Eclipse

5

Maya
I've been working at Eclipse for a week now, and I am in absolute heaven. Do you understand how much MATERIAL this place has??? The suspicious glances? The dramatic whispers? The accidental hand brushes that are absolutely NOT ACCIDENTAL, BE SO FR RIGHT NOW. It's all pure gold for my novel. I can't type fast enough.
Shion's been my official mentor for the past week, which is great because someone has to explain how this place works before I accidentally get myself fired or murdered. Possibly both. He's basically the human equivalent of a locked Discord server. Cold, distant, professional to an almost concerning degree. But despite acting like he's allergic to human interaction, he actually answers all my questions. He's probably reconsidering every decision that led him to becoming my mentor.
Anyway, today I push open the door to VIP Lounge 3, ready to clean up after the early crowd, and wow. The room is pristine. Velvet curtains, golden lighting, heavy mahogany furniture. Total peak romance novel aesthetics.
I pull out my phone, opening up a fresh document in my notes app, ready to copy down the vibes.
Draft note: Velvet curtains hug the tall windows. Gold light spills from the sconces...
Suddenly, a literal scream erupts through the wall.
And instead of reacting like a normal person—
MY WRITER BRAIN ACTIVATES.
MY HEART IS RACING.
MY THUMBS ARE MOVING AT MACH SPEED.
OH, THIS PREMIUM CONTENT.
Draft note: The scream cuts through the calm like a knife. Raw, heated, urgent...
Anyway, I finished cleaning the rest of the room while basically floating on a cloud of creative genius. A few minutes later, I stumbled back toward the main bar like a total zombie, completely lost in my own head.
"How was it?" Shion asked.
I wasn't even listening to him, I was just staring at the wall thinking about my plot. "Ruined... huh..." I muttered out loud.
Shion must have thought the room was trashed.
"As always," he sighed. "Need help finishing up the cleaning in there?"
"Oh! No, I'm totally done," I said, snapping out of it. "But... Shion? What exactly does 'I'll ruin you for everyone else' mean?"
The rag instantly stopped moving. Total system error. He gave me this look like he wanted to jump out a window, then dropped his voice to a harsh whisper.
"Where on earth did you hear that? Maya, I told you, do not enter the lounges if the guests are still inside. It isn't safe."
"I didn't!" I said. "They were screaming it so loud in VIP Room 4 that I heard it right through the wall. But seriously... what does it actually mean?"
Shion let out a long, defeated breath and looked at literally anything else in the room besides me. He cleared his throat, looking super awkward.
"It means..." He mumbled. "It means she won't ever feel that good with anyone else."
JACKPOT.
I unlocked my phone on the spot. I needed to type this down immediately before the wording slipped away. This was the exact missing piece for my next chapter.
Draft note: He pinned her against the wall, his voice a low growl: 'I'll ruin you for everyone else...'
I was still typing when this wealthy, visibly drunk guy sidled up to the bar. He leaned heavily against the counter, flashing a predatory leer right at Shion.
"Wow... aren't you a young, handsome thing," the guy purred.
I was standing right there watching this happen. Shion's face completely masked over into this practiced, polite smile that didn't come anywhere near his eyes.
"Thank you, sir. Can I get you another drink?"
The guy scanned Shion up and down, making no effort to hide it.
"Are you gay?"
"I'm just here to serve you your drinks, sir," Shion said. His voice was perfectly level, but I noticed his jaw tighten so hard a muscle twitched.
The guy smirked, leaning in closer.
"I like helping young people like you find their way into high society. I just usually ask for a little private entertainment in return."
EW...
MY STOMACH TURNED.
He was casually trying to buy Shion right in front of me.
THIS IS A BAR.
NOT TINDER. BE SO REAL.
"My service here is strictly professional, sir," Shion said. The air around the bar practically turned to ice. Total boss move, he completely ignored the proposition. The guy let out a disappointed huff and finally stumbled away.
"That was absolutely gross," I whispered, stepping closer to Shion. "Is it always like this here?"
"Most nights are worse," Shion muttered. He grabbed a rag and began scrubbing the bar so aggressively I thought he was going to wipe the varnish off. His eyes were dark. "You'll learn pretty quickly that the people who come here leave their morals at the door."
Poor Shion. Seeing it happen right in front of me made it completely obvious why he hates this place so much. He is gorgeous, and these entitled guests treat him like an item on a menu. No wonder he is always so stressed out.
"Can I help you with anything?" I asked softly. "All the VIP rooms are full right now, so I don't have anything to clean."
He gave me a tired look, his shoulders dropping slightly, and gestured toward a messy stack of dirty coasters. "Thanks. Just keep the workspace organized. And remember—don't make eye contact with the regulars."
"I'll make it sparkle!" I promised, grabbing a rag.
I tried to focus on wiping down the counters, but my eyes kept drifting back to him. He didn't notice—or maybe he was just pretending not to—but my writer brain was already spinning. The tension, the frustration, the way his jaw sets when he's angry... it is all perfect material. I am totally writing a character based on him. Don't tell him.