Chapter 2 THE MORNING AFTER

CHAPTER 1 - THE MORNING AFTER

That morning, covered with shaky nerves and sunshine, in front of the mirror in my tiny apartment, I applied concealer under my eyes to create the illusion of a well-rested face. My stomach tightened, my head pounded hard, and every blink brought flashes of last night: the neon lights, the laughter, the man. I shook it off. New city. New life. No space for regrets.

Orientation for freshers at the fashion institute would begin in two hours. I had waited for this all my life. I wasn't going to allow a silly one-night stand to spoil it. In a white blouse and tailored brown trousers, I looked professional; nothing like the girl from last night. I wore red lipstick and felt ready.

The campus looked like heaven. The air mixed with perfume and ambition. Students walked like they were on runways. Every corner screamed elegance; from the glass walls, shiny floors, to the banners reading THE KATHERINE KNIGHT COUTURE ACADEMY.

Reading her name made my heart flutter. Katherine Knight, the inspiration behind all my sketches. The reason I was here.

A lady with a clipboard gave me a student badge. "Rain Hart," she read. "Welcome to the academy. Your class is in Studio C."

Studio C looked unreal. Sewing machines glittered under chandeliers, mannequins stood elegantly, and huge inspiration boards covered the walls. Students were showing off their drawings and fabric selections.

I sat near the window, clutching my sketchbook. A petite redhead leaned over. "Nervous?"

"Afraid," I said with a small smile.

She grinned. "Same. I'm Lucy. From London."

"Rain. From, uh, nowhere special."

Before she could reply, the room went dead. Every head and eye turned toward the door.

She was here.

Katherine Knight entered like a slow-motion movie scene. Her presence filled the room. She wore a shiny black dress, her blond hair in a perfect bun. Her heels hit the marble floor like punctuation marks of power.

"Welcome, designers," her tone was calm but commanding. "You've earned your spot here. Let's see if you can keep it."

A ripple of nervous laughter swept through the room. Katherine smiled, but it wasn't warm. It was precise. Controlled. The type of smile that knew exactly how much power it wielded. She went to each desk, going through sketchbooks, murmuring comments. When she got to mine, my throat tightened.

I held my breath as she turned the pages of my portfolio. Her expression was unreadable. Then she looked at me. "Rain Hart," she said softly. "You sketch emotions. I can feel the story in your drawings."

My heart shook. "Thank you, ma'am."

She studied me curiously, "Where did you learn to sketch like this?"

"I practiced by drawing people in the streets back home."

Katherine smiled faintly. "Interesting. You capture the soul, not just the style. Fashion needs more of that."

She hovered for a few more seconds, then left. But I could still feel her eyes on me, like a bright light.

By the end of the session, my nerves were calm. Maybe I really did belong here. Maybe last night doesn't count.

Then Katherine spoke again, "I'll be taking one student as my personal assistant, to work closely with me, attend my meetings, and master the industry from the inside."

Every student straightened.

Katherine's eyes met mine. "Miss Hart, I would like that to be you."

I blinked. "Me?"

She nodded, smiling in that poised manner. "Your designs are deep. Consider it a challenge."

The class was staring, some with envy, others with curiosity.

"Thank you, ma'am," I stammered. "I won't disappoint you."

"I hope not," she said, turning toward the door. "My driver will bring you to my home this evening. We begin early tomorrow."

When she left, Lucy hugged me. "Rain! This is big!"

I smiled, dazed. "I can't believe it."

But as we left the class, an uneasy feeling crept into my mind.

Later that evening, the driver arrived, a tall man in a dark suit who barely spoke as he led me into a black car. The ride was quiet aside from the hum of the engine and my own thoughts spinning faster than the tires.

When we pulled up to the Knights' mansion, I froze. The place looked like a palace of gems, on a mountaintop. Every inch of it oozed wealth and power.

The front doors opened before I even reached them. Katherine stood inside, flawless as always, a glass of wine in her hand. "Welcome, Rain," she said smoothly. The smell of roses and luxury greeted my nose.

Katherine turned to me. "You'll stay in the east wing. My husband will be home shortly. I would like you to meet him before dinner. He is our school's major investor."

I nodded, still overwhelmed. "Of course, ma'am."

As we entered the grand living room, a deep masculine voice sent shivers down my spine.

Katherine smiled and turned toward it. "There he is."

A tall figure in a navy suit walked in, wearing the kind of presence that made everything stand still. I got dizzy.

It was him.

The man from the hotel room.

The stranger whose touch I still felt on my skin.

I couldn't move. My mouth was dry. He froze too, recognizing me, before sliding into practiced calm.

Katherine kissed him on the lips. "Darling, meet my new protégé," she said brightly. "Rain Hart."

He looked at me, eyes dangerously controlled. "Rain," he said, softly. "A pleasure."

I forced a smile, my heart beating so loudly I was sure they could hear it. "Likewise."

Our gazes locked. Something silent lingered between us, sweet and forbidden.

Katherine, unaware, turned to pour wine. "Rain will be a great fit."

"I'm sure she will," he whispered, still looking at me.

I swallowed hard, suddenly knowing how close I was to catastrophe. The air felt thick.

"Rain, breathe," I told myself.

Deep down, I knew that the night I thought I could forget had just followed me home.