Valentina pov.
For a brief moment, as I stood there, three things left me utterly bewildered. First, the breathtaking stranger’s intense stare-as if he were gazing at a long-lost lover. Second, the dizzying sensation making the world spin around me. And third, the unexpected heat spreading through my body, leaving me flushed and strangely sensitive.
“Fuck, is it just me, or did someone crank up the heat?” I muttered under my breath, tugging at my shirt and fanning myself as my breathing grew heavy and labored.
“Emily,” the stranger called my name once more. I blinked, trying to focus, but my vision blurred, forcing me to squint at him.
Black hair, pretty blue eyes and an attractive face that could disarm anyone.
“Huh… why are there two of you?” I grinned, pointing clumsily to the left, then to the right, trying to figure out which was the real image of the handsome stranger.
Just when I thought his frown couldn’t deepen further, it did. He raised a brow, his cold eyes studying me, and then, as though he’d pieced something together, he narrowed his gaze and asked,
“Did you drink?” he asked, his expression darkening as I nodded twice.
“Hm, I had one glass… or two. No, wait-” I waved my hand, holding up five fingers. “I had five. To be honest, I kinda forgot.” I paused, my words slurring as I fixed him with a serious expression. “But hey, do you know who I am, you’ve been calling my name for a while now?”
His eyes narrowed at my question, but before he could answer, the fat man beside him gasped dramatically, his eyes wide in shock as he stared at me.
“You drank five?! I thought it was spiked with drugs-how could you drink five?” he exclaimed, disbelief etched on his face.
I blinked, struggling to process his statement.
Drugs? What kind of drugs was he talking about?
However, I shrugged it off when I suddenly remembered seeing Alexander earlier. I couldn’t quite recall which direction he had gone in, but I knew he was somewhere around here. I had to find him.
“Thank you for saving me,” I mumbled sluggishly, bowing slightly to show my appreciation. However, before I could take another step, he grabbed my arm, halting me in place. The sudden gesture surprised me, and I felt uneasy under his cold gaze. His expression didn’t soften, making me wonder why he was looking at me like that.
Did I know him somewhere before?
Even his friend tilted his head in confusion, glancing between us before his eyes widened in shock. His hands instinctively went to cover his mouth, as if he’d just realized something.
I blinked, my breath catching in my throat, and quickly pulled away from his grip, putting some distance between us.
“W-why would you suddenly touch me like that?” I stammered, my face flushed with heat. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was the lingering sensation from earlier or if it was his touch. Either way, I didn’t like it.
Why was I so hot?
“You’re unwell, you can’t stay here. I’ll take you to the hospital,” he said, his voice low, almost as if he were trying to control himself.
Take me to the hospital? I stared at him in disbelief. Why would I follow a random stranger from a strip club? Did he think I was that naive? No. I wasn’t that gullible.
Pfft, he must have fallen for my charm.
I puffed out my chest, a scornful smile curling on my lips. Reaching into my shirt, I pulled out the bills I’d hidden in my bra, then swiftly extended my hand, slapping the cash into his palm. His eyes widened in confusion as he stared at the money.
“Here, that’s payment for saving me earlier. I worked hard for it, so please, just leave me alone. I’m looking for my husband.”
I put extra emphasis on the word husband, and if I wasn’t imagining things, I could’ve sworn I saw his hands clenched into fists.
With a huff, I turned around, but before I could take a step, the world tilted. My vision blurred, and suddenly, I was free-falling-again-for the third time today.
I stretched my arms out, desperately trying to steady myself, but my legs refused to cooperate. They buckled beneath me, and I stumbled, the ground rushing up to meet me.
Uh-oh.
“Ooo! She’s falling!” the fat man yelled dramatically.
But before I could hit the floor, strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against a firm, steady chest.
I gasped, instinctively clutching the arm that held me, my fingers tightening around him as my heart pounded against my ribs. As I struggled to steady my breath, a cold voice suddenly cut through the air, freezing me in place. My eyes widened, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.
“Am I interrupting something?”
I recognized that voice anywhere.
The stranger’s expression immediately darkened, a murderous aura radiating off him.
Swallowing nervously, I quickly pulled away from his grip before slowly turning around. My breath hitched as I took in the sight of Alexander standing there, his tattooed hands tucked inside his pockets, his cold gaze locked onto the man behind me. His eyes gleamed dangerously, his expression unreadable, but the sheer intensity of his stare sent a shiver down my spine.
Then, his attention shifted to me. The corner of his lips dipped into a deep frown as he tilted his head slightly, scrutinizing me.
Even in my disoriented state, I knew one thing at that moment.
I was in deep trouble.
Shit.