Asher continued his set for another forty minutes.
From the DJ booth, he had immediately noticed Yixing and Oscar joining the table.
Not that he was distracted.
Well… maybe a little.
Every now and then he found himself glancing toward the VIP section wondering what exactly they were all talking about.
The group, meanwhile, was having a surprisingly good time.
They cheered whenever Asher mixed into a particularly good transition and enthusiastically supported him throughout the set.
At one point Bee even stood up and screamed his name when he dropped one of his original tracks.
Asher nearly rolled his eyes from the booth.
The atmosphere around the table remained easygoing.
Oscar and Jean eventually migrated toward the railing overlooking the dance floor.
The two stood side by side, drinks in hand, lightly moving to the music while exchanging stories and laughing.
"You know," Jean said, "I think you're the only executive secretary I've ever met who actually has a personality."
Oscar looked offended.
"I'll have you know we're delightful."
"That's exactly what a boring person would say."
Meanwhile, back at the table, Bee had somehow gotten onto the topic of European nightlife.
Which naturally led to Ibiza.
"Daisy was so much more daring when we were younger," Bee announced.
Dasom immediately groaned.
"I was a lot stupider."
Bee laughed.
"You jumped off a boat."
"It looked fun."
"It was midnight."
"There were life jackets."
"There were no life jackets."
Dasom buried her face in her hands while giggling.
Yixing listened quietly.
He wasn't contributing much, but he was paying close attention.
More than paying attention.
He seemed genuinely interested.
For years he had only heard fragments about their lives overseas through family conversations and social media.
This was the first time he was hearing the stories directly from them.
"So what was Finland like?" he asked.
Dasom looked up.
"Cold."
Bee nodded immediately.
"Very cold."
"And quiet," Dasom added. "At first I hated it."
"You hated it?" Yixing asked.
She shrugged.
"I was twelve. I'd just left everyone I knew."
His expression softened slightly.
"Fair."
"But then it became home," she continued. "The people were kind. School was different. Everything felt… slower."
"Less chaotic than Hassano," Bee added.
"Way less."
Yixing nodded thoughtfully.
"I can see the appeal."
Dasom smiled.
"You would've hated it."
That caught his attention.
"Why?"
"You don't know how to sit still."
Bee burst out laughing.
"Oh my God."
Yixing actually looked mildly offended.
"I know how to relax."
"No you don't," Bee said.
"You genuinely don't," Dasom agreed.
The fact that they both said it at the same time only made the girls laugh harder.
Yixing shook his head but couldn't completely hide the amusement in his eyes.
For someone who usually inspired intimidation, it felt oddly normal sitting here listening to them tease him.
And strangely enough…
He liked it.
Eventually the final track of Asher's set began.
The crowd roared as he mixed into the closing song.
People were dancing.
Singing.
Jumping.
The energy in the venue was electric.
Then, ninety minutes after he had first stepped behind the decks, Asher's set finally came to an end.
The applause was immediate.
The club erupted into cheers.
Asher removed his headphones and offered the crowd a grateful wave before stepping away from the booth.
The moment he reached the VIP table, his friends welcomed him like a returning champion.
Bee was first.
She practically launched herself at him.
"You were amazing!"
Asher laughed as he steadied her.
"You say that every time."
"Because it's true every time."
Jean raised his glass.
"To DJ Ash."
Oscar followed.
"To DJ Ash."
Even Yixing lifted his whiskey.
"Well done."
Dasom smiled warmly.
"You looked like you belonged up there."
Asher's expression softened.
That compliment seemed to mean more coming from her.
"Thanks, Daisy."
For a brief moment, all six of them stood together overlooking the packed dance floor below.
Laughing.
Relaxed.
Enjoying the night.
And despite the unexpected additions to their group, the atmosphere felt surprisingly natural, as though the evening had somehow become exactly what it was meant to be.
-----
A few minutes later, Jonathan returned to their table looking as dramatic as ever.
"Hello friends," he announced. "Friends who casually own half the island."
Jean immediately raised his glass. "Only half?"
Jonathan clutched his chest. "The humility is sickening."
The group laughed.
Then Jonathan turned toward Dasom. "Miss Lee, would I be able to borrow you for a brief moment?"
Dasom blinked. "Me?"
Jonathan leaned down slightly. "Okay, can you subtly look over my left shoulder?"
Dasom did exactly that.
Her gaze drifted toward one of the private balconies overlooking the club.
A man stood there.
Tall.
Very tall.
Broad shouldered.
Impeccably dressed.
The kind of handsome that looked almost unfair.
He leaned casually against the railing while speaking with another gentleman, but his attention seemed fixed in their direction.
Dasom glanced back at Jonathan. "The guy who looks like a mafia don slash basketball player slash model?"
Jonathan immediately pointed at her. "That very one."
The group burst out laughing.
"I knew you'd spot him."
"Hard not to."
Jonathan lowered his voice. "That, Miss Girl, is my boss."
Everyone's attention shifted. "The sole owner of Steam."
"Oh?" Bee said curiously.
Jonathan nodded. "That's his office up there."
Dasom looked back toward the balcony.
"And he'd like to meet you."
"Me?" she repeated.
"Apparently he's a fan."
"A fan of what?" Dasom laughed.
Jonathan shrugged. "You're asking the wrong person."
Dasom opened her mouth to answer.
"N-now?" she asked.
Before Jonathan could respond, Yixing spoke.
"She's a little occupied at the moment." His tone wasn't rude, just firm.
Jonathan immediately looked between them.
Then Oscar casually joined in. "Why would he send an employee if he's trying to impress her?"
Jonathan gasped dramatically. "I AM NOT AN EMPLOYEE."
"You literally are."
"I am a luxury experience curator."
Oscar laughed. "That's an employee."
Jonathan looked wounded.
Dasom quickly stepped in before the argument escalated. "Guys… it's fine."
She smiled reassuringly. "I'd love to meet your boss."
Before either Oscar or Yixing could object further, she shot both men a look. The universal look saying behave yourselves.
Oscar immediately looked amused.
Yixing remained silent.
Meanwhile, her friends were absolutely no help.
Bee practically squealed in her seat. "Yes! Free drinks!"
Dasom groaned.
Jean nodded seriously. "She's right."
"Don't encourage her."
"No seriously," Jean continued matter-of-factly. "Whenever the club owner is male, we get free drinks because of Daisy."
Bee pointed. "Historical fact."
Dasom immediately pointed back at Jean.
"But if the club owner is female or gay?"
She gestured dramatically toward him.
"This is your guy."
Jean burst out laughing. "To be fair, a gay guy only tried to get with me once."
"ONLY ONCE?" Bee cried.
"Only once."
"That feels statistically impossible."
"I'm very selective."
"You were the one being selected," Dasom corrected.
The table erupted into laughter.
Even Oscar was struggling not to laugh.
Jonathan wiped away an imaginary tear. "I love this table."
Then he straightened himself.
"So, Miss Lee." He offered his arm dramatically.
"Shall we?"
Dasom stood. "I'll be back."
"You better," Bee replied.
"We need a full report," Jean added.
Jonathan immediately began leading her toward the private staircase.
As they disappeared from the VIP section, Oscar watched them leave.
Yixing watched too.
The difference was that Oscar eventually looked away.
Yixing didn't.
---
Dasom followed Jonathan toward the private staircase.
The click of her heels echoed softly against the polished steps as they climbed higher above the main floor.
Behind them, the music continued to pound through Steam. The bass still vibrated through the building, but with every step upward it became more distant, more muted.
"Don't be nervous," Jonathan said over his shoulder.
"I'm not nervous."
"Liar."
Dasom laughed. "I'm curious."
"That's good."
At the top of the staircase, Jonathan led her down a short hallway before stopping at a set of dark wooden doors.
He pushed them open.
Dasom stepped inside and the office immediately surprised her.
For the owner of one of the most exclusive clubs in Hassano, she had expected something flashy and gold with expensive artwork. A giant ego disguised as interior design.
Instead, the room was surprisingly elegant, minimalist, organised and immaculately clean.
Everything appeared intentional. Even more surprising was the silence. The office was clearly soundproof.
The deafening energy of the nightclub had almost completely vanished the moment the doors closed behind them.
The room felt calm, clean and professional.
Nothing like the chaos happening directly below.
A tall man stood near the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the club.
From this height, the dance floor looked like a sea of moving lights.
He turned to face them as they entered.
"Hi, Boss," Jonathan greeted cheerfully.
The man smiled faintly. "Jon."
Jonathan gestured dramatically between them.
"This, my dear Dasom, is my boss."
He swept his arm like he was presenting royalty.
"Storm Elio."
Then he gestured toward her. "Boss, this is the one and only Dasom Lee."
Storm's attention settled on Dasom fully now.
Up close, he somehow looked even taller than he had from the balcony. The first thing she noticed wasn't his appearance though.
It was how composed, comfortable a d confident he seemed. The kind of confidence that didn't need to announce itself.
For a moment, neither spoke. Then Storm extended his hand.
"It's nice to finally meet you." His voice was deep and calm.
Dasom accepted the handshake. "Likewise."
Storm's expression softened slightly. "I've heard quite a lot about you."
Dasom immediately glanced toward Jonathan.
"Oh no."
Jonathan looked delighted. "Oh yes."
Storm actually laughed a genuine laugh.
The sound caught Dasom slightly off guard.
"I promise it wasn't anything embarrassing."
Jonathan raised a finger. "Mostly."
"Jon."
"I'm stopping."
Storm shook his head before returning his attention to Dasom.
"I appreciate you taking a few minutes to come up here."
Dasom smiled politely. "Jonathan made it sound very mysterious."
"He enjoys being dramatic."
"That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me."
The three of them laughed.
Outside the window, the lights of the nightclub continued to pulse beneath them but inside the office, the atmosphere remained surprisingly relaxed.
----
A knock sounded at the office door. One of the security staff stepped inside and quietly approached Jonathan.
The promoter listened for a moment before sighing dramatically.
"Why do people insist on causing problems in my kingdom?"
Storm didn't even look up. "VIP entrance?"
Jonathan pointed accusingly. "See? He knows me."
The security guard nodded.
Jonathan sighed again before turning back toward them.
"Unfortunately, duty calls." He pointed at Dasom. "Don't leave."
Then pointed at Storm. "Don't be weird."
"Jon."
"I'm going."
With one final dramatic flourish, Jonathan disappeared out the door.
The office fell quiet.
Very quiet.
Without Jonathan filling every second of silence, the atmosphere felt noticeably different.
Not uncomfortable, just…
Still.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The distant glow of the nightclub lights reflected against the windows behind Storm while Dasom casually leaned against the edge of a desk.
Eventually she broke the silence. "So…"
She hesitated. "Have we met before?"
Storm looked at her.
"Jonathan was saying you're a fan."
To her surprise, Storm suddenly looked slightly caught off guard. For the first time since she'd met him, his confidence seemed to falter slightly. A faint flush appeared across his cheeks.
"He…" Storm exhaled slowly. "I am a fan, yes."
Dasom stared at him.
Storm stared back.
Then she noticed the colour in his face.
The way he suddenly seemed interested in literally anything except direct eye contact.
For a moment she said nothing. Then, perhaps because of the alcohol she'd been sipping throughout the evening… she giggled.
Storm immediately looked suspicious.
"What?"
Dasom tried—and failed—to suppress another laugh.
"Did you blush just now?"
Storm froze and the silence that followed was deafening.
Dasom covered her mouth. "Oh my God, you did."
Storm looked away... big mistake, because it only confirmed her accusation.
Now she was fully laughing. Not cruelly, just genuinely amused.
The great and mysterious owner of Steam Nightclub looked absolutely mortified.
"This is unbelievable." Storm rubbed a hand over his face. "I own three clubs."
Dasom nodded. "Mhm."
"I negotiate multi-million dollar contracts."
"Mm."
"I speak in front of thousands of people."
Dasom's shoulders were shaking now.
"And yet…" Storm closed his eyes briefly. "…and yet here we are."
That only made her laugh harder. When she finally managed to regain some composure, she smiled warmly at him.
"I'm sorry."
"You aren't."
"I'm really not."
To his credit Storm laughed too, while shaking his head. "I knew this was a bad idea."
"Meeting me?"
"No."
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Letting Jonathan introduce me."
That earned another laugh from Dasom.
The awkwardness between them softly disappeared. Once the laughter finally settled, Dasom wiped the corner of her eye.
"Okay I need to know," she said, still smiling. "What exactly are you a fan of?"
Storm leaned back against his desk. "Well…"
He looked mildly embarrassed all over again.
"You became pretty famous in Hassano for your achievements in computer science while you were in high school."
Dasom groaned immediately. "Ugh, so embarrassing."
"The tabloids loved writing about it."
"I hated that."
"I know."
That caught her attention.
Storm continued. "But that's not why."
He hesitated then said carefully,
"I went to the same computer science camp you attended when you were younger."
Dasom blinked. "What?"
"The one you attended in elementary school."
She stared at him. "No way."
Storm nodded. "Yeah, but I was different then."
His expression became increasingly resigned.
"You probably don't remember me."
Dasom narrowed her eyes trying to place him in her mind.
Storm sighed. "Everyone used to call me Storm Cupcake."
There was a beat of silence then Dasom's eyes widened so dramatically he immediately regretted speaking.
"SHUT UP."
Storm closed his eyes. "Yeah…"
"No way."
"Yes."
"NO."
"Unfortunately."
Dasom looked genuinely shocked. "The Storm Cupcake?"
"The one and only." The poor man looked like he wanted the floor to open and swallow him whole.
Meanwhile Dasom looked moments away from falling over.
"YOU'RE STORM CUPCAKE?"
Storm rubbed his forehead. "Maybe this was a mistake."
"Oh my God." Dasom had to sit down.
"I haven't heard that nickname in years."
"I was hoping nobody had."
Unfortunately for him, Dasom looked absolutely delighted.
Storm immediately became concerned.
Her eyes widened again. "Oh my..."
"What now?"
"I had the biggest crush on you."
Storm froze. "…What?"
Dasom pointed at him. "At camp."
Storm looked genuinely confused. "What?"
"I had the biggest crush on you."
The man who owned multiple successful businesses, managed hundreds of employees and routinely negotiated high-level contracts appeared completely unable to process that sentence.
"Huh?"
Dasom laughed. "You were so kindhearted."
"I was?"
"Yes!"
Storm looked increasingly bewildered.
Dasom continued enthusiastically. "You helped everybody."
His confusion only grew.
"You especially helped me."
"I did?"
"All the time."
Storm searched his memories.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Pieces began returning.
Dasom pointed accusingly. "You always helped me with projects."
A memory surfaced.
"Oh."
"And you shared your snacks."
"Oh, I think I remembered it a little differently."
"You shared your snacks with everyone."
Storm blinked. "That wasn't special."
"It was to me."
That answer seemed to catch him off guard.
Dasom smiled. "You were one of the only older kids who was nice to everybody."
Storm stared at her for a moment then unexpectedly laughed because it genuinely surprised him.
"I spent years thinking nobody remembered me from that camp, almost hoping no ody remembered me."
Dasom looked offended. "Remember you?"
She pointed at him again. "You were popular."
"I was absolutely not."
"You were."
"I was a chubby fourteen-year-old."
"You were a kindhearted chubby fourteen-year-old."
Storm groaned.
Dasom laughed.
"I was raving about you for months afterwards."
Storm looked genuinely surprised. "You were?"
"Yes." Dasom laughed. "I even had a photo of us in my diary."
Storm stared at her. "That's…"
He shook his head. "I'm telling you, nobody liked me when I was fat."
"No, rethink that."
Dasom pointed at him. "Because I definitely had a fat crush on you."
Storm immediately looked away.
She only laughed. "I'm serious."
"Dasom…"
"To me, that just meant there was more of you in the world for me."
The room went quiet.
Immediately, Dasom realised what she'd said.
Storm did too.
For a moment neither spoke.
Then he let out a small laugh. "My own parents haven't even said something that sweet."
The honesty in his voice caught her off guard.
Her expression softened.
"Maybe that's how it felt," she said gently. "But trust me, people don't always see us the way we see ourselves."
Storm looked at her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I think you're right."
A comfortable silence settled between them.
The kind that didn't feel awkward. Then Storm cleared his throat. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
His expression suddenly became more serious and sincere.
"Can I take you out on a date?"
The question hung between them.
Dasom blinked then smiled. "I wouldn't be able to go on a date for another three and a half weeks."
Storm's expression immediately fell. "…Oh."
"But," she continued, "absolutely."
That seemed to take a moment to register.
Then a genuine smile spread across his face, the kind that transformed his entire appearance.
"Really?"
"Really."
Storm laughed softly, shaking his head.He looked considerably happier than he had thirty seconds ago.
"I think that's the best thing that's happened to me all year."
Dasom couldn't help but laugh.
"Good."