Selene Hart's night had spiraled far beyond her control. Perched on a worn stool at the dimly lit Moonlit Dive, her thoughts swirled as chaotically as the ice in her fifth whiskey sour. The numbing haze of alcohol couldn't drown out the anxiety over her family's debts or the dread of losing her ancestral home. Desperate times had driven her to desperate measures, but tonight, drowning her sorrows seemed like the only immediate solution.
The cacophony of the bar's late-night crowd muffled the echoes of her worries, blending with the clinks of glasses and the occasional off-key singalong. It was late, or perhaps it was early—time had become a blur. As she slid off the stool to leave, the room tilted dangerously. Staggering through a sea of bodies and stale air, she pushed through the exit into the cool, crisp night.
The abrupt change from the bar's stuffiness to the night's chill jolted her senses slightly. Selene stumbled down the sidewalk, her steps unsteady and uncertain. Her stomach churned, a rebellion against the night's indulgences. As she rounded a dimly lit corner, her balance betrayed her, sending her crashing into a solid figure emerging from the shadows.
The impact was less graceful than a dance, more a calamity of limbs and surprised curses. Selene's stomach, already a cauldron of distress, chose that moment to revolt entirely. With barely a moment's warning, she was mortified to feel the contents of her stomach spew forth, covering the stranger's shoes and lower trousers.
"I—I am so sorry," Selene gasped, the world spinning as she clutched at the wall for support. She dared a glance upward, her heart sinking further as the streetlight revealed not just any bystander, but Adrian Blackwood, the famous billionaire.
Who doesn't know Adrian Blackwood? The young business prodigy from the Blackwood family had taken over the family's vast business empire under dramatic circumstances. Known in both the boardroom and the tabloids for his sharp intellect and sharper tongue, Adrian had a reputation that preceded him. His dominance in the corporate world was matched only by his reclusiveness from the public eye, adding an aura of mystery and allure around him. Despite his youth, he was feared and respected in equal measure, his name synonymous with both awe and disdain within the elite circles.
As Selene's eyes met Adrian's icy gaze, a wave of realization washed over her. She was in the most compromising and humiliating position imaginable. Adrian's expression was unreadable, his eyes cold mirrors reflecting her disarray.
"I am really very sorry," Selene repeated, her voice shaky as she tried to regain some semblance of dignity. "It was an accident. I... I wasn't thinking straight."
Adrian looked down at his ruined shoes and trousers, his jaw tightening. "Clearly," he replied, his voice laced with annoyance. He pulled out a handkerchief, attempting to wipe off the worst of the mess with a disgusted grimace. Not sparing her another glance, the man continued walking.
Selene straightened up, her face flush with anger and embarrassment. Her frustration boiled over into indignation. "Hey! You! When someone apologizes, the polite thing to do is to accept it. It's not like I did it on purpose, you pompous jackass!"
Adrian stopped in his tracks, his back still turned to Selene. The night air seemed to hold its breath, the only sounds the distant murmur of the city and their own uneven breathing. For a moment, he stood motionless, then he turned slowly, his expression now one of mild surprise mixed with irritation.
"Excuse me?" Adrian's tone was ice cold, his eyes narrowing slightly as he measured her from a safe distance.
Selene felt a flicker of fear at his intense gaze, but her desperation and anger kept her grounded. "I said I'm sorry for the accident. You walking away like that—it's rude and unnecessary. We're both adults here."
Adrian's eyes seemed to appraise her anew, reassessing her in this new light of defiance. He took a measured step closer, his posture relaxed but commanding.
Selene straightened up, meeting his gaze fully now. "I'm having the worst night of my life. A little sympathy wouldn't kill you. On second thoughts, how could someone like you even understand me?"
Her courage started to wane as the man's cold gaze lingered on her a moment longer. Then, without a word, he raised his hand to hail a passing taxi. The cab pulled up swiftly. Selene watched as he stepped towards the vehicle, his every move exuding an air of dismissal. The door closed behind him with a definitive thud.
The cab melded into the stream of city lights, carrying Adrian away, leaving Selene alone on the sidewalk, enveloped in the night's chill.
For a long moment, she stood there blankly. The night air felt colder as the reality of her situation set in. With the last traces of Adrian's presence disappearing into the night, she snapped out of her trance back into her own shitty world.
She felt her shoulders slump as the adrenaline began to ebb, leaving behind a weary resignation. Turning away from the fading tail lights of the taxi, Selene wrapped her arms around herself, partly for warmth and partly to hold together the pieces of her courage. She began to walk, each step steadier than the last, her mind slowly shifting from the night's disaster to the possibilities of tomorrow. She had two more bank appointments. If only one of them would loan her the money she needed, all her problems would be solved.
Letting out a deep breath, she called for a cab herself. A cab soon pulled up to the curb, its headlights cutting through the darkness, offering a temporary respite from her thoughts. Selene slid into the backseat, grateful for the momentary shelter as she directed the driver to her home.
As the city lights flashed by, Selene's mind raced, replaying the encounter with Adrian Blackwood. What the hell was that? Why was someone like him even walking on the street? But she quickly put him away from her mind. That was someone she was never going to cross paths with again in her life.
Turning her gaze to the window, Selene watched the streets glide past. Each streetlight they passed under cast her shadow in sharp relief against the cab's interior, a fleeting reminder of her solitary fight. But solitude had made her resilient, her battles personal.
As the cab neared her neighborhood, the familiar sights brought a small comfort. Home was close, a sanctuary against the chaos of the world outside. She rehearsed her pitch for the loan officers in her head, refining each point with precision. Her family's home, her heritage—it all hinged on her ability to convey the urgency and the worth of her plea.
When the cab finally stopped in front of her house, Selene paid the fare and stepped out into the cool air, her resolve solidifying. Tomorrow, she would face her challenges head-on. No more stumbling, no more setbacks. She was ready to fight for her future.
Selene walked to her door, her footsteps echoing in the quiet street. She fumbled open her front door and then beelined to the bedroom, collapsing on her bed.
The next morning she woke up to the blaring sound of her phone alarm. She absent-mindedly checked her notifications when suddenly she jolted upright. There were a hundred missed calls on her phone? It was an unknown number and she hesitated for a moment before calling back, her curiosity piqued and a tinge of anxiety fluttering in her stomach. Who could be trying to reach her so urgently? She dialed the number, her fingers slightly trembling as she held the phone to her ear.
"Hello?" Selene's voice was cautious, still thick with sleep.
"Ms. Hart? This is Elena Marks from Blackwood Corporate. I'm Mr. Blackwood's personal assistant," came the crisp, professional response.