Chapter 1: One Night

Seeing her reflection on the elevator’s wall, marahang inayos ni Lauren ang kanyang damit habang paakyat siya sa hotel suite na nirentahan ng boyfriend niyang si Jerome Nacionales ngayong gabi. It’s her boyfriend’s birthday today. And while Jerome’s mother, Tita Emily, planned a big celebration for her son, mas pinili ni Jerome na ituloy ang plano nitong intimate celebration na sila lang dalawa.

And who is she to complain? Bilang chief-operating-officer ng NTS Broadcasting Company, isa sa pinakamalaking tv at radio company sa bansa kung saan siya isang contract artist, palagi siyang may kaagaw sa oras ng nobyo. At sa nakalips na halos isang taon na relasyon nila, mabibilang pa lang sa kamay ang mga pagkakataon na nakakapagsarilinan silang dalawa. Sometimes, even during their dates, bitbit pa rin nito ang mga concerns mula sa kumpanya nito. And she had no choice but to always be patient and understanding dahil palagi nitong sinasabi na para din naman daw iyon sa kinabukasan nila at ng magiging pamilya nila sakaling ikasal na sila.

Kasal.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. Honestly, she’s not ready to get married. She’s just 24 years old. There are things she wanted to accomplish by herself before she gets married. But again, she understands Jerome’s position, he is six years older than her. He is of marrying age. On top of that, Jerome is an only son and heir to their company. “He needs to secure the bloodline,” yan ang paulit-ulit na sinasabi sa kanya ng Mommy ni Jerome tuwing nag-uusap sila. And while she clearly understands the circumstances surrounding their relationship, a great part of her is still not ready to settle down. Kung hindi nga lang niya nakita ang sobrang kabaitan kay Jerome noong nililigawan siya nito, hindi pa niya ito sasagutin. Honestly, she was not ready for a relationship. After her reign as a beauty queen two years ago, halos kakaumpisa pa lang niya sa pag-aartista. She wanted to focus on her career first, improve her craft. But who is she to refuse the charm and kindness of the big boss? Ang sabi nga ng Tita Lileth niya, ang pinsan ng Mommy niya at guardian niya  mula nang maulila siya, tanga na lang daw siya kung pakakawalan pa niya si Jerome.

And she must admit, though she was hesitant to have a relationship with him at first, she had learned to get use to Jerome’s attention and affection until she slowly fell for him. Jerome is her first boyfriend. At aaminin niya, there are still things she needed to get used to when it comes to having a relationship. Gaya na lamang ang intimacy. They kissed, of course, and sometimes, make out too. Pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa niya isinusuko ang sarili sa nobyo. Not that he didn't ask, he did. Lots of time! Even Steffie Gonzales, one of her friends and is also working as a TV show host at NTS, told her that she needs to stop being prude and just go all the way with her man before another woman would give what her boyfriend needs.

But she just wouldn't let go of the dream that she'd give her future husband the gift of purity on their wedding night. At naiintindihan 'yon ni Jerome. Besides, may tiwala siya sa nobyo. She knew he loves her.  She knew he could wait some more.

Agad na lumabas ng elevator si Lauren  nang tumigil iyon. It was just a few minutes past 7 in the evening at ang usapan nila ni Jerome kahapon ay alas otso ng gabi sila magkikita roon. But just after shooting her scenes for the current TV series she was in, nag-text ito sa kanya na maari na siyang mauna sa hotel. That's why she's there, a little early yet ready to celebrate her boyfriend's special day.

She made her way to the presidential suite, the room rented by Jerome for them. Subalit hindi pa man siya nakakarating sa silid, naagaw na ang atensiyon niya ang bahagyang nakabukas na pinto ng isang silid. Moans and whimpers where coming from inside, followed by a flirty giggle. Her cheeks heated up in an instant, some couple was clearly having their sexy time. She would've picked up her pace and just went straight to their suite, when a familiar voice spoke from inside the room.

"I bet Lauren cannot to that, can she, Jerome? Your girlfriend is as stiff as a damn post!"

Agad siyang namanhid. She knew that voice, she hears that every day during the morning TV show at NTS! Nanginginig niyang nilingon ang pinto. At sa maliit na uwang sa pinto, there she saw her friend Steffie, caged in the arms of no other than her boyfriend Jerome!

Jerome chuckled and gave Steffie another mouth kiss.

"She'd learn in time, when she allows me to finally bang that shitty virginity off of her, " Jerome hissed, roughly gripping Steffie's hair. "But since my prude girlfriend is unavailable at the moment, you'd continue to be my little whore just like how it used to for the past two months. Now be a good girl, Steffie. Kneel and suck my c*ck."

Steffie quickly went down on her knees but before she could see anything further, Lauren willed her feet to step away.  Distraught, she continued walking towards the end of hallway and found herself inside the very suite Jerome rented for the night for the two of them.

Her mind was still blank and her heart seemed too numbed to feel anything. She was in utter shock of the betrayal she had just witnessed from her friend and boyfriend. Jerome was cheating on her with Steffie for the past two months!

Dalawang buwan na pala siyang ginagawang tanga ng mga ito nang wala siyang kaalam-alam.

Lalo siyang nanginig sa awa sa sarili. But after the pain, came the anger.

No, she will not let them do this to her. She'd fight back and show them that she ain't a play thing, easily toyed and disposed. She is Lauren Katherine Ortega, orphaned at eight years old and fought her way through life until she reached where she is now.

She had not survived all the tragedies and struggles in life para lang muling apak-apakan siya nang gano'n.

Right, she will fight back!

She spun her heels towards the door.  She will show them her own version of hell. She maybe of humble beginnings but she ain't a pushover anymore. They will regret what they did to her. She quickly picked up the bottle of wine from the food trolley and drank the half of it before she stormed out of the suite, with fury pumping in her veins for the two people who betrayed her.

Subalit unang hakbang pa lang niya palabas ng suite, agad na siyang nakaramdam ng pagkaliyo. Kasunod niyon ang panlalabo ng kanyang paningin.

Shit! It's that bottle of wine, she thought. Or was it? She doesn't really easily gets drunk much more so when it's just wine!

She shook her head in an effort to get rid of the dizziness. But it only got worse! She did try to take a couple of steps more though her vision continued to double, holding onto the walls to steady herself. As soon as she reached a door, she turned the knob and opened it.

"Damn you, you cheating bastard!" she yelled in a half sobbing voice, her hand holding onto the door's knob tightly.

"Hey, Miss. You are in the wrong room," anang malagom na tinig ng isang lalaki.

She willed her blurry vision to clear but she can only see the form of a tall man, wearing nothing but just a white towel around his hips.

Yumuko siya, makailang-ulit na huminga ng malalim upang ikalma ang sarili.

"S-Sorry, I'll... I'll just... leave,"  bulong niya sapo ng isang kamay ang ulo.  She was about to take a step back but just then, a different kind of heat suddenly washed over her, making her grip on the door tighter. 

"Are you okay?" anang lalaki.

She shook her head. "Y-yes... no..." aniya sa namamaos na tinig. She suddenly felt her throat dry as the heat she felt intensified.

"You might want to sit," anang lalaki. She lifted her head and had a glimpse of the man's face when her vision cleared for a few seconds. He is handsome with a perfect body in full display.

"Here, let me help you," anito bago nito hinawakan ang kanyang braso.

A sudden jolt of electricity ran through her skin at the contact and her core began to throb.

What's happening, she asked herself in confusion.

The warmth of his hand felt delicious on her skin and she wants more...need more. Agad niyang nakalimutan kung bakit at paano siya napunta roon. At that moment, nothing else mattered but the stranger and his delicious warmth. Half-dazed, she suddenly threw her arms around his neck, pressing her body towards his—rubbing herself on to his hard and perfect body, desperate for more of his touch.

The stranger's hands quickly went on her waist, steadying her. "Whoah, lady! I ain't a saint. You better get your wits straight fast or else--"

"What's your name?" she cut him off, biting her bottom lip. He smelled heavily of alcohol just like her. She liked it.

The man gave out a sexy chuckle. "I'm Kiel."

She whimpered when her center began to throb.

"Hmn, sexy," she began, snaking her hands through his hair. "I need you to touch me, Kiel," she pleaded, her voice hoarse from the intensity of her need.

In an instant, Kiel pulled her flushed to him. Pinadausdos nito ang kamay nito mula sa kanyang braso in slow yet sweet torture, enticing her more-- scorching her more with his heat.

More, she thought. She needs more.

His hand moved again, this time, down between her thighs and then... She whimpered and leaned her head on his chest when his hand made its way inside her dress, his finger lining her wet center. She gasped and ground her sex on his hand still can't get enough of his heat. He cussed.

"You know, I can do more than touching, Lauren. Do you want that?" he offered, whispering just beside her ears.

"Y-yes, please," she answered, delirious.

In one swift move, they were on already on the bed-- fully surrendering to the frenzied passion they had started. It was the start of the night they will never ever forget.