Chapter 4 Heart Is Fluttering

• “It’s just that… my heart is fluttering.”
• The darkness in the man’s eyes disappeared, and the corner of his lips curled up.
• His tall figure leaned closer to the counter and stopped when there was only an inch’s space between them.
• “Does your heart flutter after seeing me?” The man deliberately lowered his voice.
• The last syllable he said was seductive, as if it could move the wind by her ear.
• Elena nodded her head subconsciously.
• The man was pleased by her response and reached out his hand.
• Elena’s breath hitched as the man brushed his warm fingertips across her hair, removing a small piece of confetti that had gotten stuck.
• Ba-dump!
• At that moment, Elena’s heart started to pound violently against her chest.
• Currently, the two of them were very close, and Elena could smell a faint scent of agarwood on him.
• It made one feel calm and refreshing.
• The man lowered his eyelashes and noticed the woman still holding her breath.
• Her face was soft, and her lips were full and red, enticing him to take a bite.
• His fingers glided through the smoothness of her hair, brushing past her cheek as he pushed the strand of her hair back behind her ear.
• His demeanor remained composed as if his actions meant nothing in his eyes.
• Blood instantly rushed to Elena’s ears, and she picked up the glass and downed the remaining drink.
• She closed her eyes, letting the bitter warmth wash over her, momentarily offering a respite to her heart from palpitating.
• “How about drinking with me tonight?” Elena suddenly proposed, her words surprising even her.
• The man’s hazel gaze, icy and piercing, bore into hers, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.
• For a moment, Elena wondered if she had overstepped. But then, to her surprise, she heard him agree. “Sure,”
• Twenty minutes later.
• The room spun around Elena as she slammed the glass onto the counter with a thud.
• “One more,” she slurred, her words barely coherent.
• The man felt a headache coming on as he watched Elena empty an entire bottle.
• With a heavy sigh, he swapped the whiskey with water and slid it before her.
• The exchange went unnoticed by the intoxicated woman, who was completely lost in her world.
• She gulped down the liquid but only sensed a subtle change in its taste.
• At that moment, her mind was a jumbled mess as the alcohol took hold of her senses.
• After a brief silence, Elena opened her lips. “H-He cheated on me.” Her voice quivered, betraying the hurt she felt deep inside.
• “With my best friend,” she added. “They betrayed me. They betrayed my trust, our friendship… everything.”
• Tears welled up in Elena’s eyes, threatening to spill over. “He promised we would go through thick and thin together. But that bastard was quick to reveal his true colors.”
• Her voice rose with anger and pain. “And that bitch…” Elena spat in disgust. “She wants me to serve that bastard with her!”
• Elena rambled on, pouring out all her grievances, each word punctuated by anger, hurt, and betrayal.
• The man listened quietly and did not disturb her.
• Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Elena fell silent. She looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen. “What should I do now? My life is over!”
• The man's unwavering gaze locked onto Elena’s.
• With a gentle touch, he brushed away a tear that lingered on her cheek with his index finger.
• “It’s not worth it,” he whispered, his voice barely above a breath, yet it echoed in Elena’s ears like a solemn vow.
• Elena’s breath caught in her throat as she met his intense gaze.
• “He was my first love,” she confessed. “Will I ever be able to move on from this betrayal?”
• The man’s eyes softened, and his hand gently cupped her cheek. “He might be your first, but certainly not the last. If you give yourself a chance, you might find someone who would treat you as the center of his world.”
• His voice was low, as though trying to hypnotize her in the depths of his hazel orbs. An intensity that made Elena unable to look away.
• She leaned in, her cheek resting against his palm, and closed her eyes.
• From afar, the man saw his friend, the bartender, walking over, and heaved a sigh of relief.
• Picking up his jacket, he rose from his seat and glanced at Elena.
• Before leaving, he leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. “If it were me, I would bring them to their knees and make them feel how it was to be at mercy.”
• With one last lingering look, he straightened up and walked away.
• The vibrating beats of the music faded into the background.
• It was only when she found a completely different person in front of her that Elena snapped back to her senses.
• Panic seized her, and for a moment, she doubted whether the mysterious man had been a figment of her imagination.
• “Where’s he?” she blurted out.
• Max raised a brow in response. “The one who was here earlier?”
• Elena nodded, her eyes darting around the vibrant chaos of the club.
• “He doesn’t work here. He was just helping me for a while. Would you…”
• Before Max could even finish his sentence, he saw the woman stand up and leave.
• Elena’s eyes moved from one corner to another, hoping to catch a glimpse of the person who had briefly stepped into her night, but to no avail.
• It seemed as though a bucket of cold water was splashed on her, leaving her lost
• With a sense of urgency, she desperately searched for the mysterious man.
• Just as she was about to give up, she noticed the familiar figure climbing up the stairs from afar.
• The man held the jacket over his shoulder, exuding a hint of laziness that made him appear even more alluring.
• Without wasting another second, Elena scurried through the sea of dancing bodies, weaving her way toward him.
• Despite the energetic ambiance of the club, the man could feel the subtle presence of someone tailing him.
• He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was, and a smile played on his lips.
• Elena was like a starving camel who had found an oasis.
• She didn’t know what the future held, but tonight, she wanted to be with him!
• As they entered the VIP area, the guards lurking in the shadows took position, ready to make a move on the intruder.
• The man raised his eyebrows, signaling them to stay back.
• The guards retreated to the shadows; however, the word ‘gossip’ was written all over their faces.
• When they turned around the corner, the man suddenly stopped in his tracks.
• In a swift motion, he spun Elena around and pinned her against the wall, his body pressing against hers.
• His gaze was intense, his hands resting on either side of her, caging her against the wall. “Why are you following me?”
• Elena was taken aback by his sudden move.
• “I-I’m not…” she stammered, trying to find the right words. “I just thought we hit it off well and wanted to chat for a bit more.”
• “Chat?” The man scoffed. “Woman, I don’t know if you’re too naïve or if you think too highly of me.”
• He leaned in closer, his lips dangerously close to hers. “Following a stranger in the middle of the night, aren’t you afraid I’ll take advantage of you?”
• Elena’s heart raced at his proximity, her mind reeling with fear and excitement.
• She knew she should be cautious, that she should step away from this dangerous game, but there was something about him that drew her in with a magnetic pull she couldn’t resist.
• “Even if you do, it’ll be my honor,” Elena replied.