Chapter 10: 9. The Party

Thank you for reading. Here's the new chapter enjoy.

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Xavier's P.O.V.

Right now, it's around 9:30 p.m. The night is still young, and I'm at the party with my buddy Jason. This is my last holiday before stepping into the role of CEO. After this, the partying and vacations would take a backseat. I had worked too damn hard to get here, proving to my father that I was ready. And now, I was finally about to claim everything I had worked for.

If this was my last carefree night, I was damn sure going to make it count.

I had a few simple rules when it came to women:

Flirting is fair game—it keeps things interesting.

I never pressure a girl. I don't need to; they usually end up with me anyway.

No second rounds. One night, no repeats.

Consent is everything—I'm a gentleman, not a scumbag.

No meeting the parents. No attachments, no complications.

I had noticed her long before the party.

That morning, at the ice-skating rink, she had caught my eye—not because she was the best skater, but because she was the worst. While others glided effortlessly, she was laughing, flailing, barely keeping herself upright. Her friend had been teasing her, but she never seemed embarrassed, only amused by her own struggle. It was refreshing—most people I knew hated looking anything less than perfect.

Later, when I saw her at the snow tubing run, that same energy was there. The way she threw herself down the hill, screaming and laughing like she had no worries in the world, was magnetic. Confidence, but not arrogance. She was fun in a way that made everyone around her want to have fun too.

Then, there she was.

Something about her drew me in beyond just her looks. It was the way she carried herself—unapologetically confident yet not pretentious. She didn't just take up space; she owned it. When she spoke, people listened. When she laughed, it wasn't forced or polite—it was real, full of life. Even now, in a crowded room full of people trying too hard, she stood out simply by being herself.

My eyes locked onto her, effortlessly elegant, moving through the crowd with a confidence that made it impossible to look away. The white mid-thigh dress she wore hugged her in all the right places, golden heels adding an edge of sophistication. She looked like she belonged here—like she owned the damn place.

When our eyes met, she held my gaze for a beat longer than necessary before a small smile ghosted across her lips. I lifted my glass in her direction and gestured for her to come over.

It took a while—she stopped to talk to a few people along the way—but eventually, she was standing in front of me.

"Hey, Rose," I greeted, giving her a casual side hug.

"Hey, Justin," she smirked, playing along with our little game.

"Justin and Rose?" Jason asked, clearly confused.

I chuckled, explaining, "She doesn't give her real name to strangers, so we compromised."

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Of course she did."

Jason smirked. "That's actually a clever move. Adds a little intrigue to the night."

Lisa was quickly pulled away by someone asking her to dance, and Jason was already distracted by a blonde at the bar, leaving just me and Rose.

"So, want to dance?" I asked, extending my hand.

She tilted her head, pretending to consider. "Hmm. What's in it for me?"

I smirked. "A great time. Maybe even a drink afterward."

She laughed, taking my hand. "Sure. But after that, I have something important to tell you."

We moved onto the dance floor just as Justin Bieber's Company started playing. I chuckled, shaking my head. "Fitting, don't you think?"

She grinned. "Pure coincidence, I swear."

Dancing with Rose was effortless. She moved with confidence, matching my steps with ease. She was sharp, playful, and surprisingly light on her feet.

"You've done this before," I murmured, spinning her effortlessly.

"Maybe," she teased. "Or maybe you're just a good lead."

I pulled her slightly closer. "I'll take the credit."

We danced for a few more songs before she tugged my hand. "I need a drink."

We made our way back to the bar, ordering shots this time. She downed hers quickly, laughing at my impressed expression. "What? Don't tell me you expected me to sip it delicately."

I smirked. "Not at all. You continue to surprise me."

Before I could say more, my phone buzzed. Business. I sighed, signaling for her to wait a second before stepping away.

"As I stepped away from the bar, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen—Adrian. one of the operation manager informed me.

I exhaled sharply before answering. "What is it?"

"Sir, the New York team will be ready in a week," he informed me, his tone stiff but professional.

Adrian was competent, but I had yet to decide if I liked him. He worked hard, but he played it safe—a little too safe. I needed people who pushed limits, not just followed orders. His reputation was decent.

"Make it three days," I said flatly.

He hesitated. "Sir, two of our senior employees are on leave, so it might not—"

"Then bring them back. If they can't return, replace them."

"Make it three days."

"Sir, two of our senior employees are on leave, so it might not—"

"Then bring them back. If they can't return, replace them."

The call ended, and I slid my phone back into my pocket. When I returned, Rose was gone.

I scanned the room, but she had disappeared into the crowd.

Twenty minutes passed before I finally found her again—except this time, something was wrong.

She was sitting at the bar, shoulders hunched, her hands clenched around her glass. Even from a distance, I could see the tears in her eyes.

As I approached, I noticed the way her shoulders were rising and falling unevenly, her breaths shaky. She wasn't just sad—she was unraveling. Her fingers were clenched around her glass so tightly her knuckles had turned white.

I slid onto the stool next to her. "Hey. What happened?"

She looked up at me, her expression crumbling. "Please... get me out of here."

A flicker of frustration flared in my chest. Not at her, but at the situation. I didn't know her well, but seeing someone like her—so vibrant hours ago—reduced to this? It didn't sit right with me.

I exhaled sharply. "Yeah. Of course."

I reached for her hand, guiding her through the packed party, keeping her close so she wouldn't get lost in the crowd. When we finally stepped outside into the cold night air, she inhaled sharply, as if trying to pull herself together.

Then, in a broken whisper, she said, "He cheated on me."

I froze. "Who?"

Her lip quivered. "Adrian. He... he cheated."

My jaw tightened. So she did have a boyfriend. Or rather, an ex now.

"That bastard," I muttered under my breath.

She let out a humorless laugh, swaying slightly. "My dad was right. I should've never dated him."

Her voice cracked on the last word, and before I could process it, she stumbled forward, burying her face against my chest.

I hesitated, then wrapped an arm around her. "You're drunk. Let's get you somewhere safe."

Her body was warm against mine, but I ignored the way it felt. She was vulnerable right now, and I wasn't that guy.

I brought her back to my suite, guiding her inside. "Wait here. I'll get you some water."

She nodded weakly, sinking onto the couch. By the time I returned with the glass, she was wiping at her eyes, looking exhausted.

She took the water, murmuring a small, "Thanks."

She twirled the glass slightly between her fingers, a small habit I noticed she did when lost in thought. She wasn't sobbing, wasn't wallowing—just staring at the liquid like it held the answers she needed. That, more than anything, intrigued me. Most people would be falling apart in her position, but she was trying to hold it together, trying not to let the weight of her emotions consume her.

I sat across from her, watching as she clutched the glass, her fingers tightening around it before taking a long sip. She looked drained, like the weight of the night was finally settling on her shoulders. "You should get some rest," I murmured.

Her eyelids fluttered, struggling to stay open. She blinked rapidly, her lips parting like she wanted to say something, but only a soft, incoherent murmur came out. Her body wavered, her balance shifting.

I barely had time to react before she slumped forward.

I caught her just in time, steadying her in my arms. "Rose?" No response.

She had fainted.

Cursing under my breath, I lifted her carefully and carried her toward the bed. She was lighter than I expected, her body completely limp from exhaustion and alcohol. I laid her down gently, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. She looked peaceful, the tension from earlier slowly fading.

I sighed, shaking my head. This girl was something else.

She stirred slightly, murmuring something incoherent before settling again.

I pulled a blanket over her and leaned back against the headboard, running a hand down my face.

Her dress was definitely not comfortable to sleep in. I wasn't about to fumble my way through helping her change, so I called for a female hotel staff member. When she arrived, I handed her a tip and asked her to help Rose into something more comfortable.

A few minutes later, she was in one of my T-shirts and a pair of shorts, curled up on the bed, breathing steadily. The alcohol had done its job—she was out cold.

I exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck as I sat on the edge of the bed. This night had taken a turn I hadn't expected.

And yet, strangely, for the first time in a long time, I didn't mind breaking my own rules.

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Hey guys new update hope it's fun to read and please, don't forget to vote, comment and share love you all and next chapter Susan's P.O.V.  And do tell me if you like Xavier or not??