Lucian wandered the club like a ghost in his own kingdom, moving from corner to corner with measured grace. The music pulsed through the room, but he barely noticed it. Nothing here entertained him—no laughter, no whispered praise, no eager eyes. They scattered like leaves in the wind, every attempt at charm dull and predictable.
He let his gaze flick across the crowd, scanning for anything unusual, anything that might catch his attention. And then… he saw him. Derm, this guy is cute, he is so adorable
The first thought that struck Lucian was almost ridiculous in its simplicity: cute. Completely, disarmingly, infuriatingly cute. Innocent, yes, but not in the boring, expectable way that people tried to be cute to get him to look. This was effortless. Natural. Magnetic.
Lucian's lips curved into a small, amused smirk. His eyes lingered on the way Adrien's posture shifted—just slightly, carefully controlled, as if he was aware someone was watching. Lucian's heart… skipped. He hadn't felt that in years. How can someone be this… he thought. How can someone be this innocent and still draw me in?
Arrogance was second nature to him, but curiosity had him moving forward. He strode across the room, all confidence and casual elegance.
"Hey," he said, voice low, teasing, letting his gaze settle on Adrien's eyes. "What's up?"
Adrien's heart skipped in response—not from fear, not exactly, but from triumph. Finally… he noticed me, he thought internally. Finally, he sees me.
Out loud, Adrien's voice faltered slightly, almost timidly. "Do… do I know you?"
Lucian's smirk deepened. "I don't think so," he said smoothly. "But you… you can know me." I am Lucian, CEO of Tan Enterprise
Adrien felt a jolt internally, a rush of satisfaction and confidence. Yeah… I know you, baby. I've been watching you. I've seen everything. And now… now you're here.
Out loud, he stuttered just enough to appear shy, his gaze flicking away before meeting Lucian's again. "Oh… Mr. Lucian…" His voice carried a hint of awe, a twinge of fear, but it was the cute, calculated kind—the kind that made Lucian lean in without realizing it.
Lucian froze for a fraction of a second. For the first time, he didn't want to intimidate someone. For the first time, he wanted to be careful with how he presented himself. He didn't want Adrien to leave with a bad impression. The thought was both unfamiliar and… delightful.
"Don't be nervous," Lucian said lightly, but there was a rare softness beneath the teasing edge. "I don't bite… usually."
Adrien smiled faintly, a mix of fear and mischief in his eyes. "I'll keep that in mind."
The conversation began to flow naturally, teasing, playful, and layered. Lucian found himself laughing at subtle jokes he hadn't even realized were directed at him, while Adrien guided the dialogue with an effortless charm, hiding the sharp, calculating mind beneath the cute facade.
Lucian's friends watched from a distance, mouths slightly agape. He's calm? one whispered. He's actually enjoying himself?
It wasn't just enjoyment. It was intrigue, the kind of dangerous pull that only happened once in a lifetime. Lucian couldn't stop himself from leaning in closer, hanging on Adrien's words, aware of every glance, every small movement.
And Adrien? He knew exactly what he was doing. Each tilt of his head, each flicker of a smile, each calculated pause drew Lucian in deeper. It was effortless, natural—and utterly intoxicating.
By the end of the night, Lucian had discovered something he hadn't felt in years: he wanted to impress someone, wanted to be seen as more than the untouchable, arrogant man who always controlled the room. And Adrien… Adrien had done exactly what he intended: captured his attention without even trying.
For the first time, their worlds clicked—and neither of them would ever be the same.