CHAPTER 5
Sienna sighed as she adjusted her dress in front of the mirror. It wasn’t anything too fancy, just a simple floral dress that hugged her frame comfortably. Her long hair was straightened, falling neatly past her shoulders, and she had applied a touch of makeup—just enough to make her feel a little more put together.
She wasn’t sure why she was putting in this much effort. It was just lunch with Marco, after all.
Maybe I just needed a reason to dress up, she told herself.
After everything that had been weighing on her lately, she could use a little normalcy. A moment where she wasn’t drowning in thoughts of the past or dreading the presence of certain people. Today was just about eating good food, talking nonsense with Marco, and forgetting about everything else.
A knock at the door made her turn. She grabbed her purse and slipped on her shoes before opening the door to find Marco leaning against the frame, grinning.
“You are all dolled up. I knew it was a date,” Marco teased, blowing a low whistle.
Sienna rolled her eyes and stepped past him, locking the door behind her. “You are such a… ugh, forget it. You should find a girlfriend soon, Marco. You’re getting out of hand.”
He placed a hand on his chest, feigning hurt. “Why would I do that when I have you?”
She swatted his arm. “I am not your girlfriend.”
“I know, I know,” he said, laughing. “But you do look good. Where are we eating?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. You’re the one who invited me out.”
“True.” He stroked his chin in fake contemplation. “How about we go to that little café on the corner? The one with the ridiculous desserts?”
Sienna’s stomach growled at the thought. “You mean the one with the triple-layered chocolate mousse cake?”
“That’s the one.”
“Sold,” she said.
They walked side by side, the crisp afternoon air a pleasant contrast to the warmth of the sun. The streets were busy, people going about their day, but Sienna found comfort in the familiar hustle and bustle.
Marco kept up a steady stream of conversation, as he always did, filling the silence with random stories about his coworkers, the strange customers at Velvet Noir, and his latest failed attempt at cooking.
“So, get this,” he said, waving his hands animatedly. “I tried making homemade pasta the other day.”
Sienna smirked. “Oh no.”
“Oh yes,” he groaned. “Do you know how hard that stuff is? It looked so easy in the video, but my dough turned into this weird, sticky mess. And when I tried to roll it out, it just tore apart.”
She laughed. “I hope you didn’t try to eat it.”
“I did. Worst mistake of my life,” he said, shaking his head. “I think I poisoned myself.”
“You’re so dramatic.”
“I swear, Sienna, it was awful. I ended up ordering pizza instead.”
“Next time, just stick to instant noodles.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, waving her off. “But one day, I will cook for you, and it will be a masterpiece.”
She snorted. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
They reached the café a few minutes later, the scent of freshly baked pastries wafting through the air as they stepped inside. The place was cozy, with warm lighting and shelves lined with different kinds of bread, cakes, and desserts.
Marco led the way to a small booth by the window, and they both slid into their seats.
“So,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “Do we go all in and get the biggest dessert on the menu?”
Sienna raised a brow. “Are you sure you can handle that?”
“I have the stomach of a champion,” he declared.
The waitress came by, a friendly smile on her face as she handed them menus. “Welcome! Can I start you off with anything to drink?”
“I’ll have an iced coffee,” Sienna said.
“Same,” Marco added.
As the waitress left, Marco leaned back in his seat. “So, are we gonna pretend like last night didn’t happen?”
Sienna frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You were not okay, Sienna.” His voice was softer now, more serious.
She hesitated, running her fingers over the edge of the menu. “I just… I miss them.”
Marco nodded. “I know. I could hear it in your voice.”
She looked away, staring out the window. “Some days, it feels like I can handle it. Like, I’ve come to terms with it. But then there are nights where it hits me all over again, and it feels like I’m drowning.”
Marco was silent for a moment, then he reached across the table, covering her hand with his. “You don’t have to go through it alone, Sienna.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and gave him a small smile. “I know.”
The waitress returned with their drinks, and they placed their order—two sandwiches and a massive slice of the triple-layered chocolate mousse cake to share.
“So,” Marco said, switching the mood back to something lighter, “have you thought about taking a break from the club?”
Sienna raised a brow. “A break?”
“Yeah. You work every night, barely take time for yourself. Maybe you should step away for a bit.”
She sighed. “It’s not that easy, Marco. I like staying busy. It keeps me from thinking too much.”
Marco gave her a knowing look. “And what happens when you finally burn out?”
She didn’t have an answer to that.
The food arrived, and they dug in, the conversation shifting to more casual topics. They talked about the strange regulars at the club, the upcoming city festival, and Marco’s ongoing rivalry with one of the other bartenders.
“You’re just mad because he’s faster than you,” Sienna teased.
Marco scoffed. “He is not. He just has longer arms. That’s cheating.”
Sienna laughed. “That is not how it works.”
They took their time eating, and when they finally got to the cake, Marco’s eyes practically sparkled.
“This,” he said dramatically, taking a bite, “is what happiness tastes like.”
Sienna rolled her eyes but took a bite as well. “Okay, I’ll admit. It’s amazing.”
“Told you.”
By the time they finished, the sun had started to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow through the window.
“I needed this,” Sienna admitted.
Marco grinned. “See? I do have good ideas sometimes.”
She shook her head, laughing.
After paying the bill, they stepped outside, the cool evening air wrapping around them.
“I’ll walk you home,” Marco said.
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to,” he said simply.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while before Marco spoke again.
“Sienna?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re gonna be okay.”
She looked up at him, something warm settling in her chest.
“Yeah,” she said softly. “I think so too.”
And for the first time in a long while, she actually believed it.
Sienna stepped into her apartment, sighing as she kicked off her shoes. The afternoon with Marco had been nice, a much-needed break from everything weighing her down, but now reality was creeping back in. She had a shift in a few hours, and no matter how much she tried to push it out of her mind, she knew exactly what that meant—seeing Damian again.
She ran a hand through her hair and exhaled deeply. I need to clear my head.
A swim. That’s what she needed. Something to relax her muscles, to wash away the stress before she had to put on the mask of indifference at work.
She grabbed her swimsuit, a simple black one-piece, and wrapped a thin robe over it. Taking her towel and water bottle, she headed toward the rooftop pool, expecting to find it empty at this time of day. Most people in the building were either at work or out enjoying their evening.
As she stepped onto the rooftop, the cool breeze brushed against her skin, and the soft glow of the setting sun reflected beautifully on the water’s surface. But just as she was about to let out a breath of relief, she froze.
She wasn’t alone.
Sitting at the edge of the pool, arms resting on the edge, was none other than Damian.
Of course.
Sienna’s grip tightened on her towel as she contemplated turning around, but it was too late—he had already seen her.
“Well, well,” Damian said, his deep voice carrying over the quiet rooftop. “I didn’t take you for a swimmer.”
She forced a neutral expression. “I come here sometimes.”
His eyes dragged over her in a way that made her skin heat, and she regretted not bringing a cover-up that actually covered more.
“You should. It’s peaceful up here.”
“Yeah,” she muttered, setting her towel on one of the lounge chairs. It was peaceful before you showed up.
Ignoring him, she walked to the pool’s edge and dipped her toes in. The water was pleasantly cool against her skin. Taking a deep breath, she slipped off her robe and stepped in fully, letting herself sink under the water for a moment before resurfacing.
She swam a few laps, trying her best to act as if he wasn’t there, but she could feel his eyes on her. Watching. Always watching.
Finally, she stopped at the shallow end, brushing her hair back as she caught her breath. Damian was still there, his dark eyes unreadable as he studied her.
“Are you going to keep staring, or are you actually going to swim?” she asked, arching a brow.
The corner of his lips lifted slightly. “I was enjoying the view.”
Sienna rolled her eyes and turned away, deciding to ignore him.
A few moments later, she heard a splash, and before she could react, Damian was suddenly closer, swimming toward her.
“You’re tense,” he observed, treading the water effortlessly.
She stiffened. “Not really.”
He tilted his head. “You always look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”
She sighed, looking away. “I’m just tired.”
“You should take a break.”
She gave a bitter laugh. “That’s what Marco said.”
“Well, he’s right.”
Sienna narrowed her eyes at him. “Why do you care?”
Damian was quiet for a moment, then he took a step closer, closing the distance between them.
“I notice things, Sienna,” he said, voice low. “I see the way you carry yourself. The way you try to hide when you’re overwhelmed.”
Her breath caught in her throat. She hated that he was so observant. She hated that he always made her feel exposed.
“You don’t know me,” she muttered.
His lips twitched. “No?”
His presence was suffocating, his gaze too intense. She tried to take a step back, but she was already against the pool’s edge.
Damian reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. The touch was featherlight, but it sent an unexplainable shiver down her spine.
“You intrigue me,” he murmured.
Sienna swallowed hard. “Damian—”
Before she could finish, he leaned in.
For a second, she froze. His lips were warm against hers, firm but unhurried. It was a slow, deliberate kiss—like he was savoring it, like he had wanted this for a long time.
And the worst part? For a moment, just a brief second, she didn’t push him away.
His hand slid to the small of her back, pulling her just a fraction closer, and that was when reality crashed back into her.
With a sharp inhale, she placed both hands on his chest and shoved him back.
“Don’t,” she said, breathless and wide-eyed. “Don’t ever do that again.”
Damian didn’t look surprised. If anything, he looked amused.
“You didn’t stop me right away,” he pointed out.
Sienna clenched her fists. “That was a mistake.”
“Was it?”
“Yes.”
She turned away, grabbing her towel and wrapping it around herself before storming off.
Damian didn’t try to stop her. He didn’t call after her.
But as she reached the door leading back inside, she could still feel his gaze on her.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
—-----
Sienna stepped into Velvet Noir, the dim lighting and rhythmic bass of the music doing little to settle the turmoil in her chest. She was here, physically ready for work, but mentally? Not so much.
Her lips tingled at the memory, and she gritted her teeth. The warmth of his mouth, the taste of whiskey—it was all too clear in her mind. And the worst part? She wasn’t sure if she hated it or if she liked it.
That’s what I hate the most about it.
“Fuck,” she muttered under her breath.
“Cursing so early when the shift is about to start?” Marco’s familiar voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
Sienna turned to see him behind the bar, drying a glass with a towel. His eyes flicked to her, sharp with curiosity.
She exhaled. “Well, if you just got kissed by Damian, then you’d understand.”
Marco’s grip on the glass slipped, and he barely managed to catch it before it hit the counter. His eyes widened.
“Kissed?” His voice shot up an octave. “Did Damian kiss you?”
Sienna rolled her eyes at his dramatic reaction. “Keep your voice down, idiot.”
He leaned closer, his expression one of pure disbelief. “What the hell happened?”
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I went to the rooftop pool before my shift. Thought it would be empty, but of course, Damian was there. One thing led to another, and… he kissed me.”
Marco stared at her like she had just told him she was moving to Mars. “And you let him?”
“I pushed him away, obviously!” she snapped.
He crossed his arms, giving her a knowing look. “But not right away, huh?”
Sienna groaned. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Oh no, we are talking about this.” Marco leaned against the bar, smirking. “You, my dear, are in trouble.”
She scowled at him. “I hate you.”
“No, you hate that you didn’t hate it.”
Sienna opened her mouth to argue, but a customer approaching the bar saved her.
“Lucky you,” she muttered before turning to the customer with a professional smile. “What can I get you?”
The club was in full swing now, music pulsing through the air as people crowded around the bar. Sienna fell into the rhythm of work, mixing drinks, taking orders, and exchanging brief conversations with customers.
A man in his late twenties, dressed in a sleek suit, leaned on the counter with a smirk. “Vodka tonic, beautiful.”
Sienna kept her expression neutral as she grabbed the bottle. “Coming right up.”
“You work here often?” he asked, eyes scanning her like she was on the menu.
“Every night,” she replied, not looking up.
He grinned. “Must be exhausting.”
She slid his drink across the counter. “Only when guys like you think that hitting on me is part of the service.”
Marco burst out laughing from the other side of the bar. The man’s smirk faltered for a second before he chuckled. “Feisty. I like that.”
Sienna gave him a tight smile. “That’ll be fifteen bucks.”
The man handed her the money, still watching her like he was waiting for an opening. “You got a name?”
“Yep,” she said, grabbing another order.
He laughed again, shaking his head as he walked away.
Marco whistled. “That was brutal. I almost feel bad for the guy.”
“Yeah? You want to give him your number?”
“Hell no.”
They worked through the night, serving drinks, dodging flirtatious customers, and dealing with the usual club chaos.
By the time the music started to die down and people began leaving, Sienna felt the exhaustion creeping in. But there was still one thing left to deal with—getting home.
As she wiped down the bar, she turned to Marco. “Hey, can you walk me home tonight?”
He frowned. “Everything okay?”
She hesitated. “I just… don’t want to deal with Damian.”
Marco immediately nodded. “Of course.”
They clocked out, and as they stepped outside, the cool night air wrapped around them. The streets were quieter now, the city settling into a slower pace.
Sienna felt a little relief knowing Marco was with her.
But it didn’t last long.
Just as they turned the corner, a familiar figure stepped out of the shadows.
Damian.
Dressed in a dark coat, hands in his pockets, he stood casually, but his sharp gaze was locked onto her.
“Sienna,” he said, voice smooth. “I was waiting for you.”
Her stomach twisted.
Marco’s expression darkened. “We’re heading home, Damian.”
Damian’s eyes flicked to Marco before returning to her. “No need to inconvenience him. We live on the same floor now, remember?”
Sienna tensed. That was exactly why I asked Marco to walk me.
“I don’t mind the inconvenience,” Marco said firmly.
Damian tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. “I’m sure you don’t. But let’s be practical, Sienna. Why make Marco walk all the way there when we can go together?”
She hesitated. If she insisted, it would make things even weirder.
Damian smiled knowingly, sensing her reluctance. “See? It’s just logical.”
Marco shot her a look, silently asking if she wanted to fight this.
Sienna sighed. “It’s fine, Marco.”
His jaw clenched, but he nodded. “Text me when you get in.”
“I will.”
Marco gave Damian a pointed glare before walking away.
Now, it was just her and Damian.
As they started walking, Sienna kept her distance.
“You really went out of your way to avoid me,” Damian mused.
She didn’t reply.
After a moment, he chuckled. “You’re not going to talk to me now?”
“I have nothing to say,” she muttered.
He sighed. “You’re acting like I did something terrible.”
“You did do something terrible,” she snapped. “You kissed me.”
Damian stopped walking. “And you kissed me back.”
Sienna’s breath caught. “For a second,” she admitted, voice tight. “But I stopped it.”
He stepped closer, voice lower. “Did you stop it because you didn’t want it? Or because you’re afraid of wanting it?”
Her heart pounded. “Stop.”
He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
They continued walking in silence.
When they reached the apartment building, Damian smirked. “Goodnight, Sienna.”
She didn’t respond, quickly heading inside.
As she locked her door behind her, she exhaled, trying to calm her racing heart.
This was getting dangerous.