Rewrite the Rules

Exposed: Part 30

Forcing a smile onto my face, I gently disentangled myself from Riley's grasp and turned towards the bewildered members of BTS. 

"Riley," I announced, my voice strained but determined, "let me introduce you to the members of BTS." I gestured towards each of them, hoping to salvage the situation.

"This is Jung Kook," I began, forcing a brightness into my voice that I did not feel. "Taehyung, Jimin..." I continued the introductions, each name a small in the face of this unexpected chaos.

Riley, oblivious to my mounting anxiety, flashed a dazzling grin at the band. "Welcome, gentlemen, welcome to Club Sky! Consider this your personal playground. The night is yours, your wish is my command."

He then ushered us towards a set of VIP tables on a raised platform, offering a panoramic view of the pulsating dance floor below.

We were an unlikely entourage – BTS, their ever-present security detail, a likely interpreter, their manager, and me, the unwelcome ghost from Riley's past.

This wasn't just an after-party anymore; it was a tangled web of secrets and past lives, all threatening to unravel under the harsh glare of the paparazzi's flashbulbs.

Seven years. That's how long it had been since the last time the thumping bass of a club had vibrated through my bones. Back then, Club Sky was a different beast entirely, a reflection of Riley's ever-evolving tastes and his uncanny knack for sniffing out the next big thing.

Now, the club pulsed with a sleek, modern energy, a testament to his continued success. As I took in the scene – the cascading light fixtures, the mirrored walls that fractured the dancing bodies into a kaleidoscope of movement – a strange sense of vertigo washed over me. So much had changed in seven years, it felt like I was staring into a distorted reflection of my own past.

But no matter how fast life hurtled forward, some things, it seemed, were inescapable. Riley's booming voice, a jarring intrusion into the present, served as a stark reminder of that.

My stomach twisted into a knot of apprehension. Why was my past clawing its way back into the light now, of all times? Ready or not, Rowan was back on the party scene, and a tremor of unease ran through me.

I mumbled a quick excuse to the members of BTS, my voice barely audible over the pounding music. The pulsating lights blurred as I navigated the throng, finally finding refuge in the dimly lit sanctuary of the restroom.

Leaning against the cool surface of the sink, I fought the urge to bury my head in my hands. Frustration gnawed at me. Why hadn't I asked where we were going? Why hadn't I planned for even the possibility of bumping into Riley?

Scowling at my reflection in the mirror, I berated myself for my recklessness. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus. Panicking wouldn't solve anything. I straightened my clothes, a silent act of defiance against the chaos swirling around me.

Emerging from the restroom, I held my head high, even though I knew the gesture was futile. The air crackled with a low murmur as I walked past clusters of people, their gazes flickering between me and the VIP section. Whether they recognized me or were simply curious about the unexpected addition to BTS's entourage, the scrutiny sent a prickle of self-consciousness down my spine.

Reaching the VIP area, I spotted a waitress just leaving. I snagged her attention, my voice laced with a polite urgency. "Excuse me, are you the only one serving this section tonight?"

"Yes, ma'am," she replied, a friendly smile curving her lips. "I'm taking care of these three connected tables," she added, gesturing towards the BTS members.