Second Love [Completed]

9. The Party

Thank you for reading. Here's the new chapter enjoy.

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Xavier's P.O.V.

Right now, it's around 9:30 p.m. The night is still young, and I'm at the party with my buddy Jason. This is my last holiday before stepping into the role of CEO. After this, the partying and vacations would take a backseat. I had worked too damn hard to get here, proving to my father that I was ready. And now, I was finally about to claim everything I had worked for.

If this was my last carefree night, I was damn sure going to make it count.

I had a few simple rules when it came to women:

Flirting is fair game—it keeps things interesting.

I never pressure a girl. I don't need to; they usually end up with me anyway.

No second rounds. One night, no repeats.

Consent is everything—I'm a gentleman, not a scumbag.

No meeting the parents. No attachments, no complications.

I had noticed her long before the party.

That morning, at the ice-skating rink, she had caught my eye—not because she was the best skater, but because she was the worst. While others glided effortlessly, she was laughing, flailing, barely keeping herself upright. Her friend had been teasing her, but she never seemed embarrassed, only amused by her own struggle. It was refreshing—most people I knew hated looking anything less than perfect.

Later, when I saw her at the snow tubing run, that same energy was there. The way she threw herself down the hill, screaming and laughing like she had no worries in the world, was magnetic. Confidence, but not arrogance. She was fun in a way that made everyone around her want to have fun too.

Then, there she was.

Something about her drew me in beyond just her looks. It was the way she carried herself—unapologetically confident yet not pretentious. She didn't just take up space; she owned it. When she spoke, people listened. When she laughed, it wasn't forced or polite—it was real, full of life. Even now, in a crowded room full of people trying too hard, she stood out simply by being herself.

My eyes locked onto her, effortlessly elegant, moving through the crowd with a confidence that made it impossible to look away. The white mid-thigh dress she wore hugged her in all the right places, golden heels adding an edge of sophistication. She looked like she belonged here—like she owned the damn place.

When our eyes met, she held my gaze for a beat longer than necessary before a small smile ghosted across her lips. I lifted my glass in her direction and gestured for her to come over.

It took a while—she stopped to talk to a few people along the way—but eventually, she was standing in front of me.

"Hey, Rose," I greeted, giving her a casual side hug.

"Hey, Justin," she smirked, playing along with our little game.

"Justin and Rose?" Jason asked, clearly confused.

I chuckled, explaining, "She doesn't give her real name to strangers, so we compromised."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Of course she did."

Jason smirked. "That's actually a clever move. Adds a little intrigue to the night."

Lisa was quickly pulled away by someone asking her to dance, and Jason was already distracted by a blonde at the bar, leaving just me and Rose.