Paint it Black

She's bold

While Lexi is waiting for her friends to arrive, James has served her a few drinks. With her nerves sufficiently calmed, she decides to speak.

"Well, if it isn't the infamous James Barnes. I've heard you run....quite the establishment here. Hope you've got more than just a fancy suit to impress."

Barnes, unaccustomed to such boldness, couldn't help but chuckle. "You've got quite the attitude, sweetheart," he replied, pouring himself a drink. "What brings someone like you to a place like this?"

Lexi leaned against the bar, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, you know, just looking for a little excitement in all the wrong places. I hear this is where the party's at."

Barnes grinned, his icy blue eyes locking onto hers. "You might find more than just a party here, darling. This is a world where secrets are currency, and trust is a rare commodity."

Lexi raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Secrets, trust issues, and a guy named James Barnes. Sounds like my kind of party."

Their banter continued, a playful exchange of wit and sarcasm that hinted at a deeper undercurrent of tension and intrigue. Lexi was now in James Barnes' world with a fearless attitude and a sharp tongue.

As Lexi engaged in her witty and sarcastic banter with James at the bar, she suddenly spotted her friends making their entrance into the dimly lit establishment. Their arrival was marked by a mix of surprise and curiosity, as they scanned the bar and located Lexi in a conversation with the dark, brooding figure.

Lexi's friends, Wanda and Scott, exchanged puzzled glances before making their way over. Wanda, with her raised eyebrow and a bemused smile, couldn't resist commenting, "Well, well, Lexi, you're making fast friends, I see. Should we be worried?"

Lexi, not one to be outdone, flashed a mischievous grin. "Oh, you know me, always looking for the most interesting company. And let's be honest, who could resist a chat with James 'Mafia Extraordinaire' Barnes here?"

James, amused by the camaraderie among the friends, leaned in with a sly smile and said, "Your friend Lexi here has quite the sense of humor. We were just discussing the finer points of life in the underworld."

Wanda and Scott exchanged incredulous glances, unsure whether to take Lexi's sarcasm at face value. As they settled in around the bar, they couldn't help but be drawn into the aura that James Barnes exuded.

After another hour, and a few more drinks, Lexi excused herself from her friends and made her way toward the restroom. Her steps were confident, and a subtle excitement lingered beneath the surface. Her friends where taking her out after her and her boyfriend had called it quits. They thought a rebound would be the best way to get her over it. "What's a better way to get over someone, than to get under someone else?" Wanda had told Lexi earlier in the day.

Lexi goes to close the door to the restroom but something stops it. James' hand grips the door, and slowly pushes it open, he enters and shuts it behind him.

Her voice laced with playful sarcasm, quipped, "So, James, is this where you bring all your unsuspecting patrons for a chat?"

He leaned against the bathroom sink, his icy blue eyes locked onto Lexi's. He smirked, his words laden with seductive charm. "Only the ones who catch my eye."

Lexi couldn't help but smirk back, a spark of defiance in her gaze. "Well, consider me intrigued. What does a guy like you want with a girl like me?"

Barnes stepped closer, the air between them thick with anticipation. "Maybe I just enjoy the thrill of the unexpected. Or maybe there's more to you than meets the eye, Lexi."

Their banter grew more intense, the magnetic pull between them undeniable. Lexi's fingers brushed against Barnes' arm as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "And what if there is, James? What then?"

Barnes' breath hitched as he leaned even closer, their faces inches apart. "Then, Lexi, maybe we'll find out together."

The tension in the restroom reached its peak, the chemistry between them impossible to ignore. With a lingering, heated glance, he turned and walked out of the restroom, leaving an electric charge in the air. Little did they know that this flirtatious encounter was just the beginning of a dangerous game that would entangle them in a world of secrets, desire, and moral ambiguity.

Back at their table in the dimly lit bar, Lexi's friends exchanged concerned glances as Lexi broached the topic of wanting Barnes to be her rebound for the night. The atmosphere was charged with a mixture of intrigue, caution, and uncertainty.

Wanda furrowed her brow, her worry evident. "Lexi, are you sure about this? We barely know anything about him, and this place... it's not exactly the safest crowd." This is not the person Wanda had in mind for Lexi's conquest.

Scott chimed in, his voice echoing Wanda's concern. "Yeah, Lexi, we should be careful. We don't want you getting mixed up in something you can't handle."

Lexi, her tone a mix of defiance and curiosity, responded, "I can handle myself, guys. Besides,
It's just one night, right?"

Wanda finally sighed, resigned but still worried. "Okay, Lexi, if you're determined to. we'll trust your judgment. But promise you'll stay cautious and keep us updated."

Scott nodded in agreement. "And if anything feels off or unsafe, you text us immediately."

Lexi gave her friends a reassuring smile. "I promise, guys. I'll be careful. Besides, what's life without a little adventure, right? Ok one more round, then you guys can split"

James approached Lexi's table with a charming smile. He held a tray of drinks, and his icy blue eyes locked onto Lexi's with an intensity that was impossible to ignore.

He placed the drinks before Lexi, Wanda, and Scott, his voice smooth as he said, "One more round, on the house, for my favorite patrons. Let's make it a memorable night."

Lexi's friends exchanged glances, their caution evident, but they accepted the drinks with a nod of gratitude. The conversation continued, filled with laughter and animated discussions, the lingering allure of James Barnes casting a shadow over their gathering.

Wanda yawned and stretched, declaring, "I think it's time for us to head home, Lexi. This place is starting to feel a bit too intense."

Scott agreed, adding, "Yeah, we don't want to overstay our welcome."

Lexi nodded, acknowledging their decision. As her friends prepared to depart, James approached once more, his gaze firmly fixed on Lexi. He leaned in, his voice low and persuasive, "Lexi, why don't you stay a little longer? We were just getting to know each other. I promise you won't regret it."

"It's okay, guys," Lexi said, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and determination. "I'll be fine. You go ahead. I'll catch up with you later."

Her friends reluctantly bid her farewell and left the bar, leaving Lexi alone with James. As they watched Lexi's friends depart, Barnes turned to her with a knowing grin, his voice low and seductive, "Now that they're gone, Lexi, you're coming home with me."