He stood up abruptly, pulling her up with him thanks to the handcuffs, and pinned her against the wall. His grip on her wrist tightened.
Ni-ki leaned in closer, his voice a cold whisper. "You're playing with fire, angel. Don't think for a second tha...
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SATURDAY CAME ALONG AND THE MOONLIGHT streamed through the window as Rhaine and her eight-year-old sister, Jian, were lost in a world of imagination, playing dress-up and strutting down an imaginary runway. Jian giggled, draping an oversized, sparkly scarf around Rhaine's neck, declaring her the "Queen of Fashion."
"Now strike a pose!" Jian commanded, and Rhaine obliged, feigning confidence in her ridiculous ensemble.
Just then, a knock echoed through the apartment, interrupting their fun. Rhaine reluctantly got up, still decked out in the embarrassing outfit—complete with a feather boa and a floppy hat.
As she swung open the door, she shrieked. There stood Ni-ki, casually leaning against the doorframe, looking effortlessly cool in a sleek black jacket and designer jeans. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took in her outfit, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
"What do you want?" Rhaine managed to say, trying to sound composed despite the embarrassment flooding her cheeks.
"I'm here to take you out," Ni-ki replied nonchalantly, his tone dripping with casual indifference. "There's a party I want you to come to."
Rhaine stared at him in disbelief. "A party? When?"
"Now."
People need to stop telling me things last minute, she thought. "You couldn't have given me any warning? I look ridiculous."
Ni-ki's smirk widened. "Yeah, you look like a discount circus performer. You planning on juggling next?"
"Are you serious? This is so last minute," Rhaine protested, frustration bubbling within her. She glanced back at Jian, who was watching the whole interaction with wide, curious eyes.
"Just put on something that doesn't make me look like a ringmaster when I bring you in," Ni-ki replied, shrugging as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Rhaine crossed her arms, annoyance radiating from her. "What if I don't want to go? You didn't even ask me if I was free."
"Don't keep me waiting," Ni-ki warned, his tone dangerously casual. "I won't be the one to explain to your parents why their daughter is missing out on a party that could boost your non-existent social life."
"Says the guy whose idea of a wild weekend is probably staring at his own reflection with different mirrors. What's it like enjoying life with you, yourself, and you? Sorry if I'm not taking notes from the king of social life over here."
"Right, and you've got a wild weekend planned with your sister. Real exciting."
Just then, Rhaine's mother entered the room, her expression lightening the mood. "What's going on here?" she asked, looking between her daughter and Ni-ki.
"Ni-ki wants me to go to a party, and apparently I look like a circus act," Rhaine grumbled. "I can't go, what about Jian?"
Her mother chuckled softly. "Well, I'll keep an eye on Jian while you two are out. You can borrow something from my closet if you need a better outfit," she suggested, glancing at Rhaine with a knowing smile.
