Chapter One: A Night to Forget
Althea Morgan had spent the last few days buried in textbooks, notes, and endless lectures. Medical school wasn't just challenging—it was a battlefield, and she had been fighting relentlessly. Her mind felt like it was on overdrive, every thought revolving around anatomy, physiology, and the looming exams that could make or break her semester. She barely remembered the last time she had truly relaxed. Every moment of downtime had been consumed by revision, lab reports, and clinical rotations. She loved medicine, truly, but lately it had started to feel like a cage, one she could barely escape.
It was during one of those particularly stressful evenings, when her eyes were so bloodshot from reading she could barely see the words, that Vera barged into their little apartment with all the energy of a hurricane. "Althea, you are officially dead to fun!" Vera declared, flopping dramatically onto the couch. Her legs were thrown up in the air, a textbook of her own lying open on the coffee table.
"I am not dead to fun, I am just… alive to deadlines," Althea muttered, rubbing her temple. She was sprawled on the bed, her laptop open beside her, notes scattered across the floor.
"Dead to fun!" Vera repeated with an exaggerated gasp. She jumped to her feet and waved her phone like it was a weapon. "Look, there's this club—everyone's talking about it. It's brand new, fancy as hell, and it opens tonight. You need this. You need air. You need a drink."
Althea sat up, her brows knitting together. "A drink? Vera, you know I don't… I barely drink, and I have at least four hours of work to finish tonight."
"Four hours?" Vera laughed, the sound bright and contagious. "Althea, your brain is literally melting. You've been at it nonstop. Come on, just one night. One night to forget anatomy, forget histology, forget that ridiculous gastroenterology lab you failed last week."
Althea groaned, remembering the lab. Vera's eyes sparkled as if she had just delivered the ultimate argument. "Fine, fine. You win. But only because I don't want to look like a zombie in front of whoever shows up there," Althea said reluctantly, closing her laptop.
Vera squealed and danced around the room. "Yes! That's the spirit! Trust me, you'll thank me later. Now, outfits."
The two of them headed to their tiny closet in the corner of their shared apartment. The space wasn't large, just enough for a few racks and Vera's tendency to overpack, but it was a treasure trove of possibilities. Vera was already rifling through the hangers like a kid in a candy store.
"You need something that screams mysterious and untouchable, but approachable if you're irresistible enough," Vera declared, holding up a sleek black dress with one shoulder bare. "This one. Trust me."
Althea squinted at it. "Mysterious? Untouchable? I'm not trying to look like a Bond villain tonight."
"No, you're trying to look like the girl every guy in that club won't stop staring at. And maybe wondering why you're unattainable," Vera said, tossing the dress onto the bed. She held up another option, a deep burgundy mini-dress that hugged curves without being over the top. "Or this. Sexy, sophisticated, killer color."
Althea picked up the burgundy dress, running her fingers over the fabric. "I feel like everyone will already be dressed to kill, and I'll be… what, blending in?"
"Blending in?" Vera laughed so hard she nearly dropped a hanger. "No, Althea. You blend in like a diamond in a haystack? Impossible. You want them to notice, but not notice, if you get what I mean."
Althea rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "You mean, you want them to stare without actually talking to me?"
"Exactly!" Vera clapped, clearly proud of her logic. "Tonight is about atmosphere, about fun, about oh, and hot guys. Can't forget hot guys."
Althea raised an eyebrow. "Hot guys?"
Vera grabbed a clutch bag from the top shelf and held it out like a prize. "Hot guys, and yes, you are going. This is your escape, girl. Tonight, you don't think about classes, you don't think about exams, and you sure as hell don't think about your textbooks."
Althea laughed softly, shaking her head. She admired Vera's enthusiasm. No matter how stressful her life became, Vera had this uncanny ability to pull her out of her head and remind her that life wasn't just about notes and deadlines.
By the time they finished getting ready, Althea was standing in front of the mirror in the burgundy dress, adjusting the strap slightly. Vera stood beside her, putting on bright red lipstick with precision. "See? Now you look like someone dangerous, someone who could burn this city down with just one glance."
Althea smirked. "Dangerous, huh?" She tugged gently at the hem of her dress. "I just feel like I'm overdressed for stress relief."
"Nonsense," Vera said, grabbing her own sparkling silver mini-dress. "Tonight is about the new club. Tonight is about lights, music, champagne, and people who actually make your heartbeat quick."
Althea caught herself smiling at Vera's excitement. "You're impossible," she said, picking up her clutch. "Fine, let's go. But if anyone tries to talk to me about medicine, I swear…"
"Relax," Vera said, linking her arm with Althea's. "No talk of medicine. Just music, drinks, and maybe a little chaos."
The cab ride to the club was short but felt electric. Althea watched the city blur past, lights streaking like fireflies. Her stomach twisted in anticipation, not nervousness exactly. There was a thrill in stepping out of her rigid, controlled life and into something unpredictable. Vera chatted nonstop beside her, predicting which guy would approach first, which girls would try too hard, and which DJ would probably ruin the vibe with some cheesy remix.
When they arrived, the club's exterior was dazzling. Neon lights reflected off the polished glass, and the entrance was lined with sleek black ropes. Valets held doors open with precision, and a faint hum of bass throbbed through the walls. Althea felt her pulse quicken, not from excitement entirely, but from curiosity.
Inside, the atmosphere was intoxicating. Lights danced across mirrored surfaces, the air was warm with perfume and cologne, and music pulsed through her chest like a heartbeat. People laughed, clinked glasses, and moved with a kind of reckless abandon that Althea had long forgotten.
Vera immediately dragged her toward the bar. "First things first: a drink. Something fancy. Something that says I am alive and I am unforgettable."
Althea hesitated, scanning the crowd. Men and women alike were dressed to impress, moving in rhythm, their energy magnetic. And then she saw him.
He wasn't staring at her, not yet, but there was something about him that made her notice. Cassian Blackwood. Tall, impossibly handsome, with sharp features and dark hair that fell perfectly in place. He was leaning casually against the bar, dressed in a tailored suit that seemed effortless yet commanding. His presence wasn't loud, but it filled the room entirely, like he had brought his own gravity.
Vera noticed him too, nudging Althea. "See what I mean? Hot. Dangerous hot. And probably arrogant. But oh, he looks like trouble."
Althea laughed, trying to dismiss him from her thoughts. "Vera, stop. He's just a guy. Besides, we came here to relax, not—"
"Not to drool?" Vera whispered, smirking. "Exactly. But let's get drinks first, then we'll see if he notices you."
They ordered cocktails, and as Althea sipped hers, she let herself sink into the music. The world felt different here, vivid, alive, full of possibilities she hadn't allowed herself to imagine. Vera's chatter became a pleasant background hum.
Minutes later, a brush of air behind her made Althea turn. And there he was. Cassian. Not staring, not smiling yet, just standing with that magnetic calm that made it impossible to look away. He raised a glass slightly, almost casually, as if acknowledging her presence without saying a word.
Althea's heart thumped a little faster. She didn't know why she felt a pull toward him, why the sudden heat in her cheeks wasn't just from the club's warmth. Something about his presence demanded attention, even when he didn't speak.
Vera nudged her again, whispering, "Go say hi. Or at least make him notice you."
Althea shook her head, flustered but unable to look away. She wasn't used to this world of glittering lights, music, and temptation. But tonight, she realized, maybe it wasn't about controlling everything. Maybe it was about letting go, even for a few hours.
And so she did.