The soft hum of the city outside Julian's penthouse was a lullaby to Vivian's restless mind. Her body was still humming from the wild night they had shared, but something in the air felt different now. It wasn't just the lingering heat of their intimacy or the sense of possession Julian had over her. No, this was something far more unsettling. Something that gnawed at her even in the quiet of their sanctuary.
She woke up to find the space beside her cold, as it had been when she reached for it. Julian had already slipped out of bed, his absence a shadow she couldn't shake. She rolled over, eyes searching the room for him.
In the corner by the balcony stood Julian, his back to her, phone pressed to his ear. His voice was low, intense, but too distant, as if he was hiding something from her.
"Don't worry, it's under control. No one will find out... not a single thing."
The words hit her like a slap to the face. Something was wrong. She could feel it in her bones—the unease, the silence that grew between them every time she thought she was close enough to him.
Vivian's heart raced, her instincts telling her to confront him. But before she could gather the courage, he turned, flashing her that signature smile that always made her melt.
"Morning, beautiful," he greeted, slipping the phone into his pocket a little too quickly, his eyes avoiding hers for just a moment too long.
She bit back the words rising in her throat. Instead, she smiled, her fingers trailing lightly over his chest. "Business calls early in the morning now, huh?"
"Yeah," he replied, his tone too casual, the way he always did when he was trying to hide something from her. "Nothing you need to worry about."
Vivian's gaze lingered on him, the doubt creeping into her chest like an unwelcome guest. She wanted to believe him. She had to believe him. But something inside her told her she was missing a bigger piece of the puzzle.
But she didn't press. Not yet.
Instead, she pushed it all aside, focusing on the heat between them. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his neck, her hands tracing the familiar path down his chest. "You know... you've been keeping something from me. But I don't mind," she whispered, letting the tension between them thicken.
His breath caught, and for a moment, his eyes darkened, the smirk curling on his lips again. "Is that so?" he murmured, pulling her closer. "Well, maybe I'll make it up to you."
---
The soft chime of her phone interrupted their moment, and Vivian groaned as she pulled away. She glanced at the screen, seeing the name that had become both a source of comfort and quiet unease: Aurora.
"Hold that thought," she said with a teasing smile before answering the call. "Hey, beautiful."
Aurora's voice was cheerful on the other end, though Vivian could sense the underlying strain in it. "Hey, Viv! You up yet? We need to talk."
Vivian's smile faltered. "Talk? About what?"
Aurora hesitated, a soft sigh escaping her. "I got an offer... a big one. To feature my art in Paris. But I'm... I don't know. I need to talk about it."
"Paris?" Vivian's heart sank. "Aurora, that's amazing! You have to go."
But the hesitation in Aurora's voice only grew. "I don't know. It feels wrong to leave, especially when everything is... complicated."
Vivian frowned. "Complicated? You're talking about your dream, Aurora. This is your chance."
Aurora was quiet for a beat too long, and Vivian could almost hear the mental struggle. "I just don't want to leave you, Viv. You're my best friend, and I—"
Vivian cut her off, her voice a little sharper than she intended. "You've always been there for me, and I'll always be here for you. You deserve this. Go, Aurora. Don't hold yourself back because of me."
The words came out a little too firmly, and for a second, she could hear the guilt in Aurora's breath. But then, a forced cheer returned to her voice.
"Okay. I'll do it, then."
Vivian's chest tightened, the weight of the unspoken words hanging between them. Something about the way Aurora spoke didn't sit right with her. But she smiled, brushing the feeling aside. "Good. You'll kill it."
As she ended the call, the silence in the room felt too thick. Julian's eyes met hers, his lips curling into that same smirk, but this time, it seemed like something was missing.
"Something wrong?" he asked, his gaze flicking toward her phone.
Vivian hesitated. "Aurora's going to Paris... She's been offered a huge opportunity for her art."
Julian's lips quirked, but his eyes, like always, lingered just a little too long on the space between them.
"That's great for her," he said, his voice smooth, though it lacked genuine warmth. "She'll be fine."
Vivian nodded, though something inside her felt unsettled. Aurora's departure felt like more than just a change of location. It was the first crack in the world they'd built together—the three of them.
---
The night descended, and the three of them found themselves once again under the same roof. The club pulsed with heat, the music vibrating through their chests like a living thing, but Vivian couldn't shake the tension that had settled over them. The air felt thick, as though something dark was about to consume them.
Julian's hands were possessive as they slid over her body, pulling her close to him as they danced, but his eyes kept flicking over to Aurora, who was laughing too loudly at the bar, holding her glass with a touch too much grace, too much distance from the rest of them.
"Julian," Vivian purred, her voice low and tempting, pressing her lips against his ear. "You seem distracted. What's going on?"
His eyes hardened, a flicker of something dark crossing them. "Nothing, just tired."
But Vivian felt it—a shift in him, a subtle but undeniable change. She pressed closer, willing him to return to her, to give her the focus he always had. "I need you tonight," she whispered.
His response was slow, measured. "You have me, Viv. Always."
But she saw it. Aurora's eyes locked with his from across the room, and in that instant, Vivian knew.
It was more than just business. More than just a friendship.
Julian wanted her. But Aurora was the one he couldn't stop thinking about.
Vivian couldn't shake the feeling that the game was changing.
---
Aurora stood outside the club, the chill of the night air biting at her skin. She wasn't cold. But she was feeling something deep inside her, a hunger she could no longer ignore.
The desire for Julian had been burning beneath the surface for so long. And she'd fought it. God, she had tried so hard to push it away. But the way he looked at her—his gaze—it was pulling her in, urging her to cross the line she'd sworn never to touch.
But she couldn't. Not now.
Her breath came out in a soft gasp as she pressed her hand against the wall, trying to steady herself.
She wasn't ready for the chaos she knew was about to unfold.
But the temptation was too strong.
To be continued...