***le stat club***
Just how pathetic could a man be to ask a woman to meet him in a club?
Athen Lang sighed as she stood outside Room 11, disgust simmering beneath her calm exterior. The so-called "producer" her CEO wanted her to meet had chosen a VVIP club, of all places, for their "discussion."
Typical.
She adjusted her coat, braced herself, and pushed the door open.
Behold, there he was. A man seated on the couch like he owned the room.
He was infuriatingly handsome. The kind of man whose looks could almost make you forget why you were angry in the first place. Almost.
That only fueled her irritation.
"Mr. Jones," she snapped, folding her arms together. "Shouldn't you at least show some basic human courtesy?" When he didn't respond, her tone sharpened. "Well, I didn't expect much from someone who only called me here to sleep with him."
The man slowly lifted his head.
"You're a well-known producer, so what?" she continued before he could speak. "You think you can cancel me if I say no? Let this be a warning, I'm not interested. You're handsome, sure, but maybe try your luck downstairs. I'm sure plenty of girls would line up for you."
She turned, ready to walk out, when the door suddenly opened.
A woman stepped in.
Not just any woman, she was striking. Dressed in a deep red dress that clung to her like it had been made for her alone, with lips painted the same shade. That color didn't wear her, she owned it.
Confidence rolled off her in waves as her heels clicked against the marble floor. Behind her, a waiter followed, carrying a bottle of champagne that shimmered faintly under the light, it was obviously an expensive one.
Athen looked at the champagne, the woman and the waiter then back to that arrogant handsome man.
"If I were you," she said, pointing to the drink. "I wouldn't drink that.
****
Tonight was supposed to be different.
Darcy had told her to meet a "producer" who had been insisting on working with her. Athen already knew what that meant. Still, she went, if only to put an end to whatever game he was playing.
The music industry had always been her dream, but dreams had a way of turning into nightmares or... useless hopes.
Athen Lang had signed her name under _Wonder Studios_, one of the biggest entertainment giants in the country. She thought it would be the beginning of everything she'd worked for freedom, and her father's redemption. But six years later, all she had were broken promises, stolen songs, and a voice that only played behind other people's names.
She had entered the industry at sixteen, naive and desperate, after her father's corruption scandal destroyed her family. Mr. Darcy, the man behind Wonder Studios, had promised her stability, money, a future, safety. Instead, he'd delivered vultures.
Without backing in the industry, one was useless.
Darcy's reasoning was for her to just lower her pride and ego to the big giants and then her career would take off.
She was too young to understand the price of saying no.
If she'd wanted fame that way, she would've had it long ago.
Darcy himself had dropped her off at the Le Stat club. He gave out series of warning about how she shouldn't mess with Producer Jones. Him being one of the big shareholders of Wonder Studios. Athen had agreed but that didn't mean she was going to do just what he had said.
She walked to the upper floor. After saying the producer's name the she was told the room number but with the noise from the dance floor she didn't hear properly only some fragments, but who cared?
She knew if she went inside one room and found that wasn't the producer then she'd go to the other one. There were only two rooms on that 'VVIP' floor.
On her way, in the hallway, a few feet ahead, a gorgeous girl stood beside a waiter. She was stunning, red dress, red lips, the kind of beauty that demanded attention without even trying.
But that wasn't what caught Athen's eye.
It was the small vial the girl held and the clear liquid she poured into the champagne glass with practiced ease.
Athen's stomach turned. She made a mental note right then: she wouldn't drink a single thing from this place. Not even water.
She walked past them without a word.
Whatever was going on wasn't her business—and she had no intention of making it hers.
But who knew, she would cross paths again with that same girl.
Darcy had told her not to mess with the Producer, which she did. She reasoned if she told him what's up then he might feel thankful, she had saved him.
****
Malachi Yates didn't fancy clubs.
He never had.
They reeked of expensive perfume, cheap motives, and too many eyes pretending not to stare. But Stacy had asked. His childhood friend, His secretary and he owed her one. She only wanted a drink to celebrate the partnership she had helped him secure. Nothing more.
So, he came.
At least Le Stat wasn't one of those chaotic places. The lights were dim, the music low, voices barely above murmurs. It was more of a lounge than a club, quiet enough for him to tolerate. Still there was absolutely nothing good about clubs. He didn't understand why Stacy had picked such a venue instead of a hotel. A good hotel.
He had just settled in when a woman appeared, all fire and confidence, and started cursing him out before he could even blink.
He didn't interrupt. Didn't correct her.
She thought he was someone else, a producer, apparently.
There was some fire in her that captured his attention.
When she was done, she turned to leave, Then Stacy walked inside with a waiter. Her gaze flicked toward the tray, then to Malachi.
"If I were you," she said flatly, "I wouldn't drink that."
And then she left.
He didn't think the girl and Stacy knew each other then the girl didn't look like a liar and also why would she lie when she didn't even know who he was. She had cursed him out few minutes ago then issued a warning.
Stacy Corleone, got inside, she glared at that woman who just left but her eyes were about to pop out when she heard her last words. This was her chance to be Mrs. Yates. And this girl was about to mess it up. Her eyes followed the woman's exit with a flash of irritation.
She just pretended not to notice what she said, "Mal, do you know her?" She then sat down.
The champagne was placed down, Stacy gave a glance at it then at the waiter. No one would have noticed it but for Malachi who was very observant and had heard Athen's remarks he knew something was definitely off.
"No"
"You promised me a drink," she teased, her tone light. "Let me pour you some." She stood and filled his glass, her hands steady. "Ice?"
He shook his head, eyes locked on her.
The silence stretched. Stacy caught the weight of his stare and tried to joke it off. "What? Are you finding me attractive?"
Her laugh died when his expression didn't change. The air shifted, cold and heavy.
The atmosphere changed and Malachi became cold and then men cladded in Black marched in. It was no doubt they were Malachi's men.
"Why are you just barging in here. Don't you have respect for your boss' privacy!" Stacy shouted at them. She saw they were not moving and then turned to Malachi, "Tell them to leave."
"I called them." Not in her wildest thoughts would she have imagined that. Her mouth was wide opened with shock. Her breath caught. The color drained from her face.
He sat up, "Don't mind them. Drink up." He then pushed the glass she had poured to her.
She swallowed hard. The drug was a very potent drug. It worked within seconds. "M-Mal, Are you listening to that woman's words! You think I put something in the wine." She twisted her face pitifully. Tears filling up in her eyes. It was easier for her since she was scared.
Malachi didn't move, even the bodyguards, all eyes were on her.
"I am not drinking it!" She said standing up immediately, "I will not be blamed for something I didn't do."
She was about to leave seeing no one was stopping her, just as she opened the door the waiter and that same woman from earlier.
Athen.
Their arms were captured between two bodyguards.
They'd been gone long enough for her to think the problem had vanished. Long enough for the fear to settle, for her to hope he'd dropped it.
She stepped aside and stumbled back. It seemed her plans were revealed.