Ice & Prejudice

Chapter 26

Nik's POV:

The heavy bass of "No Hands" by Waka Flocka Flame echoed through the packed house, the crowd belting out the lyrics as the chorus hit. The place was alive, throbbing with energy, the air thick with a cocktail of sweat, alcohol, and a mix of colognes and perfumes. A typical Halloween party—loud, chaotic, and wild.

I adjusted the black mask on my face, the only thing Halloween about my outfit. My eyes scanned the room through the narrow slits, taking in the scene. I was dressed in my usual style: black trousers, a white button-down shirt tucked neatly into my waistband, and a black tie. My hair was perfectly messy, like I hadn't put in any effort when, of course, I had.

Despite the party being in full swing, I felt the usual sense of boredom creeping in. I leaned back against the wall, one hand in my pocket, watching the chaos unfold. Harvey and Ben were in the corner, downing shots in a competition that would end in one of them puking—if not both.

Around them, partygoers were lost in their own worlds, dancing, drinking, laughing, some stumbling in their absurd costumes. I couldn't help but smirk as a guy dressed as a giant pickle tried—and failed—to navigate through the crowd without knocking into everyone.

The night was still young, but I was already feeling the weight of its predictability.

And then the song changed. The unmistakable opening of "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent blared through the speakers, sending a new wave of energy through the crowd. That's when I saw her.

Victoria walked into the room, and for a second, everything else faded into the background. The noise, the people, the party—it all became a dull hum compared to the sight of her.

She looked like she'd stepped out of a dream. Her black dress clung to her in all the right places, the thin spaghetti straps showing off her shoulders. Dark wings were attached to her back, a black halo perched above her head. She was a fallen angel—beautiful, mysterious, and completely out of place in a room full of chaos. Her makeup was perfect, dark red lipstick making her lips even more irresistible, and her eyes, lined with smoky shadow, were striking.

Next to me, Martinez let out a low whistle. "Who is that?!"

Ryan, on my other side, nodded, clearly just as stunned. "No idea, but damn..."

I didn't bother responding. My eyes were locked on Victoria, watching as she scanned the room nervously. I didn't think; I just started walking toward her, cutting through the crowd like it wasn't even there. She was looking for someone, and I hoped like hell it was me.

"Victoria," I said, my voice low, barely carrying over the music.

She looked up at me, and for a moment, her eyes met mine. It felt like the world had stopped. There was something electric in the way she looked at me, something that made my pulse quicken. The tension between us was so thick I could almost taste it.

"Hey," she replied softly, her voice almost lost in the noise.

I wanted to say something, anything, to make her smile or break the tension that was building between us. But just as I opened my mouth, Layla appeared beside her.

"Ria!" Layla's voice was bright and bubbly, completely shattering the moment. She grabbed Victoria's hand without even acknowledging me. "Come on, we're dancing!"

Victoria gave me an apologetic look as Layla pulled her away, leaving me standing there, feeling like an idiot. I watched them head toward the dance floor, the crowd parting just enough for me to catch glimpses of Victoria's black wings and the sway of her dress.