CHAPTER TWO.

DANIELLE'S P.O.V

"Wake up"

I hear the voice before I feel the tapping. Who exactly could be disturbing me so early in the morning?

"Wake up!"

This time the tapping is more painful and hurried.

I groan in pain as I sit up on the bed.

WHAT do they say about alcohol?

It is said to induce inhibition loss, enhance poor decision making, and encourage impulsiveness.

So, why do we keep taking alcohol?

The answer is very simple actually. We do so because we always want what is bad for us.

I question my decision to ingest as much alcohol as I had last night. My regret deepens further as the rays of light, which escape from the shielding of the curtains, fall on my face, causing my already banging head to split further apart in pain. Usually, the feel of the early morning sun rays on my face is comforting but this morning, they instead remind me of the reasons why the intake of spirits should be declared illegal.

I apply pressure on both sides of my head , trying to reduce the pain and I utter another guttural sound as a new wave of pain rips through my head. I'm never consuming alcohol; never again.

My mouth tastes like shit. I quickly run my tongue over my teeth in an attempt to reduce the nauseating taste.

"I said wake up" a powerfully deep and manly voice says.

I look up at the source of the sound and I'm gobsmacked by the astounding handsomeness of the guy standing before me. He is styled to perfection. His navy blue suit is obviously tailored to fit his bodice and his blond hair is combed back. The Rolex on his left hand glints as he adjusts the cufflinks.

Of course, I had made bad decisions last night; decisions which I blame on the alcohol. I look under the covers to see I'm in my underwear; at least I had the good sense to keep that on. I look back up to Aphrodite's creation. I don't remember much from last night, but I do not regret having a one night stand with this beautiful man.

"Are you done?" he asks

Realizing I must have gawked openly, I shake my head in an attempt to clear my head and focus; an action that I regret taking immediately as another wave of pain causes me to wince.

"I don't have the time for this" he says.

"I'm sorry" I apologize.

"Why are you still sited?" he asks

Confused by the question, the only intelligent thing I can say is, "Uhn?"

"I'm assuming you're not deaf, seeing as you had a lot of things to comment on last night"

I feel insulted by that statement. Why would he speak to me like that? Like I'm a wanton.

"Look, there's no time for me to watch you glare at me. I need you out of my room, now. And as it seems you don't appreciate my remarks, I'd expect you'd clear off faster"

"What the hell?" I whisper in disbelief.

He brings his phone out of his pocket.

"I admit we both had fun last night but that should not give you an avenue to be clingy. I am not interested in anything more than a one night stand" he says while texting on his phone.

"You must be kidding"

"I don't have the time for jokes. Please exit my room or I will have to induce force"

Boiling in anger, I hurriedly look around the room for my clothing which we had shed all over the room in our passionate haste the night before; a night I will now, unfortunately, regret. I put on my clothes, pick up my jewelry, and choosing not to wear my shoes, I hold unto them.

"I'm done!" I spit, angrily.

"I see that" he says, uninterested.

I should leave for my hotel room and simmer in humiliation but I am so infuriated by this snotty bastard, that leaving without giving him a piece of my mind will ruin the rest of my day.

"You're an asshole" I say.

He looks up from his phone and he looks at me in shock.

"What did you just call me?" he asks in disbelief.

"I'm assuming you're not deaf. You did have a lot to comment on last night, didn't you?"

He stares at me like I have suddenly grown horns. His expression is so priceless, I wish I had taken my phone with me. It would have made off as a sensational meme.

"Now, asshole, speak to a woman with respect. I did not sell my services to you, we both had a good time. I'm no prostitute and I do not deserve to be treated like one. And if you don't want women in your bed after a one night stand, I'll advice, the next time your snotty ass is horny, find your way to a brothel. You'll find sexual partners that fit you perfectly."

I storm out of his room and head for the elevator. Once in the confines of the electrical box, I groan in anger, cussing out the egotistical man I had chosen to give my body. I blame it all on the alcohol.

"I'm never taking alcohol. Never again." I whisper.

THE WEATHER is hot.

The sun is glaring from the sky intensely but the hot rays feel very good on my skin.

After sleeping off my hangover and stewing in the embarrassment I had endured at the hands of that snotty bastard this morning, I decided to check out an activity on my bucket list. Lounging had sounded like the best activity for the weather, and I turn out to be right. I dressed myself up in one of the two piece swimsuits I bought the afternoon before. It is a lemon colored statement that makes me look exquisite. I spend the afternoon soaking in the sun for a tan.

As soon as the sun starts to lose it's glare, I pick up my sandals, sunscreen bag, and head to my hotel room for dinner as I am famished. I have not had a single decent meal since I came here and I decide to try as much food as possible this evening. I'm going to eat until I drop.

I walk, bare feet, along the beach, taking in deep breaths of air and smiling in content. I greet the several people I meet on the way to the lobby. The hotel is packed because during the summer season, a lot of tourists visit the resort on holidays.

My mood is much improved now compared to this morning. On getting to my hotel room, I notice something is off. It is very odd for huge men, dressed it suits and sunglasses, to be standing right outside my door. I get an eerie feeling and chills run down my arms. One of the men spots me. He looks at me with familiarity and taps his colleague. They both look at me again and the colleague nods like he is confirming something. In this moment, I realize that my greatest fear is before me. My father has found me out.

I turn on my heels and make a sprint for the elevator. Luckily for me, they are still a long way from the elevator so they cannot reach me. The only way to catch up to me would be to go down several flights of stairs from the 12th floor and there is only a slim chance of them meeting me. I'm sure they have backups somewhere in the resort so I have to find a hiding spot as fast as possible.

Once the elevator eases open, I run outside looking for a hiding place. Almost like the heavens are backing up my escape, I spot an SUV with an open trunk. Without thinking twice, I run towards the SUV, jump into the trunk and shut it immediately.

My heart is racing, my palms are sweaty and my feet sting from running down the granite road. I take deep breaths of the stuffy air in the car trunk to calm myself down. After a few seconds, I start to realize I might have made a mistake in my choice of a hiding place. How would I get out of the trunk when the only way out is from the outside.

I start to panic and desperately hope the car's driver would come to open the trunk. Almost immediately, the car trunk beeps and opens. I squeal in delight, causing the driver of the car to recoil in shock. I sympathize with him; I would be shocked too to see a sweaty, scantily clad woman, in the trunk of my car.

"What's going on?" a voice asks.

I freeze at the sound of the voice. I've only ever heard that voice twice and my encounter with the owner of said voice had gone from beautiful to disastrous. I hope I am just hearing things until my fear is confirmed when he joins the driver at the trunk. I watch his facial muscles strain into a frown and his eyes grow a shade darker in anger. I must have offended fate in my previous life or something for her to keep playing dirty tricks like these on me.

"You!" he says venomously.

"Surprise!" I say in the most sickeningly sweet tone I can muster.

The driver still stands awkwardly, holding suitcases in both of his hands.

"What are you doing here?" he asks

"What am I doing where?" I ask back, smiling smugly when he glares in reaction.

"Get out!" he orders.

I take my sweet time getting down from the trunk. I sashay past him with a smirk on my face, turn to the driver, and pat him on his shoulder.

"It must be very hard working for this breed. Stay strong" I say and glance at my target to check his reaction.

His face, contorted in anger, gives me the satisfaction I need. I chortle as I walk back towards the hotel, swinging my hips for good measure.

I don't see any of the uniformed men in the lobby and I enter the elevator. On the passage way to my room, there are no men either. I quickly swipe my key card across the lock and enter the room, giving a little victory dance.

"I thought you'd never come. I've been waiting for you"

I freeze in shock, my key card slips from my hand and gives a thunk as it falls on the floor.

"I told you, my sweet. You cannot hide forever"

My throat feels squeezed and I only manage to let out a whisper.

"Dad!"