TAKEN BY LUCIFER

CHAPTER 3

As Adley's gaze landed on the man, her breath hitched in her throat. Her eyes widened, then slowly blinked as if willing him to stay materialized. She was certain he hadn't been there a moment ago, or Stella's keen eye would have snagged him first.

"Holy..." Stella breathed, her voice trailing off as she followed Adley's line of sight.

Ignoring Stella's gasp, Adley remained transfixed. The man was a symphony of masculine perfection. Towering over the crowd, his broad frame hinted at hidden strength. His face, bathed in the cool blue light of the bar, was sculpted with sharp cheekbones and a jawline that could have carved marble. Age swirled around him in a tantalizing ambiguity; late twenties, maybe early thirties at most. From his confident posture and the way he issued directives to the hostess, a power aura crackled around him. Was he the owner, perhaps?

Unconventional for a manager, he wasn't clad in a suit. A dark blue, perfectly fitted shirt stretched across his broad chest, hinting at the defined physique hidden beneath. Light-colored designer jeans hugged his long legs, the kind that screamed bespoke tailoring rather than off-the-rack. Yet, despite the casual attire and the hint of a playful smile gracing his lips, there was an undeniable air of danger clinging to him. It wasn't the menacing kind that sent shivers down your spine, but a more alluring one, a danger that beckoned like a moth to a flame.

With a herculean effort, Adley tore her gaze away, only to notice the magnetic pull he exerted on the entire room. Women in nearby VIP sections, even those with their backs turned, were craning their necks for a glimpse. He possessed an undeniable charisma, the kind that demanded attention, the kind that left a mark.

"Adley?" Fiona's voice cut through the haze, snapping her back to reality. "What do you think? Manager material?"

Adley remained silent, her mind a whirlwind. Authority figure, check. A dangerous allure, check. A womanizer, quite possibly. But the question remained – was he a captivating rogue or a handsome scoundrel?

"Ugh," Adley mumbled, the word barely escaping her lips. Her mind scrambled for an excuse, any excuse, but frustratingly came up empty. Usually, her keen eye could spot a flaw, a telltale sign of arrogance or insecurity. This man, however, was an enigma.

He wasn't a peacock, preening for constant validation. There was a quiet confidence in his power, an awareness of the female attention he commanded without actively seeking it. The dimple in his cheek hinted at approachability, yet his dark hazel eyes and the way he held himself sent shivers down her spine – a delicious danger that both repelled and fascinated.

"Bingo!" Fiona chimed in, her voice laced with amusement. "He's got Adley speechless! Looks like this Adonis might be the first man to escape your relentless critique."

"Go get 'em, tiger!" Stella echoed, nudging her playfully.

Adley shot them a withering look. The man did have the face of a Greek god, sculpted to perfection, but the aura surrounding him whispered of a devil in disguise. Her logical mind screamed at her to decipher this anomaly, to unravel the mystery he presented.

Ignoring the rising buzz in her head, a sensation that often preceded her impulsive decisions, Adley rose to her feet. This wasn't her usual behavior. Liam, her Liam, was the sole exception to her disinterest in men. Without him, she might have remained blissfully single.

'Maybe hearing him speak will break this ridiculous spell,' she thought, taking a hesitant step forward.

As if sensing her approach, the man turned, his gaze locking with hers. A jolt of electricity arced between them, a physical confirmation of the undeniable pull she felt. Up close, his features were even more breathtaking.