Zack Hartman (Part 1)

The bass from the club's sound system pulsed through Ethan's body as he stood off to the side of the packed dance floor, arms folded and an eyebrow raised. 

The disco lights spun in vibrant colors, reflecting off the mirrored walls and casting kaleidoscopic patterns across the room. 

Around him, well-dressed partygoers laughed, danced, and drank, their energy as intoxicating as the scent of expensive cologne and champagne that lingered in the air.

Ethan leaned closer to Nate, raising his voice to be heard over the music. "Remind me again — why are we here?"

Nate smirked, tilting his glass of whiskey toward Ethan. "Because you're too much of a hermit, and I'm doing you a favor. Besides, I thought it'd be fun for you to meet Zack again. Remember Zack? From college?"

"Barely," Ethan muttered, taking a sip of his own drink. "What does he even do now?"

"He owns this place," Nate said, gesturing around the club with a casual wave. "The guy's killing it. You'll see him in a bit — he's supposed to give some kind of speech or something."

Ethan sighed, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He wasn't exactly a fan of loud parties or crowded spaces, but Nate had been insistent, and he figured one night wouldn't kill him. 

Still, he couldn't shake the sense that he stuck out like a sore thumb here, even in the tailored blazer he'd thrown on for the occasion.

A few minutes later, the music dimmed slightly, and a voice crackled over the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the man of the hour — the one and only, Zack Hartman!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as a man stepped onto the stage at the front of the room. Zack Hartman was just as Ethan remembered, though he'd clearly traded the scrappy, carefree college look for something much more polished. 

His blond hair was styled into intricate designs, the sides shaved in clean lines, and his fitted black suit shimmered faintly under the lights.

"Good evening, everyone!" Zack said, spreading his arms with a wide grin. "First of all, I want to thank you all for coming tonight. This club has been my dream for years, and seeing it packed like this — well, it means the world to me."

The crowd whooped and clapped, raising their glasses in a toast.

Zack continued, his tone effortlessly charismatic. "We're here to celebrate success, connections, and, most importantly, having a damn good time. So let's keep the drinks flowing, the music pumping, and the energy alive!"

With that, he stepped down from the stage, disappearing into the throng of guests as the music surged back to full volume.

"Still the same show-off," Ethan muttered, glancing at Nate.

"Come on, he's not that bad," Nate said with a chuckle. "Let's go say hi."

Before Ethan could protest, Nate grabbed his arm and started weaving through the crowd. 

People mingled in clusters, some dancing, others deep in conversation, but Nate seemed to have a knack for navigating the chaos.

They eventually found Zack near the bar, surrounded by a group of admirers hanging on his every word. When he spotted Nate, his face lit up.

"Nate! Man, it's been ages!" Zack pulled Nate into a firm handshake, clapping him on the back. Then his eyes landed on Ethan, and his grin widened. "No way — Ethan Grey. I never thought I'd see you at one of these."

Ethan forced a smile, shaking Zack's hand. "Yeah, well, Nate can be pretty persuasive."

"Good to see you, man," Zack said. "How've you been? What're you up to these days?"

Ethan hesitated, not exactly eager to delve into his personal life in the middle of a party. "Keeping busy," he said vaguely. "You've got a great setup here, though. Congrats."

"Thanks," Zack said, his chest puffing up a little. "It's been a wild ride, but I can't complain. You know, you should stop by more often. I could hook you up with the VIP treatment."

"I'll think about it," Ethan said, though he doubted he would.

As the night wore on, Ethan found himself standing by the bar again, nursing his drink and watching the crowd. 

Nate was off somewhere, probably mingling or dancing, and Zack had been pulled into another conversation with a group of investors.

Ethan leaned back against the bar, letting the music and energy wash over him. Despite himself, he couldn't help but feel a small pang of envy. 

Zack had built something impressive, and while Ethan knew he was on his own path to success, it was hard not to compare.

"Lost in thought?"

Ethan turned to see a bartender smiling at him as she wiped down the counter.

"Something like that," he admitted.

"First time here?"

"Yeah. A friend dragged me along."

"Well, you clean up nicely for someone who doesn't look like a regular," she said with a wink before moving off to help another customer.

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. Maybe this night wouldn't be so bad after all.

By the time he and Nate left the club, it was well past midnight. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the heat and noise inside, and Ethan took a deep breath as they walked toward their parked vehicles.

"So, what'd you think?" Nate asked, jingling his keys.

"It was... interesting," Ethan said.

"Come on, you had fun," Nate said, grinning. "Admit it."

Ethan shrugged, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. "I'll admit it was better than I expected."

"That's the spirit," Nate said, clapping him on the shoulder. "We'll do this again sometime."

"We'll see," Ethan said, climbing onto his bike.

As he rode home, the city lights streaking past, he found himself replaying the night in his mind. It was amazing to spend some time out, but he needed to focus on the more important things first – His investments, he was almost done with the second building and once he finished that, he wanted to sell it off and fill up his account again.