Chapter 1 - Wrong Man

Pov: Zara

I woke up with my head buzzing as I sat up on the bed. The soft luxurious bed sheets touching my palm were not the usual ones I washed until they aged; the light above my head was also not half-damaged.

My body aches badly as if it had been just torn apart by something or someone. When I lifted my wrist, the purplish-green marks were obvious to the eye.

I almost screamed when I looked down and realized that I was naked. So last night was not a dream…

I covered my mouth to stop making any noise as I lifted the blanket. I scrambled to gather my clothes or rather the remaining of my clothes that were scattered on the floor.

While wearing the dress I realize I had a lot of other bruises on my arms, chest, and between my legs. It was a little difficult to walk but I can manage that much. The things I did came back to my mind and from the looks of it, the person who was with me last night might as well have been a beast.

Images of what happened last night flashed through my mind as I tried to reason with myself about the losses that I had to bear.

I remembered I made my way inside the room very slowly, hiding from the guards that were scattered all around the place as if a very important person was in attendance at the building. But I didn’t pay attention. I snuck into the room with my mobile camera on.

I had been waiting for this moment when I could enjoy my minutes of fame and rise up on the showbiz ladder. I secretly drugged the drink of the famous superstar Kai with the help of a person who works in the hotel.

I locked the door after I entered the room where Kai was supposed to stay but since it was dark inside I couldn’t see anything. I wasn’t sure if Kai had taken the drugged drink that was prepared for him.

I squinted my eyes trying to adjust to the darkness to see if I could find my Kai baby.

Just when I decided to switch on the torch light from the phone, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist forcefully and I was yanked onto the bed. And that is pretty much what I can remember.

I picked up my phone to find it was cracked a little. I carelessly put my shoes on and prepared to leave without looking back. Suddenly, someone grabbed the back of my neck.

“Ah… let me go. Let go…” I struggled with my arms and legs.

The man’s large hand was pulling my neck and he yanked me back to the bed with seemingly no effort.

Although I got confused and dizzy by the way I was being handled, when I looked up at the man I could not help but be dazzled by his incomparably beautiful face, unable to look away.

What a handsome man…

His brooding eyes seemed to carry an aura of innate arrogance. His face was as cold as ice and his straight nose rested high on his clear, pale face. His white, jade-like skin made me, who thought I had fairly good skin, envious.

I know I came across my fair share of men, but those Prince Charmings paled in comparison to him.

Was this the man who used half the night to torment me to death last night?

“Who sent you here? Why did you drug me? What is your motive? And do you think you can easily leave unharmed?” he looked at me, anger flashing deep in his eyes.

I glared at him. I am a no-name actress and after a lot of effort, I found that Kai is one of the top actors and planned on drugging him. I brought something that could make one lose consciousness and put it inside the water just to click some pictures.

Turns out, I drugged the wrong person. This person in front of me, though dizzyingly handsome, evidently isn’t the top celebrity Kai.

He pulled my arm roughly, sending me to the ground. Embarrassingly enough, I even rolled over once.

“You…. What do you think you’re doing? Do you think I’d be lying around here if I drugged you? You are mistaken! The person who’s suffering the most right now is me!”

My butt and arms are hurting due to his manhandling. Worst of all are the regions which are out of my eye reach!

Anger rose in me and I shouted directly, “The person I wanted to drug was someone else. It had nothing to do with you. Do you even think you’re worthy? I don’t lay my hands on just anyone. You wasted my drug. Return me the money!”

He closed his eyes and his face started becoming red. But the important part is, he’s not paying attention. This is my opportunity!

I jump around the bed and push this unknown man away. Not daring to look back, I quickly run as fast as I possibly can.

I bump into a man who was wearing glasses but I couldn’t afford the formalities and apologized, “I’m so sorry…” rushing out again.

I run outside the hotel and on the streets fearing someone would chase me. I waved my hand as a taxi pulled in front of me.

I rush inside and tell my address to the driver and he speeds away. I look at the mess all over my body and curse silently in frustration. That damn drug seller.

I had felt that something was amiss with him but he gave me the wrong drug. All I needed was a drug that could make a person fall asleep. I never wanted such a drug and now look what happened.

Once again, I look over the art of the man who consumed the drug made on my body. I could still feel the pain throughout my body as unconsciously my mind recalled what happened.

The pain in my nether regions brought flashes of the previous night and heat rose in my cheeks. That darned man didn’t let go of me for half of the night and I don’t even remember how many times he did it before I fainted!

I couldn’t remember anything at all except….

“Zara look at you. Do you still want to be a celebrity? It’s better to listen properly to your stepmother. I’ll find you a good family to marry into. You are just an illegitimate child after all.”

“Zara your stepmother is doing this for your own good. Your eldest sister, Linda, is now a top celebrity; your second sister is also a top producer. After so many years, you’re still just a D-list celebrity. You have no prospects.”

“Zara the company has already given the role to someone else this time. We think that your image does not suit the role.”  

I bitter smile graces my face. If they had not pushed me into the corner I wouldn’t have needed to use a cheap scheme like this. All I wanted was to continue living a good life… but this…

The taxi stops and I pay him with what little cash I had left in my pocket. The building named Star Gold is the company I work in that manages celebrities. I rush inside the company. No matter what happened, I didn’t forget I had an audition today.

Yvette glares at me when she sees me coming. “So you still know that you have an audition? I thought you didn’t care enough!”

“I’m so sorry Yvette, I’m late. I was held up by something.” Or someone. But she doesn’t need to know that.

I quickly cover up the mess on my clothes. But Yvette lowered her head and looks at me up and down as if inspecting me. She grabs my collar. “We are meeting the director soon. I don’t care about your personal life. If you still want this role you better clean yourself up so you don’t look like a slut!”

I look down at myself in confusion. Yvette drags me to one of the mirrors and makes me stand in front of it. She points her fingers at my neck and that’s when I discover the red marks that left little to the imagination. They were too obvious and too embarrassing.

That stupid man! He was a total beast!

I immediately apologize and pulling my clothes, run to the bathroom. It is all that man’s fault. He basically put an end to my life… or whatever future that I had left!

All of a sudden my phone starts to ring. Annoyed I pick it up. “Hello?”

“Zara! Where were you last night?” Dad sounded angry.

He seldom called me unless something needed my attention. For so many years he had been a dispensable father but I couldn’t treat him as a completely non-existing entity. After all, he was the only known family I had. Plus I still need a place to live.

Feeling guilty about what happened last night I stammered. “I-I had something on last night.”

“I don’t care what you were busy with. Your sister, Linda, wants to discuss her engagement with the family today. How dare you stay out all night?” he reprimands fiercely.

Yeah, Linda is getting engaged. So what! It’s her business, not mine!

I listened calmly to my father’s angry tirade without an ounce of emotion toward him. After so many years of torment, I’m used to it all.

“I don’t care what you have going on. If you don’t want me to throw you out of the house, you must come back now.” After finishing, he hangs up the phone.

I make my way to the Wilsons knowing Yvette would be mad at me again. At least she doesn’t threaten to disown me. Guess that’s something.