Chapter 2: My Awakening

Selena’s POV

What have I done? How did I get myself into this mess? Ah yes, I know. Zayn. This was all his fault. 

“I hope he trips and breaks both his useless legs” I whispered silently. 

The harsh lights from the bathroom turned the dark streaks under my eyes from my smudged mascara into dark bruises. I stared in the mirror, my hair a tangled mess, like I had just come out of a wrestling competition. 

I scrambled out of the bathroom and out of the small restaurant. “Thank you so much” I muttered to the kind middle-aged woman who had been so kind to let me use her bathroom to freshen up. “You’re welcome dear” she responded warmly. 

I had to get back home as soon as possible so I could prepare for work. Remembering that I had switched off my phone last night, I switched it on immediately. Just then my phone buzzed with a text from my best girl Hailey. 

“Girl! Where are YOU? I’ve been calling nonstop. You missed my amazing breakfast croissant and pancakes. And guess what babes? Branson and Co just bought out the entire complex where we work. Big changes coming apparently". 

I stopped in my tracks, my feet rooted to the spot. Why did that name sound so familiar all of a sudden? Was my one-night stand THE Justin Branson? Billionaire playboy and heir to the Branson fortune? No way! It can’t be. 

I hurriedly hailed a cab and in a few minutes, I was at my apartment. 

Hailey lay stretched out on the only couch in our living room.

“There you are!” She exclaimed, jumping up. “I was worried sick about you. I thought you had been abducted by aliens or something.” I left you some pancakes but the croissants are gone.” She added, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. 

“Thanks,” I mumbled, collapsing onto an armchair. 

“Spill it,” Hailey demanded, she leaned towards me, her eyes widening as she stared at me. “I know there’s tea to be spilled!” she added, the corners of her lips twisting into a mischievous grin.

I knew there was no escaping her. Sitting up slowly, I began. 

“Zayn and I broke up yesterday, or rather I broke up with Zayn yesterday.” 

“You did? Hailey shrieked, her eyes widening in surprise. 

“I did” I responded flatly not wanting to go into details about the series of events that led to that. 

“Good riddance to bad rubbish” Hailey exclaimed. “You were always too good for that jerk, and I know you invested a lot into that God-forsaken relationship but I’m glad you’re finally putting it to bed” she added. Her brow’s furrowing in concern. 

“Are you ok?” she asked tapping my arm. “I am, surprisingly” I responded. She smiled sadly at me. 

I didn’t know how else to divulge the next information, so I just spoke up. “I slept with a stranger last night” I spat out, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. 

“You did what” Hailey retorted, her voice high and sharp. “Selena Gonzales! she continued, “Where is my friend, and what have you done with her?” A snort of laughter escaped from her lips as she pointed at me. My eyes averted her gaze immediately. 

“Girl, I still don’t know how that happened,” I whispered, still avoiding eye contact, my fingers twisting together. 

“What’s his name? Is he hot? Is he rich? Hailey pressed, her eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned in. 

“His name is Justin, and he looked hot” and that’s all I know, I responded.

“Wait, you slept with someone and you don’t even know his last name, or if he’s rich? She asked, her voice erupting in a sharp piercing cry. “Way to go, girl.” You’re now officially higher than me in ranks" she added, laughing loudly. 

I face-palmed internally. 

“How hot is he?" She asked, shoving a magazine that had been lying on the table in my face. And there, plastered on the side of the front page was a blurred photo of someone that looked exactly like me and Justin entering a hotel. The headline screamed: “Billionaire Playboy’s Latest Conquest!”

My stomach churned. It was him. My one-night stand was Justin Branson. Billionaire playboy, the new CEO of my company and now the whole world knew I had slept with him. 

“That’s him, my one-night stand” I mumbled, my eyes darting everywhere else but Hailey’s. I was too embarrassed to look at her in the face. I stared at the ceiling fan rotation, the worn-out carpet, and the chipped painting by the wall….

“No way!” Hailey choked out, her hands flying to her mouth. “The first time you decide to have a one-night stand, you end up with THE Justin Branson? Multi Billionaire Justin Branson" she added. 

“I had no idea who he was at the time” I responded, my gaze now fixed on the window and then the door. “Stupid Zayn made me do it”. 

“You had no idea who he was,” Hailey asked, her eyebrows raised. 

“At the time, I didn’t. But when I got your text this morning I suspected but I wasn’t sure until now". I replied.

“Way to go girl” Hailey blurted out, grinning from ear to ear like she had just won the lottery. “The first time you decide to have a one-night stand, you end up with the most eligible and hot bachelor”. 

“I hope he understood that it was just a one-time thing though, because he’s now our new boss and I would hate for things to get awkward between you two," she added. 

“I hope so too” I responded. 

I cringed at the idea that I would have to face him daily now. I took a deep breath, I wasn’t going to worry until I had to. 

I stared at the magazine, we don’t ever get any of those. 

“How did that magazine get here?” I asked, my mind trying to connect the dots. 

“We got one this morning, it was just right outside our door, " she replied. “Maybe Mr. Branson delivered it himself” she teased, grinning. 

“Go away Hailey” I muttered. “On my way babes,” she responded, tapping my cheeks playfully. 

A few hours later, I dragged myself to work, dreading the inevitable encounter with Justin. 

Hailey had left a few minutes earlier; our departments had different schedules. She worked in tech and was a whiz kid, absolutely brilliant and resourceful. I, on the other hand, worked in the struggling interior design department. My department was on the verge of folding.

The atmosphere in the company was buzzing with news of the takeover. I tried to focus on my work but as soon he stepped out of the elevator I knew I was in trouble. 

My heart hammered in my chest as he walked towards me. He looked a lot more serious and professional. 

“Selena,” he called out as he approached my desk. “My office. Now.” 

I flinched at the sound of his voice, my hands shaking slightly. I followed him closely. His cologne hit my nose strongly, my mind driving to the events of last night. 

His new office was all glass and steel and it screamed power and wealth. He gestured to the chair opposite his desk with a dismissive flick of his hand, cutting short my thoughts. 

“So” he began, his voice flat. “You seem to have made quite the impression on the media.” He slid his phone towards me, and on the screen was the same picture of us getting out of the hotel together. 

“I… I had no idea when that happened or how it happened, I didn’t even know who you were” I stammered. 

“Oh I’m sure you didn’t”, his lips curled in distaste. “A little gold digger like you shares a sob story in a bar and jumps into bed with the first guy that flashes a fancy suit. 

A lump formed in my throat, “I’m not a gold digger sir.” 

“Oh please. That’s what y’all say. Do you think I’m stupid? You knew exactly who I was the moment you saw me. You knew I was your new boss.” 

I opened my mouth to speak “I did n...

“Be quiet,” he roared, slamming his hands on the desk. “Do not speak when I’m speaking. You’re lucky I’m not firing you on the spot for your little stunt.” 

“Stunt"? I asked. I didn’t do…

“Enough!” He thundered his voice a contrast to his voice during our lovemaking. Why was I even thinking about that right now? 

He stood up, towering over me. “This ends now. You will keep your distance from me. You will not breathe a word of what happened between us. And you’ll certainly not use this…incident to your advantage. Do I make myself clear?” 

My eyebrows furrowed as I stared at him, my eyes burning into him. “Crystal,” I spat out. 

His lips twitched, a sly arrogant grin spreading across his face. “Good. Now get out.” 

I practically ran out of his office. As I rushed towards the elevator, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere, I heard a commotion. 

“Ms. Gonzales! Ms. Gonzales!” a group of paparazzi shouted. They had somehow gotten past security and were swarming the office areas. 

“Is it true that you’re Mr. Branson’s leading lady or you’re just one of his conquests?” 

“Were you sexually manipulated and harassed? Did Mr. Branson threaten to fire you, if you do not give in to his demands?" Another shouted. 

My heart raced, as I struggled to breathe. How did they find out it was me? How did they get here so fast? How did they even know I worked here?

I had to get out of this environment ASAP. I pushed past some of the reporters and paparazzi and sprinted towards the emergency exit. I burst through the door and into the alleyway. 

But I wasn’t fast enough. A hand gripped my arm, spinning me around so fast I stumbled. My heart skipped a beat as I stared up.