𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄

𝐎𝐍𝐄

𝐀 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐗

I awoke groggily. My head’s pounding, and my surroundings are unfamiliar. I blinked against the harsh light streaming through the window, realizing I wasn’t in my own bed.

How did I end up here? What happened last night?

I need to leave.

I quietly slipped out of the room, stepping into an unfamiliar hallway. The remnants of a blurry night flashed intermittently in my mind, taunting me with fragmented images, and incomplete sequences.

How did I even get to this place? The man in that bed seemed as mysterious as my own presence there.

As I made my way through the unfamiliar surroundings, the external world mirrored my own turmoil. The hallway seemed labyrinthine, its twists and turns mocking my desperate need for answers.

My heart pounded with each step, anxiety and curiosity pushing me forward. Outside, the air was sharp against my skin, a welcome contrast to the stifling uncertainty inside the house.

I took a moment to breathe, to ground myself in the reality that laid beyond the confines of that unsettling room.

Even with the respite of fresh air, the mystery of the previous night continued to tug my thoughts. I want to unravel the enigma surrounding that unexpected encounter.

I began my search for answers. I retraced my steps, piecing together the hazy recollections, and snippets of conversations.

Each fragment brought me closer to understanding what had transpired, yet the full picture remained tantalizingly out of reach. I am wrestling with conflicting emotions. I am mad at myself for allowing such a situation to unfold, but I also felt bad for the man I left behind.

Who was he?

Was he just as bewildered by the night's event as I was?

—

“Mr. Montgomery wanted to see you today.”

“No.”

“Sir, Mr. Montgomery said it is urgent.”

A knock on the door interrupted us. It was Roux, his brother.

“Roux, you can go.”

“What? I just came in.”

“No, you’re going to Montgomery’s.”

“I don’t even know what he looks like.” Roux shrugged his shoulders.

“So do I. Leave.”

Roux pulled me closer to him. “Teagan’s coming with me then.”

Dacre’s eyes focused on Roux’s hands on my waist. “Teagan’s staying here.”

“She’s coming with me.”

“She’s staying here.”

—

After a while, he decided to let Roux and I go.

“Teagan?”

"Sir Roux." I kept my eyes on the paper. "What's up?"

"Drop the honorifics. Have you had your dinner yet?"

I looked at my watch. It's already six in the evening, and I haven't eaten anything.

"Yes. You should have yours."

My stomach rumbled.

"You're not good at lying, Teagan."

I chuckled. "Well."

"Have dinner with me, Teagan."

"I'm sorry, I can't. Thank you for the offer though."

"May I ask why?"

"I need to finish these papers, Roux, and if someone sees us outside, it may start rumors."

"Baseless rumors. You're right. I'll have the food delivered to us then." I looked up. His eyebrows were furrowed, and he was having a hard time on his phone.

"There's no need for that. I'm good."

My gaze followed him as he walked away. I thought he was leaving, but he came back, carrying a chair.

"Roux?"

"Do you know how this works, Teagan?" He gave me his phone. It's an app that has a wide variety of restaurants you could choose from.

"I never thought I'd see you having a hard time on an app."

"I should just buy the whole restaurant. I'll give it to you."

"No, thank you. Where do you want to order?"

"Here." I chose the restaurant he wanted to order from. Each food costs more than 50,000. "You know what, Teagan, come with me. You'll enjoy the food in person rather than having it delivered here."

"These papers. Sir Dacre needs them tom—" Roux held my hands, and gently pressed it.

"I'll take care of it. Tonight, I want you to have a great night."

"Fine."

He smiled. "Great. Let's go."

—

My eyes widened as we stepped through the ornate entrance of Le Cristal Éclatant. The grandeur of the restaurant left me momentarily breathless.

A magnificent chandelier, composed of countless cascading crystals, bathed the foyer in a soft, celestial glow. It was as if I had stepped into a realm of ethereal elegance.

As we made our way into the dining hall, I was captivated by the sight before me. The room exuded an aura of timeless sophistication with rich velvet drapes adorning the walls, and plush, upholstered chairs surrounding immaculately set tables.

Each table was adorned with delicate crystalware, sparking like stars against the crisp, white linen.

The gentle murmur of hushed conversations and soft piano music filled the air, adding to the ambiance of refined luxury. The aroma of tantalizing dishes wafted from the kitchen, teasing my senses with promises of delight.

My eyes were drawn to the open kitchen where a team of chefs, clad in pristine white uniforms, worked with precision and artistry. Their culinary choreography was nothing short of captivating, and I could hardly wait to experience the culinary wonders they were crafting.

A friendly host led us to a table by the window, offering a breathtaking view of the city lights twinkling like distant stars.

TO BE CONTINUED.