_Star-Cross_
✨️ Chapter 1 ✨️
The night pulsed with an intoxicating rhythm, the city lights shimmering like scattered jewels across a velvet sky. Inside, the clubs were a riot of color and sound, a humid tangle of bodies swaying and grinding. Laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses wove into a symphony of abandon as people danced and drank, lost in the fleeting magic of the moment. But beneath the surface glitter, a different kind of energy hummed, a silent tension that promised something more than just revelry.
My eyes, sharp and unwavering, were locked on my rivals across the dimly lit room. "You've trespassed onto my territory," I said, each word a cold, deliberate stone dropped into the boisterous air. The music seemed to recede, the cacophony of the club fading into a distant hum as their attention shifted, drawn by the invisible threads of my challenge.
A smirk, slow and infuriating, spread across the face of the man seated directly opposite me. He toyed with the rim of his glass, his movements deceptively casual. "Are you looking for trouble?" I added, my voice a low growl, pushing past the thrumming bass of the music. It wasn't a question, but a declaration, an open invitation to the dance we were about to begin.
His gaze, dark and unreadable, met mine. "We're here for business," the man finally responded, his voice smooth as aged whiskey, cutting through the thrum of the club with an unexpected authority. The word "business" hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications, a stark contrast to the carefree atmosphere surrounding us.
"What kind of business?" I pressed, my hand unconsciously tightening on the arm of my chair. My eyes flickered to the glass he was still toying with – my glass, I realized with a jolt, noticing he'd already claimed it as his own. A small, almost imperceptible gesture, but loaded with a predatory arrogance that grated on my nerves.
He finally set the glass down, a faint, almost imperceptible clink on the polished table. His smirk widened, revealing a flash of something cold and utterly ruthless. "To take what belongs to us," he said, the words slithering out, coated in an unsettling confidence. His eyes, devoid of any genuine amusement, held mine in a silent promise of conflict.
An abrupt silence descended upon our small corner of the club, a pocket of stillness in the swirling chaos. The music, once a pulsating backdrop, now felt distant, muted. The laughter and chatter of the other patrons faded into an indistinct murmur. In that sudden vacuum, the tension between us swelled, thick and suffocating, a palpable force that seemed to push against the very air.
The game had begun.
I stepped into the club, and the smell of aluminum hit me like a punch. The air was heavy with tension as everyone faced off against the two men. Their animosity was palpable, sending shivers down my spine.
That's when I saw him – a man with piercing eyes that seemed to bore into my soul. He stood tall, his sharp jawline accentuated by the dim lighting.
"Are you going to tell me what belongs to you that's in my territory?" he demanded, his deep voice commanding attention.
The other man sneered. "Do you think I'll hand this place over without a fight?" His rage was growing, and I could feel the atmosphere escalating.
The first man smiled coldly. "I knew it wouldn't be that simple. That's why we're going to do this the hard way." He pulled out a gun, and the room held its collective breath. I watched as the second man's eyes widened in shock, fear flashing across his face. He knew he had to act fast.
I scanned the room frantically, searching for something – anything – to intervene. That's when I spotted a fire extinguisher. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing.
I grabbed the extinguisher and hurled it at the armed man. "Damn!" I cursed as it fell to the ground, harmless.
Every head turned toward me, including the man with the piercing eyes. This was my chance. I seized the opportunity, grabbing the object of contention – a small, golden Sun – and hurling it across the room. "RUN!" I shouted.
Chaos erupted as people scrambled to flee. I fought my way through the crowd, pinning the armed man to the floor and pummeling him with my fists. When I finally emerged from the melee, I was confronted by the man I'd just saved. He was flanked by heavily armed bodyguards, who seemed to have materialized out of nowhere.
I couldn't help but wonder where they'd been when their boss was almost killed. The man's face was a mask of calm, his features chiseled from crimson and emerald. "Thanks for saving my butt back there," he said, his voice smooth.
I shrugged. "I couldn't just stand by and watch them kill you." He smiled and extended his hand. "I'm Roman, by the way."
I took his hand, feeling a jolt of electricity. "I'm Ryan. Just an ordinary guy who saved a billionaire." Roman's eyes crinkled at the corners. "You own Rusnano and Yandex, right?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Roman nodded, his smile growing wider. "You're my idol, Roman," I blurted, my heart racing like a jackhammer.Roman's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, time stood still.
He hands me his business card. "Give me a call anytime," he says, getting into his black car and driving off, followed by three other cars.