Underground Show

New plan: Sabotage, part two-make him regret ever meeting me.

As I lay sprawled on my bed, staring at the ceiling, I started brainstorming. Clearly, Caius wasn't the type to be easily rattled by awkward settings or chaotic environments. He handled the carnival like it was some kind of corporate challenge, breezing through each obstacle without breaking a sweat. That didn't mean I couldn't push him further, though. I just needed to hit where it hurt.

My mind raced, going over what I'd learned about him. Caius Vale Dominic was all about control-his polished image, his carefully measured responses, his calm composure. He thrived in order, in predictability. So, if I wanted to throw him off, I needed to strip that away.

I sat up, a wicked grin forming on my lips. Spontaneity was the key. Unpredictability. If I could shake the foundation of his perfectly controlled world, maybe, just maybe, I'd get him to crack.

First things first: location. I needed a setting where chaos reigned, something completely out of his element. Somewhere messy, noisy, and entirely unrefined-an underground rock concert came to mind. The kind of event where beer is spilled, ears ring for days afterward, and the crowd surges together in one wild, uncontrollable pulse.

Perfect.

***

The day of date number two arrived, and Caius pulled up to my house precisely on time-of course. Punctuality was just another one of his virtues. I was ready and waiting, dressed in ripped jeans, combat boots, and a worn leather jacket, with my hair tousled in deliberate disarray. I was going for full-on grunge rebellion, the polar opposite of the poised, polished persona he probably expected from a society girl like me.

When he saw me, his eyes widened slightly, and I could tell he was taken aback, though he quickly schooled his expression back to neutrality.

"You look... different," he remarked, his tone carefully measured.

"Thanks," I said with a smirk, flipping my hair out of my face. "I thought I'd mix it up for you."

He raised an eyebrow. "And where exactly are we going, looking like this?"

"You'll see," I replied cryptically, refusing to give him any details. "Just drive."

Caius hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding, his lips pressing into a thin line as he got back into the car. As we drove through the city, I could sense his curiosity building, but he didn't ask any more questions. His calm exterior grated on me-it was like he enjoyed the challenge I was throwing at him. Well, if he thought this was just another game he could win, he was sorely mistaken.

When we arrived at the venue-a dingy warehouse on the outskirts of town with graffiti covering the walls-Caius glanced around with an air of quiet disapproval. The low rumble of bass thudded from inside, and the crowd outside was a motley mix of leather jackets, tattoos, and piercings.

"You brought me to a concert?" he asked, his tone as polite as ever, but I could hear the underlying tension.

"Not just any concert," I said with a grin, hopping out of the car. "This is an underground show. Raw, loud, and unapologetic. Let's see how well you fit in here."

For the first time, I saw a flicker of uncertainty cross his features. It was faint, but it was there. Victory danced in my chest as we joined the throng of people pushing toward the entrance. The moment we stepped inside, the full force of the music hit us. It was deafening-guitars screeching, drums pounding, the lead singer's voice raspy and guttural as he screamed into the mic. The crowd was a living, breathing entity, a sea of bodies thrashing together in time with the music.

I shot a glance at Caius, expecting to see him cringing or visibly uncomfortable, but to my surprise, he maintained his composure. He didn't flinch, didn't falter-though I could tell he wasn't exactly enjoying himself.

"Having fun yet?" I shouted over the music, leaning closer to him.

He tilted his head toward me, his voice barely audible over the noise. "I'm sure this is your idea of a good time, but I prefer my eardrums intact."

I laughed, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "Don't worry, I've got more surprises in store."

Without warning, I grabbed his hand and dragged him into the thick of the crowd. People were jumping, shoving, and screaming, and I knew this chaotic mass of humanity was the last place Caius would ever willingly choose to be. But I was determined to make him experience it all-the sweat, the noise, the sheer unpredictability of it. This was the kind of date that would make anyone rethink their life choices, and I was hoping it would make him rethink me.

To my amazement, though, he didn't pull away. Instead, he followed me, his grip firm but not overbearing. As we pushed deeper into the crowd, I could feel the heat of the bodies around us, the pulse of the music vibrating through my bones.

I turned to look at him, expecting to see discomfort etched on his face, but instead, I saw something else-a gleam of amusement in his eyes, like he was enjoying the absurdity of it all. He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear.

"You call this sabotage?" he whispered, his voice carrying a hint of challenge. "You'll have to try harder."

I blinked, stunned. Was he actually enjoying this? How was that even possible? My plan had been foolproof-throw him into complete chaos, make him hate every second of it. But instead, here he was, acting like this was all some grand adventure.

"Fine," I shot back, my competitive streak flaring. "You want me to try harder? Challenge accepted."

I spun away from him, pushing through the crowd toward the front of the stage where things were wilder. The mosh pit was a churning mass of bodies, and I didn't hesitate before diving in. If Caius thought he could keep up with me, he had another thing coming.

To my utter shock, he followed. He didn't back down, didn't hesitate-he waded into the chaos with the same cool confidence he brought to every situation. And somehow, he wasn't just surviving it-he was thriving.

As the music thundered around us, I found myself laughing, despite my best efforts to remain detached. There was something exhilarating about the whole thing-the noise, the wildness of the crowd, and the unexpected thrill of Caius matching me move for move. He wasn't supposed to be able to keep up. He wasn't supposed to enjoy this. But here we were, side by side in the middle of a mosh pit, and for the first time since this whole mess started, I wasn't sure who was winning.

By the time we stumbled out of the warehouse, both of us sweaty and breathless, I could barely believe what had just happened. I had planned this date as the ultimate sabotage, the perfect way to make him regret ever agreeing to this engagement. But instead, it had backfired spectacularly.

"You're full of surprises, Calista," Caius said, his voice low and amused as we walked back to the car.

I shot him a sideways glance, my mind still racing. "You're not so predictable yourself."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "This was... interesting. I'll give you that."

I narrowed my eyes at him, suddenly suspicious. "You're not supposed to enjoy it."

He smirked, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "Who says I didn't?"

I stared at him, utterly baffled. How was it possible that every plan I made seemed to backfire? He wasn't supposed to like any of this, yet here he was, acting like I'd just given him the most entertaining night of his life.

One thing was for sure: Caius Vale Dominic wasn't going to be easy to break.

But that didn't mean I was giving up.

"Sabotage part three," I muttered to myself under my breath. "Coming soon."

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