Chapter 1_ Breaking News

"Third-rate actress Vanessa Sanchez Is involved in a sexual scandal" The bright screen of her mobile phone Shone directly at her face as she read the news headlines inwardly.

Vanessa scrolled the pictures through, reading more news about herself as the blogs weren't backing down in spreading the rumors about last night.

Vanessa frowned her face in disappointment. If it was really rumors then she would've gotten over it already and also know how to defend herself. However, it wasn't. She was right in bed with a man sleeping beside her.

His bold back was facing her. He had a golden brown skin which flourished as the sun rays escaped into the room and showed directly on his body which was halfway wrapped inside the duvet. He was a stranger, yet his cologne was dominating and familiar to her. As if she knew him.

The photos on her screen were from last night's hangout with her colleagues and some sponsors in the industry. She was supposed to find herself a rich sponsor from last night's event.

Instead, she was in bed with a stranger. What really happened to her last night? Vanessa thought to herself as she crept out of the bed slowly in order not to alert the man in bed. She wasn't a promiscuous woman, even though she valued her acting career so much, Vanessa would never sell her body to just any man because of a sponsorship.

She looked around the exquisite hotel suite. There was no doubt that they were in the presidential suite because of how luxurious it looked. Vanessa looked around the floor, and she picked up her clothes from the flower patterned silver and black rug. She quickly put them on even though they could barely cover her body properly as her dress was slacked and the arms of her blazer were torn. Torn from last night's activity with the strange man.

After she was done putting on what was left of her dress she went towards the mirror to look at her face. She tied her straight blonde hair into a bun and retouched her lipstick. As she looked in the mirror, her face had so many red marks, one would mistake them for make-up. She wondered how badly this man must've treated her in bed to make her face this red and her body ache.

Despite that, Vanessa arranged herself quickly and quietly— in order not to wake up the sleeping man. And when she was done, she headed outside the room. She looked around and the hallway was silent. Luckily for her, No one was lurking around to see her coming out of a hotel room.

Vanessa hastened her steps as she left the hallway— heading downstairs. She had to leave the hotel immediately and go solve the issues of her so-called scandal.

In the meantime, she reached in front of the elevator and she waited for a while until it opened. "Isn't that Vanessa Sanchez? What is she doing at a hotel?" She heard a familiar female voice speak immediately when the elevator opened.

It was her colleague at work who was a more popular actress than she was. Marina Andrade, the girlfriend to her ex-husband. A few people left the elevator and surrounded them immediately. Vanessa realized that Marina had brought some reporters with her to the hotel but what was her motive?

Vanessa frowned at her, she maintained an angry demeanor but deep down, she was frightened that Marina would say something. She was present at the party last night. Maybe, she had knowledge about what happened or how she ended up with the man.

Vanessa couldn't help but to suspect Marina who kept staring at her awkwardly. "Isn't it normal for anyone to lodge in a hotel? Why is mine different?" She asked her. Marina scoffed incredulously at her words. "You are an actress and should always maintain a good reputation.. what do you think the people will assume when they see you heading out of the hotel in this manner?" She asked, leaning her face towards Vanessa's and then she whispered. "Or, did you sleep with an old man Again so that he can sponsor your already dead career?" She questioned her quickly.

Marina intended to provoke Vanessa with that question but Vanessa had a degree in enduring nonsense talks. Even if she didn't find her joke funny, Vanessa still didn't react. All she wanted was to leave the hotel and go freshen up at home before clearing her name off the ongoing scandal. "That's not true, Marina.

And you know it" Vanessa declared. She controls her tone in order not to sound harsh. Despite Marina's bullying, she was still trying to remain calm and portray a good attitude. Vanessa wanted to move forward and enter the elevator but Marina held her back. "Then explain to us why your dress is torn and several hickeys are on your neck? If only you weren't sleeping with an old man for money" She stated.

Her eyes surveyed Vanessa's pale body— which had several red spots on it. Most of those spots were inflicted by the man she was with last night. Recalling that, Vanessa clenched her fist tightly in anger. She was tempted to slap Marina for saying such to her but the reporters there were her only restrictions.

She didn't want more issues to the one she was already facing at the moment.

" Miss. Sanchez, is it true that you slept with an old man for money? The news is all over the internet? What can you say to defend yourself? " The reporter asked her.

"I didn't sleep with anyone for money" Vanessa answered and went inside the elevator. She quickly pressed a button but Marina stopped her. She pulled her hair and forced her out of the elevator. Soon, the hallway was flooded with more reporters. Vanessa was furious about Marina's bullying, but then, the sudden increase in numbers of reporters made her not to retaliate and she allowed Marina to hit her.

Manuel Howells was inside the bedroom where Vanessa had left earlier. He woke up not quite long after she left. "Boss, miss. Vanessa is currently at the elevator and she's about to leave the hotel," Adrian, who was his personal assistant, informed him.

Manuel didn't respond, he stood near the room's window— glaring outside and reminiscing on their intimacy last night. It's been three years since he had anything to do with any woman. It's been three years since he last touched Vanessa, his ex-wife. He missed her so much. However, he couldn't say the same about her.

He has been watching her all these years since their divorce and she seemed to be doing fine emotionally. Vanessa didn't break down or was heartbroken as he was. She even dated a popular actor immediately after their divorce.

Andrian noticed that Manuel's fist was clenched tightly, he knew that his boss was enraged at that moment because he was probably thinking about Vanessa. He recalled how Manuel broke down several times whenever the thoughts of Vanessa came to him. He even went as far as going for therapy, just to get over his obsession for Vanessa— but it didn't work. He was still very much in love with the beautiful actress.

Manuel soon cut off his thoughts and moved towards the bed. He picked up the newly bought clothes that Adrian had prepared for him and put it on. "Have you investigated the incident from last night?" He asked Adrian. " Yes, boss. And here are the reports" he explained— extending the documents to Manuel who seemed nonchalant, yet interested in it.

" Just tell me," Manuel said.

" Miss. Vanessa was drugged with a powerful aphrodisiac last night. Her manager intended to send her to a room of an old billionaire who promised to sponsor her career.

As it seems, Miss Vanessa is in dire need of sponsorship or else she loses her career" Adrian explained to him. He couldn't believe that Vanessa was going to lose the same career that made her leave him.

The same acting career which she had forsaken their marriage for. Manuel had mixed feelings about it. He took his mobile phone and unlocked it. He was about to make a phone call when a pop up notification appeared on his screen.

Manuel squinted his eyes on the screen of his phone, reading the news that popped in. The headline was about Vanessa. He showed the message to Adrian. " What is the meaning of this? " He asked.

Adrian read the news briefly. He didn't look surprised because he had already seen the news. He just didn't tell Manuel about it. " I'm sorry, boss. I saw the news earlier and I didn't tell you" he confessed. " Where is she now? " Manuel questioned him. His tone was harsh and he was very angry at Adrian.

" She's approaching the elevator right now as we speak, " Adrian replied.

"Let's go,"Manuel said briefly as he grabbed his suit and left. Adrian followed him.