Chapter Two: Her Hollywood lover

*Vivienne*

It either had to be the sunlight streaming in through the windows or the unshakable eerie feeling that something was wrong that woke me with a start but, as I blinked my eyes open, it slowly dawned on me why.

I was lying in an unfamiliar room— a hotel room from the looks of it. 

For a moment, I just froze on the bed, my mind slowly going into a destructive overdrive. 

Fuck… no! It can't be!

Squeezing my eyes shut, I subconsciously willed and prepared my body for the onslaught of nausea and the smell of drugs but when nothing of that sort happened and intense silence greeted me instead, I had to force myself back to reality.

My hands bunched into fits as I slowly remembered that I was going back to the past. The past that I swore never to go back to.

Peeling my eyes back open, I silently took in my surroundings— I was still disoriented and unsure of how I had ended up here. The spacious room was decorated in warm, earthy tones, with rich wood furniture and plush bedding. A large window overlooked a bustling city street below.

As I sat up, the crisp white sheets fell away, and I realized I was still fully dressed from the night before. A sense of unease crept up my spine.

I quickly shook my head to dispel the radical flashbacks and thoughts that were determined to push their way to the forefront of my mind.

Tentatively, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up. My body felt unharmed, at least physically. Glancing in the nearby mirror, I saw no visible signs of injury or struggle. These were bonus points but they did nothing for me nor did they shake off the feeling of unease.

I sank my fingers in my hair and pulled at the roots, narrowly suppressing the urge to yell out in frustration. I hated feeling like this. Hated not being in control of my body and movements. And I surely hated not knowing or remembering what had happened to me.

Walking to the window, I carefully peeked through the curtains. The bustling city street outside was unfamiliar - I didn't recognize this neighborhood at all. Panic rising in my throat, I backed away from the window and began pacing the room, wracking my brain for any fragments of memory.

I briefly closed my eyes, desperately trying to remember anything. All I could conjure was a blurry image of piercing emerald green eyes gazing down at me.

“Who did those eyes belong to?” I mused, a shiver running down my spine. I scanned the room, looking for any clue that could be linked to last night which was still shrouded in a hazy fog.

I immediately spotted my purse and coat which were neatly placed on a chair, alongside my shoes which were kept at the foot of the chair. 

Pressing a finger to my forehead, I headed to the bathroom to splash some cool water on my face. I stared at my reflection in the mirror for some minutes, analyzing my disheveled appearance and the dark circles that had formed under my eyes.

I needed to get out of here.

After quickly freshening up and straightening out my outfit, I crossed back to the room, and on locating my phone, I breathed a sigh of relief on seeing it was still on. 

I booked an Uber, gathered my belongings, and headed out of the hotel room. The hallway was quiet and empty as I made my way to the elevators. The opulent lobby was bustling with activity - businesspeople hurried through, their faces buried in phones, while bellhops scurried to assist arriving guests. I nodded politely to the concierge as I passed through the revolving glass doors and out onto the busy city street of LA.

Whatever occurred last night was either going to make or mar me in the future. Like always.

Welcome to my fucking life.

*****

The Uber drive was short-lived because some minutes later, I arrived at Tranquil Haven Beauty Day Spa. As I pushed open the heavy glass door, the familiar scent of essential oils and the soothing sounds of soft music immediately enveloped me, instantly calming my nerves.

The reception area is elegantly designed with a neutral color palette, accented with touches of muted greens and soft blues. Plush armchairs invite you to sink in and unwind as you await your appointment, surrounded by the subtle yet calming scents of lavender and eucalyptus drifting through the air.

Large windows allow natural light to filter in, casting a warm glow over the room and offering a glimpse of the tranquil garden outside. Lush potted plants and flickering candles add to the ambiance, creating a sense of peace and tranquility.

"Good morning, boss," my receptionist, Blair Monroe, greeted me warmly from behind the marble-topped counter. "I have your schedule for the day, and the team is ready for their assignments."

"Thank you, Blair," I replied, forcing a smile as I made my way to my office in the back. I needed to get my bearings and push the unsettling events of last night out of my mind. There was work to be done.

Just then, the sharp crisp sound of the telephone ringing permeated the air.

“Umm, excuse me, ma'am.” Blair's voice halted me in my steps just as I was about to round the corner. I turned and raised an inquiring brow at her.

“You have a caller on the line,” she said and gestured to the telephone on her desk.

My brows furrowed in confusion. Who could be calling in this early? I don't remember having any appointments scheduled until late in the afternoon.

“Who is it, Blair?” I inquired.

“He said his name is Dean and that he'd already booked an appointment with you,” she answered.

I stared at Blair, my nerves instinctively tightening while my heart jumped in my throat.

How did he get the official number for my business?

“Ma'am ?—”

My grip tightened on my bag as I tried swallowing down my suddenly dry throat. “Tell him I'm not in and subsequently block him from ever contacting this place again.”

“Ma'am?” Blair's perplexity and shock were evident in her voice and facial expression.

“Just do as I say,” I hissed at her from behind clenched teeth.

She flinched and immediately lowered her head. “Yes, ma'am.”

I took a deep breath in and with my tight chest relaxing a bit, I spun on my heels and left the lobby. 

“A cup of coffee would surely go a long way in calming down my already messy mood,” I mused as I made a quick detour to the common room.

“She's here.” I heard someone squeak from inside the room as I grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

On opening the door, someone dashed at me with full speed and barely managed not to knock me over.

It took me a split second to catch a whiff of Tara's perfume right before she threw her arms around me and hugged me tightly while I just stood, frozen in shock.

I've already had so many unplanned shocks this morning than on a normal Tuesday morning. 

“Thank God you're okay.” Tara heaved a deep sigh of relief.

I blinked and immediately caught the eyes of my remaining staff from across the room. Rosa, Penny, and Nick were all staring at the spectacle before them with a tiny relieved smile.

Rosa Edmond and Penelope Douglas; my Esthetician and massage therapist respectively were already dressed in our signature uniform—A pink-colored two-piece outfit consisting of a top and pants. The top has a V-neck design and short puff sleeves, and the pants are a loose, jogger-style cut. 

But Nick— the nail technician was still dressed casually.

Okay… what the hell is going on here?

Tara unwrapped her arms from my body and grabbed my shoulders instead. “You are not hurt anywhere, are you? Do you feel pain anywhere? Do you feel dizzy?”

I slapped her hand away and took a step back away from her. “Your endless questions are the ones making me feel dizzy,” I said, shaking my head. “Why the hell would I be in pain?”

Penny sighed and stepped forward. “Tara here,” she gestured to Tara. “Was about losing her mind after what happened last night.”

My gaze shifted back to Tara. “Last night,” I echoed, unsure where this was leading to.

“You don't remember what happened last night?” Tara's eyes widened in sync with the rising pitch in her voice. “Oh my God! This is bad. Someone should call the police.”

“Why would we call the police?” I have never felt so confused and disoriented in my entire life. Did something happen and no one cared to inform me about it?

Nick walked up to Tara and grabbed her arms. “Tara, I think you should sit for a minute and catch your breath.” without waiting for her compliance, he matched her to a vacant chair and shoved her down.

“Vivi, would you like a coffee?” Nick asked me as he made his way to the coffee machine. 

“Yeah, sure,” I answered, silently grateful that I had someone like Nick on my staff. His ability to be calm in times of chaos despite his bubbly personality was unmatched.

I located a chair and sat. “So, what happened last night?” I prompted. I can't let them know that I somehow lost my memory from last night.

“You seriously don't remember going to the restroom last night and never coming back?” Tara asked. “I nearly ran mad after I tried calling your number and it wasn't going through.”

I blinked. Restroom? What restroom?

“Nick, can you make that coffee two, please? I'm still feeling a little hungover,” Rosa begged.

“I got you,” Nick said.

Penny clapped her hands together. “ So, what Tara has been trying to say is that we all went to the club last night and somewhere along the line, you just disappeared with a trace and no one was able to reach you until you came in this morning wearing the same clothes from yesterday.”

I looked down at myself as that piece of the puzzle fell into place. “Oh,” was all I could say. 

“You look tired, Vivi, ” Rosa inputted. “Maybe you should book a massage therapy session with Penny. Her hands are gifted.”

“You know it, babe,” Penny said and winked at Rosa.

“Here you go!” Nick declared as he set down a cup of steaming coffee in front of me. “I'll be right back,” he added and turned to leave the room.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him and looked at everyone. “I appreciate the concern but I'm fine. Really. You guys don't have to worry about me—”

“Vivi,” Tara's voice cuts in and I redirected my gaze to meet her eyes. “You might wanna see this.”

My eyes fell to her phone which she was already extending towards me. I hesitantly reached out and took it, but as I looked down at the article displayed on her screen, my brows knitted together in confusion.

“Why are you showing me some tabloid—” I trailed off unexpectedly, my mouth falling open in shock at the headline.

"Nollywood Heartthrob's Steamy Spa Seduction! A-List Bachelor Caught in Passionate Tryst with Curvaceous Salon Siren"

   - Subhead: "Exclusive photos expose smoking hot romance between movie star and sultry day spa proprietress!"

And right under it were pictures of me in a man's arms as he headed out from what seemed like a club. People would have had a hard time believing this one if it were not for the tight hold that the man had on me.

I swiped down and came across another one which was taken when it looked like I was about to fall but the man caught me in time. The angle from which the photos were taken made it look like we were enraptured with each other.

With my heart hammering fiercely behind my ribs, I scrolled down to the very last one which was of us kissing. My breath hitched in my throat as my memory came rushing back with a vengeance.

I remembered everything, and my world tilted on its axis.

Cameras. There were photos of me on the internet with an unknown man. Again. 

The world around me became blurred and sounds were muffled. I could barely feel Tara's phone slipping from my hands. My legs buckled beneath me and I felt myself rapidly sinking into the most dreaded hole. My dreaded hole. 

My head spun, a whirlwind of dizziness formulating in the pits of my stomach. I was falling and there was no one to catch me.

Just then, I caught a quick whiff of a very familiar, comforting scent but my now dormant brain couldn't interpret who it belonged to.

I felt someone pushing my hair away from my face, a gesture so achingly sweet and at the same time familiar. 

I knew this person but from where?

“Look at me, sweetheart,” a warm, velvety baritone cooed. “You are fine. You are going to be fine.”

His voice was soothing and calming and I slowly found my vision clearing. As I raised my head to behold my savior, I was soon staring into a pair of the most hypnotic eyes that I have ever seen.

Those alluring and bewitching emerald green eyes… I have seen them before.

I gasped as it slowly dawned on me. It was him.

“Well, hello there, girlfriend,” the man said with a grin.

It was him.

My supposed Hollywood lover.