- ( Dylan's POV ) -
The day after the board meeting, while I was still adjusting to the new reality, Yuri arrived early at Café Bulle De Ciel.
"KUYAAAA!"
She was practically bouncing with excitement, heading straight for the counter as if she owned the café. She was holding her phone, her hands shaking from excitement.
"You already know this, right?" she said, barely catching her breath.
"You have a position in the company now. Official. You deserve it!"
I gave her only a small smile.
"It hasn't even started yet, Yuri. There are still a lot of processes."
"Even so," she said, glancing to the side.
"At last, this is the beginning of your moment in the Chen Empire, and this needs a celebration!"
Jasmine was there, seated on a high chair at the far end of the counter, one foot resting on the metal bar of the stool. She was facing her laptop while editing her social media content, an iced latte in her hand.
She was smiling, the kind of smile that looked like she had been waiting for this scene for a long time.
"Night out," Yuri announced. "I already reserved the VIP booth at Eclipse, the famous disco bar in Raventon, the favorite hangout of the young elites. No one's allowed to refuse."
She turned to Jasmine. "Come with us. It'll be more fun."
"Of course," Jasmine replied without hesitation, her voice soft and sweet.
"I wouldn't miss celebrating a good moment in my babe's life."
Our eyes met. She winked at me.
Before I could refuse, Yuri was already calling Elijah.
And Sophia too. She said everyone had to be there, that we had to be complete as siblings.
I didn't know why, but something tightened painfully in my chest.
***
That night, the bar was filled with lights and noise.
Bass thumped against my chest, the air thick with alcohol and perfume. We were seated at the VIP booth, positioned right at the center of everything.
Elijah and Sophia sat beside each other, quiet but close in a measured way.
Elijah's hand rested lightly behind her, gentlemanly, protective, as if guarding her. Sophia leaned against him, calm and elegant, yet I could sense how alert she was.
On the other side was Jasmine.
She clung to my arm, not literally holding it, but claiming it.
"Relax," she whispered. "Enjoy the night."
Yuri, on the other hand, couldn't sit still.
She stood, scanned the bar, and suddenly her face lit up.
"Hey!" she shouted. "I know him!"
Before I could stop her, she had already pulled the man standing at the counter.
"Guys, this is Rapha," Yuri said cheerfully as she introduced him to us.
Raphael Guevarra.
Another well-known racer in our organization. We had never had a match yet.
The air seemed to freeze.
Rapha and I locked eyes.
His smile was only half there, the kind of smile that knew things.
Jasmine's hold on my arm tightened slightly, too quick for anyone else to notice, but I didn't miss it.
"Rapha," I said evenly.
"Dylan," he replied.
He glanced at Jasmine for a second.
That was enough for me to know there was something there.
Rapha sat beside Yuri.
There was laughter and drinks, everything appearing normal.
But it wasn't.
There was jealousy in Rapha's stare.
There was tension in my shoulders.
And there was silence in Sophia's eyes, the kind that didn't speak, but felt everything.
Elijah remained quiet and professional, as if nothing was wrong.
But I knew he was watching.
Time passed.
The alcohol kept flowing, and Jasmine was the fastest to drink.
"Dance with me," she ordered, not asking.
She pulled me onto the dance floor before I could refuse.
The lights were intense, the air was hot.
She pressed her body against mine, took my hands and wrapped them around her waist, then slowly guided one lower, closer to the curve of her hips.
"Like that," she whispered. "Don't pull away."
She closed the distance completely, her arms looping around my neck.
Jasmine's beauty and allure dominating the dance floor.
She was wearing a tight red tube crop top that revealed her cleavage, a black leather coat, and a short black leather pencil skirt that shaped every curve of her body.
All eyes were on her.
Desire from men.
Insecurity and intimidation from other women.
I felt the warmth of her skin, her perfume, her breath, and the cool leather of her skirt beneath my palm as it molded to her curves.
From the corner of my vision, I saw Sophia.
She was watching quietly, as if forcing herself to look away.
And that was where I made my mistake.
I didn't move my hands.
I let Jasmine lead.
I let the kiss happen, first on my cheek, then on my lips.
Hungry and steamy.
And I kissed her back.
Tongue against tongue.
Deeper, unrestrained.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
But inside me, something shattered.
I saw her lean in to whisper something to Elijah, then quietly stood up and walk toward the ladies' room.
At the bar counter, I saw Rapha.
His grip on the beer bottle was tight, his jaw tense, as if it could shatter glass.
And then there' s Yuri,
"Hey, don't be a killjoy! Dance with us too!"... Yuri teased..
Completely unaware, she dragged Rapha toward the dance floor too.
**********
- ( Transition to Amelie's POV ) -
Inside the restroom, I stood in front of the mirror.
My eyes were red, tears threatening at the corners.
I turned on the faucet and let the cold water run over my palms, splashing my face as I tried to hold the tears back.
Why did it hurt this much?
I felt like I wanted to drag Jasmine away.
I closed my eyes, and the image rushed in.
Dylan... And His lips.
The warmth and depth of his embrace and kiss, meant only for me.
I was trapped in his arms, gripping him tightly, my back pressed against this very restroom wall.
Then I immediately snapped myself out of this lucid dreams... This desire was unacceptable.
I scolded myself.
I couldn't. I shouldn't.
I took a deep breath, fixed my hair, my face, my dignity.
When I stepped out of the ladies room, I found them all seated on the couch again.
Laughing, as if nothing had happened.
I sat beside Elijah.
He immediately took my hand, gripping it firmly.
"You're not okay," he whispered. "Do you want to go home?"
I shook my head. "I'm fine."
He knew I was lying.
"By the way," Rapha suddenly cut in, his smile carrying a challenge.
"Dylan."
The table went silent.
"Let's race," he said. "A friendly match."
Dylan smiled slightly.
"Sure... Anytime."
I stole a glance at Dylan.
Why did I feel this way?
I shouldn't.
It was wrong.
This night was supposed to be a party, a celebration.
But it was filled with emotions we had no right to feel, and yet felt anyway.
Especially the ones growing between Dylan and me.