Chapter 5: Love At Second Sight

"The night was set in silence, only the stars and the moon stand as their witness...And only the truth lies beneath the sky."

It was almost sunrise when the party was over, and Zack felt sorry for missing the chance to know the girl's name.

He hissed out of frustration, when he recalled the unexpected situation.

There's no way I can get to know her- Zack was talking to himself when Darren came to say goodnight to him.

"Don't forget my invitation, okay!" he threw out a small punch on Zack's arm.

Zack took out his car key from his pocket and utter "No I won't. Get lost! "He exclaimed. Then he got into his Porsche and went home.

While Zack was heading home, he couldn't help but think of the girl he encountered at the hotel.

Her perfect shaped eyebrow, thin red lips, hazel brown eyes and slender body...it was driving him crazy.

His phone rang...

"Zack!" He heard a woman's voice speak as he placed the call on speaker mode.

"Ciara?" He asked with a doubtful voice.

"Yup! None other than me, I just arrived in New York and I'm staying at my old place. Will you be able to meet me tomorrow night?" Ciara asked with a teasing voice.

Ciara and Zack have known each other since childhood- and their families were good friends.

Ciara has a crush on him since college days, and she has always been vocal about her feelings for Zack, but he didn't take Ciara seriously.

For him, Ciara was just a close friend and it will always stay that way.

"Is that something important?" Zack asked, while his eyes were on the road. Concentrating on his driving.

"I have an early dinner meeting with the client, I'm not so sure what time I can make it to your house then."

"Okay, I'll just meet you at the Roque's bar downtown before midnight, you have no reason not to be there - So don't try giving me a shit!"

Ciara warned him with a tough voice, and his eyes widen over her strong personality.

"Okay, okay!!! You got me. I'll see you then. I'm hanging up now. Bye!"

Zack speed up.

And while driving, a sudden thought came to him when he remembered her scent. “That smell is familiar to me" he whispered, while trying to figure out where and when did he encounter that sweet aroma of a flower.

"Damn, am I going crazy?

"What is your name babe?" he kept repeating this question as he drove home.

"I have to see her again. I need to know her name. God please!" he begged

"Just let me meet her again."

***

It was already late at night when Alyssa closed her boutique. It has been a long tough day because of the 3 day sale they held at the shop.

She sold 85 pieces of hand painted clothes and bags, and she received multiple orders of custom design tees -enough reason for her to drink and celebrate.

"We just had a good sale today, guys! So in return of your hard work, I am treating everyone at the Roque's place tonight. So let's wrap up."

She said to her team with a cheerful voice, and her workers applauded and whistled out of excitement.

The bar was just 3 blocks away from her boutique, though it was a bit cold outside, they decided to walk and enjoy the moonlight.

It was beautiful.

"Aly, where's Marcus by the way, aren't you going to invite him to celebrate with us? If he tags along, I'm sure he'll pay for the bill." Carmen suggested as they walked on the street.

Alyssa's face became gloomy when she heard Marcus's name.

"No one is calling him, nor answering his call- if he does, please! I want to have fun tonight." she warned everyone.

"I’ve been pretty well behave lately, so I want to break free." she pouted her lips as she tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Okay! Let's have some fun." The team shouted with exhilaration.

"Table for 8 people, please!" Alyssa raised her one arm with one finger up to call the attention of the waiter when they arrived at the Roque's bar.

"There you go Ma'am, you can sit on that corner table." And the waiter pointed out the table near the DJ's den.

"Cool! I like that spot, thanks!" She said with a loud voice since the beat was up.

"Go get yourselves some drinks, it's on me! I'll just go to the ladies room." Her voice was still up tone.

Smoke filled the air and red lights were on and off the stage.

People were dancing like crazy. The bar's ambience was trendy and everybody seemed to be having fun.

"1, 2, 3 drink!"

All bottles were bottoms up. Alyssa was starting to get drunk.

One glass of beer after another... She was drinking hard to death.

Though feeling a bit dizzy, she continued to drink. She doesn't mind being wasted...

At that very moment, all she ever wanted was just to enjoy. She wanted to party and have some fun.

"I'm dancing!" she yelled and suddenly stood up with a beer in her hand. She started walking towards the crowd and her team was cheering for her.

No one dares to stop her from owning the stage.

Instead, they were shouting, whistling and clapping for her - while watching her to take the dance floor.

She walked straight to the center stage where the Dj plays the music, and she whispered in his ear the moment she came near.

"The stage is mine, can you change the music to something hot, please?"

She said in a sexy tone, while running her finger on his face. "If you do that, your drink is on me" and she smirked.

"Alright!" the Dj exclaimed. "I got you babe."

Without hesitation, the music changed.

Ridiculously, Alyssa started to enjoy the beat- she was grooving on her feet with her sexy outfit.

The black leather mini skirt that was paired on a haltered white crop top and a high heel boots...looked good on her.

She was so sexy, and she felt her sexiness even more, when she started swaying in a hot way.

She confidently held the pole in the center stage, and groove her body in a crowded place.

It was not like her at the moment. She hates crowded places so much, but the bar was just the perfect place on Earth for her rebellion.

And as the song played, she moved her body.

Feeling the music, she gently sway her hips while her eyes were closed. Trying to avoid those judgmental eyes from the audience.

She knelt down the stage and gracefully started to arch her back in a sexy gesture... And in slow motion, she spread her legs wide open and bent forward her body, as she carelessly danced like no one's around.

Her left hand was above her head and the other one behind her neck...she was indulging herself in the music, when their eyes met the second time around.

Zack refused to blink, when he caught her precious orbs.

He was mesmerized with her seductive beauty and alluring body.

At first, he couldn't believe that it was her who was doing some dirty dancing on the stage. He didn't expect to see her again at that behavior, however, he didn't judge her for doing so. Perhaps, she has a reason. He told himself.

It's getting hot! And the crowd was getting crazier as she danced so well. But as she groove to the music, no one knows how empty her heart was.

Alyssa sober up quickly, and suddenly felt ashamed when she found him staring at her in the middle of the crowd.

She tried to look away, but she simply couldn't avoid the glimpse. His eyes were irresistible. It's like they were talking to her in a seductive manner. After a few minutes of dancing, Alyssa came back to her senses.

She quickly went down the stage, and ran through the back door to hide herself from the disgrace she brought to herself.

But before she even reached the exit door, she accidentally bumped into someone who was very familiar to her.

"You danced so hot Alyssa!" the man said while looking at her from top to bottom with a naughty gesture.

"Now I know why Marcus is so hooked to you" He was still looking at Aly's body with a dirty mind

Aly ran and ignored him, but in her mind she was harshly talking to herself.

"Shit! It's Robert." His fiancé's 2nd cousin.

"I'm in big trouble" she murmured while rushing to get some fresh air.

"What have I done? I am so stupid to be so careless." blaming herself for her drastic move.

She knew that Robert would not let this pass. So she thought of persuading him to keep his silence.

But just when she decided to go back in to ask for Robert's cooperation- a group of drunken jerks got in her way and harassed her.

"Hey sexy lady, want to go out with me tonight?" said the young man who wanted to give her a hug but she stepped back and avoided the man.

From her back she heard a man's voice that seemed to be very upset from the tone of his voice.

"Back off!" he yelled with a thundering voice.

"And who are you?" the young man asked him with confusion as he appeared from nowhere.

"She's my girl! Got a problem? "Zack asked while his arms were folded across his chest.

Out of shock... Alyssa threw a straight face on him. My girl? She repeated the words in her mind as she smirked.

"Okay, okay we don't mean any trouble, were going!" Then they left peacefully.

Still with a straight face, she turned her head at him

"So, what's with the my girl drama, huh?" she asked and waited for his reason, while her mind ran wild.

This good looking guy who just claimed her was really tempting, and her naughty mind seemed to be enjoying it.

Zack covered his face with his both hands before raising it up to his head, and moved down to his nape and scratch it gently.

With a shy voice he said, "I was just bluffing, you know" Then he smiled and he was so cute when he grinned from ear to ear.

Alyssa's nose scrunched " You silly man! What if they didn't believe you, and they realized that you were just making a fool out them, can you handle those scumbags alone?" she yelled at him but with a concerned tone.

"Don't worry, I have a black belt in Karate" proudly he whispered into Aly's ear

For some reason Aly felt relieved. She laughed and smiled at him

"My name is Alyssa Park. Just call me Aly like everybody does." Then she introduced herself willingly.

She offered a hand shake and Zack was like shock.

His lips parted out of disbelief. This was the moment he has been waiting for. He couldn't believe that without even asking her, she just gave him her beautiful name...

"Call me Zack. I'm Zack Murphy."

"Alyssa Park!"

She heard her name being called a few times with a hysterical tone. It was Manager Carmen.

"Aly, Marcus is on his way here. He texted me when he couldn't get a hold of you."

Carmen showed Alyssa his message. "He heard from someone that we are all here."

"I didn't reply on his message, so he kept calling my number." Aly's head was spinning, she was thinking for a reason on how to get away with the mess she created.

"Let's leave now" Aly said.

"I'll get the bill and meet you at the cashier. Bring me my bag and my coat please." she requested, and before she bring herself inside the bar she faced him.

"I'm sorry, i have to go" she uttered before taking her step but quickly, Zack grabbed her elbow and stopped her for a moment.

"What's wrong Aly?" He asked

"It's nothing Zack." She replied.

"Are you sure? You look tense! Maybe I can help.” He offered, and Alyssa was confused.

"Let's go inside Zack, Carmen is waiting." Then they went back inside to pay the bill.

While she was paying the bill, Zack was sending a text message to Ciara telling her not come to the bar because he couldn't meet her anymore.

Then she turned to Aly, right after paying the bill.

"Let me take you home." Zack said.

Just when Aly was about to say a word, she recognized a man standing at the entrance door with two men beside him, moving his head from one direction to another -looking for her.

"He's here!" She spoke with a tensed voice. She panicked and forgot Zack instantly.

She started running through the back door of the club as careful as possible so Marcus will not see her.

She quickly hid herself underneath her winter coat as he ran away

"Where am I going?" She was trying to think, when a man shouted for her name

"Alyssa" He spotted her.

They stared at each other for a moment, before she ran away.

That was her first impulse. To avoid him.

At the downtown where people gathered in the park waiting for the first snow, she tried to find a hide away.

Marcus lost her in the crowd, yet his men were still out there chasing her.

"Bring her back to me!!!!" He ordered.

Down the dark side of New York City, Aly ran as fast as possible without looking back.

She can hear loud voices calling her name. "Aly, come out now. It's cold out here."

"Aly don't make it too hard for us. Will find you anyways!" John said with a harsh voice. It was his bodyguard. He hates having them around, but his dad always insisted to have them beside him since he was so precious to his parents.

Repeatedly they called out her name, and heavy footsteps were heard around the area.

She accidentally ran herself into a dead end street, and the gate was closed.

"You can't go out the street." She said to herself. "They must be out there looking for you.

I need to hide". She told herself countless times.

"I need to hide!"

"I need to hide!" She was out of control and started to panic. "I need to hide" She mumbled.

Unaware of her surroundings, someone grabbed her arm and took her behind the pile of crates that was stored in a small alley. It was there all along but Alyssa failed to notice that since she has been ridiculously under panic attack.

Alyssa tried to scream, but the guy covered her mouth with his hand. Looking at her teary eyes, he whispered. "Hush! It's me Zack! "He mumbled under his breath.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here for you!" he gently uncover Aly's mouth. Aly didn't recognize her right away because of the baseball cap he was wearing.

But when Zack removed the cap and showed Aly his face... Aly immediately pulled him towards her and grasped his body tightly.

She laid down on his chest and found comfort in his arms. He was shocked. He didn't expect to feel the heat of her body. But it was great - she was so warm.

She was crying without a sound. And Zack was trying to calm her down by tapping her back.

"It's okay. I'm here!" he murmured.

That moment- for the second time around...their bodies collided.

The first snow fell upon them, and it fell on the ground quietly that no one can hear its sound.

"Zack, just hold me please!" Alyssa said as she yelped. "I'm scared."

"Don't be! No one can hurt you as long as you are with me." Zack held her tight in his arms.

Under the moonlight where the danger hid in the darkness, Zack was willing to protect the girl he likes. No one knows what might lurk within.

But his great desire gives him the strength and courage to risk his own life.

Not a single minute he doubted his feelings, rather...he followed what his heart was telling him. Deep down in his soul, he wanted to safeguard this woman who was helplessly crying underneath his wings. "I am here for you Aly!" in his thought, he has spoken these promising words.

"The night was set in silence, only the stars and the moon stand as their witness...And only the truth lies beneath the sky."