"I can't believe you're so posh and snobby that you take a private jet, which isn't even rented but actually yours, instead of flying in a common plane like everyone else," I huff dramatically, walking down the jet stairs with Ace.

"Bunny, if I have a private jet, it's to use it, not to keep it as a souvenir."

"Have you ever heard of global warming? The ozone layer, greenhouse gases... You know, those trivial things that are a threat to humanity."

"Wait, did I accidentally bring Greta Thunberg to Los Angeles? Are you going to organize a protest here, or should we wait until we get to Rodeo Drive to gather more people?"

"The only thing I'm going to organize is your murder. You know, make it look like an accident so I can get all your fortune."

"Oh, little one, you'd love to marry me to get my inheritance." He laughs, not even flinching when I punch his shoulder.

A flashy electric green Lamborghini Veneno awaits us at the foot of the plane, reinforcing the image of pure luxury and opulence surrounding us. Anyone who visits a luxury aesthetic Instagram profile could see a picture like the one that would be taken of this very scene.

Today is Thanksgiving for almost everyone in the United States except for Ace and me, so we decided to come to Los Angeles together. He has to open a new club tomorrow, and since I don't like being alone, I have decided to join him. The truth is, I'm quite excited about this long weekend we're going to spend together in his hometown. I'm not even trying to lie to myself anymore by saying I hate him; it's a completely useless effort and far from the truth.

I like Ace, yes. It's taken me weeks to admit it since we kissed, but it's not worth dragging things out when it won't bring me any benefit. It's time to admit that I'm attracted to him, which doesn't mean much. Would I sleep with him? Yes. Would I marry him tomorrow? Well, no, honestly. I've decided I want to have a good time with him, just let things flow, and that's it. I'm not about to overthink things, especially not about a guy. I'm not going to think beyond the attraction I feel towards him.

"Yeah, yeah, get distracted for a second and in less than two minutes I'll hop on that Lamborghini and be out of here in seconds," I say.

"Before you get to drive my precious baby, you'll have to get over my dead body," he warns, with a very serious expression.

His tattooed arm wraps around my waist and guides me to the passenger door, opening it for me. I raise an eyebrow at this chivalrous gesture and get into the car, a shy smile appearing on my lips. Damn, how does he manage to make me smile with such simple things?

"So, tell me, what's the plan for today? It's already five in the afternoon and it's Thanksgiving. When's the grand opening?"

"Today," he says, starting the car with a soft roar. "You know how today works, right? Everyone gets together with their fake happy families, showing fake ear-to-ear smiles and fake interest in each other's lives. They go, stuff themselves with food, take a ridiculous family photo, and then go home fed up with that half-drunk brother-in-law they only see twice a year."

"Okay, yeah, so what?"

"So, what would you be dying to do after putting up with all that circus of fake laughter and passive-aggressive comments?" he asks, turning his head to look at me briefly. "Because what I'd most want to do is go to party until the sun comes up and forget about my family until Christmas."

"And that's where you come in, the lord of the night."

"Jeez, 'lord of the night' sounds like a cheap gigolo, you could've chosen a better name. The god of the party, for example."

I pretend to think as he drives, that little hint of a smile permanently on my lips without me realizing it.

"No, 'lord of the night' is exactly the name that suits you. And you're the one who said 'cheap gigolo,' not me. You know what they say about projection and all...'"

"I already know someone I'm going to leave at the next corner."

Even though I was the one who started teasing him, I give him a playful slap on the arm amidst small laughs. I'm starting to think he must put something in my food or drink because every time I'm with him, I have a wide smile plastered on my face. I'm sure this isn't normal; it must be a spell or something.

"And do you still have a house in the city, or do you usually rent something?"

"I have my own house, of course. Not the one where my dad and brother live, obviously, but a little house in Beverly Hills as far away from theirs as possible."

"A little house or a gigantic mansion with thirty bedrooms and eighty bathrooms?"

"You ask really stupid questions for someone as smart as you."

His comment is accompanied by a mischievous laugh, and I turn to look at him, rolling my eyes but unable to erase the smile from my face. Not only can I see how happy he is driving his car in the city where he grew up, but I also notice how sexy he looks while driving. He's wearing a simple black t-shirt that shows off his tattooed arms and the ink on his chest thanks to the V-neck. His jaw is relaxed, but still seems sculpted by Michelangelo himself. But what I like most are those dimples that emerge on his cheeks every time he gives me a smile.

I feel compelled to do what everyone does when they see a work of art: take out my phone and snap a picture.

"Are you going to show me off on Instagram? Or are you going to film me to go viral on TikTok?"

"You know what, I'm going to do both. Driver, just keep driving and continue looking hot and quiet so I can take full advantage of you."

Just as I start recording, he begins to laugh, making me laugh too. The result is a rather adorable video where we're both laughing, and he looks at me with those blue eyes that could make anyone faint. I post it on both platforms, tagging him and silencing my phone right after. My friends' teasing comments will start coming in soon, and I'm not in the mood to read them right now.

"I want fifty percent of your earnings when you become famous because of me."

"You're the one who's going to gain fame when you repost the story, so hush."

He rolls those beautiful blue eyes before slowing down and stopping in front of a gate that only reveals an uphill ramp. I try to see beyond, assuming the house is a little further up, but all I can see are trees atop the hill where we are. Ace presses a button on a small remote, and the huge gate starts to open.

The car starts up the ramp, and I turn my head from side to side, eager to see what his house is like. When I look at him, he has a mysterious smile and winks at me before turning to reveal what I was so anxiously waiting for.

"Wow," I mutter in a thin voice, all my brain comes up with.

A gigantic four-story mansion stands before us, but I've never seen anything like it. It's modern, full of enormous windows and massive terraces spread across the facade. It's the biggest house I've ever seen, which is impressive considering everyone in Hayden has massive mansions. I'm only seeing the front of the house, but I can already imagine how opulent the back must be.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Ace laughs as he opens my door.

He offers his hand to help me out of the car, and I gladly take it, not letting go even as we start walking towards the enormous front door.

"Humble? It looks like this house ate seventeen mansions; it's the biggest thing I've ever seen!"

Laughing, Ace leads me into the spacious mansion. It's very bright due to the fact that much of the exterior walls have been replaced with glass, so natural light floods in effortlessly. We're greeted by a huge living room with the largest flat-screen TV I've ever seen, but that's not what catches my attention first.

"You like the garden, huh?"

My eyes are fixed on the enormous expanse of fresh green grass, like a dream field. The sunlight bathes the garden, making the water in the infinity pool sparkle like a diamond. There are loungers, Balinese beds with canopies, a jacuzzi, and even a volleyball net. It feels like I've just stepped into every frat boy's dream.

"I've always wanted to have an infinity pool!" I shout excitedly, pulling him outside.

Ace opens the door to the garden with an amused grin, and lets me drag him to the edge of that dreamy pool. The view from here takes my breath away: we have the entire city at our feet. It doesn't surpass the view from my penthouse, but swimming in the pool at night while watching the lights shine must be wonderful.

"You can come swim here anytime. For a hundred million dollars an hour, of course."

I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a deep, passionate kiss, making his hands immediately drop to my butt to pull me closer to his body. Our tongues meet, and I let myself go, jumping into his arms like a koala. We're in no hurry to pull apart, but after a few minutes, we do, gasping for air.

"How about I pay you in kisses instead of money?"

"With kisses like that, you can come over anytime," he murmurs, trying to catch his breath.

I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder, letting him carry me back inside. Ace shows me the entire house without putting me down, which I love. The house has absolutely everything: a bowling alley, two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a spa, a huge library, a game room, a sort of nightclub, and an absurd number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

"Well, bunny, it's time to start getting ready for the party tonight. Where do you want to sleep?" he asks, looking at me with a sweet smile capable of melting the coldest iceberg in the world.

"You're only asking me that to make me blush, you jerk!"

He carries me to his enormous room with mischievous laughter, grabbing my suitcase as well. I don't even know where the hell he gets the strength to carry me like a baby, but I love it. Unfortunately for me, Ace sets me down when we arrive and points to one of the many doors in the room.

"Look, there's an empty walk-in closet for you to put all your clothes in," he says, then points to another door. "The bathroom is over there if you want to shower, do your makeup, or whatever. I'll shower in another one."

"Thanks, curls."

As soon as he leaves the room, I undress and take a quick shower. I consider straightening my unruly brown curls, but when I look in the mirror, I see they look pretty good as they are, so I head back to the closet to choose my outfit. I've brought a lot of party outfits considering we're only going to be here for four days, but the occasion calls for it. I carefully look through each one until my eyes land on some sparkling stones at the bottom of my suitcase.

I frown and pull out the sparkly top paired with a short skirt, something you might see in any rap music video or a strip club. In a place like Hayden, this outfit might seem completely out of place, but at one of Ace's clubs in Los Angeles...

I drop the towel and put on the sparkly set, leaving a lot of my body exposed. I complete the look with semi-transparent sparkly boots up to my knees, glitter-based makeup without lipstick, and a white fur coat. When I check the time, I see that two hours have passed, so I assume Ace is already waiting for me in his enormous main living room. I take one last look at my reflection, feeling slightly nervous, but I shake my head to get those thoughts out of my mind. The outfit looks amazing on me, I look gorgeous, and that's all I need to think about. What others say doesn't matter to me.

I completely cover myself with the white coat and head towards the living room, my heels clicking on the marble floor. That distinctive sound announces my entrance into the spacious room, making Ace look up from his phone as soon as I appear down the hall. He looks incredibly handsome in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a few buttons undone, his hair slightly slicked back. Every time I see him, I'm more convinced he must be a Greek god because that kind of beauty isn't normal.

"A fur coat? I'm surprised, coming from you," he comments, clearly confused. "You love to wear clothes that are..., well, sexier."

"And today doesn't have to be an exception."

My words are followed by the dramatic gesture of dropping the coat to the floor, revealing my full outfit. Ace's eyes widen, and his jaw nearly hits the floor as he slowly takes in every inch of my body, savoring each moment.

"Damn, bunny," he mumbles before clearing his throat and walking towards me. "You're going to increase the city's hospital admissions with all the necks you're going to break tonight. Do you realize how stunning you look?"

His reaction brings a broad smile to my face, and a deep blush colors my cheeks. Ace takes my hand and kisses the back of it, then spins me around like a dancer and pulls me close for a kiss. I kiss him back willingly, gently caressing his chest. The scent of his cologne fills the air around us, and I feel completely addicted to him.

"Thank you, curls, but have you seen yourself? I'm sure I'll be getting a thousand jealous looks from women and men who wish they were holding your arm instead of me."

"Well, they can keep waiting because the only one who's going to hold my arm is you."

•

The music from inside the club reaches my ears even before stepping out of the Lamborghini. In front of us stands a gigantic building that vaguely reminds me of an ancient Greek temple with modern touches. A dome dominates the center of the roof, and a huge, illuminated sign can be clearly read on it.

"'Omnia'," I read from inside the car.

"The temple of the party," Ace responds before kissing my cheek. "I have a few warnings before we go in. First: I hope you don't mind paparazzi because this place will be full of them. Second: be careful not to get lost in the crowd and don't get overwhelmed. Third: anything you want or need, just let me know, okay?"

I nod with a smile, which he takes as a signal to get out of the car. Before I can do the same, he opens my door and offers me his hand to help me out. A shower of flashes greets me as I step outside, but I ignore it. I'm used to the attention because of the circle I'm in, so I just keep my eyes straight ahead while a cascade of questions buzzes around us.

"Mr. Hale, who is your companion?"

"Mr. Hale, is this girl your new girlfriend or just a fling for the night?"

"Mr. Hale, what do you think about your brother inheriting your father's company instead of you?"

Ace endures all these pointed questions with stoicism, wrapping his arm around my waist and guiding me toward the door. A long line wrapping around the building begins there, but we simply pass by, greeting the bouncers with a few words. In the lobby, we both leave our coats at the cloakroom, drawing even more attention as more eyes turn toward us. I feel like a bonfire attracting all the moths to its flames.

"See? You're the most beautiful woman in the place, and now everyone's noticing."

"Are you kidding? They're looking at you. Ace Hale, master of the party scene in Los Angeles. The lord of the night!"

"Call me that again, and you're sleeping in the garden tonight," he warns me with a laugh before opening the door to the club's main room.

The space is enormous, decorated with a million lights of all kinds and colors. It looks like a multi-level amphitheater with the main room at the center. Everything around me vibrates with the music coming from the speakers and the people dancing closely together. Ace's mere presence is a surefire pass to make our way to the area where the elevators are. In less than two minutes, we're on the top floor, which is exclusively reserved for VIPs: celebrities, important personalities, and of course, the owner and his friends.

"Rum and coke?" he asks me as soon as we sit on one of the large couches.

"You know me so well."

In less than a minute, a waiter arrives with our drinks and leaves us alone, even though we're surrounded by people I recognize by sight.

"Wow, isn't that Kylie Jenner?!"

"Yeah, she's always up for a good party," Ace confesses with a laugh, waving at her.

"Oh, you know her? Have you two...?"

"Yeah, we have. It was just a one-night thing, you know, spur of the moment. Now we're just friends, nothing more. I really like her boyfriend, and her daughter is a sweetheart. If you want, I can introduce you sometime; I think you two would get along great."

His answer makes me gape slightly, unsure how to react to this new information. I already knew Ace was hugely popular in Los Angeles, especially in the nightlife scene, but knowing that he's probably slept with women as stunning as Kylie Jenner makes me feel strange. I have a lot of self-esteem and usually don't have insecurities, but I can't help but mentally compare myself. In my opinion, she's much more beautiful than I am, and that sparks a question in my mind.

"What the hell did you see in me?"

My tongue moves faster than my brain, and what was supposed to be an internal reflection turns into the start of a conversation I definitely didn't want to have under these circumstances. Ace looks at me confused, as if he doesn't understand why I'm asking him that, and I wish the ground would swallow me up.

"Are you kidding me?" he asks after taking a long sip of his whiskey. "Have you looked at yourself in a mirror? When I say you're the most stunning woman I've ever seen, I'm not joking. But to me, beauty isn't everything; I fall for girls through my ears, you know? And that tongue of yours, capable of spitting out ironies, jokes, having a billion interesting conversations as well as keeping me on my feet won me over instantly. You're incredibly intelligent, interesting, strong, brave, and attractive. I don't know how you can ask me that instead of asking why other men aren't falling all over you."

His speech, delivered in that natural and sincere way that's typical of him, unleashes all the butterflies fluttering wildly in my stomach. No one has ever said something so beautiful and honest to my face, and I don't know how the hell to react. I'm used to getting a thousand and one compliments for my looks, but no one has ever said anything about my personality or intelligence. It makes me feel immensely valued in a new and comforting way.

"I don't know, I think you see me through rose-colored glasses. I don't think I'm as exceptional as you think I am."

"Well, I wish you could see yourself the way I see you."

Ace strokes my cheek with his hand and pulls my face toward his for a kiss, making the butterflies flutter even more fiercely inside me. The kiss is full of sweetness and affection, a million feelings that can't be expressed with words. I feel like I'm floating in a sea of clouds, like I'm living in a dream I never want to wake up from.

"You're marvelous, Ace. Really."

"The same goes for you, bunny." He smiles, caressing my cheek. "I'm going to get a bottle of champagne, okay? We have to open this place properly tonight."

I watch him with a silly smile as he gets up and walks toward the bar, feeling like the luckiest woman on earth. Ace is so natural, so funny, so handsome, so...

"Ace, my king!"

A shrill voice breaks my bubble, and I immediately frown. My eyes search for the source of that nasal, unpleasant voice calling out to my friend, and I finally see a fake blonde, tall and busty, running in heels toward a surprised Ace, who stands frozen like a deer in headlights.

"I've missed you so much, I'm so glad you're back!"

He opens his mouth to respond, but before he can say anything, she wraps her arms around his neck and plants a kiss right on his mouth.

Hello, babes!

Well, we're already in LA, but what do we have here... trouble in paradise? 🤭 what do you think is going on with Ace and that girl?

I'll be reading you! ❤️