Chapter 05

KEI

“Can we please stop now? I’m exhausted—ugh…” I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper, feeling my body teetering on the brink of collapse. But he didn’t stop. His persistence mirrored the intensity of my weariness, pushing me beyond the limits I thought I could endure. Despite the overwhelming exhaustion, there was an undeniable thrill, a strange pleasure that intertwined with the fatigue, making it impossible to completely resist.

“For the last round,” he whispered, his voice a low, husky promise that sent a shiver down my spine. We reached the peak together, a crescendo of passion that left us both gasping for breath. The room was thick with the remnants of our desire, but I was too drained to care about the aftermath.

As I lay there, my body heavy with exhaustion, a lingering thought gnawed at the edges of my consciousness—was this the right decision? Once I chose to continue, there seemed to be no end, no point of return. My mind was clouded, lost in the haze of what had just transpired.

I closed my eyes, surrendering to the weight of my limbs, the stickiness of sweat and mixed fluids clinging to my skin. It didn’t matter. I was too drained to care.

He settled beside me, the mattress dipping under his weight. I turned my head to look at him, but the room’s darkness and the fog of impending sleep obscured his features, rendering him an indistinct silhouette.

“I guess this means I’m paid off with Gio? With some extra, even,” I muttered, attempting to lighten the situation with humor. He reached out, his fingers brushing my hair away from my face, the gesture surprisingly tender.

“Yeah, you’re paid. I’ll take care of him, and as for the rest, I’ll deposit it into your bank account,” he replied, his voice steady. I nodded weakly, the words barely registering as sleep tugged at my consciousness, pulling me under.

“Thank you. I need to sleep first. I can’t keep my eyes open,” I murmured, catching a fleeting glimpse of his smile before my eyelids grew too heavy to keep open.

“Then sleep tight, Kei,” he whispered, his voice soft, almost affectionate. I was too far gone to respond, the last sensation being the gentle press of his lips against my forehead—a touch that lingered even as I succumbed to sleep.

When I awoke, the sun’s rays were filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. The light was too bright, almost harsh compared to the enveloping darkness of the night before. My body ached in every conceivable way, a stark reminder of the intensity of the previous night’s events. It felt as though I had barely slept, my muscles protesting as I forced myself to sit up.

My legs wobbled as I attempted to stand, the soreness between them a sharp, painful reminder of how far I had been pushed. But more than the physical discomfort, a gnawing curiosity stirred within me—who was that man? I didn’t recognize him, yet he clearly knew me.

It couldn’t have been Zion; his voice was different. The room had remained dim throughout our time together, so I hadn’t been able to make out his face. Yet, something about him felt oddly familiar, like a distant memory just out of reach.

I glanced at the spot beside me, but it was empty. He was gone, leaving only the lingering scent of him on the sheets. My body had been cleaned, my skin free of the sweat and other remnants of our night together. He must have tended to me, dressing me in one of his shirts and a pair of shorts before slipping away.

Curiosity tugged at me as I brought the collar of the shirt to my nose, inhaling the faint scent of him—a mix of fresh laundry and expensive cologne. Who is this guy? And why does he care so much?

Suddenly, the door creaked open, startling me out of my thoughts. A woman, likely a caretaker, stepped inside, her expression warm and welcoming.

“Oh, you’re awake! Sir left early this morning and asked me to take care of you. Please, come and eat,” she said, her smile genuine. I managed to return it, though my mind was still racing with unanswered questions.

“Thank you. I’ll be out in a minute,” I replied, forcing myself to move despite the lingering soreness. Each step was a reminder of the intensity of the night before, the ache in my muscles a testament to just how far I had been pushed.

As I tried to stand properly, the sharp pain between my legs forced me to sit back down on the bed. I took a deep breath, determined to push through the discomfort. The last thing I wanted was for the maid to see me struggling to walk.

This is so frustrating. He really took his promise seriously, didn’t he?

I gritted my teeth, steeling myself against the pain, and headed out of the bedroom. The space outside was simple, almost too minimalistic for someone like him. The hallway led directly to a small living room, tastefully designed in black and white. It wasn’t large, but it exuded an air of sophistication and understated luxury.

“There you are, ma’am,” the maid greeted me as I entered the living area. I waved her off with a smile.

“Please, just call me Kei,” I insisted. She smiled back and led me to a small dining area.

As I followed her, my curiosity only deepened. Who is this guy, really? Why is he staying in a place like this? And why does he seem so familiar?

“Have a seat. Sir said you were very tired last night, so you need to rest,” she said, placing a plate of food on the table in front of me. I looked around the room, noting its simplicity.

“Can I ask you something? Does he live here? Isn’t he an Evangelista? This place seems too small for someone from such a wealthy family,” I asked, unable to keep the question to myself.

“Oh no, this isn’t his home. He has a house, but it’s far from here. We’re just behind his bar. He had this apartment built so he’d have a place to crash when he drinks too much,” she explained. I nodded, finally understanding.

“That makes sense. I was wondering why the place was so sparsely furnished,” I remarked, taking a seat and beginning to eat.

“After you finish your meal, you can go back to the bedroom if you’d like. Sir had to step out, but he’ll be back later,” she added. Her words made me pause mid-bite.

Do I really need to see him again? After everything that happened last night, wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t meet again?

“Actually, I don’t think I need to see him. After this, I should go. My friend is probably looking for me,” I said, trying to find a way out of this uncomfortable situation.

In the middle of my meal, she handed me my phone. “Sir said you dropped this when you came in last night. You were really drunk.”

Yeah, I was drunk, but he was the one who kissed me first, making me drop everything I was holding.

“He also saved his phone number in there. He said you could call him if you ever need anything,” she continued, leaving me puzzled. I hadn’t expected him to do that. Was he serious?

Curiosity got the better of me, and I quickly navigated to my contacts to see who he was. My eyes widened when I saw the name: Javi.

“Javi?” I whispered to myself. “Do you know who Javi is?” I asked the maid, needing answers.

“That’s one of Sir’s names,” she replied. “He uses it sometimes.”

One of his names? So he has others? But Javi… I’ve never heard that name associated with the Evangelista family before.

“What’s his full name?” I asked, my heart pounding.

She hesitated before answering, “Gio Javier Evangelista, the owner of the bar.”

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over me. Gio Evangelista… Was it really him I was with last night?