JOANNE-
I woke up the next morning to an empty bed.
There was no trail of Hardy, who had fallen asleep last night after our almost-body-thriving sex.
I shook off last night’s thoughts that were slowly starting to creep in and slowly sat up.
My mind had clearly done a better job at shaking it off, but my body still remembered every part of me he kissed and touched.
I kissed my teeth and rolled my eyes in annoyance.
Somehow it still wouldn’t leave my mind.
Hardy was really gentle. It almost didn’t feel like Hardy.
Was Trinity right all along? Could I possibly induce Hardy to develop feelings for me that influence his demeanor towards me towards becoming less aggressive?
I shook my head. I shouldn’t let Trinity’s words dig deep.
It sounded too crazy.
I tried to imagine myself in love with Hardy or the other way around.
And it made me shudder and gave me cold feet.
He was the devil’s spawn. And they only manipulate, bend, shape, and use people in any form they want and like.
Last night he was intoxicated; he had mistaken me for Lisa, and that somehow erupted his sex drive.
And even after realising it was me, he was already far too pressed to stop.
I climbed out of bed, and immediately a knock disrupted my door.
“Come in”
My voice was barely loud, but Trinity pushed the door open and walked in with a washcloth in her hand.
“Good morning.” Her smile was suspiciously bright and wide.
Too bright.
“Good morning.” I titled my head, my eyes already telling her I was getting suspicious of her.
“I’m here to get you ready for a bath,” she beamed.
“I can see that.”
My hand stretched to point at the washcloth in her hand.
“And besides, I can wash myself,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“I love my job,” she smiled.
–
I was enjoying the warm, scented bubble soap water I was in, with my legs stretched out to the end of the enormous tub.
Trinity hummed an unfamiliar song as she scrubbed my back.
She was way too happy, and it itched me that I wanted to know so badly.
“You woke up on the right side of bed today, huh?” I said I was playing with a bubble.
“Oh well”
Her hand was gently on my back.
“What’s keeping you so happy? Did you flee this place and secretly get a man’s contact information? Are you hiding a hot, spicy goblin man inside a closet who you can’t wait to rip apart when you’re alone?”
The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted it, palmed my forehead, and heard Trinity’s outburst.
“Oh, you wish.” She was still laughing. “If anyone’s hiding a hot, spicy man who they’re ripping apart when they’re alone, It’s probably you.”
My cheeks hit up.
“What the hell do you mean?”
“Come on. I know you spent the night with Hardy; we saw him coming in here last night and saw him leaving early this morning.
“We?” My chest felt weird.
“The maids, everyone, but no one is talking about it. No one would dare to,” Trinity whispered.
Her eyes were sparkling, and I honestly didn’t get why she was so happy.
“Is that why you’re happy?” I scoffed, turning to face her.
“Yes,” Her hand slipped from my back. “You’re making Hardy fall for you like I had projected. And it’s making me proud.”
I scoffed even louder and rolled my eyes.
“I am still not on board with your falling in love with the Hardy cliché. And in case you’re wondering, nothing happened in here. He was drunk; he didn’t know what he was doing here. He practically just came over, talked a few things, and passed out.”
Of course, I was going to leave special information out.
Trinity’s face dropped.
“That’s all? But Bella said she heard some–. ”
She stopped talking and gently turned my body to face ahead.
She started to wash me again, this time a little aggressively.
I tried not to laugh.
She was adorably petty.
We were both quiet until I decided to spill. It was just Trinity.
I had no one to talk to but her.
“But… I mean, we almost did it.”
The washcloth fell from her hand, and she let out a dramatic gasp.
“You’re joking”
“I’m not,” I said, restraining my smile.
“Wait,” she paused. “Did you say she was drunk?”
“Yes, why?” My eyes held hers.
I saw a heavy glint of sadness and a greater, deeper emotion I couldn’t decipher flash across her eyes.
“What?” I asked gently.
Trinity let out a sigh and ran her wet hand through her hair.
“This is bad.”
My eyes widened, almost falling out.
“How do you mean?”
Trinity looked towards the nook of the door before getting on her feet to check if it’s properly locked.
She came back and squatted down towards the tub.
“Hardy did look mad this morning when he stepped out of your room; I’m sure he regretted last night.” Trinity paused. “I shouldn’t be telling you this; it’s not my place, but I don’t care if you’re Bailey’s replacement. Because now you’re like a huge part of Hardy’s life, and everyone believes you’re his fiancé. We don’t know what he’ll do at the end of it all, but Joanne.”
The way she called my name caused my insides to twitch.
She continued, her voice lower,
“The week after Lisa died, Hardy went through a really nasty habit. But even if it thankfully went on for just a week, It was really bad. Hardy had always known how to hold his liquor, but during that week, he felt helpless, so he started drinking crazily, non-stop. He had this inner constructing anger eating him away; he came up with the rule of everyone calling him Master. No maid was allowed to leave; he almost bought everyone’s rights.
He would sleep around with different ladies and pay them half a lifetime fortune, and he mostly slept with girls that seemed a bit like Lisa. Golden brown hair, almost seven feet. It went on, and it was destroying him. Luckily, Theodore, his best friend for ages, found a way to pull him out; nobody knows how he did it, but he helped Hardy. Though Hardy’s goal has been shifted, he is still grieving. But I feel like he’s falling back.”
I sat up, and my chest puckered. My face is scrunched up from the story, and I tried to look and feel normal, but I couldn’t.
“Falling back, you mean into his drinking and random sensual self?” I asked, and Trinity nodded.
“Yes”
“Well, last night at that Trevor guy’s party, Lisa was brought up; this lady kept pressing Hardy about it, and I think that’s why he ended up drinking so much-
“And ended up in your room afterwards; this explains it all.” Trinity breathed out a sigh. “Hardy can’t go through that again; he will become miserable again, and since he’s away from his villa and his hotels, you’ll be his only target when he drinks and tries to-
“Fuck me?” I scoffed angrily.
Trinity gagged at the word, like I just dipped a rotten egg in my mouth.
“Don’t say that,” she scolded.
“Please,” I said, rolling my eyes.
I wouldn’t mind getting under Hardy, but I wouldn’t if he was under an influence.
I got that people grieve differently, and according to Trinity, I didn’t know how Theodore did it back then, but Hardy needed help.
And if he was going to use me as a pleasure island or whatever?
It wouldn’t be okay.
–
With half of my day already gone, I decided to walk around the place instead of just lying on the bed and letting the dark side of my mind cloud my entire thoughts.
Why would I want nothing but the events of last night to repeat themselves in my head and in real life?
That was Hardy’s weakness, and I shouldn’t crave it.
He was falling into a deep end, but yet my head was not trying to forget how his veins had stretched and structured his entire biceps when he took off his shirt. How strained his chest looked when he heaved and stared down at me.
Get a hold of yourself, Joanne!
I jumped on my feet and walked towards the wall mirror in the room.
With the loose silk dress on my body, I clutched a handful of folds behind my back so the dress could map out my body and every curve and shape I owned.
I tried to notice my bump, but there was nothing.
There is no trace of being pregnant.
I had lost track of how many weeks I had. But it didn’t matter.
Suddenly, nothing mattered more than the weird burning desire I was feeling.
–
I made it down the halls, getting a few formalities and greetings from the maids, who seemed busy walking around the place with sheets and silk fabric.
I was now free to walk around on my own, with no guards preventing me from running or caging me with every step I took.
And I would be crazy to run.
We’ve been to at least three different places I didn’t know, and aside from that,.
I had nothing back home; I felt like I could acquire
I would be dumb to run.
Unconsciously, I made it to the room where Hardy’s Hallway was.
It was empty, and only the door to his room could be seen in the stretched hallway with dim lights.
I could faintly hear Theodore’s voice. I wanted to turn back and go into my room, but I had no idea why my legs stretched further. I stopped instantly when I heard Theodore’s words.
“And Hardy… Bailey and her father have been found and trapped.”
–