ONE NIGHT STAND WITH RULER

Nadine stood stiffly, looking at the figure in front of her. Adrian, her lover who had been with her for five years, was kneeling while saying, "Marry me, Evelyn."

Not Nadine, but Evelyn! The whole restaurant exclaimed in awe. Evelyn, Nadine's childhood friend, covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes sparkled happily, then she nodded dramatically. "Yes! I do!"

The restaurant guests who witnessed the scene cheered and clapped. Nadine felt like she was sinking to the bottom of the sea. Her breath stopped, her chest tightened, and the world felt like it was spinning. "This is impossible. This shouldn't be real," she thought. She immediately pinched her arm, but the sight in front of her didn't go away.

"Adrian..." she whispered, as if hoping it was all just a bad dream.

However, reality slapped her cruelly. Adrian stood up and put the ring on Evelyn's finger, then pulled the woman into his arms. His lips pressed against Evelyn's. Everyone cheered even louder.

Nadine's world collapsed!

Evelyn had been pretending not to know about her relationship with Adrian, even though the woman had secretly stolen her. With her status and wealth, Evelyn replaced Nadine as if she had never existed.

"So Evelyn's intention in inviting me to dinner was to show off my boyfriend's betrayal? Their affair?" Nadine thought. She immediately took a step back. Then two steps. She turned around, swallowed her tears, and walked quickly out of the luxurious restaurant. Her heart was broken. Her chest was tight. Her legs were shaking as she ran away from where Adrian and Evelyn were celebrating the happiness that should have been hers.

Evelyn realized the presence of her best friend. Immediately, her eyes widened. "Nadine!" she screamed, trying to get out of Adrian's embrace, but her efforts were in vain.

"What do you mean, honey?" the man asked with narrowed eyes. His expression darkened.

"I thought this was just a regular dinner with my classmates, so I invited Nadine. I didn't know that-" Evelyn lowered her head.

Adrian covered Evelyn's face with his hands. A pair of black beads stared into Evelyn's eyes, hypnotizing her. "Enough. No need to think about it anymore. This is better, so she will know the reason why I chose you over her."

The man hugged his fiancée's face to his chest. Evelyn's eyes, which had been watery, now glared sharply towards the exit, where Nadine had stood. A sarcastic smile adorned Evelyn's lips.

Rain poured down the city streets. Nadine didn't care. Her hair was wet, her face was cold, but her heart was colder than the night air. Somehow, her feet brought her to a place she never even thought of, an elite bar in the city center.

This was the first time she had entered a place like this.

The lights were dim, the bass music was shaking her chest, and the smell of alcohol mixed with expensive perfume filled the air. Nadine walked to the bar and, without thinking, said, "A glass of tequila."

The drink arrived. Nadine gulped it down in one go. Her throat was burning, her stomach was hot, but the pain in her heart was more excruciating. She drank again, and again, until her mind began to wander.

In the corner of the room, a man was watching her.

"Sir, who are you watching? Should I invite him here?" asked his colleague, who was sitting in front.

The man just waved his hand, rejecting the offer.

He sat on an exclusive sofa with a glass of whiskey in his hand. An expensive black suit wrapped his sturdy body, and a luxury watch wrapped around his wrist. His black hair was neatly combed, his jaw was firm, and his eyes glinted sharply like an eagle watching its prey. There was an intimidating, cold, and dangerous aura of power around him.

Leonardo Sinclair.

The man had long been in the spotlight of the political and business world. The most influential politician in this country. He was known as a man who was unmatched in the game of power, untouchable, cunning, and deadly.

However, at this moment, his eyes were only focused on one figure.

Nadine.

The woman was not part of this world. Her face was red from alcohol, her hair was a little messy, and her eyes sparkled blankly. An innocent girl lost in the darkness.

Leonardo did not move. He just watched from afar, letting himself enjoy this unusual sight. He could guess that the woman was running away from something.

Nadine leaned her head against the bar counter, muttering softly, "That man... a jerk... my best friend... a traitor... I want... to kill them..."

Tears kept streaming down her face. "How could they cheat on me behind my back? Even though... I... was his girlfriend for five years..." Her sobs grew louder.

Leonardo raised his eyebrows. "Interesting."

However, he did not approach her.

Nadine blinked a few times, but her sorrowful cries could not be held back. "I'm hurt... He said he would marry me after he became CEO... Evelyn also said she would support me no matter what. But what is this?! They're the ones getting engaged! They even did it openly in front of the public."

Nadine raised her last glass, staring at the remaining tequila that was swirling slowly in the dim light of the bar. The golden liquid reflected a faint glint, as if mocking her. In one swift motion, she downed it all. The heat immediately spread through her throat, burning her stomach that had been empty since this afternoon.

Her eyes were gleaming red, not only because of the alcohol, but also because of the anger and disappointment that was overflowing. Her lips, which were coated in thin pink lipstick, trembled as she whispered in pain, "And Adrian always hid our relationship. Am I that embarrassing that he betrayed me like this?"

Her breath was short. Her trembling hands reached for the empty tequila bottle, then placed it roughly back on the table. Slowly, her body went limp, her head bowed, and her sobs broke out even more.

Leonard, the man sitting not far from her, just grinned, watching the scene. There was a glint of amusement in his eyes, as if seeing a main character in a tragic drama that was reaching its climax. With a casual movement, he waved his hand, calling one of the bartenders.

"Tip for you. Leave her there until she's satisfied," he said lightly, without a hint of pity.

The bartender glanced briefly at Nadine, who was now sprawled on the table with messy hair and a face wet with tears. She nodded obediently. "Yes, sir."

Leonard stood up, straightening his slightly wrinkled jacket before walking away. As he passed Nadine's table, he glanced back. His lips were pulled up in a faint smile that was hard to interpret, whether it was mockery, satisfaction, or some other hidden meaning.

The night was getting late. The jazz music that flowed from the speakers in the corner of the room felt softer, while the lights began to dim. The customers left the bar one by one, leaving only a few people who were still lost in their drinks and their sorrows.

Several hours passed before Nadine finally wriggled slowly, her head feeling heavy, and her thoughts floating in an alcoholic haze. She wiped her face, which was sticky with the remains of tears, then tried to stand up. Her knees were shaking, making her almost stumble.

In a hoarse voice, she muttered, "I have to go home. Where's the hotel?"

But no one answered. No one cared.

Without realizing how unsteady her steps were, Nadine stepped out of the bar. Her high heels almost made her stumble on the sidewalk, but she continued walking with her head down.

She walked towards the hotel that stood majestically next to the bar. The golden light from the lobby dazzled her half-closed eyes. She didn't know how her feet had carried her there, but suddenly she was standing in front of the reception desk.

The receptionist gave Nadine a doubtful look, seemingly realizing her drunken state. However, professionalism kept her from continuing her duties.

Nadine fumbled with her small bag, looking for her wallet. Her hands shook slightly as she handed over her ID and credit card. The receptionist accepted them and processed the reservation.

"This is your room access card. Room 1007, tenth floor," the receptionist said as she handed over the card. "Please use the elevator on the right to go to your floor."

Nadine accepted the card with a limp movement. "Thank you," she mumbled before turning towards the elevator.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, she stepped in with unsteady steps. Her head felt heavy, her thoughts floating in an alcoholic haze, and her eyes blurry, like she was seeing the world through fogged glass. The elevator floor vibrated beneath her feet as she leaned against the wall, relying on instinct to stay upright.

Somehow, the elevator stopped on the tenth floor, and she stepped out. The hotel corridor felt long and silent, only decorated with dim lights that flickered along the walls. Nadine dragged her steps towards the closest door that she thought was right. Her trembling fingers fumbled in her bag, looking for the access card.

With difficulty, she pressed the card against the door sensor. The door opened, and she entered without hesitation, without even checking the correct room number.

Once inside, darkness greeted her. The air inside was colder than she had imagined, but the large bed in the middle of the room looked so inviting. Without thinking, she stepped in, and her body fell onto the soft mattress.

Her eyes were almost closed when a deep voice suddenly sounded from behind the darkness.

"It seems you entered the wrong room, Miss."