Chapter 5

Ayleen’s POV

The air outside was cooler than I expected, but I barely felt it. My skin was still too warm, my pulse too unsteady as I made my way up the stairs.

I pushed through the apartment door, already dreading Serena’s reaction.

She was exactly where I expected her to be—lounging on the couch, flipping through a magazine like she had all the time in the world. But she didn’t even bother pretending she wasn’t waiting for me. The moment I stepped inside, she turned a page with exaggerated slowness and muttered, "Took you long enough. What happened? Did your sugar mommy insist on tucking you in after the romantic ride?"

I sighed, throwing my bag onto the table. "It wasn’t romantic."

Serena scoffed. "Oh, of course not. Just a casual midnight chauffeur service from a woman who looks like she could buy this entire building just to have the pleasure of dropping you off at the front door." She tilted her head at me, her voice dripping with mock curiosity. "Did she at least let you out of the car, or did she try to carry you upstairs?"

I groaned, collapsing onto the couch beside her. "She was just being nice."

Serena snorted. "Yeah. Rich people are always nice for free."

I rolled my eyes. "She offered me a ride because it was late, Serena. You’re acting like she dragged me into her car against my will."

Serena finally closed the magazine and turned to face me fully, her expression unreadable. "Ayleen," she said slowly, "I get that you grew up on a farm or whatever, but this is New York. People don’t do things out of the goodness of their hearts—especially not people like her."

I exhaled sharply. "She didn’t do anything."

Serena smirked, but it wasn’t amused—it was knowing. "No? Then tell me why you’re still blushing."

I stiffened. "I’m not blushing."

"You’re so blushing."

"I—" I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Serena shook her head. "Wow. Embarrassing."

I scowled. "You’re being ridiculous."

Serena leaned back, stretching out her legs like she had all the time in the world. "Oh, babe, I’m being realistic." Her tone turned sharper, the teasing edge still there, but now something else laced behind it. "Do you even know what you’re playing with? That woman isn’t interested in friendship or helping struggling musicians out of the kindness of her rich little heart. She wants something from you. And trust me, when she’s done having fun, she’ll drop you faster than you can blink."

I shifted uncomfortably. "It’s not like that."

Serena laughed, but there was no warmth in it. "Oh, sweetie. I watched her look at you tonight. You really think she just wants to help?"

I crossed my arms, suddenly feeling trapped in this conversation. "She was being polite."

Serena gave me a slow, pointed look. "Ayleen. That woman wasn’t being polite. She was sizing you up like a meal. She was eating you alive, Ayleen. I swear, I thought she was about to start seasoning you mid-conversation."

I opened my mouth to argue, but before I could, she leaned in, voice dropping to a murmur, mocking and sharp. "It was like watching a wolf circle a rabbit. And, babe?" She tilted her head, expression turning almost pitying. "You are the rabbit."

A chill ran down my spine, but I forced myself to hold my ground. "I can handle myself."

Serena rolled her eyes. "Sure. Just like all the other girls who probably thought they could handle her before she got bored and moved on."

I swallowed, glancing away. "She’s not some predator."

Serena exhaled, dragging a hand through her hair. "Ayleen, do you have any idea what kind of person she is? People like her—powerful, rich, charming, completely self-absorbed—they don’t just take an interest in people for no reason. She sees something in you, something that caught her attention, and trust me, that’s not a good thing."

I shook my head. "She hasn’t done anything wrong."

"Yet," Serena countered. "But she will."

I frowned, shifting again. "You don’t even know her."

Serena scoffed. "And you do?"

I didn’t have an answer for that.

She sighed and picked her magazine back up, flipping through it absently, like she was already done with the conversation. "You’re gonna do whatever you want, obviously. But don’t come crying to me when she chews you up and spits you out."

I exhaled sharply, pushing myself off the couch. "You’re overreacting."

Serena didn’t even look up. "And you’re being stupid."

I turned to leave, but her next words stopped me in my tracks.

"You think a woman like that just hands out expensive gifts for fun?" Her voice was quieter now, more tired than before. "You think you’re special? No, babe. You’re entertainment. And when she’s done, she’s done."

I clenched my jaw and walked away, refusing to let her words get to me.

I pushed myself off the couch, my body tense with frustration. Serena was being dramatic, paranoid. Clara hadn’t done anything wrong. I muttered a halfhearted “goodnight” and made my way to my room, shutting the door behind me. The second I was alone, I exhaled, pressing my back against the door.

Serena’s words replayed in my head.

"You’re entertainment. And when she’s done, she’s done."

I shook my head, trying to push the thought away, but it clung to me.

Then, as if pulled by something beyond my control, my mind drifted back to Clara. The way she looked at me tonight. Sharp. Focused. Intense.

Serena was right about one thing.

Clara didn’t look at people like they were just people. She looked at them like she was deciding whether they were worth her time—whether she should devour them or discard them.

And when her eyes had been on me, it had felt like… something else entirely.

I could still feel the ghost of her fingers brushing my skin, the way her touch lingered, deliberate. The way she leaned in, close enough to make my breath catch, close enough that she knew exactly what she was doing.

I swallowed, suddenly feeling warm again.

Serena’s warning was clear—Clara was dangerous. Clara was the type who played games, the type who got bored, the type who moved on.

And yet…

I slid into bed, staring at the ceiling, my heart still beating too fast.

If she was so dangerous, why was I still thinking about her?