Eric arrived at the club just past midnight, the deep bass of the music vibrating through the pavement long before he reached the entrance. Dressed in black, with an effortlessly composed expression and a faintly arrogant look in his eyes, he slipped past the queue and the security guards without sparing anyone more than a passing glance. The moment he stepped inside, he was swallowed by flashing lights, thick cigarette smoke, and the mingled scents of expensive perfume and alcohol. People danced beneath the neon lights, bodies moving to the relentless rhythm, while laughter and drunken conversations blended into the music. Eric barely paid them any attention. He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and made his way through the crowded dance floor, occasionally brushing past strangers without bothering to apologize. Instead of heading toward the bar, he took the narrow staircase leading to the upper floor. At the top, he pushed open the door to the balcony