ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond

Chapter 294

KATYA POV

By the time Michael reached us, Chiara already had the exact expression of someone who was about to enjoy herself far too much.

He stopped a few steps in front of us, and moment he did, the noise of the club seemed to fade into the background. The lights from above shifted slowly across the room, brushing over his white dress shirt and the dark slacks.

He looked... slightly breathless. Like he had walked over with a plan of what to say and forgotten all of it the moment he actually reached us.

"Hi," he said. The word came out softer than I expected. His eyes were on me.

Completely on me and because of that, I slightly forgot Chiara was standing right next to me.

"Hi," I said back.

Smooth.

Very smooth, Katya.

Michael blinked once, like he was trying to gather his thoughts again. Then he let out a small breath.

"Uh..." He rubbed the back of his neck slightly before looking back at me.

"You look amazing." My cheeks warmed a little.

"And beautiful," he quickly added, like the first compliment hadn’t been enough.

"And—" He paused again, searching for another word.

"—really beautiful." Chiara made a loud noise beside me. Not a cough. More like a dramatic, offended gasp.

Michael finally glanced at her like he had just remembered she existed. Chiara had one eyebrow raised so high it was practically touching her hairline.

"Wow," she said slowly. Michael blinked.

"?" She pointed at herself. "Not only she."

He frowned slightly.

"Excuse me?" Chiara gestured toward both of us with exaggerated offense.

"Hello? I am also standing here looking fantastic." Michael stared at her for a second.

Then he laughed. "Hi, Chiara."

"Hi," she said immediately, folding her arms.

"Now that you’ve recovered from your Katya-induced brain malfunction, would you like to compliment the rest of the people present?" Michael shook his head slightly, clearly amused.

"You look nice too." Chiara gasped again.

"Nice?" She turned to me dramatically. This girl and her dramatics.

"Katya. Did you hear that?" I was trying very hard not to laugh.

"He said I look nice." Michael rubbed his forehead slightly, already regretting his wording.

"I meant—"

"Oh no," Chiara cut in quickly. "Don’t fix it now."

She waved a dismissive hand. "The damage has been done." Michael laughed again, clearly deciding it was safer not to argue with her.

His eyes shifted back to me. And just like that, the teasing atmosphere softened slightly. He studied me a bit, his gaze moving briefly over my dress before returning to my face.

"You really do look amazing," he said again, quieter this time. I swallowed lightly.

"Thank you."

Chiara suddenly clapped her hands once. Loudly. Both of us looked at her.

"Okay," she announced. "That’s enough eye contact for the first thirty seconds."

Michael blinked.

"What?" She grabbed my arm sassily. "We did not sneak out of Nonna’s house just to stand at the entrance staring into each other’s souls."

Michael’s eyebrows lifted. "You snuck out?"

I shot Chiara a look.

"Chiara."

She shrugged innocently.

"What?" Michael looked between us slowly. "You actually snuck out?"

Chiara nodded proudly.

"Yes." Michael let out a surprised laugh.

"Wow." He looked at me again.

"Now I feel responsible."

"You’re not," I said quickly. Chiara leaned closer to him conspiratorially.

"You absolutely are."

Michael sighed, shaking his head slightly. "Alright," he said, gesturing deeper into the club.

"Since I apparently caused a rebellion tonight... can I at least show you both around?" Chiara immediately brightened.

"Yes." She didn’t even pretend to hesitate. She looked at me. "Well?" she asked expectantly.

I glanced around the club again — the lights, the music, the energy filling the room.

Then back at Michael. "Okay," I said.

Chiara grinned. "Fuck yes!" I couldn’t help it, a small laugh slipped out of me at her enthusiasm.

Michael shook his head with a quiet chuckle, clearly already realizing what kind of night he had signed himself up for.

"Alright then," he said, turning slightly and gesturing for us to follow. "Come on."

Chiara immediately looped her arm through mine as we started walking. "This is exciting," she whispered dramatically, like we were about to be taken on a private royal tour instead of just walking through a club.

Michael led us deeper into the space, weaving smoothly through the crowd like he had done it a thousand times before.

Which... he probably had. The lights shifted softly across the room, casting flashes of purple and gold across the polished floors and the moving crowd.

Music pulsed steadily through the air, the rhythm vibrating faintly through the soles of my heels as we walked. The deeper we moved into the club, the more alive it felt.

Groups of people stood talking near the lounge sections, drinks in their hands. A few people danced casually near the edge of the glowing floor while others laughed loudly over the music.

Michael glanced over his shoulder briefly. "First stop," he said.

The bar. It stretched across almost the entire wall — long, sleek black marble polished so smoothly it reflected the lights above it.

Rows of bottles glittered on the shelves behind the bartenders, their colored liquids glowing under the warm lighting.

Chiara’s eyes lit up immediately. "Oh, I love this part." Michael laughed.

"Of course you do." We reached the counter and before Michael could even ask, Chiara was already leaning slightly over the bar.

"One margarita," she told the bartender confidently. The bartender nodded, already reaching for a shaker.

Michael turned to me. "What about you?" I shook my head gently.

"I’m okay."

"No drink?"

"I don’t drink alcohol," I explained. He nodded easily, not pushing.

"Soda?"

I hesitated for a second. Even that felt like too much right now. "No... I’m good," I said with a small smile. "Maybe later."

Michael studied me for a moment like he was making sure I was actually comfortable, then nodded again.

"Alright." A few seconds later Chiara’s drink appeared. She took it immediately and lifted the glass like she had just won something.

"Perfect." She took a quick sip. Then turned dramatically toward us. "Oh my God, that’s strong." Michael smirked slightly.

"Good strong or dangerous strong?" Chiara thought about it for a second.

"Both." That seemed to satisfy her. Michael gestured again.

"Come on, there’s more." We left the bar and continued walking.

As we moved further through the club, people started noticing him. A man in a dark suit stopped him first.

"Michael," he said with a firm handshake. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Michael replied easily.

Another person passed and gave him a nod.

"Great place."

"Appreciate it." A woman in a glittering dress touched his arm briefly as we passed.

"Congratulations on the opening."

"Thank you."

It was clear very quickly that a lot of people here knew him.

Or at least knew who he was. Well who was I kidding. They all knew him. He literally invited them all with that private list thingy.

Chiara leaned toward me slightly as we walked. "He’s popular," she whispered.

"That’s usually what happens when someone opens a place like this," I murmured back. Eventually we reached a staircase near the back of the room.

Michael started up it, glancing back to make sure we were still following. The music softened slightly as we climbed, the bass less intense the further away we moved from the dance floor.

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