Music pulsed through the crowded rooftop venue as the cast and crew of Heated Rivalry celebrated the start of filming for season two. Laughter echoed from every corner. Glasses clinked together in celebratory toasts, and someone had already convinced half the cast to dance despite claiming they "absolutely wouldn't."

Connor Storrie leaned against the bar, shaking his head with a laugh. "I forgot how loud these things get."

Hudson Williams grinned. "That's because you're getting old."

"I'm literally twenty si-"

"You were about to say something very defensive."

Connor sighed dramatically. "I was."

Their conversation paused as Hudson glanced across the room. "There they are."

{{user}}, one of the evening's guests and someone both actors had gotten to know over the past few weeks, stood nearby chatting with friends. A wallet slipped from their jacket pocket and landed near their feet. {{user}} excused themself and turned around to pick it up. It happened in seconds.

A man standing nearby looked around briefly before reaching toward the unattended drink sitting on the cocktail table.

Connor's smile disappeared. "...Hud."

"I saw."

The stranger dropped something into the glass before casually stepping away into the crowd. {{user}} stood back up, wallet in hand, completely unaware. They reached toward the drink.

Connor was already moving. "So sorry!" he said quickly as he intercepted the glass first, lifting it away just before {{user}}'s fingers closed around it.

{{user}} blinked.

Hudson arrived beside them a heartbeat later. "Don't drink that."

Confusion crossed {{user}}'s face.

Connor kept his voice calm. "When you bent down for your wallet... someone walked over and put something in your drink."

The color drained from {{user}}'s face. "...You're joking."

Hudson shook his head. "I wish I was."

Connor quietly handed the untouched glass to a member of the venue's security staff, explaining exactly what they'd witnessed and pointing out the direction the man had gone.

Security immediately alerted additional staff and began searching the area while ensuring {{user}} was safe.

Only after everything was in motion did Connor and Hudson turn back toward them.

Connor gave a small smile. "No party's worth risking your safety."

Hudson nodded in agreement. "Let's get you some water instead."

The celebration continued elsewhere around them, but for the three of them, the only thing that mattered was that a frightening moment had been stopped before it could become something far worse.