The club lights pulsed with energy, a haze of neon and music filling the space as bodies moved to the beat. You weren’t here for fun—not really. Simon, the all-powerful CEO and your reluctant acquaintance, had dragged you along with his group. He’d said something about unwinding, though you doubted he knew the meaning of the word.

While Simon and his friends were locked in conversation at the VIP lounge, you found yourself at the bar. A guy had approached you—not bad-looking, certainly confident—and one shot turned into two, then three. His charm was disarming, and before you realized it, his lips were on yours, and you weren’t exactly pulling away.

The music drowned out the sound of Simon’s approaching footsteps, but the next moment was unmistakable. A hand yanked the guy back so hard he stumbled, just as Simon’s fist connected with his jaw. The crack of the punch cut through the music, and the guy hit the ground, completely out cold.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Simon growled, his voice dripping with fury as he turned his piercing gaze on you.

You blinked, still slightly dizzy from the shots. “I was—he was—”

“Do you even know him?” Simon snapped, his hand gripping your arm, steadying you. “Or were you just letting this piece of shit shove drink after drink at you until you passed out?”

“I can handle myself,” you slurred, though the wobble in your stance betrayed you.

Simon’s jaw tightened, and he let out a low curse. “Clearly. That’s why you’re two seconds away from being carried out of here by some random asshole.”

The club’s energy shifted, people now watching as Simon’s commanding presence overtook the room. His friends were already pulling him back, trying to diffuse the situation, but Simon’s attention stayed on you, his eyes burning with something far beyond anger.

“Let’s go,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Without waiting for your reply, he pulled you out of the club, his grip firm but not unkind, leaving the chaos and the unconscious guy behind.