1. Betrayal

ANDREA POV

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I stood outside my boyfriend's apartment door.

I had a key, but something inside of me just couldn't bring myself to use it. As I debated whether or not to knock, the door swung open and my boyfriend, Ethan, stood there with a guilty look on his face.

"Hey," he said, his voice shaky.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the sinking feeling in my stomach.

"I can explain," he said quickly, stepping aside to reveal a young woman sitting on his couch, looking unconcerned.

The woman looked at me with a smug smile on her face. "Oh, you must be the girlfriend. Don't worry, sweetheart, he'll come back to me soon enough."

I felt my blood boil as I heard her words. "Excuse me? Who do you think you are?"

Ethan tried to intervene. "Andrea, please calm down. Let's talk about this later."

But it was too late. The anger had taken over, and I wasn't going to back down. "No, Ethan. We need to talk about this now. You've been cheating on me, and I deserve an explanation."

The woman rolled her eyes and turned towards the room. "I'm not getting involved in this drama. Have fun with your little lover's quarrel."

"Who is she?" I demanded, my eyes darting between the two of them.

"She's just a friend," he said, but his words sounded hollow.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Ethan and I had been together for almost two years, and I had trusted him completely. Now, as I stood in his doorway, watching him with another woman, that trust was shattered.

As she walked away, I turned back to Ethan, my eyes full of tears. "I don't believe you," I said, my voice cracking. "How could you do this to me, Ethan? After everything we've been through?"

He looked down at the ground, unable to meet my gaze. "I don't know, Andrea. I made a mistake. I never meant to hurt you."

But his words fell on deaf ears. I knew I couldn't forgive him for this betrayal. "I'm done, Ethan. I can't be with someone who doesn't respect me or our relationship."

"Please, just listen," he begged, stepping towards me.

But I couldn't bear to hear his excuses. I turned on my heel and ran down the hallway, tears streaming down my face.

As I left the building, I felt like my entire world had come crashing down around me. Ethan had been my everything, and now he had betrayed me in the worst way possible. The only thing left to do was to pick up the pieces of my broken heart and start anew.

I walked down the street towards the bar, my heart heavy and my mind clouded with sadness.

I was on my way to meet my friend, Samantha, hoping that her company would be a temporary distraction from the pain I was feeling. As I approached the entrance, I took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Inside, the bar was dimly lit and crowded. I scanned the room, searching for my friend's familiar face. And then, I saw her sitting at a table in the corner, waving at me to come over.

I made my way through the throngs of people, feeling a pang of envy for those who seemed carefree and happy. When I reached Samantha's table, I collapsed onto the chair opposite her and let out a long sigh.

"Hey, girl," she said, smiling at me. "You okay?"

I shook my head, unable to speak for a moment. My heart felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces, and I didn't know how to put it back together again.

My friend leaned forward, concern etched on her face. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself. "I caught Ethan with another lady," I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her expression softened. "I'm so sorry, honey. That sucks."

I nodded, tears threatening to spill over. "I thought we had something special, you know? But I guess I was wrong."

Samantha reached across the table and squeezed my hand. "You're not wrong for wanting something real and meaningful. Maybe he just wasn't the one for you."

I nodded again, grateful for her words of comfort. "Thanks for being here for me, I don't know what I would do without you."

She smiled at me again. "That's what friends are for. Now, let's order some drinks and toast to new beginnings."

And so we did. As we sipped our cocktails and chatted about lighter topics, I felt a small sense of relief wash over me. Maybe, just maybe, things would eventually get better.

It was 7:00 pm, and I still sat in the bar with Samantha, nursing my drink and trying to keep my thoughts from spiralling into darkness. She was doing her best to keep my spirits up, but the pain of the breakup was still fresh in my mind.

As we chatted, a man approached our table. He was tall and muscular, with piercing gloomy eyes and a smug expression on his face.

"Hey ladies," he said, flashing us a cocky grin. "Mind if I join you?"

I bristled at his audacity, but Samantha smiled politely. "Actually, we were just having a girls' night. Maybe some other time?"

But the man didn't take the hint. Instead, he pulled up a chair and sat down uninvited. "Come on, don't be shy. I'm sure we can have some fun together."

I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my drink, already feeling annoyed by his presence. Samantha, however, seemed unfazed.

"What's your name?" she asked, trying to be polite.

"Call me Daniel," he said, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair.

I snorted at his obvious attempt to impress us, but he didn't seem to notice.

"So, what brings you ladies out tonight?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

Samantha and I exchanged a look, unsure of how to respond. But before we could say anything, Daniel continued.

"Let me guess, you're out to forget about some guy who broke your heart?"

I felt my face flush with anger. How dare he presume to know anything about me or my life?

But Samantha cut in before I could respond. "Actually, she did just go through a breakup. But we're not looking for anything serious right now."

Daniel grinned again as if he'd just won a prize. "Well, I'm not looking for anything serious either. Just a good time."

I rolled my eyes again, feeling more irritated by the second. But my friend seemed intrigued.

"What did you have in mind?" Samantha asked, playing along.

Daniel leaned in, his eyes fixed on her. "I know a great club down the street. We could dance the night away, and maybe even share a few kisses."

I scoffed, unable to believe how arrogant this guy was. But my friend seemed to be enjoying the attention.

"I don't know," she said, hesitating. "We weren't really planning on going out tonight."

But Daniel wasn't deterred. "Come on, live a little. I promise you won't regret it."

"We are not-–-"

I opened my mouth to protest, but Samantha cut me off. "Okay, let's do it. But just as friends, okay?"

Daniel grinned again, looking like the cat that got the cream. "Of course, just as friends. Let's go."

And with that, he stood up and offered his hand to Samantha. She took it, and the two of them walked out of the bar together, leaving me sitting there alone.

I couldn't believe what had just happened. Had my friend really just abandoned me to go off with some arrogant stranger? And what would happen when they got to the club? Would Daniel try to make a move on her, or worse?

I sat there for a few minutes, stewing in my anger and frustration. But then I took a deep breath and reminded myself that Samantha was a grown woman who could make her own choices.

And besides, maybe it was for the best. Maybe a night out with a new guy was just what she needed to take her mind off things.

I finished my drink and sat upright, feeling a bit better. Maybe I would just head home and try to get some sleep. After all, tomorrow, I have a guest to interview at work.

I stared down at my empty glass as the chatter of the people around me faded into the background. My heart felt heavy, still ravaged by what just happened to me.

Suddenly, a tall, dark-haired man approached me. He was wearing a disguise, a cap pulled low over his eyes and a scarf covering his mouth. But even through the disguise, I could tell he was handsome.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked in a low, smooth voice.

I looked up at him, surprised. "I'm fine," I lied.

He raised an eyebrow sceptically. "You don't look fine."

I shrugged, feeling a little defensive. "Just had a rough night, that's all."

He nodded, his eyes scanning me intently. "How about I buy you a drink? Maybe it'll help you forget about your troubles for a little while."

I hesitated, unsure if I wanted to be around anyone right now. But something about the way he looked at me made me feel a little less alone, so I nodded.

As we sat together, sipping our drinks, we talked about everything and nothing. He made me laugh, and for a moment, I forgot about my pain.

Eventually, he leaned in closer, his breath warm on my cheek. "I know a place where we can really forget about everything else," he murmured.

I felt a thrill of anticipation run through me. It was reckless, and I knew I shouldn't, but something about this man made me want to throw caution to the wind.

We left the bar together, walking through the quiet alleys until we came to a luxurious hotel. He led me inside, and we made our way to a suite with a breathtaking view of the city.

As we undressed each other, I couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious. It had been a long time since I had been intimate with someone, and I wasn't sure if I was ready.

Well, Ethan and I didn't have sex for some months. Guess that's why he cheated.

But as the guy kissed me hungrily, all my doubts faded away. For that night, I was able to forget about my heartbreak and just be in the moment.

As we lay together, sated and content, he whispered to me, "I may be disguised, but I promise you, I'm not who you think I am."

I looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

He smiled enigmatically. "Let's just say that I'm not your average guy."

And with that, he gathered his things and left, leaving me alone once again, but with a newfound sense of hope. Maybe there was something better waiting for me out there, after all.

I wore my clothes, and head back home...