Emma's pov
It's been days since Alex and I decided to be friends, and I'm so happy and anticipating what next, my heart keeps beating faster whenever I think of him, and so far he's been cold but I'm sure I can break the ice.
I stood in front of my closet, staring at the endless rows of clothes, trying to figure out what to wear tonight. It had been a hell of a week—hell, a hell of a *month*—and I needed this. A night out. A break from the chaos of work, the stress about my company, and… Alex. God, just thinking about him made my stomach flip. That was all the more reason to go out and forget everything for a little while.
Celine's text had been crystal clear: **"We're going out tonight. No excuses. You need to unwind."**
And Serena had chimed in right after: **"We'll pick you up at 9. Wear something hot. Time to forget all the business crap."**
I grinned, already feeling lighter at the thought of a night with my girls—dancing, drinking, and leaving all the stress behind. It felt like ages since I'd let myself just have *fun*. My life had been consumed with work, trying to salvage my business, and, if I was being honest, trying to figure out what to do about Alex Volkov.
I let out a long sigh, pushing thoughts of him aside as I rummaged through my closet. Tonight was *not* about him.
I pulled out a sleek black dress I hadn't worn in forever. The kind of dress that made you feel like a whole new person, confident, and unstoppable. It hugged me in all the right places, and with a pair of heels and my favorite gold earrings, I knew I was ready. I gave myself a quick once-over in the mirror. Not bad, Emma. Not bad at all.
A glance at the clock told me it was almost 9. Perfect timing. The girls would be here any minute, and for the first time in weeks, I actually felt excited. No meetings, no late-night phone calls, no second-guessing myself about Alex.
Alex.
Ugh. Why did he keep creeping into my thoughts? I couldn't help it—there was just something about him. He was this enigma, this impossibly controlled man who never showed a hint of vulnerability. And yet, the way he looked at me sometimes, it was like he saw through every wall I'd built. It made me nervous, and *that* made me furious. No one ever rattled me, but he… did.
But *not tonight*. Tonight was about forgetting all that, and I was determined to enjoy myself. I grabbed my clutch, just as my phone buzzed. A text from Celine: **"We're outside!"**
Grinning, I gave myself one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs. The second I stepped outside, I spotted Celine and Serena waiting by the curb, both looking effortlessly gorgeous, as always.
"There she is!" Serena called, waving me over. "Girl, you look hot!"
"Thanks," I laughed, walking up to them. "You two are killing it as usual."
We exchanged quick hugs, and I could already feel the excitement building. Tonight was going to be exactly what I needed.
"So, where are we headed?" I asked, sliding into the back seat of Celine's car.
"The Oak," Celine answered, a sly smile spreading across her face. "It's been way too long since we've partied there, and it's got just the right vibe for what we need."
I raised an eyebrow. "The Oak? Fancy. I'm in."
I hadn't been to The Oak in months, but I didn't need convincing. It was the perfect place to forget about everything and just *be*. The music was always great, the drinks were strong, and the crowd was always buzzing with energy. Exactly what I was craving.
As we drove through the city, I leaned back in my seat, feeling a strange sense of freedom. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't obsessing over work or stressing about what to do next. And I wasn't going to let thoughts of Alex ruin my night, either. This was about *me* and my friends, and about finally letting go of all the tension that had been suffocating me.
By the time we pulled up to the club, I was more than ready to lose myself in the night. The line outside was long, but Celine, always on top of things, had us covered. We were whisked inside without a wait, and the second we stepped in, the music hit me like a wave, pulsing through the floor and straight into my veins.
"Now *this* is what we needed," Serena yelled over the music, grabbing my hand as we made our way to the bar.
She wasn't wrong. The thumping bass, the crowd moving as one, the energy in the air—it was like a drug, already pushing all my worries to the back of my mind.
I ordered a drink and turned to Celine and Serena, my heart pounding with excitement. "Okay, no more business talk tonight. No more overthinking. Just drinks, dancing, and having fun."
Serena raised her glass, a wicked grin on her face. "To that, I can definitely drink."
We clinked glasses, and I downed my cocktail, feeling the warmth spread through me. I wasn't going to think about Alex Volkov or his piercing eyes or how he made me feel completely off balance. Not tonight.
Tonight, I was going to let go. I was going to have fun.
And I was going to be *free* or so I thought