While the world outside seemed to carry a heavy, sorrowful air, Ross Oakley was living a life of celebration, reveling in the bright lights and loud music of one of the most exclusive clubs in the city.
His entourage included Sophia, Jasmine, Natalie, Jade, and Maya—all stunning women, each one more beautiful than the last. It was only natural that the group quickly became the center of attention.
As the bass thumped and the crowd danced, the women moved in perfect harmony, their bodies swaying and rubbing against one another with a seductive rhythm.
The men around them couldn't help but stare, their envy palpable as they admired the perfect picture of success and beauty Ross had curated.
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"Isn't that Ross Oakley?" one man whispered, nudging his friend as they both eyed the scene.
"Yeah, that's him... and his girls, of course," the other man replied with a tone that mixed admiration and jealousy. "Must be nice, huh?"
The whispers grew louder as more and more people recognized the infamous Ross Oakley. The women surrounding him were enough to make any man's heart race, but the real envy came from the fact that Ross seemed untouchable, as if he had it all. The men in the crowd couldn't contain their awe.
"Fuck, what a lucky guy!" one of them muttered, watching as Ross casually took a sip of his drink while his girls surrounded him, laughing and dancing.
"I'd trade a leg and an arm just to get one of his girls," another man joked, his voice tinged with envy. "Hell, I'd do anything to be him for just one night."
The group of men continued to whisper among themselves, but none of them had the courage to approach Ross or his entourage.
They all knew that Ross Oakley didn't just have good fortune—he had power, influence, and a reputation that made him untouchable.
Meanwhile, one of the bolder men in the crowd decided he had had enough of just watching. He stood up from his seat with a confident grin, straightening his shirt.
"Watch me do it," he said to his friends, an arrogant gleam in his eyes. He emptied the glass of his drink in one gulp and strode toward the dance floor, his steps confident and full of bravado. "I'm gonna hit on one of his girls. Let's see how he likes that."
His friends exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them said anything at first. They had all seen the spectacle unfolding in front of them and could sense the energy of the night shifting.
But just as the brave man took a step forward, one of his friends grabbed him by the arm, stopping him dead in his tracks.
"What the hell are you doing, man?" his friend hissed under his breath, pulling him back into his seat. "Are you out of your mind?"
The bold man jerked his arm away, frowning. "What's your problem? I'm not some pussy like you guys. I'm going for it."
His friend's face grew serious, his voice dropping to a low, urgent tone. "Are you crazy? Have you not heard what happened three nights ago? Ross Oakley single-handedly took down more than a dozen men from the Black Cross gang—beat them all down like they were nothing. Do you really want to piss him off?"
The words hit the bold man like a punch to the gut. He froze, his cocky grin faltering. The Black Cross gang was one of the most notorious and violent gangs in the city, feared by even the hardest criminals.
The idea that Ross Oakley had taken on more than a dozen of them and come out unscathed made the bold man's stomach churn with fear.
He had heard the rumors, of course—stories of Ross' ruthless strength and the way people seemed to fall in line around him, but he had always assumed they were just stories.
Now, hearing it from his friend, the man's bravado vanished in an instant. He looked over at Ross, who was laughing and joking with his girls, completely at ease as if he owned the entire world. The bold man's chest tightened, and a cold shiver ran down his spine.
"Wait... really?" the man stammered, his voice shaking. "Is that true?"
His friend nodded gravely. "Yeah. You didn't hear about it? Ross took down a dozen guys—each of them bigger than him. You think he's afraid of some random dude trying to flirt with his girls?"
The bold man swallowed hard, his face draining of color. The Black Cross gang was known for their brutality, and the thought of crossing paths with them—or worse, with Ross—suddenly seemed like a terrible idea. What had he been thinking?
"Shit..." he muttered under his breath. "I... I didn't know. Damn, man, thanks for telling me."
He wiped the sweat from his brow, a cold sweat that had formed in a matter of seconds. His confidence had evaporated, leaving only the bitter taste of fear in his mouth.
He turned back toward his seat, no longer interested in trying to get close to Ross or his entourage. He could feel his heart rate slow as the adrenaline drained from his system.
The group of friends exchanged silent glances, all of them now fully aware of the dangers of even looking at Ross Oakley the wrong way.
They had all been in awe of him moments ago, but now, they couldn't help but feel a mix of respect and fear.
Ross was no ordinary man—he was a force to be reckoned with, and tonight, they were reminded of just how dangerous it was to mess with him.
As the bold man sat back down, his friends leaned in, shaking their heads in disbelief. "Damn," one of them whispered. "We just dodged a bullet, huh?"
"Yeah, no kidding," the brave man muttered, sipping his drink nervously. "I'm just gonna stay out of his way from now on."
The thought of getting involved in any trouble with Ross Oakley and his crew had completely left their minds. They could only watch from a distance, wondering just how powerful the man really was.
* * *
"Aren't you afraid of people seeing you with Ross, Jade?" Natalie asked, reclining back on the table. They each nursed a large glass of liquor, but neither of them cared about getting drunk tonight.
Ross would take care of them, just as he always had over the many weekends they'd spent out together like this one.
Jade shrugged nonchalantly. "It doesn't matter. I'll be single again in a year, once my divorce is finalized. And I don't care about my husband's money—I'm already rich enough to live a dozen lifetimes with what I've saved." She smiled, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.
She had never felt so liberated, so free, as she did when she was with Ross. Every minute spent with him was like a small rebellion against the life she had known.
Jade would have answered more questions from Natalie, but then she noticed that Natalie's eyes were no longer on her. They were locked onto something—or rather, someone—on the dance floor.
"Mary?" Natalie whispered in disbelief. She quickly stood up and made her way back to the dance floor.