Tim elbowed Eric, his gaze fixed on a woman standing across the bar in a tight black dress that hugged her every curve, her red lips a striking contrast against her flawless skin. “Hey, check out that hottie over there.”

Eric’s eyes narrowed. “I saw her first, Tim. Don’t even think about it.”

Tim raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright... good luck, man.”

Eric pushed through the crowd, heart pounding as he made his way to the bar. He spotted the empty seat next to her and slid in with a confidence he hadn’t felt in a long time. The waitress appeared almost immediately, and he ordered a drink, glancing over at the woman who had captivated him from across the room.

Out of the corner of her eye, Emily noticed the man who had been staring at her earlier now seated right next to her. Her pulse quickened, and before she could stop herself, she glanced up—just for another quick look. And when her eyes met his, she realized he was even more handsome up close.

“Hi,” Eric said, his deep voice warm, paired with a charming, easy smile.

Emily’s lips curved into a soft smile of her own. “Hi.”

“What are you drinking?” he asked, leaning in slightly. “Let me get you another. Does your friend want one too?”

“Sex on the Beach,” Emily replied, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest. “And yes, that would be nice, thanks.”

Eric waved the waitress over to order the drinks, then turned his attention back to her. “I’m Eric Hart,” he said, the name rolling off his tongue with casual confidence. “What’s your name?”

“Emily Leroux,” she replied. “Nice to meet you, Eric. Are you here with friends?”

“Yeah, my buddy Tim is over there,” he said, gesturing toward the bar. “He’s the one flirting with every girl that passes by. He’s... persistent.” He laughed.

Emily laughed too, glancing briefly at Tim. “This is my best friend Rachel,” she said, motioning to the brown-haired girl beside her. “We came out to blow off some steam after a long week.”

“So, what do you do?” Eric asked, genuinely curious.

“I’m finishing my doctorate and interning at my parents’ medical practice,” Emily said, a slight blush rising to her cheeks.

Eric raised his eyebrows, impressed. “Brains and beauty,” he said with a grin. “That’s a dangerous combination.”

Emily smiled wider. “What about you?”

“I started my own company. We build industrial machinery for big factories. It’s not as glamorous as medicine, but it keeps me busy,” Eric said, a hint of pride in his voice.

“Brains and handsome, too, huh?” Emily teased, her eyes sparkling.

As the two of them continued talking, the conversation flowed easily, the chemistry undeniable. They laughed, they shared stories, and for a moment, the world outside the club seemed to fade away. Rachel excused herself to catch up with an old friend, leaving Eric and Emily alone, and Emily couldn’t help but be drawn deeper into the magnetic pull of his presence.

The more she looked at him, the more she felt her body react. Her pulse quickened, heat spreading through her in a way she hadn’t experienced before. She shifted in her seat, squeezing her thighs together as an unfamiliar but thrilling sensation washed over her. She couldn’t take her eyes off him—he was intoxicating in every way.

But while the two were lost in their moment, neither of them noticed the dark figure lurking in the shadows, his eyes fixed on Emily with a chilling intensity.

From the corner of the room, he watched. He had been watching her all night, blending into the crowd, waiting for the right moment. His lips curled into a twisted smile as he saw her laugh with that man—that man who had no idea who he was dealing with.

“You just wait, Emily Leroux,” he muttered under his breath, his voice dripping with malice. “You may have escaped me these past two years, but I’ll have you again. I will make you mine.”

He watched her closely, his gaze burning with obsession. He remembered the humiliation, the moment she had turned him down in front of his friends, shattering his ego. No one had ever rejected him before. Not then, not now, and certainly not ever again.

“You have no idea what’s coming, Emily,” he murmured, his eyes dark with sinister intent. “I’ll make sure of it.”

A low, eerie laugh escaped his lips as he slunk through the crowd, his eyes never leaving Emily. His heart pounded with anticipation, each step bringing him closer. The music, the crowd, the pulsing lights—they were all distractions, but nothing would distract him. Not when he was this close.

His hand clenched into a fist at his side. “You’re mine,” he whispered again, his eyes glinting with dangerous determination. He moved closer, inch by inch, his mind already spinning with twisted thoughts of how he would make her pay for her rejection.

Eric and Emily, still deep in conversation, were completely unaware of the threat looming closer. But soon, they would know. Soon, everything would change.

And for Emily Leroux, tonight would be the beginning of a nightmare she thought she had long since escaped.