Timeline - 36 hours ago

The grand doors to the penthouse suite swung open with a soft whoosh, revealing an opulent, sprawling space bathed in warm golden light. High ceilings stretched above them, chandeliers casting a soft glow over the polished marble floors. The plush furniture was arranged around a sunken living room with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the coastline as the waves glittered in the high midday sun.

Jasmine let out an appreciative whistle, spinning on her heels. "Okay, now this is what I'm talking about," she said, her eyes widening at the sight of the grandiose setup.

Eko strolled in with a triumphant grin, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she made a beeline for the massive open bar on one side of the suite. "Now this is a bachelorette weekend," she chimed, eyeing the lavish details that screamed pure luxury.

Mya and Jasmine were already inspecting the modern artwork adorning the walls when Jesse slipped in behind them, her arms crossed, her face a mask of irritation.

"Alright, Jesse," Mya said, turning to her with a knowing look, "you've been in a mood since we got here. What's buggin' you?"

Jesse's eyes flashed with a hint of annoyance as she brushed past them. She spotted the wine—a welcome gift, elegantly presented on the marble countertop, begging to be opened. Without a word, she snatched the bottle of rich red, deftly twisting the corkscrew and popping it open in one fluid motion.

"You want to know what's been bugging me?" Jesse's voice was sharp, but beneath it was a layer of exhaustion. She poured herself a generous glass, ignoring the fancy crystal goblets in favor of something simple. "That dickhead of an ex-boyfriend!"

With the glass in hand, she strode toward the grand longue that overlooked the sea, the fading sunlight casting a warm glow over the suite. Sinking into the plush cushions, she sighed, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

The girls exchanged glances, a mix of shock and curiosity in their expressions. Eko, Jasmine, and Mya shared a silent conversation of raised eyebrows and nods. Whatever had gone down, it was big.

"Urm?" Jasmine ventured cautiously, as she watched Mya and Eko bring over a few more bottles of wine. The three of them settled onto the longue, waiting for Jesse to spill.

"Spill the tea!" Eko was already leaning forward, eager to hear the story, despite being met with a death stare from Jesse.

"You're gloating," Jesse said flatly, her eyes narrowing at Eko's playful smirk.

"I'm reserving judgment," Eko replied innocently, raising the wine bottle in a mock toast. "Now, spill."

Jesse took another sip of her wine, the memory playing out vividly in her mind. "It all happened yesterday."

***** ******

"No," Jesse snapped, her voice trembling with hurt and frustration. "Don't Jesse me. You don't just... you don't just decide to pack up and leave like it's nothing! Like we're nothing! What the fuck, Aiden?"

Aiden sighed heavily, dragging a hand through his hair, avoiding her piercing gaze. "In all honesty, your mate's wedding got me thinking. It brought up a lot of things for me."

"Matthew," Jesse interjected sharply, her tone cutting. "Say his name. If you're going to blame him for your shit like you always do, say his fucking name."

Aiden let out a bitter laugh, sharp and hollow. "Matthew. Fine. Matthew. The golden boy. The almighty headmaster who can do no wrong. Your knight in shining armor. That prick you defend every second you get. Maybe his picture-perfect wedding made me realize something."

"Watch your mouth," Jesse warned, her voice low and trembling, her eyes narrowing into slits. "I'm serious Aiden, pick your fucking next words very carefully." Stepping closer, her finger jabbed toward him like a knife.

But Aiden ignored her, his voice dripping with contempt. "Oh, I'm sorry, Jesse. Sorry that when I look at him, with his perfect little life, it drags out every ounce of anger I've got. That someone like him just gets everything handed to him. Good orphanages, elite status from the get-go, commander turned headmaster, and, of course, you. Everything revolves around him. Hell, even Richie and Toni—it's all about them. And me? I'm just the guy standing in the corner, waiting for a fucking turn."

"You're a selfish fucking prick today, aren't you?" Jesse's voice was venomous, her fists clenching at her sides.

Aiden threw up his hands in mock surrender, his tone defensive but dripping with derision. "Fine, fine. Whatever. My bad. Dr. Spencer warned me this would happen. Said I shouldn't even bring those three up, knowing how defensive you are."

Jesse arched an eyebrow, her expression sharpening like a predator ready to pounce. "Oh, did Dr. Backyard-Diploma-Therapist-Wannabe say that, huh? What else did Captain Obvious tell you? That water's wet? That the sun rises in the east?"

Aiden's jaw tightened, clearly trying not to take the bait. "Jesus, Jess, can you stop for two seconds? He said I'm in a different place than you are, okay?"

Jesse snorted, her arms crossing as her voice turned mockingly sweet. "A different place? Oh, wow. That's some groundbreaking, deep shit right there. Did he come up with that all by himself, or did he use a magic eight ball?"

Aiden glared, his tone growing colder. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And yet," Jesse shot back, her grin widening with sarcastic glee, "here you are, trying to justify your very different place with me. Enlighten me, Aiden. What's it like there? Is it as far up your own ass as it sounds?"

"God," Aiden muttered under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You are exhausting."

"Not as exhausting as listening to this crap," Jesse retorted, gesturing toward him like he was an exhibit at a zoo. "Do you even hear yourself right now?"

Aiden's jaw tightened, but he pressed on, his voice measured. "Look, I know it sounds cliché, but Dr. Spencer's been helping me unpack my trauma—really dig into what's holding me back, figure out the root of all this shit."

Jesse rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn't fall out of her head. "The root of the problem?" she repeated mockingly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She gave an exaggerated clap. "Well, congratulations, Aiden. Welcome to humanity. Literally half the planet is on that same journey. What's next? You start a podcast to share your deep revelations?"

He hesitated, his gaze flickering to hers before dropping, and for a brief moment, his voice softened. "The truth is, Jess... I can't keep lying to myself—or to you. Dr. Spencer's helped me realize what real recovery looks like."

Jesse shook her head, a sharp laugh escaping her lips. "Jesus Christ, not the recovery spiel again," she snapped, throwing her hands up. "What's the big plan this time? You quitting your job, moving to some remote island to 'find yourself'? Or is it a silent retreat where you cry about how hard life is?"

Aiden's jaw tightened further, his knuckles white as his fists curled at his sides. "No," he said, his voice low and steady. "I'm resigning from the academies completely. And... I'm moving to Glasgrave."

Jesse froze, her body stiffening as the weight of his words hit her like a punch to the gut. "What?" she snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. Her anger, bubbling beneath the surface, erupted like a geyser. "You're what?"

"I'm moving to Glasgrave," he repeated firmly.

She stared at him for a long moment, her chest heaving as disbelief and fury tangled together. "God, I can't deal with this," she spat, her voice shaking with rage. "You're such a fucking pussy!"

Aiden scoffed, his frustration bubbling over into exasperation. "Maybe I'm just haunted by... everything," he snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a whip. "I live in this constant state of anxiety, reliving the orphanages, everything that happened before Allegiant. You have no idea how bad it was for some of us. You got in from the start. You had it all so fucking easy, Jesse. But the rest of us? We had to claw our way in just to survive!"

Jesse's jaw tightened, her knuckles trembling as she clenched her fists at her sides. Her voice, low and venomous, dripped with suppressed fury as she spoke. "No idea how bad it was?" she repeated, each word deliberate and sharp, cutting through Aiden's obliviousness like a scalpel. Her anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to explode.

But Aiden, caught in the tide of his own bitterness, either didn't notice or didn't care. "I can't be the person you need me to be," he continued, his tone hardening. "Not when I'm so broken inside. And I know... I know you won't admit it, but you've always had them. Matthew, Richie, Toni—they've always been there for you. They protected you, Jess. Some people just got it lucky compared to others."

Jesse's lips curled into a humorless smile, the storm behind her eyes darkening. "Lucky," she whispered, her voice trembling as it turned glacial. "Lucky," she repeated, the word heavy with incredulous rage.

She drew in a shaky breath, fighting to keep the maelstrom of memories and emotions contained. He doesn't know, she reminded herself over and over, the mantra looping desperately through her mind. He has no idea. No one did.

They had spent years ensuring the truth of their past stayed buried. Severing every tie, scrubbing every trace, hiding every scar that could link their names to the horrors of those orphanages or the massacre that had marked—and defined—their survival.

Cid hadn't just saved them; he had erased them. Every record, every trace of their existence in those hellholes had been wiped clean. He had buried their history so deeply that even Allegiant's prying eyes couldn't unearth it. Only one person had been entrusted with the full truth—Teddy. Cid had tasked him to rebuild what had been broken, to guide them back onto some semblance of a path.

Teddy, who also knew the darkest of her truths. He was the only one who knew she had been kidnapped and sold into Xero's network. That single event had set off a chain reaction so devastating it had dismantled and obliterated everything they had clung to. The consequences had rippled outward, a relentless wave of destruction that had torn through the monsters residing in the orphanages, exposing their cruelty and forcing the entire system to collapse in on itself.

But that collapse hadn't come without a cost. It hadn't erased the scars etched deep into her soul or the memories branded into her and the others who had survived. It hadn't silenced the screams that still haunted her nights, nor erased the image of waking up on Creon, surrounded by mutilated bodies, their lifeless eyes staring into the void.

She could still see it—the grotesque arena drenched in blood, the off-world traders perched above like vultures, their jeers mingling with the acrid stench of death. And in the center, the youma, a monstrous, twisted thing, its growl reverberating through her chest as it prowled toward her. Its eyes gleamed with hunger, every sinew of its grotesque form promising agony. It wanted to devour her.

Even after all these years, she could still hear the whistle, sharp and piercing, like a ghost haunting the edges of her mind. That small sound that once sent shivers down her spine had embedded itself deep within her, woven into the very fabric of her being. It lived in every choice she made, in every wall she built to keep the darkness at bay.

And now Aiden stood before her, oblivious to the depth of her suffering, wielding her silence as though it absolved his own pain. As though she hadn't clawed her way out of the same nightmare, inch by bloody inch. As though she hadn't suffered.

Her fists trembled at her sides, her nails digging into her palms until they threatened to draw blood. The memories surged like a tidal wave, impossible to stop. She knew Aiden's pain. She knew what he had endured. But the man standing before her, crying over a few slaps, skipped meals, and the so-called mother-maidens who at least let him eat breakfast—his grievances seemed almost laughable compared to the unimaginable horrors she and the boys had survived.

"Lucky," she said again, her voice cutting through the air like ice, trembling on the edge of a scream. "Lucky." It was no longer a whisper—it was a thunderclap. Her fury, barely restrained, coiled tighter, ready to snap.

Aiden didn't notice. He didn't see the shift in her posture, the storm brewing behind her eyes. He didn't hear the warning in her voice or feel the tension radiating off her like a live wire. Instead, he pressed on, his bitterness blinding him to the danger.

"I've finally found the answer, Jess," he said, his voice quieter but no less cutting. "How to make peace with my demons, how to heal. I can't keep pretending anymore, can't keep trying to be someone I'm not... for you."

He took a breath, his next words softer, but no less damning. "And let's be honest, you're not in love with me, are you?"

Jesse froze, her breath catching. For a moment, her fury was eclipsed by the weight of those words. Her chest heaved as she stared at him, her eyes wide and unblinking.

"What?" she managed to choke out, her voice barely above a whisper. The sharp edges of her fury dulled momentarily, eclipsed by the sheer shock of his accusation. She blinked, trying to process, to make sense of what he'd just said.

Aiden shook his head, his voice resigned but steady. "You've been in love with him this whole time," he said, almost as if the realization pained him. "And you don't even see it."

And she hated that a small part of her didn't know if he was wrong.

****** *****

The room felt suffocating, Jesse's recount, still hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

Mya cleared her throat, breaking the oppressive silence. "Uh... so..." she murmured hesitantly, her eyes darting between Jesse and the others. The tension radiating off Jesse was palpable, crackling in the air like a live wire. While Mya didn't know every detail of Jesse's childhood, she knew enough—Aiden's words had clearly struck a nerve, reopening wounds Jesse had fought hard to keep buried.

Mya also understood, with quiet certainty, that Aiden's struggles, while valid in their own way, paled in comparison to what Jesse, Richie, Matthew, and Toni had endured.

Unlike Jasmine, who knew next to nothing of their history, Mya had gleaned enough over the years, especially from Richie. She knew the boys hadn't just been placed into orphanages—they had ended up in the worst ones. Orphanages with connections to Xero, where children weren't just neglected but sold, beaten, or used in heinous ways—bait in youma fights, pawns in territory negotiations, or simply discarded and bets made to see which one would last the longest in the wilderness. These places didn't just hurt kids—they destroyed them. And Jesse had been right there with them, fighting through horrors most people couldn't even imagine.

There was so much to unpack, but Mya couldn't ignore one thing: Jesse had dismissed the second part of Aiden's statement entirely, as if it didn't even warrant acknowledgment.

"You decked him, right?" Eko's voice broke the tension, her words sharp with barely-contained fury. Her jaw tightened, and her teeth clenched at the thought of Aiden's ignorant analysis. The idea that Matthew—the man Jesse loved with her entire being—along with Toni, Richie, and Jesse herself, had somehow had it "easy" made Eko's blood boil. "Right in his fucking face?"

Jesse's eyes snapped to Eko, her expression deadly calm but simmering with rage. "I let him walk out," she said flatly, her voice tight. "Because I was this close—" she brought her fingers together, leaving only a sliver of space between them—"to killing him."

Jasmine, ever observant, silently slid another bottle of champagne across the table. Jesse snatched it up without a word, yanking the cork free with a ferocity that sent it flying. She took a long drink straight from the bottle before slamming it down on the table, standing abruptly.

"Anyway," Jesse said, her voice cutting and defiant, "I went and saw Jack after that little shitshow." She crossed her arms, glaring around the room. "And do you know what psycho-babble bullshit he had to say about the whole situation?"

"Do I want to know?" Eko asked, her voice tight with indignation, her loyalty to Jesse and the others evident in every word.

Jesse smirked bitterly, the sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Oh, you're gonna love this," she said, the venom in her tone unmistakable. "Apparently, it's not Aiden's fault he's a self-centered coward who's weaponized his victim complex. No, no—it's my fault for not validating his trauma enough. For not making him feel safe enough." She let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, sure. Let me drop everything and coddle the guy who just told me I'm fucking lucky."

Mya winced, glancing uneasily between Jesse and the others. "He actually said that? Like, those exact words?"

Jesse rolled her eyes, swirling the champagne in her glass before taking a long sip. "Every single fucking word, dripping from every self-righteous syllable that came out of his mouth. Poor Aiden, carrying the unbearable weight of his poor childhood." Her voice cracked slightly, the fury bubbling just beneath the surface. "Meanwhile, he thinks we—" She gestured vaguely, her hand shaking just enough to betray her simmering anger, "—just breezed through everything unscathed. And Jack? Oh, Jack thinks that too."

Mya, sitting quietly up until now, popped open a fresh bottle of champagne with a sharp twist, the cork sailing across the room. She poured herself and the others another glass with a resolute efficiency that suggested she knew they were all going to need it.

"Anyway, Jack's all like, 'If you don't like my assessment, take it up with Matthew since he has prime principal ownership,'" Jesse mimicked mockingly, her tone dripping with disdain. She cocked her head toward Eko, one eyebrow raised. "So I pressed him on his babbling bullshit, and apparently, your fiancee owns the academies outright. Care to elaborate?"

Mya and Jasmine's heads snapped toward Eko so fast it was a wonder they didn't get whiplash. Their eyes were wide, their expressions a mix of disbelief and shock.

"Wait," Jasmine blurted, her voice thick with incredulity. "Ownership rights? Like, he's in charge of everything now?"

"When the hell did that happen?" Mya demanded, her confusion evident. "How does something that massive get by unnoticed when the tabloids basically live in our back pockets?"

Eko took a slow, deliberate breath, leaning back in her chair with an air of composure that felt slightly forced. Her fingers toyed idly with the stem of her wineglass, her expression flickering between hesitation and frustration. "It's... complicated," she admitted finally. "The royal boards stepped in, overruled everything—the Academies' board, Allegiant's subsidiaries, the whole system. They forced the ownership onto Matthew. Neither of us fully understands why it had to happen, but..." Her gaze turned distant, as though replaying the chaos of those meetings. "It's undeniable that it gives him the authority to do what he's always wanted—what needs to be done."

Jasmine let out a low whistle, leaning back in her seat as though to distance herself from the weight of Eko's words.

"He signed the papers a few days ago. Full ownership rights for a significant chunk of the academies—70% or so, I think. But Allegiant? That's completely his now," Eko continued, her tone deliberately light, almost dismissive, but her eyes betrayed the deeper worry she refused to voice aloud.

It was a lot, and she couldn't wait for their wedding day to arrive. Because once the vows were exchanged, she had a plan: his phone was going out the window. They were going to vanish to a hidden getaway for their honeymoon, and she would make sure he was completely disconnected—no emails, no calls, no interruptions. Just peace. Just them.

"Anyway, that's why I've been... extra attentive to his needs," she added, her voice softening as a small smile tugged at her lips. "He's stressed. It's a lot of pressure. He's been talking to Teddy every other day—or, well, screaming at him sometimes. Same, same at this point." She ended with a gentle laugh, hoping to lighten the mood, if only for a moment.

"Wouldn't have picked up on that at all," Jasmine teased, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip of her drink.

Eko smirked knowingly, a glint of mischief dancing in her eyes as she leaned forward. "Seriously, though, it's like... blow jobs. Constantly."

"Jesus, Eko!" Jesse groaned, throwing her head back against the sofa, her face twisted in exaggerated disgust as she buried herself in the pillows.

"What?" Eko feigned innocence, the mischievous glint in her eyes growing stronger.

Jesse shook her head, the exaggerated look of disgust on her face only making the girls laugh harder. The sound of their amusement filled the room, warm and lively, a brief reprieve from the tension that had hung over them earlier. But as the laughter subsided, Jesse's expression grew more serious, her voice dipping into a softer tone.

"Anyway," she began, swirling the champagne in her glass absentmindedly, "rounding back to Aiden—that whole debacle of a situation."

"Alright, that's it!" Jasmine declared, sitting upright with a sudden burst of energy. Her fiery resolve cut through the air like a spark. "We're grabbing these bottles, heading down to the pool, and we're drinking. This is not the long weekend we planned, and I'm not letting that obnoxious idiot ruin the vibe for any of us."

"Jaz," Mya said gently, her gaze shifting to Jesse. The heartbreak etched across her features was unmistakable. "It's her first love. Give her a break."

"Giving her a break doesn't change the fact that there are some horribly broken people in this war," Jasmine shot back, her tone unapologetically sharp. "And it's not our job to fix them—or let them drag us down with them."

"'She' is sitting right here," Jesse deadpanned, her voice cracking under the weight of frustration and sadness. She swiped at the tears threatening to spill, determined to keep herself together.

Jasmine's expression softened as she caught Jesse's eye. With a steadying hand on Jesse's shoulder, she said, "Jess, listen—Aiden leaving? That's on him. His loss, plain and simple. You're stronger than this, and you're more than ready to move on from someone who couldn't see what he had. You've got us, this weekend, and enough champagne to remind you of what really matters."

Jesse blinked, a reluctant smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Jasmine leaned in closer, her grin turning wicked. "So, are we going to waste this weekend moping over some guy who didn't deserve you? Or are we about to throw the wildest bachelorette party of our lives?"

A spark of resolve flickered in Jesse's eyes as she straightened up, her shoulders squaring. "You're right. Why am I even thinking about him? This is our weekend, and nothing—and I mean nothing—is going to ruin it."

She grabbed a champagne bottle, taking a bold, celebratory drink before lifting it high into the air. "Alright, who's ready to make some really bad decisions with me?"

Eko smirked, raising her own glass. "YAS, girl! Let's get this party started!"

**** ****

"And that's the photo us four took before we went down to the pool!" Eko laughed, pointing at a vibrant selfie of her and the girls, all in bikinis, hair down, and ready to kick off her bachelorette weekend.

Matthew chuckled, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck as she swiped through the photos. "Pool, pool, drinking, pool, pool, bikini shots, selfie, selfie," Eko narrated, trying to focus as he continued trailing kisses down her neck, nuzzling his way lower along her collarbone.

"And here's us back in the hotel room," Eko pointed, smirking. "Jesse had a mini crying fit in the shower—she was drunk, the sun and all. But we got her into this amazing green dress. She looked incredible, had all eyes on her that night."

Matthew grinned, glancing at her. "Well, she's a married woman now, so I'd say the dress did the trick."

Eko giggled, flicking through the photos. "Then we went to dinner—though I think it was more drinking than eating, to be honest. Oh, look at the dessert! Can you believe it actually topped that pineapple-cream thing we had in Agroha?"

"I know; you sent me a photo while you were eating," he replied, shifting his attention to the phone as she swiped through. "Actually... you sent me all of these," he chuckled, glancing at the endless stream of selfies of the girls eating, laughing, and posing with each plate.

Eko laughed. "Well, these next ones were after we left dinner. Jasmine somehow convinced Sooki to track down a karaoke bar, and somehow, we ended up at Poseidon's Night Bar."

"I remember," he murmured, his grin widening. "I came to meet you there after you sent me that half-naked bathroom selfie with all the eggplant emojis."

She shrugged, a playful spark in her eyes. "What? I missed you."

Grasping her chin gently in his hand, he drew her into a kiss, his lips pressing against hers with a fervor that left her breathless when she finally pulled back for air.

Eko's eyes fluttered open, her gaze soft. "What was that for?"

Matthew smiled, his voice barely above a whisper. "I missed you too."

Smiling like a love-struck teenager, Eko went back to her phone, flicking through photos from the karaoke part of the night. She couldn't help but beam as she explained each picture to Matthew, pausing proudly on one in particular. "So, here it is—the moment I was crowned karaoke champion of the week," she grinned, her voice full of mock gravity. "A coveted honor I fully intend to take to the grave."

Matthew chuckled, that did not surprise him, nor did the trophy that she was hauling around when he found her later that night.

She laughed, shaking her head as she flipped to the next photo. "Anyway, after that, they told us the only place still open nearby was Poseidon's Night Bar. So, naturally, we took the cue to head over."

**** *****

The girls exchanged a quick look, amusement and curiosity flashing in their eyes as they took in the suited security guard who had stepped out of the crowd to address them. The evening air was warm and buzzing with the energy of the city nightlife, the perfect backdrop for their mini dresses and bridesmaid sashes that left no doubt they were out to celebrate.

"Excuse me," the guard said, scanning a tablet, his professional demeanor not hiding a slight smile. "Are you the bride-to-be?" His gaze flicked to Eko, clearly identifying her from the tiara and veil nestled in her cascading brunette curls and the backless white sequin mini dress that glimmered under the streetlights.

Eko looked to the girls, who only shrugged with playful, encouraging smiles before she turned back to the guard. "Yes, I am," she replied politely, trying her best to sound composed, though the drinks from earlier were definitely kicking in. "Is there a problem?"

"Not at all," he replied, smiling slightly as he gestured to the tablet. "Your party of four, Mya, Eko, Jesse, and Jasmine?" He nodded toward the girls, his gaze briefly flicking to Mya, who was in a stunning blue number, and Jesse in emerald green, both dresses leaning unapologetically into "barely there" territory. They both raised their eyebrows, heads cocked slightly, eyeing him with suspicion and intrigue.

Jasmine narrowed her eyes, hand ready to dial Sooki. "Is there a problem here?"

The guard's smile remained steady, unperturbed. "No problem at all, ma'am," he said smoothly. "We've been expecting you and your party. If you'll follow me, ladies, everything has been arranged for your evening."

With a courteous nod, he turned on his heel, his colleagues gesturing for the girls to follow. Eko, eyes sparkling with excitement, leaned back to whisper to Jasmine, "Might need to give Sooki a raise for pulling this off!"

They entered through grand doors, and the atmosphere shifted immediately—a blend of luxurious opulence and pulsing energy. Each girl was handed a glass of champagne by a server stationed at the entrance, the fizz catching the light as they moved deeper into the club. Their escort led them through the crowd toward a more exclusive area, their heels clicking against the marble floor in sync with the thumping bass of the music.

"We have reserved the Executive Lounge suite for your party," their guide announced, gesturing toward a luxurious area draped with soft lighting and plush seating. "A bottle of Bollinger will be delivered shortly, and the festivities will begin in about twenty minutes."

With wide, delighted eyes, they looked around, the ambiance enveloping them as the music pulsed through their bodies. Eko raised her glass, barely containing her excitement. "To an unforgettable night, ladies!"

The club floor was packed with people jumping and dancing to the DJ's lively beats, the music vibrating through the air. Overhead, the lighting shifted through an array of colors, casting vivid beams across the room and heightening the energy with each pulse.

Led up a small set of stairs, they moved through the bustling second-level VIP lounge, past clusters of dancers and plush booths, until they reached a larger staircase leading to the club's exclusive third level. Here, the space was quieter, more intimate, and distinctly luxurious. A private bar, tended by their own bartender, awaited them, as well as a DJ booth dedicated solely to this floor.

The entire level was bathed in tones of white and charcoal grey, with light fixtures overhead casting soft hues of blue, lavender, and silvery white, creating the illusion of dancing stars across the private dance floor at the center. Around it, plush chairs, enclosed booths, and tables gave the space a luxurious, private feel.

Their escort finally stopped at a spacious corner booth, introducing them to their bartender for the night before giving Jesse one last lingering look. With an almost amused smile, he gave them a slight bow and turned to leave.

Jasmine smirked, leaning back as she eyed Jesse in her little green dress. "That dress is already working wonders. Did you see how many heads turned as you walked through the club?"

Settling into the plush booth, they sipped their champagnes, watching as the bartender began mixing a fresh round of cocktails. The atmosphere was electric, the music pulsing through the space, and they were comfortably nestled in the luxury of their VIP booth.

"They were clearly looking at all of us," Jesse retorted with a laugh, gesturing to the group. "It's not just me dolled up here. We're basically a neon sign walking through this club, thanks to Eko's dress!"

Eko looked down at her neon-colored dress, its glow practically lighting up their corner of the lounge. With a playful smirk, she raised her glass. "Hey, at least you won't lose me in a crowd!"

The girls laughed, clinking their glasses as they leaned in to hear each other over the vibrant music. The bartender's assistant arrived with the new round of cocktails, expertly garnished and presented.

With the groups eyes shining with excitement, they raised their glasses, the energy between them matching the club's electric ambiance.

***** *****

Matthew chuckled, scrolling through the new set of selfies Eko had been flicking through. "Your dress really did glow under those lights," he said, laughing at the bright neon hue illuminating her in every photo.

"Yeah, we were on the dance floor until the strippers that Sooki arranged for us arrived."

Matthew arched an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement as he continued swiping through the photos on Eko's phone. "Naturally," he murmured, his tone dripping with mock approval. "And quite a few of them, from the looks of it."

Eko grinned mischievously, pausing on a particularly lively series of shots. In one, Jasmine was fully leaning into the chaos, her hand boldly trailing down the chest of a ridiculously muscular stripper. Meanwhile, in the background, Jesse was caught mid-laugh, theatrically using her teeth to tug off a piece of one of the men's attire with exaggerated flair.

Drink after drink... the photos became increasingly chaotic, a kaleidoscope of blurry lights and indistinct grins. Eko swiped through them, the details fading with each new image until even she struggled to make sense of the wild energy captured in the frames.

"Anyway," she began with a smirk, pausing on a shot of Jasmine mid-laugh, holding a glass in one hand and a stripper's tie in the other, "at some point, Jasmine just... disappeared. Turns out, she vanished with a trio of strippers who decided to stick around."

Matthew raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "And this surprised you?"

Eko shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Not really. But when I went to the bathroom later, let's just say... you could hear them. They weren't exactly subtle."

Eko tilted her head, feigning an innocent expression as she continued. "Hearing that going on, though..." She trailed off, leaning in closer. "It got me thinking of you."

Matthew scoffed, a low laugh rumbling from his chest. He tightened his grip on her waist, his disbelief evident. "Is that so?" he drawled, amusement dancing in his eyes as he looked at the unapologetic woman sitting in his lap.

***** ****

Refreshing her lipstick in the bathroom, Eko couldn't help but smirk as she overheard Jasmine reaching her peak a few stalls down. The sounds spurred her to glance at her phone, noticing it was already after two in the morning. With a playful grin, she angled herself in the mirror, snapping a half-naked selfie before carefully typing out a message she knew would grab her husband-to-be's attention.

"Want... your... 👅... 🍆... Where's that eggplant emoji... Ah! Wink... there we go. Come andddd... fuck me... 🍆🍆🍆." Satisfied, she pressed send, knowing it would reach him instantly.

Stepping back out of the bathroom, she made her way back to the booth, only to find it empty. Catching the bartender's eye over the music, she gestured in question, and he pointed to the dance floor. She grabbed another drink and headed in, her neon dress practically glowing as she moved through the crowd. Three songs in, fully immersed in the beat, she felt a strong, familiar arm wrap around her waist, pulling her close.

lucky, lucky girl

She got married to a boy like you

She'd kick you out if she ever, ever knew.

Eko pulled back just enough to get a look at her "accuser," fists clenched, ready to defend herself from whoever dared intrude. But as she turned, her expression softened, her face breaking into a smile the instant she locked eyes with Matthew, his steel-blue gaze warm and steady.

'Bout all the - you tell me that you do

Dirty, dirty boy

You know everyone is talking on the scene, hear them whispering

'bout the places that you've been.

"Are you enjoying yourself tonight, wife?" he asked, a playful smirk curving his lips as he spun her around, letting her neon dress flare against the electric lights dancing at their feet. She laughed, twirling before he pulled her back into his arms, his gaze never leaving her.

Mummy don't know daddy's getting hot

At the body shop, doing something unholy

He's sat back while she's dropping it, she be popping it.

Matthew's eyes burned with intensity as he took in Eko's every movement, his gaze raking over her in admiration. Her smile widened as she let herself get lost in the moment, letting him guide her with a confidence that made her heart race. The crisp white of his shirt hugged his form, highlighting the strength beneath, his every movement controlled and deliberate, exuding the quiet power that drew her to him.

Did he even realize how lucky she felt to be the one person he loved on this earth?

She tilted her head up to meet his eyes, leaning into him as they moved to the music's heavy, pulsing beat. He spun her out, and she let herself go, the world blurring as she twirled before colliding back against his solid chest. Her arm looped over her shoulder to rest on his head, her body sliding slowly down his, arching in perfect rhythm, and feeling every taut muscle beneath her own.

With a steadying hand, he caught hers, twirling her back, drawing her in close against his chest, their eyes locking—sky blue meeting smoldering steel. Leaning down, his lips brushed along her ear, his breath a whisper against her skin. "You're making me lose my mind."

Mummy don't know daddy's getting hot
At the body shop,

doing something unholy (woo)

Through her lashes, Eko felt her cheeks heat, the blush deepening down her neck—a reaction that Matthew seemed to savor, his smirk widening as he took in her flushed expression.

Without another word, she grabbed his lapels, pulling him down with a boldness that matched the pounding beat around them, and kissed him with an intensity that left no room for subtlety. Her desire ignited her movements, each touch fueled by the thrill and tension building between them. His response was immediate, his hands finding her waist as he kissed her back, the taste of bourbon lingering on his tongue, mingling with the heat between them.

When she finally pulled back, her lips were swollen, her breathing quick, the world momentarily blurring around them as she whispered, "Your hotel or mine?"

The smoldering look in his eyes was answer enough.

Mmm, daddy, daddy, if you want it, drop the add'y (yuh)

Give me love, give me Fendi, my Balenciaga daddy

You gon' need to bag it up, 'cause I'm spending on Rodeo (woo)

You can watch me back it up, I'll be gone in the a.m

"Since it's costing me forty grand, yours," Matthew grinned, leaning down to kiss her again, the mischievous glint in his eyes unmistakable.

"Richie and Toni are here," he added between kisses, "along with a few of the other guys."

"Perfect," Eko murmured, a sly smile spreading across her lips. "Then they won't even notice we're gone for a while."

With that, she grabbed his hand, threading her fingers through his as she pulled him through the crowd, slipping out of the club and into the warm night air. They made their way down a dimly lit alleyway, sneaking away from the lively streets. As the magic wrapped itself around their bodies, they soon found themselves back at the resort.

And when you want it, baby, I know I got you covered

And when you need it, baby, just jump under the covers

Mummy don't know daddy's getting hot

At the body shop, doin' somethin' unholy

***** ****

"Flick to those photos," Matthew grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Actually," she raised her chin, "I left it filming." With a mischievous glint, Eko picked up her phone, ready to relive their night, her smile widening as she pressed play.