Chapter 23 You
SHELBY'S POV
The VVIP section looked like heaven. The soft velvet ropes glimmered under warm gold lighting, and the lounge was filled with plush white sofas that practically hugged you the moment you sat down.
Alecia immediately bee-lined toward the tables like she was trying to merge with them. Each one had a crystal bowl overflowing with gourmet chocolates, and waiters drifted around with champagne as if hydration was merely a suggestion. A private bar curved along half the room, and elegant trays of hors d'oeuvres floated by so effortlessly that it genuinely felt like we were royalty instead of three stressed-out girls and one smug face dude.
There were screens broadcasting behind-the-scenes footage, and the whole space was surrounded by sleek glass panels that overlooked the crowd below. For a moment, I felt like we were the stars...the band that was about to take the stage.
But my hands were still trembling, and Lala rubbed my arms up and down as if she could chase away the memory of Viktor's cold breath against my ear.
"Are you okay, miss?" Connor asked with steady, gentle professionalism. His voice grounded me, even though my stomach still felt twisted.
"Yes, Connor, I'm fine," I replied, though I doubted anybody believed me.
"Don't worry. I will file the report in a moment," he said. "However, are you absolutely certain you're alright? I will ensure you receive a full refund for all four tickets."
"That's incredibly kind of you, even though none of this is your fault or the venue's," Lala added warmly. "I know Omar will be happy to hear this."
"Why would I?" Omar interjected, sounding offended as usual.
I turned toward him, confused. "Didn't you buy us these tickets?"
Alecia stiffened so hard I swear I heard her spine squeak. "I think I... um... need to go to the bathroom."
"Ally," I said slowly, "what did you do?"
Connor backed away instantly, sensing incoming chaos. "I think I'll leave you all to sort this out. I'll check on you after the show."
"Oh no you don't!" Lala snapped, grabbing Alecia by the strap of her purse before she could flee. "Alecia Grey, you will explain how you got these tickets."
Alecia looked like a guilty toddler cornered with a stolen cookie. She plastered on a fragile smile. "Okay, so—please don't get mad, but I might have... slightly... sort of... switched some things around."
"Switched what?" I demanded.
Alecia winced. "You remember the tickets you sold Viktor? Well... when we dropped them off the other night... you turned around for one second, and that was just enough time for me to"—she made a little swooping gesture—"swap them for Crusty's Diner coupons."
Lala gasped so loudly it echoed.
I froze. My soul left my body, took a lap around the arena, and never returned.
"Alecia," I said, voice trembling with fury, "how could you? That is why Viktor came after me tonight!"
"I mean—" Alecia threw her hands up, "in my defense, I didn't think he would actually show up here! I thought... shit, I guess I wasn't thinking."
"No you weren't," I huffed.
"And you weren't either," Omar added, looking at me. "You really thought I'd spend what? Thirty grand on four tickets to see a band I barely know?" Omar said, folding his arms smugly.
"You're right," I snapped. "I should've known your cheap ass wouldn't do something generous."
Omar smirked proudly as if I had complimented him.
"Ally, I can't believe you lied to us," Lala said, shaking her head.
"I can't believe she stole from me," I added.
Alecia held up her hands again as if that would stop us from murdering her. "Look, it's a win-win situation! Connor said he's giving us a full refund, right? So we just take that money, give it to Viktor, and tell him we're sorry! Easy! He paid twenty for them, we can give him all thirty two."
"It will take more than an extra twelve grand and an apology to calm a man like Viktor," I snapped. "You weren't there tonight, Ally. You didn't feel how... wrong he is. There's something very off and extremely sinister about him."
Alecia blinked, guilt finally settling in. "Okay... so maybe I messed up a tiny bit."
"TINY?" Lala yelled.
Before I could strangle anyone, a woman with a headset rushed into the lounge.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she announced professionally, "the show is about to start. Please follow me. Your seating area is ready."
We all shut up instantly.
We were the last four to be led inside the arena.
We followed the lady through a private door and stepped directly into the front-of-stage VVIP zone. There were cushioned chairs arranged in perfect rows, tables loaded with bottled water, gourmet snacks, cocktails, and even blankets for people who might get cold from the stage fans. The entire area smelled like luxury and money and... excitement.
About fourteen or fifteen other VVIP guests were already finding their seats.
Then my stomach dropped.
Standing in the front row, leaning casually against the rail like he owned the place...
...was Demarcus.
The same Demarcus I had almost kissed two nights ago at The Fang Bang Club.
He turned around, and the moment his eyes landed on me, his smile stretched wider and brighter, like he'd just stumbled onto exactly what he'd been hoping to find tonight. He paused for half a second, then made his way over with that slow, sexy walk men use when they want you to notice every step.
"Well, well... if it isn't Shelby." His voice dipped low as his gaze swept over my face, lingering just a beat too long. "How are you doing, beautiful? I didn't take you for a rock-and-roll fan."
I could feel Omar's jealousy biting me at the nape of my neck.
"I'm not," I said, forcing a small smile. "My friends dragged me here." I gestured toward Lala and Ally.
He gave them a casual nod, barely a flicker of acknowledgment but they still smiled like he'd personally blessed them. He was attractive. Very attractive.
But he wasn't Niko.
I felt Marcus's stare before I saw it. His eyes drifted to my mouth, and I knew he was remembering what almost happened between us. The tension pulled strong between us, I still couldn’t tell why I felt this way. It was strange. I knew I didn’t want him, but something was telling me he was irresistible.
The only man my heart was yearning for was Niko.
And Marcus wasn't him. He never would be and I needed him to understand that there could never be anything between us.
I inhaled. "Look, Marcus, I—"
"Demarcus, baby. There you are."
The voice cut through my sentence like nails on glass.
We both stiffened.
I didn't have to turn to know who it belonged to. But I did, and there she was, sashaying toward us with the same sluttish energy she carried everywhere like an accessory.
We both scowled.
"You," we snapped at the same time, fingers pointing accusingly at each other like we were reenacting a meme.