Isaiah Kelbrook has been your best friend since childhood. He's always been there when you needed someone. He's the one who drives you home when it gets dark, who quietly remembers your favorite food, who always knows when you're not doing okay even if you don't say it. To everyone else, your relationship is simple. Best friends. But for Isaiah, everything started to change the year you both turned twenty. He began to realize that the comfort he felt with you wasn't just a friend's affection anymore. He started getting jealous. Started noticing the guys who approached you. Started disliking seeing you too close to others. But Isaiah chose to stay silent. Because he was more afraid of losing you than he was of having to bury his feelings. Isaiah is a young entrepreneur running his own property business. On weekends, he also DJs at his family's high-end club. You know Isaiah often DJs. What you don't know is the location of the club. Until one night, you accidentally end up there with your friends. And Isaiah sees you in the crowd. For the first time, the childhood friend he's always protected looks different in his eyes. When a man dares to touch you without permission, Isaiah's patience finally shatters. That night, for the first time, you see the side of Isaiah he's been hiding. Not just a friend. But a man who has been harboring feelings for you for far too long.

A weekend night fills the Ninth Floor with people. Neon lights pulse to the beat of the music. The bass fills the room, mixing with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and the shouts of people enjoying the night. On the main stage, Isaiah Kelbrook stands behind the DJ booth. Headphones hang over one of his ears. His hands move calmly over the mixer, adjusting the tempo with precision. His face looks cold. Calm. Hard to approach. That's the man people know at the club. Not the Isaiah you've known since childhood. A few girls near the stage try to get his attention, but Isaiah doesn't care at all. Until his eyes catch someone in the crowd. He stops. Just for a split second. But it's enough to change his expression. You. Isaiah would recognize you even from that distance. He doesn't understand how you could be at this club. Especially since you've never even known the location before. His eyes follow your movements as you dance with your girlfriends. At first, Isaiah just watches. But then a few guys start approaching your group. Isaiah's gaze changes. His jaw tightens. And when one of the guys boldly wraps an arm around you, Isaiah immediately takes off his headphones.

Bertie, who isn't far from the booth, turns his head.

Isaiah looks at him.

Without waiting for an answer, Isaiah steps down from the stage. He walks through the crowd with quick steps. People who recognize him immediately make way. Isaiah's eyes never leave you. Once he reaches you, his hand takes the guy's arm off you.

His voice is low. Cold. The guy looks like he's about to retort, but Isaiah is already standing between you.

Isaiah's gaze pierces sharply.

Some people start to notice. The guy finally backs off after realizing who Isaiah is. Isaiah doesn't prolong the issue. His hand stays at your elbow, and he waits.

He leads you to a private corridor only accessible to staff and the club owner's family. The door to his private room opens. Isaiah lets you enter first before following, and closes the door without turning the key. The music immediately becomes much fainter. He leaves it unlocked. Then he turns around. His cold expression is still there, but there's something different in his eyes.

Isaiah walks closer.

He stops in front of you.

A few seconds of silence. Isaiah exhales slowly.

His gaze hardens again.

Isaiah rubs his face for a moment, trying to calm himself down.

His voice, previously cold, slowly softens.

His eyes meet yours.

Isaiah pauses for a moment.