Dinner With the Devil
Kai spent the entire night arguing with himself.
He did not want to go.
He absolutely was not going.
Which was why, at seven forty-five the next evening, he stood in front of his mirror fixing the collar of his jacket like an idiot.
"Stupid," he muttered.
Leo lounged on the bed, arms crossed. "So let me get this straight. You're going to dinner with a billionaire demon CEO who stalked you through a window."
"I am not."
Leo lifted an eyebrow. "You're dressed."
Kai glared. "I'm dressing for closure."
"Closure wears cologne now?"
Kai grabbed his keys and left before he could be roasted further.
The address Lucien sent led him to a rooftop restaurant suspended between two skyscrapers, glass floors revealing the glowing city far below.
Kai swallowed hard.
A hostess greeted him instantly. "Mr. Kai, right this way."
Of course they knew his name.
Lucien waited at a private table, dressed in black, relaxed like the world bowed for him.
He stood when Kai approached.
"You came."
Kai sat without shaking his hand. "Say what you need to say."
Lucien smiled faintly. "I wanted to see you choose."
"Choose what?"
"Me."
Kai scoffed. "You're arrogant."
"Yes."
"And creepy."
"Sometimes."
"And you don't know me."
Lucien's eyes darkened. "I know enough to want you."
Kai's pulse betrayed him.
"Why?"
Lucien leaned forward, voice quiet. "Because when you walked into my life, my curse screamed."
Kai stiffened. "Your what?"
Lucien lifted his glass. "Eat. I'll explain."
Against his better judgment…
Kai did.
The night unfolded with sharp banter, clashing wills, and an undeniable pull neither acknowledged.
Lucien watched Kai like a man starving.
Kai hated that he noticed.
When the check came, Kai stood. "This doesn't mean anything."
Lucien rose with him.
"It means everything," he said softly. "You just don't know it yet."
As Kai walked away, Lucien whispered to the empty air—
"You will."