Empire of Lies and Flames (Ruins of Power #1)

Chapter 3

RENéE

Pearl and I had claimed our spot near the bar, already on drink number three—or was it four?—when she held up her glass in a mock toast, her eyes twinkling with that reckless sparkle that always pulled me into trouble.

“To being fabulous, overworked, and severely underpaid!” Pearl proclaimed, clinking her glass against mine.

“Cheers to that,” I laughed, downing my drink, feeling it burn just enough to remind me that I’d regret it tomorrow. But tonight? I deserved every last drop.

Pearl nudged me with her shoulder. “So, anything new with that hottie in accounting? I swear he was giving you serious heart eyes last week when we ran to him.”

I rolled my eyes, giving her a look. “Please. That guy? He wears flip-flops to the office, Pearl. I don't care how cute someone is—if they can’t respect the sanctity of footwear, it’s a dealbreaker.”

She snorted, almost choking on her drink. “You’re impossible.”

“Better that than desperate,” I shot back with a smirk.

Just then, some guy sidled up to us, all charm and that too-cocky grin guys think actually works. “Hey, ladies, mind if I buy you another round?”

I barely held back an eye roll. “Actually, we do,” I said, flashing him a tight smile. “Ladies’ night. You get it, right?”

He looked a bit taken aback, but Pearl just laughed, nudging me with her elbow as he walked away.

“Renée, you are ruthless.”

“And proud of it,” I replied, flipping my hair over my shoulder. I wasn’t here to entertain random guys. The last thing I wanted was some awkward one-night stand or a meaningless fling. If there was one thing I’d promised myself, it was this: relationships—casual or otherwise—were strictly off-limits. I’d carried enough emotional baggage to rival an airport terminal, and I wasn’t about to check in more.

As if the universe was conspiring against me, a girl’s laughter sliced through the music, loud and unmissable. I glanced over to see her leaning into a guy who I would guess was her boyfriend, her whole face lit up with joy at whatever he’d just said. The sight made me grimace, and I shifted in my spot. I glanced around, the place was swarming with couples—hands intertwined, stolen kisses in shadowed corners, and those ridiculous heart eyes that screamed we’re in love, and the world should know it.

It wasn’t cute. It was chaotic. The kind of chaos that didn’t just upend a dance floor but wormed its way into your head, your life, and your carefully constructed defenses. The kind of chaos that left cracks and fractures behind, no matter how hard you tried to patch them up.

And honestly? I’d had my fill of it.

Love shouldn’t knock you off your feet. It shouldn’t sneak in and tear down the walls you’d spent years building brick by brick. Love should... fit. It should feel safe, steady. Anything else? It was just chaos, and I’d had enough chaos for a lifetime.

Just then, the song changed to one of my favorite beats, the kind that pulls you in with its rhythm alone. I grabbed Pearl’s hand. “Come on, we’re dancing to this one!”

We moved to the center of the dance floor, letting the pulsing bass and heavy beat drown out everything else. I could feel the music all the way to my bones, losing myself in the rhythm as Pearl and I swayed and laughed together. I hadn’t felt this carefree in weeks.

But suddenly, there was this strange prickle at the back of my neck—a feeling like I was being watched. I brushed it off, trying to get back to the music, but it wasn’t going away. I scanned the crowd over my shoulder, but all I saw was the blur of bodies moving, laughing, dancing.

I rolled my eyes and shook off the weird feeling, letting myself sway back into the music. But the next time I glanced around, Pearl was gone, swept away somewhere in the crowd. Typical. She was probably off charming someone at the bar or debating the latest rom-com with some stranger. I laughed to myself, twirling back to the beat—but then I felt it.

A hand on my waist. I turned, and there was some guy way too close, his grin a little too eager.

“Excuse me,” I said, trying to step aside. But he moved with me, still trying to grind along to the beat. I shifted again, but he stuck right there like a stubborn shadow.

“Come on, baby,” he purred, his breath way too close to my ear. “Let’s have some fun.”

I gave him my coldest smile. “No, thanks. Move it.”

But he just chuckled, leaning in closer. “Don’t be like that. I know you came here to let loose.”

Ugh. I had zero patience for jerks tonight. “If you don’t get your hand off me,” I said, voice low, “I’m going to make sure you regret it.”

“Oh, come on, baby. Don’t play hard to get.”

That did it. I gave him a sweet smile, then brought my heel down hard on his foot. He yelped, stumbling back and cursing under his breath as I flashed him a smirk. “Oops,” I said, not bothering to hide my satisfaction. “Guess my aim’s better than yours.”

Leaving him nursing his bruised ego, I pushed my way to the bar, trying to shake off the creep’s lingering presence. But now the bar felt suffocatingly crowded too. It was like everyone was closing in, the space too tight, the music too loud, the lights too blinding.

I needed air. Without another thought, I headed towards the washroom, letting the thumping music fade as I slipped down the hallway, craving a moment of quiet.

I let out a breath in the cool silence of the hallway, pressing my palms to the sink and watching the water trickle down. But as I turned back toward the exit, my stomach twisted.

There he was—the guy from the dance floor, grinning like he’d hit the jackpot. He blocked the hallway, leaning against the wall, and for a split second, I just stood there, frozen.

“There you are! I thought I had lost you.” His voice was dripping with smug satisfaction as he sauntered closer, his gaze roaming in a way that made my skin crawl.

I took a small step back, summoning my usual bite. “What, don’t you know how to take a hint? Or does ‘no’ not compute in that pea-sized brain of yours?”

He let out a low laugh, moving in until there was barely a foot of space between us. “You like playing hard to get, don’t you? Acting all feisty.” His smile was dark, predatory. “But I can see right through it.”

I tried to sidestep, but he matched my move, his hand shooting out to brace against the wall beside me. My heart kicked up, a prickling unease spreading over me. I took another small step back, but the wall was there, cold and unyielding.

“You’re starting to piss me off,” I said, but my voice wavered, and I hated that he could probably hear it. “Walk away. I’m not interested.”

“Aw, don’t be like that.” He leaned in, and the space between us shrank to almost nothing. “You wouldn’t have dressed like this if you didn’t want attention.”

I tried to muster every ounce of bravado left in me as he leaned in, his face too close, his smirk too smug. My skin prickled with irritation, drowning out the faint tremor in my voice.

“Look, I don’t know how many times I would have to say this to get through your thick ass head, but I don’t need you anywhere near me. Get lost,” I snapped, throwing him a glare that I hoped would send him off.

But instead, he stiffened, his expression twisting with irritation. “Who do you think you are, huh?” He sneered. “Acting like you’re too good for anyone here. Just another slut who thinks she’s better than—”

“Oh, please,” I cut him off, rolling my eyes. “Your little tantrum isn’t making you any more appealing. Take a hint and get out of my way before I lose my last ounce of patience.”

His face darkened, jaw clenching as he moved closer, his hand lifting threateningly. “You really want to see what I think of that attitude, huh?”

His hand started to rise, and my mind spun, my usual sharp comebacks faltering as I scrambled to think of a way out. Panic clawed at my throat, something unfamiliar and terrifying.

But just as his hand started to come down, something happened in a flash. A hand shot out, his fingers clamping down around the guy’s wrist in a vice grip, pulling him back with one swift motion. The guy stumbled, wide-eyed, as Javier stepped in front of me, shielding me with his body.

Javier’s voice came low and lethal. “Touch her again, and you’ll be eating through a straw for the next year.”

I exhaled in relief, glad for the first time in forever to see Javier standing there, every muscle in his frame taut with barely contained fury. His eyes locked on the guy, sharp and dangerous, and he took a step forward, jaw clenched.

The guy scoffed, yanking his hand away as he took a step back, trying to play it off. “What’s it to you?”

Javier’s glare hardened. “It’s everything to me!”

The guy’s smugness evaporated, his face paling as his gaze flicked between me and Javier. “Hey, man, I didn’t know she was with anyone—”

Javier’s glare only sharpened, his tone colder. “You’re lucky that’s all you didn’t know. Now get out. Before I make sure you regret ever showing up here.”

The guy muttered something, backing off quickly, and disappearing into the crowd without another word.

Silence filled the space between us, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Javier’s shoulders relaxed slightly as he turned to me, the intensity in his eyes softening just a little. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice quieter but no less fierce.

I nodded, trying to ignore the way my pulse was still pounding. “Yeah… Thanks.”

I stared at Javier, genuinely shocked. For a moment, he didn’t look like the usual smug, self-important thorn in my side. Instead, there was a fierceness in his eyes, something protective and intense. A flicker of a thought crossed my mind—maybe there was something good buried in that shallow little heart of his.

He glanced over me again, his gaze searching. “Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked, softer this time.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I replied, still dazed, but that hint of gratitude started to rise in my chest.

But before I could get out another word, his expression shifted, snapping into something harsher, his jaw tightening. “What were you even thinking, being out here alone?” he demanded. “And where’s this so-called friend of yours? Off having a good time while you’re cornered in some hallway? What would you have done if I hadn’t shown up?”

The gratitude vanished, and my stomach twisted as his words sank in. Was he seriously turning this around on me? My teeth clenched as I glared up at him, the anger clawing its way back with a vengeance.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Didn’t realize I’d hired you as my personal supervisor,” I shot back. “Or is blaming the victim your new specialty?”

His eyes narrowed; his gaze cold as he stepped closer. “Someone had to tell you,” He replied. “Clearly, you don’t think things through.”

I let out a humorless laugh. “Well, aren’t you a charmer? Don’t act like you saved the day here, Javier. I had it handled.” Even I didn’t quite believe that, but there was no way I was giving him the satisfaction of knowing it.

“Right,” he scoffed. “Because telling a creep off has been so effective for you tonight.” He had stepped in so close that I could practically feel his body heat.

I clenched my fists. “You know what, Javier? I thought maybe you had some decency in you, but I should’ve known better. You’re the most arrogant, insufferable jerk I’ve ever met. And trust me, I’ve met some horrible people.”

“Well, congratulations, Renée,” he leaned in closer and replied with a cool smile that made me want to throttle him. “Add it to your list of bad decisions.”

I felt my blood boil as I pushed him away, ready to walk away before I did something I’d regret. “You are the most absurd, self-centered person alive, and believe me, the last thing I’d ever need is your help.” I turned on my heel, not looking back, but my voice was still loud enough for him to hear. “You’re the reason ‘hate’ even exists in my vocabulary.”

And with that, I stormed off, my heart pounding and my mind spinning with rage. Any shred of gratitude, any inkling of doubt that I might be wrong about him—gone, obliterated by his insufferable arrogance. I was right to hate him.