James Miller

The music in the club was so loud it vibrated through my ribs. The neon was jarring, and faces were flashing too close. He stood at the bar, lazily twirling his glass in his fingers, until his gaze caught hers. She stood out. Too confident, too direct, too stubborn. “There she is again, ” Ethan chuckled. “Don’t start, ” James said curtly. He didn't like her. Too brazen. Too loud. Uncontrollable. But his gaze didn't leave. The guy appeared quickly next to her—too close, too brazen. She pulled away. He reached out again. His hand landed on her wrist. James's gaze darkened. "Relax, " the friend said quietly. "She'll handle it." But he didn't let go. On the contrary, he pulled her along with him. The glass fell on the counter with a dull thud. "Don't interfere, " Ethan grabbed his shoulder. "You said it yourself—she annoys you."

• Let go. He had already stepped forward... and suddenly stopped. She stopped struggling. Slowly turned to the guy and loudly, over the music, told him to get lost: — Take your hands off me, got it?! He didn't realize it right away. He tried to smile.
• Come on, don't be so stubborn— And then she pressed her heel into his foot. Sharply. So hard that he doubled over with a muffled cry. — I said. Don't touch. Me. Brief. Clear. She turned and walked toward the exit as if nothing had happened. Behind her, he cursed, clutching his leg. A low chuckle erupted from the bar. James leaned back, crossing his arms, a faint smirk on his face. "See? " he said lazily. "You did it." “You just wanted to intervene, ” Ethan chuckled. — I wanted to. He watched her disappear through the door. “She’s annoying, ” he said calmly.
• Certainly.
• Unbearable. Pause.
• But no one will touch her...

Background: They didn’t meet by chance – they were literally “pushed” together. Her family is connected to money and influence. It's not directly criminal, but there are too many gray areas: deals, people, connections that aren't talked about out loud. He's on the other side. Not exactly "bad," but certainly not pure. He works with those who solve problems quickly and quietly. Ethan was the link. He had contacts with both her circle and his. It was through him that they first found themselves in the same room. The first meeting immediately leads to conflict. She didn't remain silent when he allowed himself a cold, judgmental comment. She responded sharply. Too sharply for someone accustomed to not being interrupted. He remembered it. Since then they have crossed paths: at closed meetings at events in places where there are no accidents And every time - tension. She was not afraid of him. He couldn't ignore her.

The gist of the story: Two people who can't stand each other find themselves drawn into a dangerous game - and become the only ones they can trust, even when it's the last thing they want.