FATED COLLISION(on hold )

(Ryen's Pov)

The conversation had been all sharp edges and quiet threats, but as the minutes dragged on, I began to feel the weight of the silence between us shift. There was a tension in the air, but it was no longer the kind that sparked a fight. It was... something else. Something less aggressive.

Bankz didn't break eye contact, but the hint of a smile tugged at her lips again. This time, it wasn't the hard challenge I'd seen before—it was something more relaxed. Almost... intrigued. Maybe she wasn't as cold as she wanted to appear.

Without saying much, I motioned for the bartender to bring another round. This time, we were both just two people in the same room, no masks, no game.

"Another round?" I asked, my tone casual.

Bankz didn't hesitate, leaning in to order her drink in the same low voice as before, her eyes still on me. But now, I could see the edges of her composure slip, just a little. I wasn't sure if it was the drink or something else, but whatever it was, it felt like we were both on the same page now.

"So, tell me," I started, leaning back in my chair as the bartender handed us our new drinks. "What's your deal? You're obviously not a stranger to success, but what drives you? Or do you just like proving people wrong?"

She took a slow sip of her drink, eyeing me thoughtfully before answering. "I guess you could say I like winning. It's not just about business. It's about control. Having everything under my thumb."

There was no boast in her voice, no superiority. It was more like a simple fact, a truth she was comfortable with.

I tilted my head, contemplating her words. "Control, huh? I get it. But I don't need to hold the strings to know my worth." I paused for a second, watching her reaction. "Maybe I'm just... more comfortable letting things happen as they do."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly interested now. "You sound like you don't care about much. Is that how you really feel?"

I didn't hesitate. "I care about what I want, not about everyone else's expectations. That's what makes me different."

The pause stretched for a moment. Then, something shifted in her eyes—something that made me feel like she understood exactly what I meant. She smirked, leaning back into her chair. "I'll give you that. You definitely don't follow the crowd."

I nodded, the corners of my lips curving slightly. This was the first moment where the challenge between us felt like... something else. Not a battle for dominance, but more of a moment of mutual understanding.

I glanced around the room, letting the moment linger in the comfortable silence. The music had shifted to something slower now, and the atmosphere in the VIP area had softened. The people around us were still lost in their own worlds, but it felt different—less oppressive, less tense.

"Is it always this quiet for you?" Bankz asked, her voice still low but with a touch of amusement. "I mean, a club like this? And it feels like no one's really here."

I chuckled lightly, shaking my head. "This is the beauty of control. People think they're in the spotlight, but the truth is, it's the ones who are behind the scenes that make it all happen."

She took another sip of her drink, her expression thoughtful. "I think we're more alike than I thought."

I smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Maybe. But I still don't think you understand me."

She laughed softly, a genuine sound that broke the tension between us for good. "Maybe I don't," she admitted. "But I like figuring things out. So... I'll just have to spend more time with you."

I studied her for a moment, not quite sure what to make of her words. But there was something different in her tone, something that said she wasn't just playing games anymore. Maybe she wasn't trying to win; maybe she was just trying to understand.

"Well, I guess that's one way to get to know someone," I said, my voice lighter now. "But just so you know, I don't let people close easily."

She smirked, the same challenging glint in her eyes, but now it was tempered with something else—curiosity. "That's alright. I'm used to earning my place."

And there it was—the unspoken truce between us. It wasn't peace, exactly, but it wasn't a fight either. There was something else in the air now. A different kind of connection.

Please vote and comment 💕