TWILIGHT

Zeke's Pov

Club Twilight

"This night is going to be epic!" Zeke exclaimed to himself as he stood in the VIP lounge of his new club, Twilight. He had dreamed of this moment for so long and couldn't believe it was finally here.

The club featured a dark theme, with black and silver elements adorning the surfaces, black marble counters at the bar, and dark gray granite floors. Zeke loved how it turned out and couldn't wait to show it to his friends and family. He sipped his whiskey and walked down the stairs to ensure everything was in place before opening the doors.

The dancers were warming up in the back, preparing to take the stage for the night. "Is everything in order, boss?" Jack asked Zeke as he passed by the bar.

"You tell me, Jack! I hired you as a manager for a reason!" Zeke replied, and Jack gave him a nervous look.

"Yes, the bar is packed, and the girls are ready to get to work!"

"What about the DJ?"

"They're warming up on stage as we speak."

"Excellent! And the bouncers?"

"They're pumped up and ready to open the doors at your command!" Jack stated confidently, clarifying that he had everything under control, so Zeke nodded in approval.

An hour later.

"This place is amazing, Zeke!" his best friend Hazel shouted as she greeted him. 

"I'm so glad I waited to see it until now! It's gorgeous. Congratulations!" Hazel hugged Zeke tightly, and eventually, he had to push her off him. 

"I know you're my best friend, but this loving embrace could send the wrong message to the ladies around us," Zeke mumbled in her ear, causing her to roll her eyes. 

"I thought you were supposed to lay off the ladies and look for your mate," she replied, sipping her drink. 

"I'm taking the night off. Traveling around the states looking for her is exhausting," Zeke responded. 

"You're not trying hard enough, Zeke. If you're serious about the pack, you must be more involved. Do your part. The pack doesn't even consider you an heir. You know Zack has the upper hand regarding respect and loyalty as a leader." Hazel gave Zeke a puzzled look, trying to read his mind. 

But Zeke had mentally shut her out, and he could tell she was annoyed when she realized it. "Hey, did you just shut me out?" 

"Bye, Hazel!" Zeke said, rushing into the crowd. He loved that girl, but she had been a real pain lately, especially when she was drinking.

"Yo, Zeke! This club is lit!" He turned to see his college friend Lorentz and his entourage had arrived. 

"Hey man, how long has it been? A year?" 

"Shit, I don't know, but it's been too long!" Zeke replied with a huge grin, and they performed a bro hug that included a shake and a pat on the shoulder before Zeke shook hands with his friends. 

"I signed you up on the VIP list, so there's a table waiting for you all, fully stocked with all the drinks you can handle. I'll catch up with you later!" Zeke nodded towards the staircase leading to the VIP lounge that overlooked the club. 

"Thanks, man, you didn't have to do that!" Lorentz said gratefully. 

They clapped hands again, and then Zeke continued to greet his guests throughout the night.

Jannie's Pov

"Wow, this place is amazing!" Jannie shouted to Jessie over the loud music as they entered the bar area before the dance floor.

"It really is!" Jessie shouted back. The clock had just passed midnight, and the club was already packed.

"Who gave you the invitation again?" Jannie asked. "Jack, he's the manager!" Jessie replied. "There he is," she shouted, pointing towards a tall guy with blonde, slicked-back hair, formally dressed in a black suit with a silky silver shirt that he left unbuttoned at the neck. He looked like a gigolo.

"Jessie, you look gorgeous! It's so good to see you again!" Jack greeted them as he approached.

"And you must be Jannie, right? Jessie's best friend?"

"Her only friend," Jannie replied, prompting a laugh from Jack.

"Right! You both look amazing. Can I get you ladies anything to drink?"

"Vodka on ice for me. Jannie?" Jessie glanced at her.

"Same!" Jannie smiled, and they followed Jack toward the bar.

"Here you go. I signed you up on the VIP list, so a table upstairs is ready if you want it! I've stocked it with drinks—all on the house, of course," Jack said, smirking and winking before heading off while talking into his earpiece.

"This night just keeps getting better! Come on, let's check out the VIP area. Maybe we'll spot someone famous!" Jessie said with a playful look. She dragged Jannie behind her as they walked through the crowd toward the closed staircase leading to the VIP section.

"Name, please?" a woman with a tablet asked as they approached.

"Jessie Smith plus one," Jessie replied.

"Of course, follow me," the woman said seconds later, allowing them to pass the gate. She led them up the stairs and showed them to their table.

"This place really grows on you, doesn't it?" Jessie mumbled, elbowing Jannie playfully as they sat down.

"Just wave your hand if you need anything. The restroom is at the end of this hall. Have a wonderful night!" the woman smiled and left.

"Look at this place; it's amazing," Jannie said, leaning back on the black leather sofa.

A satin drape covered the walls. The black marble table stood on a black, polished podium, fully stacked with vodka bottles on ice.

The lighting was dimmed, and the music was slightly adjusted here so you could hear yourself think.

The glass panel gave them a full view of the club, which could be closed out with the satin drape for privacy.

There were four other groups in the room, and Jessie had already made friends with a group of guys at the table next to theirs.

"Jannie, this is Lorentz and his friends: Liam, Johnny, Troy, and Daniel!" Jannie waved at them, and Jessie insisted they join their table, which they gladly did.

"So, Jannie, what do you do?" Liam asked while pouring a shot of vodka.

"I just finished as a Pre-Med student, and I'm starting Med School this fall," Jannie replied.

"Cool, so you're going to be a doctor then?"

"Yeah, that's the plan," Jannie smiled. Liam nodded approvingly, saying, "Beauty and brains."

"Something like that," Jannie mumbled, taking another shot. "How about you?" She continued the conversation.

"Law school, final year!" Liam said. "That's cool. Does anyone in your family practice law?"

Liam nodded, "Yeah, my father and his side of the family; it's expected that the men in our family follow in their footsteps." Liam looked troubled, so Jannie shifted her focus to Daniel instead.

"So, Daniel, who are you?"

"I'm a divorced engineer in my thirties, thinking about getting a cat," Daniel replied.

"Okaaay, I appreciate your honesty," Jannie said, and Daniel laughed. "It's not that bad, really."

"I believe you! So, how did you get invited to this opening?"

Daniel nodded towards Lorentz. "Lorentz knows the owner."

"Oh, cool," Jannie said. "So, do you know Zeke too?"

"Who?" Jannie replied as she took another shot of vodka. "That's the owner, Zeke Pollack!"

"Ah, no, I don't know him, but Jessie used to sleep with the manager," Jannie smiled, and Daniel couldn't help but laugh, choking on his vodka.

"You're fun; I like you!" Daniel said, wiping his face with a grin.