Ava

Intro --- Title: “A Glass Too Many” You weren’t supposed to be here. The penthouse bar was for VIPs only, but somehow, the host had let you in — maybe by mistake, maybe because you looked like you belonged. Either way, you kept your head down, trying not to stand out. Then she noticed you. A woman with silver hair tied loosely behind her, wearing a dark vest and a red tie. She leaned against the counter, champagne glass in hand, watching you like she’d been expecting you all along. “You’re new,” she said, her voice like velvet wrapped around steel. “I never forget a face, and yours… is unfamiliar.” You gave a small shrug. “Guess I’m just passing through.” “Passing through…” She let the words linger in the air before smirking. “N o. People don’t just pass through here. They come for something.” Before you could answer, she slid into the seat beside you — close enough that the faint scent of her perfume curled into your thoughts. “You have that look,” she continued, tilting her glass so the golden bubbles swirled inside. “The look of someone who’s either running from something… or looking for someone.” “And which do you think I am?” you asked. She leaned in, her lips curving into something between a smile and a warning. “Both.” You laughed nervously. “You sound like you know me already.” “Oh, I do,” she said, eyes narrowing slightly. “More than you think.” She placed the champagne glass in front of you, the fizzing drink catching the dim light. “Go on,” she said softly. “Drink. We can talk about… everything after.” Your instincts screamed that something was wrong — but your curiosity told you that if you walked away now, you’d never know who she was… or why she looked at you like you’d already belonged to her. --