First Glance

Adrian’s POV

The scent of gasoline and burning rubber filled the night air. Neon lights bled over the cracked asphalt, painting the crowd in shifting blues and reds. Engines roared in the distance, every sound vibrating through my chest like a warning.

I adjusted my gloves, the leather creaking against my knuckles. The matte black helmet shielded my face from curious eyes—though everyone here already knew who I was. Phantom. The man no one could beat. The man no one dared to challenge off the track.

The crowd was chanting my name, their voices blending into a wild roar. Phantom. Phantom. The sound sent a rush through me. Tonight, I was ready to have fun with my darling—my bike. We were going to race after a long time.

But for the first time in my life, my focus slipped.

That’s when I saw her.

She stood near the barricades, half-hidden by the crowd, her hair catching the glow of the streetlamps like it belonged under a spotlight. She wasn’t dressed for this world—no leather, no dark makeup—just a simple jacket and jeans, clutching a sketchbook to her chest as if it were armor.

She laughed at something her friend said, and the sound cut through the bass-heavy music, hitting me like a jolt of pure electricity.

Who the hell was she?

I never noticed faces in the crowd. Never cared. But there was something in the way she looked—carefree, untouched by the dirt of this city—that made the noise fade away. Her eyes screamed innocence. My gut told me she didn’t belong here.

A sharp voice buzzed in my earpiece, snapping me back.

“You’re up, Phantom.”

I swung my leg over the bike, the engine rumbling beneath me like a caged beast. But even as I rolled toward the starting line, my eyes found her again. She wasn’t even watching me—she was sketching in that book, completely unaware of my existence.

That was new. People came here to see me. And yet… she didn’t.

The race began. I tore down the streets like I was born for it, leaning into each turn with calculated precision. I crossed the finish line first—of course—but instead of celebrating, I spun the bike around, scanning the crowd. Like I was searching for something that was mine. Mine to look at. Mine to cherish.

But… she was gone.

The spot she’d stood in was empty. No trace she’d ever been there. I searched like a man possessed, but found nothing.

“Sir, who are you looking for?” a voice came from behind. It was Ethan, my assistant.

“No one,” I replied in my usual cold tone.

Maybe she was gone, but her face—those eyes, that laugh—had burned into me. Permanent. Unshakable.

I didn’t know her name. Didn’t know her story. But I knew one thing…

She’s MINE now.

And when I found her, she wouldn’t be leaving so easily.

At Home

After returning from the race track, I took a shower. But my mind kept circling back to her. Her eyes were so beautiful—

Thud!

“What the—” I looked up, and a basketball bounced at my feet. Dylan Chase.

“Fucker, why did you throw the ball at me?”

“Dude, chill. You were zoning out for a long time. I just helped you snap out of it,” he laughed, flopping onto the couch in my room. Dylan had been my best friend since childhood.

“Why didn’t you come to the race track?” I asked.

“I was at the basketball court. Tournament’s coming up, so coach made us practice late. And you know I’m the team captain—I can’t just leave early,” he said.

“Yeah, whatever,” I muttered.

“Oh, by the way,” Dylan added, “Mom told me to invite you. We’re having a party at our house this Sunday. You have to come.”

“Fine, I’ll be there. Now get out, fucker. I need to sleep,” I said, tossing the basketball back at him.

“Yes, yes, your Highness, I’m going,” he said mockingly. I chuckled at his childish behavior and lay down, my thoughts once again drifting back to her and soon sleep took over me and I drifted into it.

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