The room still hung heavy with silence when the door swung open without warning. Zarri stormed in, heels clicking sharply against the floor, sunglasses perched high, and her perfume trailing like a warning.
"My slutty sugar," she called, tossing her tote onto the chair before shoving her phone into Kashi's face. The notifications blared a headline: "Mysterious Heir Returns – Celebration Tonight at Club Seraph."
She yanked the covers halfway down, ignoring Kashi's groan. "Don't even start with me," she warned, grinning wide. "He's back. The city's buzzing. And he's throwing a welcome-home party tonight at the hottest club we've got. Invitations only."
From her bag, Zarri produced two sleek black-and-gold passes, holding them aloft like crowns. "Guess who snagged us VIP? One for me, one for you. No excuses, no sulking. Tonight, we're going."
Leaning closer, her grin wicked, she whispered conspiratorially, "Everyone's going to be there." She waved the invitations teasingly. "We can't let them have all the fun without us, can we?"
"Zarri, please… I just need sleep," Kashi muttered, tugging the covers higher.
Zarri groaned dramatically and collapsed onto the bed like dead weight, pinning the covers down. "Sleep?!" she scoffed, kicking off her heels with a thud. "You've been hiding in this room for days, mi cucuantico. You don't need sleep, you need music, lights, champagne, men!"
She poked Kashi's side until a squirm escaped, then leaned in close, her voice dipping into a conspiratorial whisper. "Besides… if you skip this, the whole city will think you're still licking Gray's boots. Is that the image you want?"
Waving the invitations in front of Kashi's face, she smirked. "Come on, Kashi. One night. Just one. You don't even have to smile if you don't want to. Just show up, look hot, and let them choke on their envy."
Zarri flopped onto her back beside Kashi, staring at the ceiling. "If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me. Don't make me go alone with these two tickets, I'll die of boredom without you." She turned her head dramatically, pouting. "Please, mi encanto?"
Kashi groaned in defeat. "Fineeeee… get me a dress, then," she said, pain evident in every syllable.
Zarri shot upright like a rocket, the pout vanishing into a smug grin. "I knew it!" she squealed, clapping her hands. "That's my girl!"
She practically flew off the bed, snatched her tote, and with a dramatic snap of her fingers, two maids hurried in carrying garment bags. Zarri paced like a general preparing troops for battle. "We've got sequins, silk, velvet, midnight blue, crimson, or black so sharp it could kill. We are going to walk into that club tonight like we own it."
Spinning back to Kashi, her eyes glittered mischievously. "Actually, scratch that. You're going to walk in like the Saint who rose from hellfire. Damian who? Natalie what? By the time we leave, the only name on their lips will be yours."
Dropping back onto the bed, she cupped Kashi's cheeks with both hands, grinning. "Trust me, mi encanto. Tonight, we burn."
***************************************************************
Chaos's mansion — late evening_
The heavy oak doors swung open without warning, and in strolled Alex Sergeyev, sunglasses still on despite the night, his leather jacket hanging loose, his grin wide enough to crack the tension that usually lived inside Chaos's house.
"Chaossyyy!" Alex boomed, arms wide as if he owned the place. "Look at you, still brooding in the dark like a vampire!"
Chaos, seated in his study, didn't look up from the file in front of him. "You're loud."
Alex laughed, dropping onto the couch opposite him, sprawling like a king. "And you're boring. Six months abroad, I come back, and this is the welcome I get? No drinks, no women, not even a damn cigar? You've gone soft, brother."
Chaos finally lifted his eyes, the icy blue glare sharp as glass. "Six months abroad, and you walk in uninvited."
"Details, details," Alex waved it off, pulling a flask from his jacket and taking a swig.
"Point is, I'm back. And tonight, we celebrate." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, grin feral. "Biggest party of the year at Club Seraph. I'm hosting it. And you, my brother, are coming."
"No." Chaos's answer was flat, immediate.
Alex slapped a hand against his thigh, groaning. "Of course. Mr. Riegrow the ice king. Always hiding behind paperwork. Always turning down fun. You need to breathe, Chaos. One night. That's all I'm asking."
"I don't waste nights." Chaos turned a page in his file.
Alex's grin sharpened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You think staring at numbers all night keeps you in control. But here's the thing, control is overrated. Sometimes you've got to let chaos in."
He smirked, clearly enjoying his own wordplay.
Chaos's gaze flicked up, unimpressed. "You talk too much."
"And you brood too much." Alex leaned back, spreading his arms. "Come on, brother. Don't make me drag you there."
A tense silence stretched, until Chaos finally exhaled through his nose, closing the file.
"One night," he said evenly.
Alex shot to his feet, whooping loud enough to make the walls shake. "That's my guy! Tonight, Chaos Riegrow enters my world. And trust me…" His grin turned wild. "…it's going to be unforgettable."
Chaos's lips curved, faintly, dangerously. "I don't doubt it."