Being Ditched

It had been three days since Sycamore Shaw was discharged from the hospital, three days since she last saw Dako Levi Aldrich or those striking mismatched eyes of his, and three days since she had known any semblance of peace, three days since she had felt protected and three days since she had felt almost possessed and needed—the fire and passion she had seen in Levi's eyes were out of this world. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of him—his gaze that made her feel like the only woman in the world, his calm presence, and the care he had shown her. And yet, he had gone silent.

She hd tried calling him, her fingers nervously tapping out messages that ranged from polite inquiries to irritated demands. But he hadn't answered. No calls. No texts. Nothing. Maybe she'd read too much into his actions. Maybe he was just a good Samaritan, and she had mistaken his kindness for something more.

Sitting on the floor beside her bed, tears streamed down her cheeks as she wrestled with her confusion and frustration. The quiet room was suddenly disturbed by the sound of the door swinging open.

Joan Sanders, her best friend, barged in, a panicked expression on her face. "Syca! Are you okay? Please don't tell me you've—" She stopped short, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Sycamore.

Seeing her friend huddled on the floor, Joan's heart broke a little. She quickly crossed the room, kneeling beside Sycamore. "What's wrong, honey? Why are you crying?"

Sycamore sniffled, brushing at her tears. "It's nothing," she mumbled.

"Don't 'nothing' me," Joan said firmly. "Spill. Now."

After a moment's hesitation, Sycamore gave in and recounted everything that had happened—the hospital, the transfusions, Levi's care, and then his sudden disappearance. Joan listened intently, her jaw dropping by the time Sycamore finished.

"And you didn't think to tell me any of this?" Joan demanded.

"I didn't want to interrupt your time with your boyfriend," Sycamore said softly, avoiding Joan's eyes.

Joan rolled her eyes, though her heart ached for her friend. "Okay, no more of this wallowing. Get dressed. Now."

"What?" Sycamore blinked at her, confused.

"You heard me," Joan said, standing up. "Put on your sluttiest outfit. We're going to Allure."

Sycamore's ears perked up at the mention of the club. Joan smirked knowingly. "Oh, you've got a freaky side, don't you? Well, it's time to let it out. It's my day off, and I get an employee discount. Let's go!"

Sycamore hesitated, but Joan wasn't having it. "Look, I know I've been a bad friend lately," Joan admitted. "I've been so caught up with my own stuff that I didn't notice you needed me. But I'm here now, and I'm not letting you sit in this room and cry over some man. Let's go have some fun."

Reluctantly, Sycamore nodded and got up to get ready, her curiosity about Allure bubbling beneath the surface.

On the 25th floor of the Dako AI facility, Levi sat at his desk, scrolling through his phone. The missed calls and unread messages stared back at him, mocking him. They were all from one unsaved number—the same number he had given to Sycamore.

His conscience pricked as he read through the texts. At first, they were polite and formal, asking about repayment. But as the days went on, irritation seeped into her words, followed by what felt like resignation. He laughed quietly, though there was no humor in it. He was a terrible man for putting her through this turmoil.

But he had his reasons, or so he told himself. Sycamore was delicate, too fragile for his world. She had no idea what his life entailed. He wasn't just a man with money and power—he was a dominant, through and through. He craved control, protection, and possession. He wanted a woman who could submit to him completely, and while Sycamore showed signs of being that woman, he wasn't sure she was ready for the intensity he brought.

Leaning back in his chair, he sighed heavily. Could she handle his world? Could she handle him?

As he pondered, the office door opened, and Kale Dominic walked in. One glance at Levi's disheveled appearance was enough to make Kale's worry deepen. His friend looked exhausted, his usually sharp suit slightly wrinkled, dark circles under his eyes.

"What the hell happened to you?" Kale asked, stepping inside and closing the door.

Levi didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the skyline outside his window.

"Let me guess," Kale said, crossing his arms. "This is about a woman."

That got Levi's attention. He turned to Kale, raising an eyebrow.

"I knew it," Kale said, shaking his head. "You're all twisted up because of some girl, aren't you?"

Levi didn't deny it. "She's... different," he admitted.

"Different how?" Kale pressed, intrigued.

Levi hesitated. "She's innocent. Fragile. And I don't know if she can handle me—my life, my needs."

Kale sighed, sitting down across from Levi. "Look, man, you've been searching for someone who gets you, right? Maybe this is her. Maybe she's the one. But you're not going to find out by sitting in this office, brooding."

Levi smirked. "And what do you suggest I do?"

"Come to the club with me tonight," Kale said. "You don't have to join the fun, but at least come out, clear your head. Think about what you really want."

Levi considered it for a moment. He did need to get out of his own head, and maybe a night out would help him figure out if he should give Sycamore a chance.

"Alright," he said finally. "I'll come."

Kale grinned. "Good. You might even find the answers you're looking for."

That evening, thoee two are going to meet each other again. As Sycamore and Joan headed to Allure, Sycamore couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and dread. Meanwhile, Levi prepared himself to face the chaos in his mind, not knowing that the woman occupying his thoughts would soon be in the same room.