CHAPTER 3

I woke up, my eyes blinking at an unfamiliar ceiling. Panic surged through me as I tried to remember where I was and how I got there. My head throbbed, and my mouth felt like sandpaper. I attempted to sit up, but dizziness hit me hard, forcing me back down.

Then I realized I was completely naked. My heart raced as I threw off the covers, frantically searching for my clothes. That’s when I saw him—a stranger lying next to me. His face was chiseled, his dark hair unfamiliar. My mind went blank.

I didn’t want to think about who he was or what had happened. I just needed to get out of there. My eyes darted around the room, taking in the opulence and the huge windows. I spotted my purse on the nightstand and snatched it up, digging for my phone. It was dead, and I cursed under my breath.

Without thinking, I grabbed my purse and bolted from the room, not stopping until I was outside the mansion. I flagged down a taxi, my heart pounding as I gave the driver my address, still reeling from the night before.

As we drove away, I caught a glimpse of the stranger watching me from the window. I shuddered and looked away, trying to erase the memory. But the image lingered, haunting me.

The taxi ride was a blur as I struggled to piece together what had happened. I remembered going out with my friends, but everything after that was a blank. Fear washed over me. What else had I done that I couldn’t recall?

Questions raced through my mind. Who was he? What had we done together? Why did I feel both safe and vulnerable?

When the taxi pulled up to my apartment, I paid the driver and stepped out, taking a deep breath to shake off the mix of excitement and anxiety.

Once inside, I locked the door behind me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that my life had just changed forever. I sank onto my couch, staring blankly at the wall, my mind a jumbled mess of fragmented memories and unanswered questions.

I couldn’t believe I had woken up in a stranger's bed, with no idea how I got there. It felt like a nightmare, something I’d never do.

Sitting there, I scanned my apartment, the familiar surroundings now feeling unsettling. The hum of the air conditioner, the rustle of wind outside, and the smell of coffee all seemed to mock me, reminding me of the normalcy shattered by last night.

Just when I felt like I might lose my mind, I heard a knock at the door. It was soft but made me jump. I hesitated, wondering who it could be. I wasn’t expecting anyone and definitely wasn’t ready for company.

The knocking persisted, growing more insistent. My heart raced as I finally got up to answer it. I opened the door to find Mia, looking concerned and slightly disheveled.

“Hey, girl, what’s going on?” she asked, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “I’ve been trying to reach you all day. What happened last night?”

I sighed, relief mixed with anxiety. “I don’t know,” I admitted, collapsing onto the couch. “I woke up in some guy’s bed, and I have no memory of how I got there. I freaked out and left.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “Whoa, that’s crazy. Do you think… something happened?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

I shook my head, a wave of fear washing over me. “I don’t know. I hope not. But it’s driving me crazy not knowing.”

She put a hand on my shoulder, sympathetic. “We’ll figure it out, okay? But first, let’s get some coffee and try to piece together what happened.”

I nodded, feeling a small sense of relief. Maybe I could get some answers.

As we sipped our coffee, Mia urged me to walk her through everything I remembered from the night before. I tried, but it was all so fuzzy. I remembered going out with friends, laughing, dancing… and then it all went blank.

“I remember going out with you guys, having a few drinks, and then meeting some guy in the club who tried to save me from an asshole. Then I woke up this morning, sore and naked.”

“I don't know, Mia. It's like my mind just went blank. I don’t remember leaving the club or anything after.”

“Okay, well, let’s start with what you do remember. We went out together with Alex. Who else was there?”

“No one really. I remember you leaving me, and I was dancing around. Wait! I remember some guy with blue eyes in the VIP section.”

“Blue eyes guy?”

“Yeah! He punched some guy who was trying to get his hands under my clothes. I can’t remember his name or who he is, but I woke up in his bed.”

“His bed? And you don’t remember anything else?”

“No just that I packed my things and ran out. His place looked expensive; I didn’t want to leave a mark or break anything.”

“That’s wild. How do you feel about it all?”

“Confused, mostly. I just want to remember more, but it’s all a blur.”

As I tried to remember what I could I glanced at Mia and she was smiling sheepishly, I asked her why she was smiling

Mia pressed on, ‘So, how was it?’

I felt myself blush. ‘How was what?’

Mia burst out giggling. ‘The sex girl! Was it good? Did you, you know, have a good time last night?’

I laughed, shaking my head. ‘You’re insane! All I can say is it was hot. I’m still sore, but it was something beautiful.

We both laughed hard, and then Mia glanced at the clock.

‘Okay, girl, I need to get back to work. I came to check on you because I was worried. I called Alex, and of course, he’s snoring away! He needs to stop making me wake his lazy ass up.’”