Annabella’s Point of View:
“I had a one-night stand with the most powerful man in the country!” I shuddered in fear. “Oh no! This will ruin my reputation and bring more stigma upon me! What if it’s a planned scandal?” I thought to myself.
‘Why did I leave the concert without my driver? I should have endured my fans’ adorable screams.” I cried out like a baby and bit my fingers in regret. Fear loomed in my heart. It wasn’t just because of the man in the room, but the fear of what my family, fans, sisters, and manager would say.
“The consequences of my reckless night will be too much for me to bear if it gets out!” I thought to myself. ‘Who will want to be part of a fandom where the superstar sleeps with every man she meets at night? My reputation will be ruined, and my career will suffer.’
As I tried to think, it was as though thousands of people were drumming on my head because it hurt badly. My mouth was also tasting bitter. At that moment, I needed to taste something sweet to regain my sanity. I looked around the room, but I couldn’t find a glass of water or wine.
“He is a very popular and powerful man, and considering the fact that I was involved in a huge scandal a few months ago, I can’t be seen with anyone who can ruin my reputation.” I thought, biting my fingers nervously.
“I have to leave! I really have to leave now,” I said to myself, and I gently stood up from the bed, making sure I didn’t wake the man. The bed made a low squeal when I got up, and I quickly looked at the man to make sure he was still asleep. Satisfied by what I saw, I continued my escape plan. I looked around, hoping I would find my underwear and shoes, but I couldn’t find them in the room. It was as if it had disappeared into thin air. I shrugged my shoulders, wore my short gown, and tiptoed to the door, but it was locked, and the keys were missing.
“Are you looking for something?” A hoarse yet commanding voice broke the silence, and I froze in place. I slowly turned to face the bed, and my eyes came into contact with his red eyes. He wasn’t asleep all along, but he was pretending. He sat down on the bed, a cunning smirk on his lips. My heart nearly dropped, and I looked at him with widened eyes.
“Where do you think you are going, my little pest?” His tone was laced with authority, and he raised his hands. He was holding the keys in his left hand, while my underwear was in his right hand!
‘Oh my goodness!’ I gasped, wondering how shameless he was.
“I knew you were going to try something tricky; that’s why I decided to keep your pants and bras safe for you!” He said mischievously, making sure that he stressed the ‘pants and bras’ part.
I didn’t reply to him; I just kept quiet. My mind was in turmoil, and I was trying to think of a way forward. The man stood up and slowly moved closer to me. I was frightened by this new development, and since the door wasn’t available, I ran to the window as quickly as I could.
“Calm down, pest; there is no way out, so just relax!” He said with a seductive voice, shining his teeth at me.
I looked out of the window, and he was right. There was no way. I was on the fourth floor; if I jumped down, I might lose my two little legs, but if I remained there, I would have to endure his painful and embarrassing torture. Who knows, he might even decide to touch me. No, I preferred to lose my legs than to face humiliation from the man who took my virginity.
‘No, there is always a way!’ I shook my head and took a deep breath before I jumped out of the window, forgetting that I was a multi-millionaire, award-winning celebrity. There was a look of shock and mischief on the man’s face, and I knew that was not our last meeting.
When I finally landed on the hard floor, I looked around. Unfortunately, I was still in the hotel building. The surrounding area was beautifully decorated with flowers, and the walls were made from strong glass. Different well-dressed people wandered about; none of them bothered to pay attention to me. Maybe it was because they were wealthy or because I was shamelessly dressed.
I incurred a deep cut due to my jump, and I could swear I thought I was paralyzed when my legs refused to move. I tried to stand up, but my legs betrayed me, and I collapsed on the floor. I looked around and noticed that some men in black suits were looking around. I need not be told that those men were searching for me. Mustering all the courage I could gather, I forced myself to stand up from the floor, hiding whenever I saw the men.
I looked around the car park, but I couldn’t spot my car. If I had seen it, I would have been able to drive out of the hotel.
“Oh no! I am doomed.” I cried out as more regret washed over my face. My brain began to think fast, and I thought of a thousand methods to escape from this horrible fortune. I could hear the bodyguards communicating through the earbuds they had on, and it scared the hell out of me.
My heart raced as I laid on the cold floor, my mind occupied with thoughts of escape. I knew I had to get out of there before the bodyguards found me, so I slowly got up once again, my legs shaking beneath me. I spotted a nearby restroom and quickly made a dash for it, hoping to find a temporary hiding place. I locked myself in a stall, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. I couldn’t believe what had happened. One night of recklessness had led me to this mess.
I heard the sound of footsteps outside, the bodyguards were getting closer. My heart skipped a beat as I realized I was trapped. But I refused to give up. I thought about the windows. Could I make another jump? No, it was too risky, and the window was very small.
Suddenly, an idea popped into my head when I looked outside the window. I saw the signboard of the hotel; it was familiar because I filmed a blockbuster movie in that same hotel a few weeks ago. I remember the side exit that we used when acting in the movie. It was a risk, but it was my only hope. I took a deep breath, opened the stall door, and made a run for the exit. I can’t remember for how long I kept running, but I knew I stopped when a gentleman, one of my fans, parked and offered to drive me to my studio.
Throughout my time in the gentleman’s car, my mind was not at ease, and I kept thinking of how to save myself if a scandal happened again. The gentleman tried to engage in a lustful conversation with me, but I was beyond listening.
I reached my studio, gasping for breath because of the long conversation the gentleman tried to have with me. I came down hurriedly and thanked the man. Although he asked for my phone number, I played dumb and left his presence.
It wasn’t like I was rude or anything, but my mind was filled with pressing matters, and I didn’t want to get distracted by a man looking for a celebrity to warm his bed.
My studio was a cozy space, reflecting my artistic personality. It wasn’t big, but beautiful. The walls were painted with a warm, creamy color and adorned with vibrant artwork and photographs. The floor was made of dark hardwood, and the furniture was made of modern pieces.
There were three big ring lights in the corner, and the light radiating from them made the room astonishing. Shelves lined the walls, filled with books, art supplies, and various musical instruments.
It was the perfect atmosphere, welcoming everyone to a world of possibilities and a chance to be whatever they want to be. I felt better at once because I was in a place where I could express myself freely, and pursue my passions without judgment.
Rachel, my manager, looked up from her desk; she looked really worried, and it was obvious on her face.
“Annabella, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” She exclaimed and quickly ran to my side. “Don’t tell me your fans were stalking you again, because that’s the only reason why you’ll be breathing heavily like this,” she continued, carefully leading me to the couch.
She looked at my outfit and furrowed her brows, wondering why I was still wearing the previous day’s gown. Thankfully, she decided to ignore it.
I collapsed onto the couch, trying to gather my thoughts. “It’s a long story, Rachel. But……argh!” I exclaimed after a moment of silence. I wanted to tell her what happened between me and the powerful Adriel, but I was nervous because she had warned me times without numbers to stay away from things that could implicate and ruin my career.
“I will write to the media now, and if possible, to the police department! We really have to keep the fans in check. It’s fine if they like their idol, but what is the use of stalking?” Rachel replied with a grimace on her face. She moved to her desk and picked up her phone, a deep frown settling on her face.
“Don’t bother! It wasn’t the fans; in fact, I didn’t bump into any of them,” I stuttered, unsure of what to lie about. I didn’t want her to call the police, because once they start their investigation, I might be asked some stupid question that would reveal my last night’s secret.
“Covering up your fans, are you?” Rachel asked with raised brows.
“Nope, it’s actually the truth,” I mumbled weakly. I had a rough time last night; my body was weak and sweaty.
“What have you gotten yourself into this time around, Annabella?” Rachel’s eyes narrowed as she looked at my neck.
“Yeah, what have you gotten into?” Lee Eul’s voice jerked me back to earth. He was seated behind the curtains, sipping from a bottle of red wine, his face bearing a relaxed expression.
I hadn’t noticed him before, and my body immediately weakened.
…….
Adriel’s Point of View:
I licked my lips seductively upon hearing my security head’s report. I smiled to myself, intrigued by her bold escape attempt.
“Sir, we tried our best, but she knows this place better than any of us and used it to her benefit,” John apologized, his eyes fixed on the floor. “But I will send my men after her. What would you like us to do next?”
I leaned back in bed, and joined my fingers together. I released my fingers, took the pillow she had slept on, and inhaled the fragrance. “So heavenly……” I muttered dreamily as the events of the night flashed before me.
“She forgot her house card,” I replied curtly, taking a quick glance at the card on the table beside the bed. “Let her think she’s escaped. I want to play, so give her a head start. But, John?”
“Yes, sir?” He replied like a diligent soldier and looked me in the eyes.
“Make sure she knows I’m always one step ahead,” I answered, trying to figure out something as an image of last night flashed into my head. John nodded and exited, leaving me to my thoughts.
“She’s a fascinating creature, full of fire and spirit.” I thought to myself, picturing the image of my late lover. “But why does she remind me so much of…?”
I couldn’t finish my sentence because of the guilt. “It can’t be her; she’s dead, and her soul is at peace,” I assured myself, but the doubt lingered.
As I was thinking of a way out of this distraction, my phone rang, breaking the spell. I swiftly stood up, picked up her card, and put it in my pocket. I answered the call, and a deep frown settled on my face as my little cousin’s irritating words irked me.
‘I’d love to watch her squirm, but for now, I have more pressing matters to attend to.’