Chapter 2: One night stand

Emma struggled to get her suitcase out of David. He was naked like that so he didn't dare to run outside. As soon as she left this damned apartment, tears started to flow incessantly.

She and David fell in love while they were in university. For the past three years, whenever David had financial difficulties, she had always helped him. When he was evicted from a rundown motel for being unable to pay his rent, Emma rented this apartment for 2 years on his behalf. Even though the apartment wasn't too great, she spent all her savings while hiding from her parents. Living in such a big city was not easy, David always said he was grateful to her.

But how did he repay her? He betrayed her by making love to her best friend. For Emma, as long as it was a betrayal, it didn't matter how often or when it started because it was still a betrayal.

Emma took a taxi straight to a bustling bar in the city. It was still bright outside, but stepping through the bar's door was like entering another world. Surrounded by only music playing and colorful LED lights shining everywhere. She generously called the waiter to a VIP room and asked him to bring her all the best wine. 

The waiter looked at her highly haggard, then noticed the large suitcase she brought. Being kicked out of home, so she came here to relax? Looking at her luxurious outfit, he knew this girl must have money. The waiter did not hesitate to bring her wine.

At first, Emma even poured each cup to drink. Not long after, she picked up the whole bottle of wine. Her beautiful face was already red, and Emma's mind quickly went blank.

She screamed in her room alone, tears streaming down her face, crying and cursing, "David, you're an asshole! I swear you fucking guy will reap what you sow. You won't be happy as me."

“But why am I so painful… Selena, you’re my best friend. Why can you treat me like that? Why…y…”

Emma clutched the bottle of wine tightly against her chest, her fingers trembling as she struggled to maintain her balance. The crimson liquid sloshed within the glass, a potent elixir that had loosened her inhibitions and blurred her perception of reality. She leaned back as if she was no longer sober because the alcohol had taken effect. She called out hoarsely, but still no waiter entered the room. Finally, she got annoyed and went out.

Walking straight to the toilet, Emma looked at herself in the mirror and laughed mockingly. Typically, as the cherished daughter of a wealthy family, Emma exuded elegance and confidence, adorned in exquisite makeup and fashionable attire. But now, she was unrecognizable to herself. Her once captivating eyes were swollen and red from the weight of relentless tears.

“Huuurggehh..." Alcohol made her stomach uncomfortable. She grabbed the sink and threw up to vomit.

After vomiting, she knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her beautiful face, biting her lips not to cry out loud. She should have beaten that trash couple rather than crying over the man who was cheating on her. If her mother saw this scene, she would surely be heartbroken. Tonight, Emma couldn't bear the thought of returning home, not in this state.

About half an hour later, Emma gradually calmed down. The thumping music from outside the restroom echoed in her ears, intensifying her discomfort. She clung to the wall step by step, the whole way didn’t have any human traces... She didn't know why the more she walked, the more strange she felt around.

“No waiter at all? Why are domestic services so underdeveloped?”

Emma Garcia pushed open the door and entered the room, finding a sofa bench that had laid her whole body down. She reached out to look for a bottle of wine but kept looking in vain. She was completely drunk, both eyes looking at the world as if it were winding.

In her drunken mind, she saw someone's figure, laughed softly, and said, "Hey guy, get me more wine—”

The person in front of her was leaning back on the bench. His clothes were a bit messy. The black vest was scattered on the chair while his shirt was unbuttoned. The man's face was slightly glum with extremely rapid breathing. His hands were constantly pulling down his tie. Sweat broke out on his red face. He didn't seem to be drunk; on the contrary, he was being tormented by the effects of drugs.

In the quiet space, a seductively husky voice sounded, "H…Hot..."

Impatient, Emma called again, “I said bring me more wine. Are you deaf?”

She waited a minute, but two minutes didn't work. Finally, she managed to stand up, walking towards the person in front of her. Initially, thinking that she would be aggressive and threatening to hit him, who would have thought that she would grab his hand, gently shake it, and coo? Her lips pursed up very cutely:

“Bring me some wine… I'm thirsty.”

The man she grabbed by the arm was startled. Her sweet voice was like a spark that set his internal organs on fire. He had barely moved his arm when Emma was already leaning back. Seeing that, he quickly caught her. His arms wholly covered Emma’s petite body.

It seemed he was engulfed in flames. Sweat poured out on his red face, and he looked immensely struggling.

Emma was now so drunk that she could no longer distinguish people from animals. Initially, she was going to grab his shoulder blades to get up, but the man was a little faster. He leaned down to kiss her soft lips, holding her whole body in solid arms.

“Uhm…” So sweet, Emma thought. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Every touch of Emma made his body burn, the man didn’t know why but he couldn’t stop craving for her sweetness.

This man's lips were as sweet as candy. It wasn't as bitter as the bottles of wine she had just drunk.

Her mind completely went blank so that all she could feel was the taste of his mouth. Emma was caught up in the man's pace like finding a favorite beverage. She just focused on enjoying, no longer interested in everything around her.

In that quiet and dimly lit space, two souls entwined in a delicate dance of vulnerability and desire.

Next morning.

Emma Garcia lay alone on a king-size bed. The light outside the window woke her up. Her mind was pounding like a hammer; her whole body was soft and had no strength left. She struggled to keep her eyes open. Looking at the utterly unfamiliar ceiling, Emma was stunned for a few seconds, then jumped up in shock. Around was an unknown room, designed in the old European style but using darker colors.

She looked down at herself naked in the blankets. Hickey marks on her white skin represented a passionate night taking place in this room yesterday. Then she looked around every corner of the room, still not seeing anyone.

Emma cupped her head and tried to remember what happened last night. The memories rushed in her mind making her face immediately pale, “I remember a certain man sitting inside when I returned to my room. I asked him to bring more wine, and then—”

Was it because of one minute of being drunk that she had 'that' relationship with that man?

She even couldn't remember his face...

The bathroom door suddenly opened. A tall man came out, all dressed in a hotel bathing suit, leaning against the door. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her calmly. 

"Awake?"

Emma startled at the sound of his voice. In front of her was a tall man about 6 feet 2 inches, his hair was still wet and a bit messy. He casually pushed it back, making him even more handsome. His ocean-blue eyes stared at her before she had time to speak, and then he continued:

"Did she send you here?"

Did she send you here? Who?

It was clear that he had entered her wine room on his own and let things turn out like this. Was he going to put all the blame on her now?

Emma tried to hide all her embarrassment, calmly asking, “Who are you? Last night, we were—”

“Yes, we had a passionate night.” Harry Handerson straightened and walked over to Emma's bed. Looking at her fair skin that was bruised from his torments, he slightly smiled. The indifferent smile on his handsome face increased his attractiveness.

There was total silence in the room. The tall figure of the man stood in front of Emma. His solid chest hidden behind the bathing suit proved that this man worked out in the gym frequently.

‘If he uses his muscular arm to strangle me, I won't be able to see my parents anymore…’ Emma thought.

He stared at Emma with intense scrutiny. A cold voice suddenly rang out, sending chills down her spine. For some reason Emma couldn't explain, standing in front of this man, his handsome face made her feel guilty and scared inside. This fear was not the same as when facing an enemy, which was like... afraid of Papa?

“You go back and tell the person who hired you, I have deleted all the photos taken at the bar by that journalist. She has no chance of harming me.”

After saying that, he took a blank check placed on the bedside cabinet with a ballpoint pen and threw it on the bed for her.

Who wanted to harm you? Emma Garcia frowned. 

She was annoyed by his rude behavior, and looking at the check with nothing written on it, she gradually understood the problem:

"I don't understand what you're saying. However, we're all adults, having a one-night stand isn't a big deal. After walking out of this room, only the two of us know about this.”

After saying that, Emma picked up the pen to write some necessary information, decisively wrote the number “2000 dollars”, and then signed. Harry was guessing how much money that she wanted. Unexpectedly, Emma gave him the signed check and said:

“Okay, if we meet again, just act like we don't know each other. You can use this check to withdraw money. When you go out, remember to close the door for me, I'll sleep a little longer."

Regardless of Harry's expression, she lay down on the bed, pulled the blanket over her head, and continued to rest. Emma breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she hid under the blanket. Only she knew that when facing the man with those sharp eyes, she had to pretend to be calm not to be overwhelmed by him.

Harry Handerson took the check for $2,000, his face stunned for a moment.

Did this woman consider him a gigolo?