THE MORNING AFTER

~FIA~

The soft rise and fall of someone’s breath beside me was the first clue that told me I had done something reckless. I lay quietly, staring at my reflection.

I tried getting up, but an arm was draped across my waist, warm and heavy. I held my breath, barely daring to move.

I looked around the room; it was strange. I tried to piece together any memory of last night—scattered flashes of lights, music, laughter.

But there was nothing about him. I blinked my eyes, maybe I was yet to adjust to the room, but his arm stirred, making me freeze.

A tattooed wrist slipped into view. I gulped. I was in a strangers bed. No, I wasn't ready to face him.

I knew it would take minutes for him to wake up, so I slid out from under his arms.

I tried getting a clearer sight of him, but couldn't because he was on his stomach, his face hidden from view.

What have I done? I was panicking. A fling now, of all days?

I searched for cameras, but there were none visible. Could this have been a set-up? There's nothing mama can't do. Immediately, I got dressed, not wanting him to wake up and find me here.

He suddenly shifted. I shouldn't even look at him, but my eyes betrayed me and darted over his bare skin and tattoos.

I cursed myself for even noticing them.

How much did I drink to end up with a stranger?

We didn't even use any protection. Not that I could get pregnant, but what if he had a sexual disease.

I don't know why I did it, but I counted eighty dollars and dropped them by his side.

"Just get to the door." I told myself, but the bedsheets tangled around me, and I crashed on the floor with a soft thud

I bit back my screams, glad I didn't wake him.

I raised my head, but the tattoos on his back caught my attention, it was a flame, along with a name that sounded awfully familiar.

He suddenly turned, and I bent down, immediately crawling out of the room.

With my luggage by my side, I sent my friend a message, and soon she returned my call.

Kayla was a nerd studying cardiothoracic surgery, and she didn't have time for social media, so she likely hadn't seen the trending news.

"Hey girl," I whispered.

"Fia, I am worried about you, where are you?" Her tone wasn't bright.

"Are you okay, Kay?" I was worried, but she was fine and just needed my location.

"I'm at Billy's Chicken."

"Wait there," she commanded, dropping the call, and in less than five minutes, she had driven to where I was.

"Girl? Why are you out here without a mask? Get in." She yelled, without catching her breath, running towards me, while she adjusted her glasses.

"What's wrong? Is someone pursuing you?" But she just grabbed my hands, pulling me toward the car.

"Girl, put on a mask before someone recognises you," She said handing me one as she sped off. I couldn't help but wonder why my friend who had social anxiety would drive to come pick me.

"Fia!" She yelled, eyes focused on the road.

"I told you never to drink again." I gave her a look, a pout playing on my lips. Now I understood her reaction.

"What? I didn't drink." I lied as she stared at me from the rearview mirror.

"You reek of alcohol."

"What's going on?" I wanted to know because she was acting strangely. She hesitated, before handing me her cell phone.

"You need to see this."

"Do you recognize that lady?" My heart rate rapidly increased, and my body was literally on fire.

"How? This is me, strip dancing? When?" I asked multiple questions as we pulled up to her house, no wonder I had been getting stares from random strangers.

I went through the comments section, and oh my God. It wasn't pleasing.

"I'm glad her husband was screwing her sister, he did the right thing." One comment read. I bent my head? Why couldn't I remember that incident?

"That's the effect of drinking. How many bottles did you take? I know it's more than three."

"Is there any way we can take down the video?" I begged, dodging her question as she gave a nod.

"You remember Theo." I gave a quick nod, a smirk playing on the side of my lips.

"Why not? He is your first and only crush?" She frowned but ignored me.

"Might also be your last," I added.

"Well, Theo is already working on taking it down, but you need to stay low for now." She cautioned.

"My reputation is ruined, I can't even get a better paying job now." I cried as Kayla pulled into her driveway, consoling me.

"It's going to be fine Fia."

"I need a new passport, I need to leave the country," I said as she gave a nod, she was a sweetheart.

I couldn't tell her that I had woken up next to a strange man. She would tease me forever.

"Theo will handle the passports. Could we talk about that later? Now you need to eat." I gave a dry laugh, forgetting that I actually hadn't eaten.

"Have your bath first, you stink." I dashed to the bathroom immediately.

Kayla's house brought back memories. We grew up together. Then, I wouldn't understand why mum didn't want me by her side, why she went on vacations without me. But I really didn't care because Kayla's mum gave me all I could ask from a mum.

Her death was the first time I understood what pain was.

I was done bathing and rushed out of the bathroom searching for a dress to wear from her wardrobe.

"You're too skinny," I yelled as I struggled to fit into her pants.

"And you're too fat." She replied as I burst into laughter. I ran down the stairs to find her eating already.

I looked around the little sitting room and smiled as my eyes fell on the picture sitting perfectly on the table.

"I know you miss your mum, I do too," I said, trying to break the silence.

"Let's talk about you Fia, what is wrong?" Kayla asked, her eyes not leaving me.

"Is it Louis? I saw the headline." I gave a nod.

"Caught him in bed with Ary, discovered that I'm a bastard and my supposed dad killed my birth parents."

"And yes, I am remarried to a psycho."

Her face held emotions, but her eyes urged me to go on.

But my phone chimed, it was a message from my manager.

"An official statement has been released that I'm no longer the CEO of BLUE'S FASHION HOUSE, and neither am I a member of the Denzel family," Kayla gasped.

“What do we do? We need to rectify this, I...” I was overwhelmed that I wasn't even listening to her.

"I'm borrowing your car," I grabbed her keys, packing my curly hair in a messy bun.

"Don't do anything rash."

"Don't come after me." I said before driving out.

There was no essence of living? I had no purpose anymore on earth.

Everything I had worked for was taken away from me in a day. I didn't have a child, a job or a life.

My reputation is ruined, and I'm just another debtor and a contract wife.

"I better end it all." My mind was made up as I drove to the bridge.

Jumping over the bridge was the only thing I could bring myself to do.

I sighted the bridge and sped towards it, tears blinding my eyes.

This feeling I had was different. I had no one. Nothing, just haunted dreams.

The fact that Mama promised to complete what Dad started, which was killing me, I knew I wasn't safe because she wouldn't let me go freely.

Dad died without telling me the truth, a man I loved as mine. I drove aimlessly, not minding.

"Did you really kill my birth parents? Is mama saying the truth?" I asked like he was there with me when I suddenly felt a jolt in my hand as I lost control and hit something.

I paused, immediately looking around, only to realize I had hit a car.

"Not again," I muttered.

My heart sank as I immediately alighted to inspect the damage. And that's when I saw it.

A Bugatti Chiron.

My mouth immediately dropped open in horror.

It was not just any car and must belong to a wealthy fellow.

My mind went to my insurance. What a bad day to die. I cursed, waiting for whoever was in the car to step down.

"What the hell have you done?" a sharp voice questioned. I gulped saliva.

"It wasn't intentional sir." I pleaded, but soon fell sick to my stomach when my eyes fell on the owner of the car.

"Mr Barrett?" It came out in a whisper, as he shot me a smile, his perfect blue eyes radiating.

"We meet again, wife." He said, taking giant strides towards me.