Nelly barely remembered the cab ride home. Her body moved on autopilot, her mind replaying the events of the day like a cruel joke. Kevin's smirk. His words. The humiliation burned in her chest.
She stormed into the apartment, slamming the door behind her.
Amanda looked up from the couch, startled. "Whoa. What happened to you?"
Nelly threw her bag onto the floor. "I don't want to talk about it."
Amanda narrowed her eyes, then got up and walked over. "Your face says otherwise."
"I said I don't—"
Amanda grabbed her shoulders and gave her a firm shake. "Nelly, if you don't let it out, it's just going to eat at you."
Nelly sighed, her anger still boiling under the surface. "Fine," she muttered. "I had a job interview. And it was… humiliating."
Amanda frowned. "What did they do?"
Nelly crossed her arms. "Kelvin played me. Made me think—I don't know. He led me on, I thought he wanted me. But it was all a game to him. And I fell for it."
Amanda's face darkened. "Bastard."
"I heard he was arrogant but this is too much."
Nelly scoffed. "That's not all."
"There's more."
"I slapped him."
"It was worth it," Amanda chipped it.
"You won't need to be going back there after that humiliation."
Amanda studied her for a moment, then clapped her hands together. "Right. That settles it. We're going out tonight."
Nelly groaned. "Amanda—"
"No arguments. You need to get out of your head. You need to dance, drink, and remind yourself that men like that don't deserve your energy."
"I don't feel like—"
"I don't care. I already picked out an outfit for you."
Nelly sighed. She knew she wasn't going to win once Amanda was like this. She had been looking for an excuse to take her out. And today just gave her the perfect one.
---
Beat79 was packed, neon lights flashing in hypnotic rhythms. The bass thumped through the air, the crowd swaying to the blast of afrobeat music.
Amanda dragged Nelly straight to the bar before spinning toward the dance floor. "I'll be back!" she shouted over the music before disappearing into the crowd.
Nelly exhaled, resting her elbows on the bar as she ordered a drink. She wasn't in the mood to dance. Instead, she let her mind drift, sipping slowly, watching Amanda twirl under the lights, lost in the music.
A man slid into the seat next to her. "Rough night?"
She didn't even glance at him. "Not interested."
"Didn't say I was selling anything," he chuckled.
She ignored him.
She must have been too deep in thought to notice the shift in atmosphere. The music didn't stop, but something had changed. The energy in the club crackled, anticipation buzzing through the air.
The DJ's voice boomed through the speakers.
"Alright, alright! Ladies and gentlemen, make some noise for the life of the party—LUCKY DANTE!"
The club erupted into cheers.
Nelly frowned. Lucky Dante?
The name and air had a familiarity to it
She turned slightly, her curiosity piqued.
Then, the crowd parted. Just as her assailants from this morning. And there he was. Wearing the same half-buttoned white top, a pair of jeans and sneakers. Everything about him seemed ordinary, yet he carried the same confidence as he had before, it was even more powerful this time.
Women reached out to touch him, men patted his back like he was some kind of celebrity. She was clearly the only person who didn't know who he was. And she would have been in complete confusion if not for this morning encounter.
Nelly arched a brow.
Just who the hell was Lucky Dante?
Nelly barely had time to process what was happening before the stranger beside her stiffened. He cringes in fear- just like the men from this morning. Lucky certainly has more influence on people than seems out of the ordinary. If he was meaning, she doubted the crowd would cheer him on so freely- took one glance over her shoulder, mumbled something incoherent, and quickly vacated his seat.
She turned to see why, and Lucky was strolling smoothly into the empty space. And then took the now vacant seat close to her.
The scent of expensive cologne filled the air—dark, rich, it was the same he wore. She must have been too scared to note it, but her brain and nose remembered it perfectly.
She turned.
Lucky Dante.
Up close, he was even more striking. His shirt clung perfectly to his frame, the top buttons undone just enough that his full chest was on display. She realised this was an intentional tease. A lazy smirk played on his lips, his posture relaxed like he owned the place.
And judging by the way the club held its breath, he probably did.
The bartender didn't even ask what he wanted. Two drinks landed in front of them almost instantly.
"You didn't tell me you knew Lucky Dante!" Amanda's voice cut through the tension as she rushed over.
Before Nelly could respond, Lucky turned to Amanda, his smirk widening.
"Well, she doesn't," he said easily. He picked up his glass, swirling the liquid inside. "But you could sorta say I'm her hero." He flicked his gaze back to Nelly, eyes gleaming with amusement. "I've rescued her twice in one day."
Amanda's eyes widened. "Twice?" Confused and looking to Nelly for an explanation.
"I got lost trying to locate Agu Corp this more," Nelly blurted out shyly
Lucky took a sip, never breaking eye contact with Nelly.
"Yeah," he mused, setting his glass down. "I think that means she owes me."
The weight of the crowd's stares pressed against Nelly's skin, but all she could focus on was the man beside her—the playfulness in his voice, the sharpness behind his eyes.
Every indication had pointed out this was a dangerous person, she knew it in her bones.
And for some reason, she couldn't look away.
Nelly's breath hitched.
The way Lucky Dante raised his glass, the casual way he took a sip—it sent a sharp jolt through her. A memory had stirred within her.
He didn't drink. He promised over to, at least… not while he was alive.
The memory was hazy, buried under years of time and pain, but it was there. A small, stubborn fact that shouldn't matter. And yet, it did.
Her fingers curled against the bar, trying to steady herself. The day's humiliation effects clawed at her chest, mixing with something deeper, something unnamed. A new feeling had begun to eat her almost immediately.
She had betrayed his memory by falling so easily for Kelvin and was betraying it even further by letting this stranger get familiar with her.
She tried to picture his face. He was never disappointed in her while he was alive...she couldn't bear the thought of him being disappointed now.
She blinked rapidly, fighting the burn of tears. She had barely been holding it in. Not here. Not in front of all these people.
But the weight of their stares crushed against her. Sitting next to Lucky attracted a thousand eyes all fixated on her.
He hated the spotlight, and she did too.
Her throat tightened. The air felt too thick, the club too loud, the lights too bright.
Lucky said something—his voice less teasing now, more alert. Amanda, too. But their words tangled together, drowned by the ringing in her ears.
The room tilted.
She let go of the bar, falling freely to the ground.
A strong arm had caught her around her waist.
She raised her arms to slap him in protest, but strength quickly left them as soon as it was up.
A flash of panic flickered across Lucky's face before everything blurred.
And then, darkness.
Then she was back on that street.
Her knees hit the pavement beside his body. Blood. It was everywhere. Seeping through his shirt, painting the cracks on the concrete.
She tried to speak, but her throat was locked up.
His hand twitched, his lips parted. He tried to form words but couldn't.
She could make out the words her was trying to say. It was her name. "Nelly."
A sharp gasp tore through her as she jolted awake.
She was no longer in the street, the pool of blood had disappeared.
Instead she was lying on something soft. She recognize the texture of shirt covering her. It was Lucky's.
A hand reached for her forehead. Cool fingers brushed against her skin.
"You're burning up."
Her eyes fluttered open, meeting a gaze too intense, too familiar. Lucky Dante was crouched beside her, studying her with something that almost looked like concern.
She swallowed hard, trying to push herself up, but dizziness washed over her. His hands steadied her before she could fall back.
"You fainted," he said. "first time in a club huh."
Nelly blinked, her eyes widened in confusion. Her day had been a Rollercoaster. And the way Lucky watched her intently as though he truly cared for her.
She hated it.
"I'm fine," she mumbled, trying to move away from his touch.
He didn't stop her. Just leaned back, watching her carefully. "Yeah? You didn't look fine back there."
She rubbed her temples, exhaling slowly. "I just... got dizzy."
Lucky tilted his head, unconvinced. Dizzy...its okay to admit its your first time in a club?". He added.
He knew something else had triggered her....something deep. He also know she wouldn't be sharing.
Nelly didn't answer. She couldn't.
Her mind was still reeling from the dream—the memory. It had felt so real, so vivid. It always did.
Amanda burst into the room then, her face lined with worry. "Oh my God, Nelly, are you okay?" She rushed to her side, throwing a glare at Lucky. "What the hell happened?"
"She fainted," Lucky said simply, standing to his full height. "I caught her."
"Oh my baby im so sorry," Amanda huffed. "If I had known I wouldn't have forced you to come."
"I knew it was her."
Nelly groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Can you two not?"
Amanda huffed but crouched beside her. "Seriously, girl, what happened? You looked totally out of it back there."
Nelly hesitated.
She couldn't start to explain it? At least not in front of lucky. It would sound weird saying, the sight of Lucky drinking had sent her spiraling? That it had triggered something deep, something raw? That, for a moment, she wasn't even in the club anymore—she was somewhere else entirely, trapped in a nightmare she couldn't escape?
"I just... I think I need air."
Amanda nodded and helped her up, keeping a firm grip on her arm. "Let's get you out of here."
For the first time in a long while, Nelly woke up feeling… at peace.
No nightmares.
No haunting flashes of blood on pavement.
Just silence. A rare, soothing kind. It felt too good.a
She stretched slowly, her body still heavy with exhaustion, but her mind surprisingly clear. The usual weight that came with waking up—the lingering ghosts of her past—was absent. It felt foreign. Almost unnatural.
Her phone buzzed beside her. She reached for it and sighed at the screen.
Mom: Amanda said you fainted yesterday. Are you okay? Call me.
David: Mom is worried. What happened?
Of course. Amanda must have told them.
She exhaled, rubbing her temple. The last thing she wanted was for her family to start worrying. She knew her mother well enough to predict what would come next—dozens of missed calls, voice messages filled with house care, and finally, a suggestion that she should come back home.
As if going back would fix anything.
The sound of hurried footsteps made her look up just as Amanda barged into her room.
"You're up!" Her roommate's face was lined with relief, but there was something else too—concern. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine," Nelly muttered, sitting up.
"You didn't have to call my mom, you know."
Amanda scoffed. "Oh, excuse me for not knowing if you were going to wake up or not! You passed out, Nelly. In the middle of a club! What was I supposed to do?"
"I said I'm fine."
Amanda folded her arms. "Yeah? You gonna tell me what really happened then?"
Nelly hesitated. The truth felt too messy, too complicated. She was gonna tell her, just not now.
Amanda sighed. "You know what? We'll talk about it later. Right now, we need to figure out who the hell is in our kitchen."
Nelly blinked. "What?"
Amanda motioned towards the door. "I heard you moving, and I thought it was you, but then I heard sounds from the kitchen."
Nelly frowned. "But... we're the only ones living here."
"Exactly."
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Amanda grabbed the nearest thing she could find—a hairbrush—and motioned for Nelly to follow.
"You're not seriously thinking of fighting off an intruder with that, are you?" Nelly whispered.
For a moment Nelly thought she could. Standing at 6'2 Amanda was towering against her meager 5'7. They had been friends since secondary school and she had always wasted no time in dealing with bullies troubling Nelly.
"Shhh," Amanda hissed as they crept toward the kitchen.
The clatter of utensils and the faint sound of humming reached their ears. The tune was unfamiliar but oddly calming. A nice aroma filled the air as they approached the kitchen. Whoever was in there was cooking. And cooked even better than the both of them.
Nelly hesitated before peeking around the corner.
What she saw nearly made her heart stop.
Lucky Dante.
Standing in their kitchen.
Like he belonged there.
Amanda's jaw dropped. "What. The. Hell?"
Lucky turned, completely unfazed, flashing them both a lazy smile. "Morning, ladies. Hope you don't mind—I helped myself to your kitchen, I'm making breakfast." He held up a spatula. "You're out of eggs, by the way."
Nelly stared, unable to form words.
Amanda, however, had no such problem.
"You broke into our house to cook breakfast?" she shrieked.
Lucky chuckled. "Relax. Your door was unlocked. I carried Sleeping Beauty home last night, remember? Thought I'd stick around and make sure she didn't pass out again." He shrugged. "Figured I might as well make breakfast while I was at it."
Nelly was still trying to process it all.
The fact that he was here. That he had been in their apartment. That he had—
"Wait. You brought me home?" she asked slowly.
Lucky's smile didn't waver. "You think I was just gonna leave you there?"
She swallowed. She had hoped part of last night had been another nightmare after she collapsed. But this? This was unexpected.
Amanda groaned. "Oh, hell no. This is not normal. You don't just casually bring a girl home and then cook breakfast like some... some romantic intruder!"
But Amanda had heard it before, it was popular along with the rumours around Lucky Dante. That he was a good cook.
"And he always prepares breakfast wherever he spends the night."
She was too focused on Nelly, that she didn't realize he stayed even when she had asked him to leave.
Lucky laughed. "Romantic intruder. I like that."
Amanda threw up her hands. "Nelly, please tell me you see how crazy this is?"
Nelly opened her mouth. Closed it. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to feel.
All she knew was that the peaceful morning she'd woken up to was officially over.
An Unwelcome Surprise
Breakfast had been surprisingly... pleasant. The aroma before did no justice to how good the food tasted.
Lucky Dante did his best to be an unbearable guest—loud, arrogant, maybe even reckless. And some other time, he was effortlessly charming, carrying most of the conversation while Amanda threw suspicious glances his way. He ate like he belonged, a new visitor would practically assume he was a member of their household. He cared t o little by the fact that he had practically broken into their home.
But even after they had eaten, Lucky showed no sign of leaving.
He leaned back in his chair, stretching lazily, as if he had all the time in the world. Amanda kept glaring at him. She knew he did. but it didn't seem to bother him in the slightest.
Nelly, on the other hand, busied herself with her phone.
Her fingers scrolled absentmindedly through her messages—until she saw a text that almost made her throw the phone across the room.
Kevin: You didn't complete your interview. Nevertheless, resume on Monday.
Nelly's blood ran cold.
Her grip tightened on the phone as the words sank in.
Resume?
Resume?!
After what that he had put her through? After the humiliation?
Her chest tightened with rage.
Amanda, immediately noticed. "What's wrong?"
Nelly didn't respond.
Amanda grabbed the phone before she could react, her eyes scanning the message. "Wait... What?" She looked up. "You're supposed to start work on Monday? Is he even serious?"
Nelly swallowed hard. Her mind raced.
She had sworn never to go back there. Never to face him again.
Lucky, who had been watching them silently, finally spoke up. "Whats with the face?"
"Who do I need to teach a lesson for you?"
Amanda slammed the phone onto the table.
"She went on an interview and was humiliated." She fummed. "Now the bastard is asking her to resume on monday".
Nelly. "You're not actually considering this, right? Because if you are, you need help."
Nelly shook her head. "Of course not! There's no way I'm going back there."
Lucky raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"
Amanda scoffed. "Are you serious? She was humiliated, that's why!"
Lucky hummed thoughtfully. "And?"
Amanda gaped at him. "And? Did you not hear what I just said?"
Lucky turned his gaze to Nelly. "Do you want to give up a perfectly good job just because of some jerk?"
"It's not like you'll be working directly with hm," Lucky continued "besides I heard he is mostly out of town."
Nelly hesitated.
The truth was, she did need this job. Finding work in this city wasn't easy, and the opportunity at Agu Corp was a big one. But could she really stomach working under Kevin?
Lucky leaned forward. "Look, I don't know what happened between you and the guy, but if he's giving you the job, you might as well take it. No need to let your pride get in the way of a good opportunity."
Amanda scoffed. "Oh, of course. Let's just ignore the fact that her new boss is a grade-A manipulative bastard."
Lucky smirked. "Well, if he's as bad as you say, then wouldn't it be even better to walk in there, head held high, and prove he didn't break you?"
That gave Nelly pause.
Amanda, however, wasn't having it. "Oh, please. This sounds like some toxic 'show them you're strong' nonsense. She doesn't have to prove anything to anyone."
Lucky turned to Nelly again. "What do you think?"
Nelly chewed on her lip.
Did she really want to go back? No.
But did she want to run away?
No...
She wasn't sure what was worse—facing Kevin again or letting him think he had scared her off.
"I don't know..." she admitted.
Lucky grinned. "Well, you have until Monday to decide."
Amanda groaned. "Unbelievable."
Lucky stood, stretching. "I should probably get going."
Amanda muttered, Finally.
He turned to Nelly, eyes twinkling with mischief. "See you around, Sleeping Beauty."
And just like that, he was gone.
Amanda let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "God, that man is exhausting."
Nelly barely heard her.
Her eyes were still fixed on the text.
Resume on Monday.