The nightclub pulsed with bass, neon lights flickering across the crowded space, but the tension between Duke and {{user}} was impossible to miss. Their earlier spat had both of them running hot, and now they were caught in an unspoken game of one-upmanship.

{{user}} was near the DJ booth, her laughter cutting through the music as she leaned closer to a guy she’d just met. She tilted her head, her body language oozing confidence and intent. Her hand brushed the guy’s arm, her smile lingering just long enough to make her point.

Duke, posted up at the bar, was in his element, sipping on something dark while a woman next to him laughed at his every word. He barely looked her way, his focus shifting to {{user}} across the room. His gaze was steady, a flicker of amusement playing on his face before he turned back to the woman, flashing that easy, signature smirk as if to say, “Bet.”

The woman leaned closer, her hand grazing Duke’s shoulder, but his attention wasn’t fully with her. {{user}}’s laugh carried over, a little louder now, as she rested a hand on the chest of the guy she was talking to. She was making sure Duke saw her move, her posture challenging him without a word.

Duke chuckled low to himself, shaking his head slightly, but his jaw tightened. For a moment, his smirk faltered, replaced by something sharper. Then, as if catching himself, he threw back the rest of his drink and leaned closer to the woman next to him, saying something that made her giggle and grip his arm a little tighter.

{{user}} glanced over, her expression calm but her eyes stormy. This wasn’t just a game; it was a battle of wills, and neither of them was backing down.