd without a word.
Leo turned to Lili instantly. The coldness in his eyes vanished, replaced by an intense, searching look. He reached out, his hands hovering near her shoulders as if checking for injuries. "Lili? Are you hurt?"
Lili was shaking, her breath coming in short gasps. "I... I'm okay. Thank you."
Just then, Luca, Maya, and Rohan came rushing over, having seen the commotion from the dance floor. Luca's face was pale with worry as he pushed through the crowd.
"Lili! What happened?" Luca shouted, seeing his brother standing over her.
"Some guy was bothering her," Leo said, his voice returning to a calm, professional tone, though his eyes stayed fixed on Lili. "I took care of it."
Luca stepped in, wrapping a protective arm around Lili's shoulders. "I'm so sorry, Lili. I shouldn't have left you alone for a second."
"Let's get her out of here," Rohan said, looking at the crowd that was starting to gather.
Luca and his friends began to lead Lili toward the exit, but before they left, Lili turned back one last time. Leo was still standing by the bar, his tall frame silhouetted against the neon lights. He watched her walk away, his expression unreadable, but his gaze was heavy with something she couldn't name.
As they stepped out into the cool night air, Lili felt safe with Luca, but her mind was still back in the club, thinking about the way Leo had fought for her.