Chapter 3

Christopher’s POV

"Chris!" Ivyrose bolted upright from our bed. It was still seven in the morning and the sun’s rays peaked through our floor-to-ceiling windows. She was breathing raggedly as she laid back down on her pillow. 

"Hey. Good morning babe. You had a nightmare didn't you?" I asked her calmly as I got on the bed beside her and put her head on my chest. From the looks of her, I wasn't sure the pills I mixed with the brandy last night worked. Seb had given it to me as a consolation  the night I agreed to the deal; telling me it was a new drug product that would cause a few hours of memory gaps and confusion from the time it was consumed.

"Oh my god. Did we really go through with it? It was crazy." Ivyrose said, scratching her head. 

"What was?" I asked, my heart pounding in my ears. Does she remember?

"The… you know, the thresome. I’m not sure if it was a dream or not, but I feel so embarrassed." Tears started falling down her face and I rushed to wipe them. 

"Well, you should be. You got so drunk after you insisted we go drinking in the bar first and you almost finished a bottle of brandy. Then in the end you refused the whole idea and threw the remote control at me when I asked you if you were ready for me to call the guy in.” 

“But how could I throw something when I was handcuffed. You handcuffed me on the bed posts.” 

“What? Why would I handcuff you? How would you know if it was me or him if you couldn’t touch me?”

“And you blindfolded me so I didn't know if it was you or him. But then he kissed me and I smelled the smoke and I panicked. I shouted for you, but you weren't there, Chris.”

“What are you talking about, Rose? Don't you remember you got so drunk and I took you home here? But yeah, I did prepare a blindfold so you wouldn’t see him. But then again Rose, we never got to do it.” I said, lying my ass off. Lucky for me she was still resting her head on my chest and couldn’t see the tears pooling in my eyes. 

“Dream? It was just a dream? And why can't I remember anything from last night? My last memory was only until after we left the bar at the hotel. I remember the old bartender being so nice to us." 

“Yes. If you had a threesome with me and some other dude, then it was definitely just a dream, babe. And as for your memory gaps, well, drinking a whole bottle of brandy would do that to you." I chuckled and she sighed. "Now, tell me about it. What exactly happened in this wet dream of yours, huh?” 

“No way it was a dream. The kiss and his smell, it felt so real." she said, her voice so low as she burried her face in my chest and hugged me tightly. "But, Chris, from that dream, I know for sure I never want to be with any other man; Ever! Even if you suddenly die right now, I’ll just be single forever. I will be one of those cat ladies.”

I laughed and my tears started falling. Fuck. How could I have done this to her? At least Seb didn't lie about the memory gaps and confusion. 

“It's okay, babe. I'm right here and I’m never leaving you. I'm sorry. I'll never suggest anything like that again. After I saw you drink your way into madness last night, I realized you were too scared to do it, and I thought how stupid it was of me to even suggest to let another man have you." I kissed the top of her head and hugged her just as tightly. My shirt got wet from her tears.  "Shhhh. Please don't cry anymore, Rose. It was just a nightmare. We're okay."  I said, forcing my mind to ignore what I was really thinking. In my mind, I wondered if she remembered everything, but she's just too embarrassed to tell me and she's only buying the whole it was just a nightmare thing. My chest tightened to the thought of her suffering and I let out a deep sigh.

I wiped my tears away but it was useless. I couldn't stop them from falling anymore. I disrespected her being. How could I have done that?  

Ivyrose sat up straight, wiped the tears from her eyes and then looked at me. 

"Why are you crying, Chris?" she said softly, wiping away my stubborn tears.

"Nothing. I'm just really happy I have you in my life, Rose. "

"Awww that's so sweet, babe. But you know something? I'm really really hungry and for some reason I feel like my head’s going to split into two."

I pulled her into a hug again, knowing fully well a massive headache was just the side effect of the drug I melted with the brandy. 

"Lay back down while I cook you your favorite omelet de Christopher." I said as I let her go.

"With bacon and eggs?" Ivyrose beamed, her sparkling eyes making me so guilty.

"If you insist, mademoiselle." I kissed her hand, the way she liked it. Ivyrose grew up as her father's princess and she loved being doted on. Being the daughter of one of the richest business tycoons in the country, her life growing up should've been perfect, but one incident 10 years ago ruined her happiness. 

"Hey, Babe?" Ivy shouted from our bedroom. We lived in a simple five bedroom house in a quiet suburban neighborhood a few minutes from the city. It was different from Foxworth mansion where she lived all her life. Getting her father's approval to even date her was close to impossible. But still she chose me over all her suitors who were heirs to their families' fortune. 

"Yeah?" 

"I want some ice-cream for dessert, okay?" 

"Okay, babe."

I opened the refrigerator and took some eggs and tomatoes. Living a poor life before I hit the jackpot by inventing a revolutionary app in business, and becoming a millionaire in my thirties, had its perks because it taught me so many useful skills like cooking and cleaning. It was funny to teach her how to use a broom for the first time when we moved here. I laughed out loud at the memory, but then Ivyrose asked if I was okay and my chest tightened yet again. I let another man fuck my fiancée. No matter how much I didn't want to think about it, the memories of my darkest secrets came flooding back. 

************

It happened two weeks ago, when I received an email. A blackmail that changed my entire life.  The letter was signed by Seb and it told me to met him in a bar where they said we'd discuss how I could pay their boss in exchange for his silence. 

The bar they chose was a strip club and already I felt uneasy. Two bouncers led me to the back part of the club where an old man of about fifty indicated for me to take a seat.

"What do you want? Money?" I said, still standing up. 

"Sit." the old man said and one of his men pushed my shoulders down forcing me to sit on the chair.

"My boss is a billionaire. We don't want your money."

"Then what do you want?"

"He wants your girlfriend."

"Are you crazy? Go to hell!" I said, standing up so fast my chair fell back with a loud thud. His men around us were quick to draw their guns and point it at me. Fuck. I might just die tonight. 

"Oh, hell?" he chuckled. "Yes, we will go there for sure one day, but we'll enjoy sending you to prison first. Maybe on death row as an example for the other rich people that your kind can't just-

"Stop! I want to talk to your boss. I can't just break up with my fiancée for fucking sake!"

"Break up? Who said anything about a break up? The boss only wants her for a night. And for one special night, aside from keeping your secrets, the boss will also give you fifty million dollars. And we all know your company needs it, so don't waste my time pretending you don't care about money."

"There's no way in hell. She'd never agree to this." I said, my mind spinning.

"Get creative then. You have 24 hours to get back to me."

He gave me his card and as I took it, two of his men pulled me up by the shoulders and started beating the shit out of me. My cheeks, my abdomen and anywhere else they hit burned from the impact of their fists. 

**********

“Ouch” I said out loud as my hand burned from the hot pan. Lost in those disturbing thoughts, I absentmindedly missed grabbing the pan's handle. 

“Hey, you okay over there?” Ivyrose shouted. I quickly put the omelet on a plate and some garlic bread and took it to our room. 

“Breakfast in bed, coming up.”

“What happened to you?”

“Oh, I burned my hand. It’s nothing. Eat up.” 

“Yum. This is my favorite food in the whole world and you are my favorite person.” Ivyrose said coyly, teasing me.

“It’s just an omelet, Rose.” I chuckled and then kissed her cheeks. While she ate, I took a bath to distract myself from last night’s true events. Just as I was about to turn off the shower, I felt her arms hug me from the back and her naked body pressing against mine. 

God, why am I so lucky in love? I don’t deserve this woman at all.  I thought to myself as she whispered, “I love you so much, Christopher.”