Page 46 of All's Fair In Love & War

As the doors slid open, I stepped into my home. It was a sprawling two-story apartment perched high above the city. The floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the open space in natural light during the day, offering a stunning view of the skyline. At night, the lights below glittered like a sea of stars.

The living room was designed for a queen. A massive, cloud-like, white sectional sofa wrapped around a low glass coffee table adorned with an arrangement of fresh orchids. Thewalls were lined with modern art pieces. They were abstracts that evoked chaos and beauty, much like my life.

The kitchen gleamed with polished marble countertops and stainless steel appliances I rarely used. Cooking for one felt pointless, and I’d never been the type to pour my heart into a casserole. The dining area, with its elegant black table and leather chairs, sat unused, save for the occasional visits from my brothers.

The second floor was equally extravagant. My bedroom boasted a California king bed draped in silk sheets, surrounded by handcrafted furniture in muted tones. A walk-in closet housed rows of designer heels, leather jackets, and more dresses than I cared to admit. And yet, for all its opulence, my home felt cold and empty.

I dropped my duffle bag by the door and kicked off my stilettos, letting my toes sink into the plush Persian rug. The silence was oppressive, quickly sobering my joyful mood. It was always like this when I came home. Quiet. Too quiet.

That was why I could always be found at one of my brothers’ homes. Khalil’s place was a haven of order and control. Naeem’s, on the other hand, felt chaotic and alive, filled with the occasional bickering at our parents when they were in town. It reminded me of what family was supposed to feel like.

However, tonight, I didn’t feel like imposing on either of them. Tonight, I felt restless.

I sank into the sectional, scrolling through my phone aimlessly. My thumb hovered over the contact's name for a moment before decided to pressed it. After a few rings, a familiar voice answered.

“Damn, Sophia, I thought you’d forgotten about me,” Sierra teased, her tone light and playful.

“I’ve been busy,” I replied, leaning back and staring at the skyline. “You free tonight?”

“For you? Always. What’s the plan?”

“Dinner. Drinks. Whatever keeps me out of this damn apartment,” I said, glancing around the space that suddenly felt even larger and lonelier.

“I know just the spot. Pick me up at eight.”

“Will do,” I replied before ending the call.

Two hours later, I found myself at an upscale lounge. It was the kind of place where the drinks were overpriced, and the patrons were dressed to impress. Sierra was the life of the party, with her loud laugh cutting through the ambient music as we sipped martinis and exchanged stories.

Sierra was a girl I was close to when in high school. We came from similar backgrounds and liked a lot of the same things—men included. She was someone I could party with, but I would never have her around my man. Sierra was the kind of woman to trip and fall on his dick, and I didn’t want to have to kill her ass.

As the night wore on and the alcohol loosened our tongues, Sierra leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Have you ever heard ofEros?”

I raised a brow, amused by her sudden shift in tone. “Can’t say I have. Should I be worried?”

She smirked, her dark eyes glinting with mischief. “Not worried. Intrigued. It’s an exclusive underground sex club. Strictly for the elite. No names, no faces, just... indulgence.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You can’t be serious. People actually do that?”

“Oh, they do,” she replied, taking a sip of her drink. “And they pay top dollar for it. I heard they’re accepting new members this week, but it’s only open for seventy-two hours. You should apply.”

I snorted, leaning back in my chair. “What makes you think I’d be interested in something like that?”

“Because you’re bored, Sophia,” Sierra said bluntly, her gaze slicing through me. “You’re always looking for something new or something dangerous. Don’t act like this doesn’t intrigue you.”

I rolled my eyes, but the seed of curiosity had already been planted. “How does it even work?”

She grinned, sensing my interest. “Applicants have to pass rigorous screenings—health tests, psych evaluations, the whole nine yards, but once you’re in, you’re in. Absolute anonymity. Absolute discretion.”

I swirled the last of my drink, considering her words. The idea was ridiculous. Outrageous. And yet...

After a few more drinks and much convincing from Sierra, I found myself back home, sitting at my glass desk. My laptop glowed softly in the darkened room as I pulled up the website Sierra had mentioned.

The application process was as exclusive as she described, with layers of verification forms asking questions that were both intrusive and oddly thrilling.

My emotions flipped from hesitation to excitement and back again as I filled out the form, my fingers flying over the keyboard. When I finally hit the submission button, a sense of exhilaration washed over me.

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the confirmation message on the screen.

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