The First Night
Kai never thought that chasing a dream could feel this heavy.
At twenty-two, he should have been painting, sketching, and letting his imagination breathe on canvas. But instead, he found himself staring at the bills stacked on his desk, the half-finished assignment for his art class, and the empty wallet sitting by his sketchbook.
Life in the city wasn't cheap, and dreams didn't pay rent.
He leaned back on his chair, running his fingers through his messy hair. The little apartment he rented was cramped, the walls peeling, the ceiling fan creaking every time it spun. His art supplies were scattered everywhere, tubes of paint half-used, brushes stiff from lack of proper cleaning.
He sighed. The landlord had already reminded him twice about the rent. If he failed to pay again this month, he'd probably be thrown out.
That night, when his phone buzzed with a text from a friend, he almost ignored it. But the message made him sit up.
"Hey, the club near the financial district needs a last-minute bartender tonight. High pay. You in?"
Kai frowned. Bartending wasn't something he had ever considered, but high pay? His heart skipped at those words.
He typed back quickly.
"I don't have experience."
His friend replied almost instantly.
"Doesn't matter. They're desperate. Just pour drinks and look decent. You'll be fine."
Kai glanced at the stack of bills again. Then at his half-finished sketch of a city skyline.
Maybe he didn't have a choice.
The city lights glowed like stars trapped inside glass towers. Kai's sneakers slapped against the pavement as he made his way downtown, clutching the directions his friend had sent. He felt out of place, walking past polished cars and glittering storefronts in his worn jeans and jacket.
When he finally reached the building, his breath caught. The club didn't even have a name outside just a sleek black entrance with gold trim, guarded by two men in suits. A long line of people waited to get in, most of them dressed in designer clothes, perfume lingering in the air like expensive promises.
Kai hesitated. Was this really the right place?
He approached one of the guards nervously. "Um… I'm supposed to work here tonight? Bartender."
The man scanned him from head to toe, his sharp gaze making Kai's stomach twist. Then, after a pause, he opened the door and motioned for him to enter.
Inside, the club was another world.
Dark, warm lighting washed over polished marble floors. Crystal chandeliers hung above, scattering golden light across velvet couches and glass tables. A slow beat pulsed through the air, low enough to feel in the chest, smooth enough to lure people deeper inside.
Everywhere Kai looked, he saw money in the tailored suits, the sparkling dresses, the laughter that sounded like champagne.
His heart hammered as he walked to the bar.
"First night?" a voice asked.
Kai turned to find another bartender, a tall man with sleeves rolled up, already mixing a drink with practiced ease.
"Yeah," Kai admitted.
The man smirked. "Don't worry. Just smile, pour, and don't water down the whiskey. You'll survive."
Kai gave a nervous laugh, nodding.
The first hour was a blur. He poured drinks, took orders, wiped glasses, and tried not to stare too hard at the glamorous people who approached the bar. Some customers gave him looks that made him squirm curious, judging, or flirtatious.
He kept his head down and focused.
Until the room shifted.
It wasn't the music or the lighting. It was the way people suddenly moved, straightening in their seats, their laughter dropping just a note quieter. A ripple passed through the crowd, like a current of awareness.
Kai looked up.
That was when he saw him.
Adrian Veyra.
The man walked into the club like he owned it maybe he did. He wore a dark suit tailored so perfectly it almost looked sculpted onto him. His hair was slicked back, sharp features set in calm control. His presence drew every eye in the room, not because he asked for it, but because people couldn't look away.
Kai's breath caught in his throat. He had never seen someone like that in his life.
Adrian didn't smile. He didn't need to. His gaze moved across the club with cool precision, like he was used to surveying an empire.
And then, for the briefest second, his eyes landed on Kai.
It was nothing a glance, a flicker of attention. But Kai felt it like a spark under his skin, sudden and sharp. He quickly looked away, heat rising in his face.
Why would someone like that look at him?
Kai tried to busy himself, grabbing bottles, pouring drinks, cleaning up the counter. But every nerve in his body told him that Adrian was still somewhere nearby.
Minutes stretched. Kai risked another glance.
Adrian was sitting at one of the private tables, a glass of something dark in his hand. His expression was unreadable, but his gaze steady, cool, assessing was on Kai again.
Kai's hand trembled, spilling a drop of liquor as he poured. He cursed under his breath, wiping it quickly. His chest felt tight.
Why him? Out of everyone here, why him?
The music throbbed low, the air heavy with perfume and smoke. People moved around Adrian, but none touched him. He was like a storm sitting in the center of the room, untouchable, magnetic.
Kai couldn't look for long, but every time he turned away, he felt the weight of that gaze pulling him back.
And deep down, a dangerous thought whispered inside him:
This man could ruin me.
By the time his shift neared its end, Kai's nerves were frayed. He had served dozens of drinks, smiled at strangers, and tried not to think about the cold-eyed CEO across the room.
But when he finally looked up again, Adrian was gone.
Relief flooded him. Maybe he had imagined it the glances, the strange tension. Maybe Adrian hadn't even noticed him at all.
Kai packed up the bar, wiping the counters, his shoulders aching from the long night. The other bartender patted him on the back.
"Not bad for your first time," he said.
Kai smiled weakly. "Thanks."
He slipped out of the club into the night air. The city was quieter now, the streets glistening from an earlier rain. He pulled his jacket tighter around himself, breathing out a shaky sigh.
Maybe this was just a one-time job. Maybe tomorrow he'd go back to his sketches and try to forget the way Adrian's eyes had lingered on him.
But as he walked home under the streetlights, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that something had begun tonight.
Something he wasn't ready for.
Something that could change everything.
---To Be Continue