Page 32 of Rival Desires

The tequila burned a fiery trail down my throat, igniting a warmth in my belly. I reveled in the slight dizziness and the looseness of my limbs. It was liberating, intoxicating. As the music pulsed through the bar, I felt myself swaying to the beat.My friend grabbed my hand, pulling me onto the dance floor. I didn’t resist; I just let the music take over.

It was a whirlwind of bodies, a thrumming sea of motion. Lights flashed and strobed across the room, creating an otherworldly spectacle. We danced for what felt like hours, our laughter mingling with the rhythm. The bass thumped in my chest, and I closed my eyes, losing myself in the moment. Blinking my eyes open, I found Nat swaying to the rhythm with none other than Fury himself. They grooved in perfect harmony, their bodies tangled up in a dance that could’ve been plucked right from some dirty dancing romance flick. A twinge of envy zipped through me, but I quickly brushed it off. Tonight was Nat’s time to shine too, and she deserved a good time. Plus, it wasn’t every day I saw my BFF cutting loose like that.

I spun around again before realizing I needed a break—a moment to clear my head from the intoxicating swirl of sights and sounds. “Nat!” I called out over the din, though she was clearly preoccupied. “I’m heading to the restroom!”

She threw me a thumbs-up without missing a step in her dance with Fury. With a smile tugging at my lips at their obvious chemistry, I waved my way through the crowd, feeling the bassline vibrate beneath my feet. As I stepped into the dimly lit hallway leading to the restrooms, I felt a moment of relief. The cool AC air on my sweaty skin was a welcome change from the sticky heat of the dance floor.

As I splashed the refreshing water on my face, I pondered making a hasty exit. The last thing I needed was another entanglement with Cory. Who knew what would happen if I lingered any longer? Better to play it safe, right?

But as I sauntered out of the stall to tell Nat that I was leaving, I caught a note of a familiar voice. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze in my tracks. Cory was just around the corner, chatting away on his phone. I held my breath, weighing my options. I certainly didn’t want to bump into him again. But I couldn’t just stand there either. So, I took a deep breath and braced myself, planning to slip past him as swiftly and silently as a cat on the prowl.

As I tiptoed forward, my foot snagged on something, and I stumbled. I let out a gasp as I tumbled, my hands flailing wildly. But before I hit the floor, a strong arm caught me, yanking me up. My gaze landed on Cory, staring down at me, his eyes as wide as saucers. He quickly released me, stepping back. “Rylee,” he murmured, his voice low. “Are you alright?”

My cheeks flushed crimson. “Yeah, I’m good,” I mumbled, trying to brush myself off. “Just tripped, clumsy me.”

Cory looked at me for a moment, his face unreadable. Then, without so much as a peep, he spun on his heel and disappeared into the club.

I let out a shaky sigh and leaned against the wall, my heart still racing. I couldn’t quite figure out what had just happened, but one thing was clear as day - that guy couldn’t stand me.

After a minute, I mustered the courage to push through the door and dive back into the club's sensory overload. The thumping bass hit me like a wave, enveloping me in its trance-like embrace.

I scanned the crowd, my eyes darting back and forth in search of Nat’s golden curls. But the sea of bodies seemed to swallow her whole, and panic surged through me momentarily. I told myselfthat she’d probably just gotten caught up in the crowd. I’d find her soon enough.

Just as I was ready to dive back into the throng of dancers, I heard a familiar voice behind me. My heart sank. So much for avoiding Cory.

“Looking for someone?” His voice was close, too close. I could feel the heat radiating off his body, sending a shiver down my spine. I closed my eyes for a moment to compose myself.

“Yeah, actually,” I replied, my voice steady. “I’m trying to find Nat. Have you seen her?”

Cory chuckled, and I felt a pang of irritation. “You mean your friend who’s currently outside getting to know my business partner?”

I whirled around, my eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”

He shrugged, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “They went outside for some fresh air. I guess they hit it off.”

I sighed in relief, followed by a huff of frustration. “Great, just what I needed. Thanks for the heads up.”

Cory raised an eyebrow. “You’re welcome? I guess?”

I rolled my eyes, turning to leave. But before I could take a step, Cory’s hand was on my arm, holding me back. “Wait. Please.”

I turned to face him, my eyes flashing. “What is it, Cory? I’m really not in the mood for whatever game you’re playing tonight.”

He hesitated, his grip on my arm loosening. “I...I just wanted to talk. Away from the crowd, you know?”

I studied him for a moment, trying to discern his motives. But his expression was unreadable, his eyes guarded. Finally, I sighed, resigning myself to this unavoidable encounter. “Fine. But make it quick.”

Cory led me through the bar, weaving our way through the crowd until we reached a quiet corner. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. I stood facing him, my hands on my hips, waiting for him to speak.

“Look, Rylee,” he began, his voice low. “I know this whole rivalry thing is weird, and it complicated things between us, but I think we should try to clear the air.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Clear the air? You mean like talk about how you accused me of using underhanded tactics to steal your clients?”

Cory winced. “I...I may have overreacted. I was just trying to protect my business, you know?”

I scoffed. “By spreading rumors about me? By trying to sabotage my meetings with potential clients?”

He held up his hands in defense. “I never spread rumors about you. And as for the meetings...I just wanted to make sure they knew all the facts before making a decision.”

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