Chapter 04

Stella rode a taxi to her apartment. She was holding crying while she was in that taxi and as soon as she closes her apartment door behind her, she huddled against her door. Her tears just burst out. 

"What did you do, Stella?" she asked herself, sobbing as tears continues to roll down her cheeks. Then she slapped herself. "Now you're dirty!"

How did winning a stay in that hotel make her situation even worse? 

Days ago, Stella was just working her ass off, working two part-time to save up for her dream. Then suddenly her boyfriend of 3 years broke up with her and she felt half of her dreams shattered. She was coming to work with no more life. Her workmates saw that.

All the life was sucked out of her and that's when she won the all-paid stay in that grand hotel. At first, she didn't want to take it and considered just selling the pass. Then she changed her mind when she crossed a street filled with thoughts and almost got hit by a van. She knew she needed a break.

Stella with her friend Vanessa went to the hotel together. Vanessa was really outgoing and has big dreams of being a runway model which was impossible to achieve for people like them. It amazed Stella. They talked more about her broken heart and Vanessa brought up having a one-night stand with somebody which Stella thought was a joke. 

During the night Stella was waiting for Vanessa since her friend told her she'd be waiting at the bar. They planned to have some drinks but Stella ended up having some strong drinks on her own.

And when she was back to her room, that guy was there. She felt like it was a dream and although at first, she pictured her ex-boyfriend, she knew it was someone else. It was a dream, she kept thinking but it wasn't. She felt guilty for doing it with somebody else when her ex-boyfriend asked her to have sex many times and all of it she refused. 

Now she just feels disgusted by herself. Remembering how she begged and cried for that stranger to fuck her. Even she is sore till now.

After breaking down, Stella rashly wipes her tears with the back of her hand. She slowly stood up and went to her bed, tossing her bag. Then, she took out her phone and dialed Vanessa's number. It keeps ringing but no one is going to answer. Why do they keep playing her? Now she's more empty than ever!

"Stella Lacrone. That's her name," Dimitri informed Charles. 

After that incident, Charles had received a phone call from his grandfather, saying that he had taken the fun too far. He had to lie and say Stella was his girlfriend and that the public had just invaded their privacy. 

Now, his grandfather wants to meet the girl in person. This is why he has used the investigation to find out more about her and Stella herself. After all, they have an unfinished business. Just these past three days, he has been having dreams of her. A nightmare he would say.

"Where does she live? I need to know more about her than what she does."

Dimitri put a folder on his desk. He opened it and saw a photo of Stella and a bunch more places. Then on the paper is written information about her.

"It's all complete. The only thing we could not find out is her linking to Jason but she has a friend named Vanessa."

Charles knitted his brows almost instantly after hearing that name. So, did her friend betray her too? Is that why when he brought up Vanessa's name she immediately felt like crying? But he could not set aside the fact that she could be part of Vanessa's plan but not Jason's.

"Clear my schedule tomorrow," Charles ordered. "I'm going for a personal business. I'm visiting someone in the poor area."

Five days after that incident, Stella decided to pretend like it never happened, that the thing was just a nightmare. She had to restart and she quit her job where she won the trip. It's for her own good, to keep the thoughts out of her head. And to erase Vanessa.

Now, she works one job, a waitress at a nightclub. It's during the night so to make use of the morning, she will go job hunting today. She just hopes she finds one.

Stella was just fixing her hair when she heard a knock on her door. It made her stop and turn to the door for the longest time. Is it her mother? Vanessa? Or her ex-boyfriend? No one else knocks on her door but those three but she has lost contact with the two. Only her mother was left.

After tying a ponytail, she strides towards the door, opening it. Just when she raised her head, her eyes widened. Even though he is wearing damn sunglasses, she could tell who it was. The guy from her nightmare! 

"He--"

Charles wasn't able to finish anything when Stella closed her door and locked it. She was now breathing heavily, fanning herself as she walk back and forth. Did the guy know she has a connection with Vanessa? Is she suspected of drugging him? 

"I know you know me now! Open up Stella Lacrone!" 

Stella rakes her hair with her fingers, frustrated that she has to face this reality. Shit! What should she do? Run or face this guy and tell him she really didn't know anything! Why am I even so scared right now?!

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice obviously shaking. 

"I'm here because of what happened."

That answer made her more nervous, biting her lower lip really hard. How can her life get any worse than what had happened to them?

"Look, I don't know anything! Will you just leave me alone and pretend it never happened! I don't want to see you ever again, pervert!"

She hears him release a sharp breath. Oh, why did she even add the pervert when she's a sus-- no, not a suspect! I am a victim too! 

"I'm here to make a deal with you!" His voice was loud and clear. 

A deal? she asked herself. What deal would that be? And why would he be making a deal with her? For all she knows this must be a trap to corner her.

"I'm asking you to be my girlfriend!"

Eh?