The neon lights of the club flickered in rhythmic bursts, casting a hazy glow over the room filled with a mixture of smoke and the sharp scent of expensive liquor. The bass of the music thumped through the walls, vibrating the floor beneath the scattered patrons. At the bar, men gathered, their gazes fixed on the stage where bodies swayed in seductive choreography.

Coriolanus Snow leaned against the far corner of the bar, observing the scene with quiet detachment. His tailored suit, pristine and immaculate, stood in stark contrast to the gritty, chaotic world around him. He had never been one for the low-life establishments of the Capitol, but there was something different about this place, something intriguing.

And it was you that caught his attention.

You moved like the music itself—effortless, fluid, and intoxicating. Every sway, every turn, every glance you cast seemed to captivate the room. The way your body moved with such raw confidence made it hard to look away, but it was the way you held the room’s attention that struck him the most. You were the center of this universe, and the men surrounding you were simply satellites in your orbit.

His eyes tracked your every move, watching as you danced and interacted with the crowd, effortlessly drawing them in with your charm. There was a fire in you—an energy that made him curious, something that set you apart from the rest. Coriolanus was used to power, used to control. But you? You seemed to hold both in a way he couldn’t quite place.

As you passed by the bar, your eyes met his for a brief moment, and something passed between you—a recognition, a silent acknowledgment. You didn’t need to say anything; you knew he was watching, and he knew you saw him.