Page 1 of Obsession on Repeat
1
Thefiremarshalhadcalled twice, but the club remained packed, the bodies inside moving in rhythm. Multicolored lights flashed over the crowd, sparking off glow sticks. Heavy bass continued to shake the walls and glasses that littered the tables.
I bounced along with the music, headphones pressed securely between my right ear and shoulder as I spun the record.
"Rory!" Alice, a bartender, cut through the noise. "They’re threatening to shut us down! Lower the volume!"
I let out a breath of disbelief.
"I’m serious!"
Chuckling, I adjusted the volume, but the crowd didn’t stop. I pressed the headphones to my ear. It made me happy to hear the music, to feel it run through me and seepeople enjoy it. Venom was the hottest nightclub in all of Sydney, Australia.
Alice returned to the booth, this time dragging a tall man behind her.
"If he’s a cop, I swear—"
"He’s VIP. Boss man said to take care of him."
"Since when did being a DJ mean I entertained for one?"
"Danny’s offering extra pay."
"Done."
The man hovered behind her, sharp in a tailored button-up and khakis. Dark features and oil-black hair, he easily towered over us. He was too clean-cut for this place, and with his handsome face, he wore the labels like a designer badge.
Most of the club hoppers were dressed in shorts and muscle tanks, the girls in skimpy dresses and skirts. I kept my gear simple, wearing a white tank top with the club logo on the front and cut off shorts. White sneakers had been on my feet, but after entering the booth, they were kicked to the side.
Dancing to the music, I watched Alice whisper in his ear before she disappeared. I waved him over. "Hey, you. Come here." I turned away when the break of the song erupted over the speakers.
He approached with a calm assurance and offered me his hand. "Lorelai Jones?"
I caught a whiff of his cologne, the smell pleasing and not overbearing. I released his hand after a second of letting my fingers linger against his. "Rory. No one’s called me Lorelai in years, but it sounds fancier on fliers. I’m trying to play it cool."
"Sullivan Masters."
Of course. Celebrities visiting the club was nothing new. "You’re from that Netflix show. My old roommate binged it once during one entire weekend."
"Two of Hearts, that’s the one."
I adjusted the knobs, another song drifting loudly from the speakers. "First time in Sydney?"
"I've got family here. I’m with a friend doing a promotion for work." He looked out over the crowd, clearly aware of the attention his presence drew. "I lost him… somewhere out there."
Nodding, I pressed the headphones against my ear. I switched up the tempo on the disc before allowing my gaze to slide back to him. "I’m sure he’s having fun!"
"Not too much, I hope. He’s got a wife back home. He needs to behave."
Laughing, I looked out at the crowd and spotted Alice watching us from behind the bar. "What about you? Are you having fun?"
He caught my gaze with his. "I’m not a club person, but the music is good. You make it look effortless."
"It’s not." I flipped a switch, weaving a new beat in the mix. "But thanks."
"You’re certainly leading the crowd without saying a word."
His compliment didn’t feel rehearsed, it felt genuine. Surprising, for someone so used to the spotlight.
