CHAPTER 4

“Rise and shine, dumbass.”

Lena groaned, squinting against the sunlight slicing through the curtains. A sharp ache pulsed in her head, making her wince and groan louder.

“Oh, God! Lena, I've told you to stop drinking so much.”

She clutched her forehead, slowly sitting up. Her blurry vision made her best friend's outline appear hazy, but she could make out Abby standing by the window, hands on her waist, glaring in disapproval.

“It’s Saturday. Why are you waking me up so early?” Lena whined, leaning back as pain throbbed through her head— and other sensitive parts of her body.

“Wait... How did I even get here? I thought I was at the club last night.”

Abby didn’t answer.

“Why are you being all mysterious? What, are you Silent Sam now?”

Abby was the chatty type especially anytime she had sex with a guy or found dirt against bitches. Lena distinctly remembered Abby eyeing a guy with auburn hair at the bar, promising to drag him to a club room and dominate him.

Yet, here she was—silent.

Arms crossed, Abby finally spoke. “I slashed all of Drake's BMW tires.”

Lena blinked, stunned. “You did what?”

Abby sighed, plopping onto the bed beside her. Leaning against the blue Star Wars wallpaper, she muttered, “He's such a grown-ass bitch. The stupid dude— I don't give a damn if insulting him offended you, so I'm not apologizing.”

She gestured dramatically. “He had the audacity to yell at me last night when I brought you home. Said some real crap too. Basically, ‘Even though I cheated on Lena, she has no right to sleep with anyone else since we're practically husband and wife.’”

Lena exhaled shakily, pressing her face into her hands.

“Just get me some painkillers. My head's killing me.”

“Lena—”

“Please, Abby. I don't need the ‘I told you so’ lecture right now.”

“That's not even what I—”

Lena shot her a glare.

Abby’s expression softened, her eyes suspiciously bright with tears.

Seeing her tough-as-nails friend on the verge of tears made Lena’s chest tighten. She didn't want to cry—but the emotion was pressing hard against her throat.

“Slashing his tires won’t change anything,” Lena whispered, voice trembling.

Abby looped an arm around her shoulders, holding her close.

“You deserve better, Lena. Drake doesn’t love you—he never did. He’s only with you because of your money.”

Lena stared at the ceiling, blinking back tears.

“You don’t get it.”

Abby sighed and gently combed her fingers through Lena’s long, dark hair.

She had tried so many times to open Lena’s eyes to Drake’s true nature. Yet, nothing had changed.

And now, here they were.

God, how she wanted to punch Drake right now.

“See? This is why I called you a dumbass. You're making me emotional.” Abby pouted.

Lena let out a shaky laugh, tears glistening in her eyes.

Abby always knew how to lighten the mood. That was how their friendship began in college—when Lena was being body-shamed by a lecturer, and Abby had jumped in with a wild, over-the-top defense that had the entire class laughing, including the lecturer himself.

“Anyway,” Abby continued, her voice turning playful, “tell me. How was it?”

Lena blinked in confusion. “How was what?”

Abby trailed after Lena as she staggered toward the bathroom, eyebrows wiggling.

“You know... hooking up with one of the Josh boys.”

Lena froze, eyes widening. Heat crept into her cheeks as flashes of last night surged forward—blurred, but enough to make her remember the way his body pressed against hers. The way he moved. How he’d taken her like he was punishing her... and how much she’d liked it.

“W-what are you talking about?” she stammered.

Abby smirked. “Don’t play innocent. You slept with Asher Josh. Judging by the hickeys on his neck, I’d say it was pretty intense.”

Lena’s head throbbed harder. “Asher Josh? Wait... how do you even know that?”

Abby shrugged. “You passed out. He brought you to me—or more like dumped you on me. He didn’t even make eye contact. Just left the bar like someone stole his candy.”

Lena clutched her temples, panic bubbling in her system.

She'd heard plenty of stories about Asher Josh. Cold. Arrogant. Unapologetically blunt. The kind of man who made his disdain for people painfully obvious.

All the Josh brothers were the same, she thought bitterly.

But still... her body ached deliciously despite the discomfort. He hadn't been gentle, but—damn.

Too bad she couldn't remember his face clearly.

“At least he’s better at sex in a bathroom than Drake,” Lena muttered as she grabbed some painkillers from the medicine cabinet.

Abby snorted then Lena looked at her with a calculating look. “And what about his friend? The one who looked like he belonged to royalty?”

Lena paused, tossing the pills into her mouth and washing them down with water.

“Come to think of it he looked like the Sheikh of Ajman’s son? What was his name again?”

Abby rolled her eyes. “Josiah freakin' Al-Nasser.”

Lena smirked. “You said he was a solid ten. Flexing muscles, eatable face. What's the issue now?”

Abby scowled, folding her arms.

“Rich guys suck. Everything was great until he pulled some weird BDSM stunt. Which would have been fine except he kept pushing my hands away every time I tried touching him. Ugh! I got so pissed, I twisted his balls and slapped him.”

Lena sputtered, nearly choking on the water in her mouth.

“You twisted his balls?! Who the hell does that?”

“I do.” Abby sneered. “No man dominates me. Ever.”

Lena burst into laughter.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want. You puked on me last night. Breakfast is on you, no arguments.”

“Aw, but you said you loved every part of me.” Lena teased, puckering her lips.

She took a long shower that managed to burn down the aching between her legs. After putting on some clothes, she went to the front porch where Abby's brand-new Highlander was parked.

Abby, despite her stunning university results, couldn’t land a corporate job due to her ghetto upbringing. Most of her wealth came from men who threw money and luxury gifts at her. Though she hated it, it was survival.

Lena’s parents had never approved of their friendship, always insisting Abby was a bad influence. But Lena knew better. Abby wasn’t responsible for her wild streak.

They ordered breakfast at McDonald's, splitting the bill despite Abby’s earlier threat.

By the time Lena got home, she was in a better mood. Until she noticed the silver Porsche in her driveway.

Lena frowned in confusion as she stared at the silver Porsche.

What was a Porsche doing parked on her front porch?

'Wasn’t that... the same car from the other night?' Lena thought inwardly.

Before she could process the thought, Drake emerged from the front door, laughing alongside a tall, imposing man.

Lena’s stomach twisted.

The stranger’s face was unreadable, cold, as his gaze met hers.

And then—

“To think she isn’t stalking me,” he muttered.