Leaning against the railing, she let herself exhale fully for the first time in what felt like hours. Below, the party carried on, vibrant and alive, a stark contrast to the storm brewing within her.
The moonlight bathed the scene in silver, but Tatum's gaze was unfocused, her thoughts pulling her in every direction. Somewhere in that crowd, Vivienne was probably clinging to Aiden, doing her best to monopolize his attention. And Marco, the way he danced with her earlier, the confidence in his smile, it all felt like too much.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her out of her thoughts. The screen lit up with a text.
Unknown: Always watching, Tatum. Tick-tock.
Her stomach sank as she read the words. She glanced over her shoulder instinctively, but the balcony was empty. The unsettling sense of being watched gnawed at her, and she gripped the railing tightly, her knuckles turning white.
Tatum leaned against the cold metal railing of the balcony, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp, scanning the horizon as if searching for answers in the darkness. She pulled a sleek silver lighter from her pocket, the tiny flame flickering briefly before catching the cigarette between her fingers. With a slow, deliberate inhale, she let the smoke curl around her lips before exhaling in a steady stream, the faint glow of the ember casting a soft light on her face. Her fingers drummed lightly on the railing, the cigarette balanced delicately between them, as her mind raced with questions and plans she dared not voice aloud.
A soft sound from the doorway caught her attention, and she turned sharply exhaling the smoke softly, only to see Aiden stepping out onto the balcony.
"You're hard to find," he said, his tone casual, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of concern.
Tatum slipped her phone back into her pocket, forcing a steady expression. "Needed some air."
Aiden walked closer, his hands slipping into his pockets. "You've been quiet tonight. Too quiet."
"Just thinking and protecting."
"Dangerous habit of yours," he teased gently touching her head, though his gaze was searching. "Anything worth sharing?"
She shook her head, her lips curving into a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Not really."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Aiden leaned against the railing beside her, his shoulder brushing hers.
"What do you want from me?" The girl added defeatedly, taking a drag on her almost finished cigarette.
"I just wanted to know why you were smoking", his eyes were still searching her, looking for an answer to all the questions he had asked himself so far.
She was an enigma, a mystery, there was something that attracted him and yet annoyed him to the core. Why couldn't she be more open? It's very hard to read her.
"Are you interested in me?" The brunette grinned.
"I'm interested in knowing everything about my employees."
Her hands trembled slightly because of the cold, but it was as if the cigarette was warming her. It burned her so hard that the pleasure had turned into a war. She didn't like smoking, she did it occasionally when she was very thoughtful. But it was like a small orgasm for her lungs. She loved putting herself in danger, it was the only thing that kept her active and cerebral.
"Out of fear", her reply had come after quite a long time. Her gaze scrutinized him closely, and an arrogant grin had appeared on her face when she saw the brunette's confusion.
"Fear? That's new", he laughed lightly.
"Haven't you gotten used to it yet?"
"With what?"
"With my answers. Answers that no one would give you. Answers that make you think", she added, looking at him intensely.
The man's eyes fell on her green eyes, and the fact that his pupils were dilated made her smile. He felt attracted to her, but he didn't want to show it, and yet he showed it with his whole being. She knew it too.
Without a word, Aiden walked toward her. The night started feeling heavier as he stood beside her, the silence between them comfortable in a way it never had been before.
"You're such a mystery, makes me want to choke myself with my own words just to hear you talking more" Aiden said looking into her eyes deeper than before.
Tatum tilted her head, her lips curving into a teasing smile as she tapped the ash of her cigarette over the balcony railing. "Careful, Mr. Black. You might regret saying that."
He didn't back down, stepping closer until the faint scent of his cologne mingled with the smoke in the cool night air. His eyes were locked on hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. "I don't regret much, Mrs. Joy," he murmured, his voice low and rough.
Tatum leaned against the railing, her gaze unwavering as her cigarette hovered near her lips. "And why should I be the one thing you must regret?"
Aiden's lips quirked up in a half-smile, but there was no humor in his expression, only a simmering intensity. He reached out, his hand brushing against hers, the touch light but electric. His fingers lingered, tracing the curve of her wrist before sliding to her neck, where his thumb rested just below her jawline, tilting her face slightly toward him.
Her breath hitched, and for the first time, she felt the full weight of his presence, how close they were, how easily the distance could be erased. The silence between them was deafening as his gaze fell to her lips, his intent clear as crystal.
Tatum didn't move, didn't blink, as if daring him to close the gap. She wanted to. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and she hated that he could make her feel this way—unguarded, raw.
"Have I told you that you're so fucking beautiful tonight?"
Just as his lips were about to brush hers, the sharp click of heels on the balcony's tile floor shattered the moment.
"Mr. Aiden," Vivienne's voice was sickly sweet and perfectly timed, cutting through the tension like a knife. "I've been looking for you. There's someone downstairs asking for you."
Aiden's jaw tightened as he exhaled slowly and closing her eyes for a moment, his hand dropping from Tatum's neck. He turned to face Vivienne, his expression carefully neutral, though the frustration in his eyes was impossible to miss.
Tatum smirked faintly, taking another drag of her cigarette as she leaned back against the railing, pretending to be utterly unbothered. "You'd better not keep them waiting," she said, her tone laced with amusement, but her heart still raced as he walked away.