Hey."
The message sat quietly on her screen.
Unknown number.
No display picture.
No name.
Nothing.
Janaya stared at it for a few seconds… then locked her phone.
She wasn't in the mood.
Not after the day she just had.
A lecturer.
A missing assignment.
An argument she didn't even have the energy to finish.
Her whole day felt off.
Hours later—
She finally laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Quiet.
Tired.
Then she remembered.
The text.
She picked up her phone again.
Hesitated for a second.
Then typed—
"Hi. Who is this?"
Her fingers paused slightly before hitting send.
A small part of her mind whispered:
What if it's Ethan?
Her chest tightened briefly.
The reply came almost instantly.
"You just kiss people and expect them not to text?"
Janaya froze.
Her heart skipped.
"Damian…"
She didn't say it out loud.
But she felt it.
That sudden warmth.
That excitement she had been trying to ignore.
So she texted back—
"I'm sorry, I had a bad day."
Short.
Controlled.
Like she wasn't affected.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Felvic Lounge. 8pm."
A pause.
"I want to hear about your day."
Another message followed.
"I'm not really good with texting."
Janaya stared at the screen.
Her lips pressed together slightly.
She wanted to say yes.
Too quickly.
Too easily.
But something held her back.
Ethan.
The debt.
Everything waiting for her outside this moment.
"Hmmm," she typed.
Then erased it.
Typed again.
"No."
She dropped her phone beside her.
Heart beating faster than it should.
Why did that feel like a mistake?
A few seconds later—
Her phone buzzed again.
"I'll pick you up by 7:50."
Janaya blinked.
That wasn't a question.
Her lips curved slightly despite herself.
"This man…"
She shook her head, picking up her phone again.
But this time—
She didn't reply.
And somehow…
That silence said yes.
Janaya stood in front of her closet, staring blankly.
"This is the kind of man I want," she muttered, almost smiling to herself.
Then her face dropped again.
"What am I even supposed to wear?"
She pulled out one dress.
Dropped it.
Picked another.
"No… this is too much.
She sighed.
"Is this even a date? No… it's just a lounge."
A pause.
"But… it's him."
Her phone rang.
Maya.
Of course.
Janaya picked immediately—it was a video call.
"Janayaaa," Maya dragged, flipping her camera dramatically. "I have a date tomorrow and I need help."
Janaya blinked. "Date? With who?"
"Tan," Maya said proudly, holding up two dresses against her body. "Red silk slit gown… or the crystal purple one you like?"
Janaya tilted her head, studying her.
"The red," she said. "First date. Keep it classic."
"Red or black heels?"
"Black. With red soles, baby girl."
Maya gasped. "You're so right."
Then Janaya paused.
"…what do I wear to a lounge?"
Maya froze.
"What?"
"Felvic Lounge," Janaya added casually.
Maya's eyes widened.
"Girl… what are YOU going to do at Felvic Lounge? Do you know how expensive that place is?? You want to finish your after-uni savings on one drink?"
Janaya hesitated.
Then—
"Damian is paying."
Silence.
Then—
"YOU'RE MEETING THE COLD CEO??" Maya screamed.
Janaya winced, pulling the phone away slightly.
"Lower your voice!"
"I think this man actually likes you," Maya said, eyes wide.
Janaya rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her.
"Just tell me what to wear. He'll be here in two hours."
Maya froze again.
"He's coming to pick you up??"
"Yes, Maya!"
"The group needs to hear this—"
"MAYA!"
"What am I wearing??" Janaya snapped, laughing despite herself.
Before Maya could reply—
The doorbell rang.
Janaya paused.
"…someone's at the door."
"Go! Go!" Maya urged.
"And when i come back, you better have an outfit in mind!" Janaya said, already running.
She opened the door.
A delivery boy stood there, holding a sleek black package.
"Good evening, ma. A delivery for you—from Mr. Damian. Please sign here."
Janaya blinked.
"…from who?"
"Mr. Damian."
Her heart skipped.
She signed quickly, almost mechanically, and shut the door.
"Maya…" she said, walking back slowly.
"It's from him."
"Open it RIGHT NOW!" Maya screamed.
Janaya didn't wait.
She tore through the seal.
The first box revealed—
A pair of Christian Louboutin heels.
Red bottoms.
Sharp.
Elegant.
Deadly.
"Maya…" she whispered.
"I'm seeing it… I'm seeing it…" Maya muttered in shock.
She opened the next layer.
And froze.
The dress.
Deep ruby red.
Silk blended with fine crystal embellishments that caught even the smallest light, making it shimmer like liquid fire. The fabric flowed effortlessly, hugging the waist before falling into a soft, graceful silhouette.
It wasn't just beautiful.
It was intimidatingly beautiful.
Like something meant to be remembered.
"Girl…" Maya whispered. "Are you going to a lounge or getting engaged??"
Janaya laughed nervously.
"I just remembered… Felvic Lounge has a private dining section."
She kept going.
Inside—
A sleek, structured clutch.
Soft nude with gold detailing.
Perfect.
Balanced.
Expensive.
Then—
A note.
She unfolded it slowly.
"Maybe I'm not always cold.
See you by 8."
Janaya froze.
Then smiled.
Then blushed.
All at once.
She pressed the note lightly to her chest.
"This man…" she whispered.
"Okay," Maya said dramatically. "My job here is done. You don't need me anymore."
"I still need you," Janaya shot back. "You have to see me when I'm dressed."
Maya smirked.
"Girl, I need to go talk to my man now."
Janaya scoffed.
"Miss 'we're taking things slow' is now saying my man?"
Maya laughed.
"Goodnight, lover girl."
And the call ended.
Janaya stood there for a second.
Then suddenly—
Everything became real.
She grabbed her towel.
"I need to shower."
And ran.
It was exactly 7:50.
Damian was already in the compound.
Of course he was.
He didn't do late.
Not unless it didn't matter.
And this—
This mattered.
He sat in the car for a second.
Then stepped out.
No guards.
No driver.
No distractions.
Just him.
For once.
He took his phone and dialed her number
"I'm here," he said simply.
"I'll be out in five minutes," Janaya's voice came through—slightly rushed, slightly breathless.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Take your time," he said calmly.
"I want you to look your best."
He ended the call.
And waited.
Upstairs—
Chaos.
"Oh my God, I forgot perfume!"
Janaya rushed back into her room, heart racing.
She grabbed one bottle.
Paused.
"No… vanilla?"
Another.
"Sweet floral?"
Another.
"Wait… chocolate??"
She exhaled sharply.
"Focus."
Moments later—
She settled.
Vanilla.
Layered softly with a sweet floral scent.
Subtle.
Warm.
Addictive.
She sprayed lightly…
Then stepped back.
She didn't just smell good.
She smelled like presence.
Then—
She picked up her purse.
Took one last look at herself.
And stepped out.
Downstairs—
Damian stood beside the car, scrolling through his phone absentmindedly.
Calm.
Composed.
Untouched.
"Damian."
Her voice.
Soft.
Close.
Behind him.
He turned.
And for a moment—
Everything stopped.
It wasn't just the dress.
It wasn't just the heels.
It wasn't even the way she carried herself.
It was…
Her.
The way the red fabric caught the light like it was made just for her skin.
The way her hair framed her face effortlessly.
The way she stood—confident, but unaware of the effect she had.
Damian didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't breathe.
Because for the first time in a long time—
He was caught off guard.
She was exactly…
The image of the woman he never admitted he wanted.
Before he could stop himself—
He stepped forward.
Took her hand.
Lifted it slowly.
And placed a soft kiss on it.
Janaya blinked.
Her heart skipped.
And Damian?
Still staring.
Like he hadn't finished processing what he was seeing.
"Are you going to keep staring…" she said, trying to sound composed, though her voice betrayed her slightly,
"…or open the door?"
That snapped him out of it.
He exhaled quietly.
A small smile forming.
"Right."
He walked around the car.
Opened the door for her.
Still stealing glances.
Still not fully over it.
Because tonight—
He knew one thing.
This wasn't just a casual outing anymore.
And for Janaya—
As she sat in that car—
She felt it too.
Something had shifted.
And neither of them were ready for what was coming next.