FAYE'S POV
I was shocked, my cup of drink stuck in my mouth as my gaze followed the angry man who was approaching me.
How did he find me?
I plunged the glass cup tight into my mouth, attempting to cover my face with it while I tried to leave the bar quietly.
"Hey! Don't try to move!" He yelled, shooting daggers at me.
I fidgeted but slowly loosened up. He had seen me already and trying to act smart would definitely do me no good.
"Good evening, Mr. Sam," I said, trying to act as neutral as I could. "What brings you here?"
"Don't try to pretend, Faye," he said angrily. "Where's my money?!"
"I… umm…" I stuttered, trying to find the right words to say to him.
I had exhausted every lie and excuse I could use and honestly, even if I could quickly think of something, he wouldn't still believe me.
Mr. Sam was a loan shark whom my father had run to when I was on the verge of dropping out of college. He had agreed to lend us some money if only we agreed to pay over three hundred percent interest.
Ridiculous right?
My parents had their struggling restaurant going on and they made little or no amount every day.
I just couldn't bring myself to let them tackle every debt we owed.
"Do you think you can escape from me?" He fumed. "Where's my money?!"
"I-I promise, I will pay you soon. I just need more time, please," I breathed, my eyes growing misty as I struggled to deal with the embarrassment that was killing me.
I hated the negative attention that came with getting busted in public for being a debtor.
His hand shot out, gripping my jaw hard enough to make my eyes sting.
"You have forty-eight hours, Faye," he seethed, grabbing my jaw. "Forty-eight…"
He released me abruptly, grabbed my untouched drink, drained it, and stalked away as if he hadn't just crushed my dignity in front of strangers.
I sighed heavily. Would I ever be free from all of these?
I waved at the bartender, trying to get his attention. "More drinks, please," I mumbled
The bartender gave me a suspicious look. He must think that I would owe him for the drinks I was taking.
"I will pay you, relax,"
He nodded slightly.
"Thank you," I said, smiling weakly at him.
From being sent on a pointless airport errand by my supervisor… to getting coffee splashed on me by a rude stranger… to being hunted down by a loan shark.
If bad days had rankings, this one was winning.
I lifted my glass—and then I saw him.
The man from the airport. Tall. Broad-shouldered. Impossibly polished, like he belonged to another world entirely.
I huffed heavily, feeling the rage boil inside me. I stood from my seat immediately, trying to hurry off to his table but I halted before I could move an inch.
He was incredulously hot… too hot that I lost the zeal to lash out on him.
His lips were full and inviting, curled into a smirk that made me feel like he knew something I didn't know.
Why was he smirking? Could it be that he recognized me?
"Hey man," he called, attracting the bartender's attention. "Give that pretty woman a drink since she wouldn't take her eyes off me."
What an arrogant dude. Who did he think he was?
Before I knew what was happening, he was seated before me.
"W-what do you want?" I stammered.
I had secretly wished he could sit up close with me while gushing over him earlier.
"Making your dream come true," he smirked, pouring me a drink. "Drink up."
I had too much of the drink and it prompted my tipsiness and the sudden urge to fill my mouth with his tongue.
I should have retired, but I didn't want to leave. I couldn't bear to leave the handsome man behind. I might end up not seeing him again.
After a long while I retired to one of the rooms in the lounge.
I swung the door open, staggering to the bed. But to my greatest shock, I found someone else on it.
I gasped. It was the handsome man from the bar.
He looked shocked as well but seemed pretty too worn out to argue over rooms.
"Diana?" He said softly with a smile, squinting his eyes.
Who the hell is Diana? Did he just mistake me for someone else?
He wasn't even bothered about how I managed to get into his room but was interested in my identity.
"I— I'm not—"
"Are you just going to stand and do nothing? Come here," he said in a silvery voice as he grabbed my hand and yanked me into his arms.
"W—wait, I'm not…."
Before I could finish that sentence, his mouth crashed into mine.
I widened my eyes in shock, attempting to pull away but he yanked me back and planted a hungry kiss on my lips.
I should have pulled away.
Instead, I stayed and kissed him back.
My thoughts scattered.
This was a mistake.
I knew it.
But I kissed him anyway.
********************
"Mmm… what time is it…?"
I groaned, my voice barely louder than a breath as I shifted on the unfamiliar bed.
"Let's get out of bed first… UGH!"
I sat up too fast and instantly regretted it.
"What…?! My legs feel weak and my stomach is kinda numb…"
I pressed a hand to my forehead, squeezing my eyes shut as fragments of last night flickered through my mind.
Oh God.
I woke up to find myself barely clothed with a stranger in the same bed with me.
I gazed at him, he was fast asleep and could barely notice my movements in the room.
I slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, wincing at how sore my body felt with every step.
My phone started buzzing.
I quickly wore my clothes, ignoring the phone till I was able to sneak out of there.