The music throbbed like a heartbeat inside the dimly lit bar, pulsing with bass that rattled through the neon glow and smoky haze.
Laughter rose and fell across crowded booths, glasses clinked, and the air carried a cocktail of expensive perfume and cheap whiskey.
Aria Garcia sat alone at the counter, one elbow resting against the polished wood, a glass of whisky on the rocks turning circles in her hand. She wasn't there for the music, or the company, or even the drink it was just noise, background static to drown out the emptiness inside her.
Her long black hair, tied into a sleek ponytail from a long day at work, framed a face that was both striking and unreadable. Colleagues at the beauty company where she worked as a sharp, ruthless Marketing Director called her mysterious. To others, she looked intimidating, the kind of woman people admired but rarely approached. That suited her fine. Trust was a currency she'd stopped trading a long time ago.
From across the room, someone was watching.
Malee Charoensuk leaned lazily against the velvet lounge cushions, one arm draped over the backrest, a glass of red wine swirling in her hand. She was impossible to miss Thailand's most photographed model, infamous for her wild nightlife and scandalous reputation. Tonight was no exception: her red dress clung to her body like a second skin, the slit high enough to draw whispers, the curve of her smile daring anyone to look longer.
But Malee wasn't paying attention to the men and women vying for her gaze. Her eyes were fixed on one woman, sitting at the bar with an expression that made the whole world blur out.
"She's not from around here," Malee muttered, lips quirking into a mischievous grin.
Her best friend, June, sitting beside her, followed her gaze and groaned. "Oh no. Don't tell me. Another one?"
Malee arched a brow. "What do you mean, 'another one'?"
"You know exactly what I mean. You get that look whenever you're about to walk straight into trouble."
Malee smirked, ignoring the warning. "Maybe. But she's different. I like different."
"She doesn't look like she wants company," June warned.
"Even better."
Malee rose from her seat with feline grace, heels clicking against the marble floor as she crossed the room. Her confidence was magnetic. Heads turned as she passed, whispers trailing after her like perfume. When she slid onto the barstool beside Aria, the air shifted.
"Rough day?" Malee asked, her voice low and smooth, lips curved in a teasing smile.
Aria didn't even look at her. "I'm not interested."
Malee tilted her head, studying her with amused fascination. "That's okay. I didn't ask if you were."
A silence stretched between them, the thrum of music filling the gap.
Unfazed, Malee tried again. "You're not Thai, are you?"
Aria finally turned her head, her dark gaze sharp, cutting like glass. "You ask a lot of questions for someone who wasn't invited."
"Maybe. But you look like a woman who needs a distraction."
"I look like a woman who wants to be left alone," Aria replied flatly.
That should have been the end of it. But instead of discouraging Malee, it only lit something brighter in her eyes.
She leaned back on her stool, lips curving into a sly grin. "Suit yourself. I'm Malee, by the way. You'll remember me."
Aria said nothing, turning back to her drink.
But fate had other plans.
A drunk man stumbled across the floor, nearly tripping over his own feet before colliding hard into Malee's shoulder. Wine sloshed dangerously in her glass.
"Watch it," she snapped, glaring at him.
The man sneered, his breath reeking of alcohol. "What's a pretty thing like you doing here all alone? You want some company?"
Malee rolled her eyes. "Not from you."
But he didn't take the hint. His hand shot out, grabbing for her wrist.
Aria moved before she realized what she was doing.
She caught his wrist mid-grab and twisted sharply, forcing his arm down in a way that made him stumble back, hissing in pain. Her tone was calm but carried the weight of a warning blade.
"She said no."
The man froze, intimidated by the cold fury in her eyes.
A bouncer arrived seconds later, dragging him away while he cursed under his breath.
Malee blinked, stunned, her cocky mask faltering. For the first time that night, she wasn't the one in control.
"You didn't have to do that," she said softly, voice lacking its usual bravado.
Aria's eyes were steady, her tone cool. "I know. But I don't like watching people get hurt."
With that, she set her glass down, dropped a few bills on the counter, and walked toward the exit.
Malee stared after her, her heart racing in a way she couldn't explain. Something about that woman her strength, her mystery, her walls pulled her in like a riptide.
And she couldn't resist.
Outside, the night air was cooler, humming with city lights. Aria straddled a black Yamaha big bike, the machine roaring to life beneath her. She pulled on her helmet, movements precise, like every part of her life was measured and controlled.
"Hey!" Malee's voice called out, breathless as she hurried out of the bar. "You didn't even tell me your name."
Aria's visor came down, hiding her expression. But her eyes just for a second met Malee's with something unreadable.
"Exactly," she said. Then she revved the engine and shot off into the night, tail lights vanishing into the dark horizon.
Malee stood frozen on the curb, chest rising and falling. Around her, the city pulsed with life, but all she could see was the shadow of that mysterious woman disappearing from sight.
Behind her, June caught up, slightly out of breath. "Seriously, Malee, what the hell was that all about?"
Malee's lips curved slowly, not the cocky smirk she usually wore, but something deeper.
"She's the one."
June stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "You don't even know her name."
Malee's grin widened, her heart hammering with an excitement she hadn't felt in years.
"Exactly."