Chapter 1 Surprise, Surprise

SURPRISE, SURPRISE

Emma's POV

"Next stop, Westbridge station," the announcement rang. The train rumbled to a stop just as I opened my eyes. This was my stop.

I must have drifted off again. I blinked a few times as the soft headlight caught my eyes. At my feet, my suitcases stood, then I reached for them, pulling them out of the way. People rushed out of the train and I wasn't about to join them.

Finally stepping out of the train, I entered the only available taxi I had seen. I could feel my stomach churning with a new feeling as we sped through the streets.

The streets were beautifully adorned with different colours of light. Mistletoes were placed in front of most buildings. Everywhere smelt of Christmas, and a small smile escaped my lips.

I felt my stomach churning again, and I knew it wasn't just about the holiday. This Christmas would be my last as a single lady. My boyfriend, Declan, would be introducing me to his family members after three years of being together.

This was after I gave him my life savings and resigned from my job as a customer care representative at a small PR company. Where my former boss had refused to keep his hands to himself whenever he was around me.

'This is what love does, right?' I smiled, rubbing my sweaty palms together.

The taxi screeched to a halt before the building where Declan lived. Handing him a little cash, I hurled my bags into the building.

Inside the lobby was decorated with a small mistletoe that had been used more than once. For the last 2 years, I've spent my Christmas holiday with Declan, and I've always seen it there.

"Hi Emma, welcome again," a cheery, but familiar voice burst from behind the desk.

"Hello, Carly. Thanks. Just in time for Christmas." I replied in a soft tone, as I returned her smile.

"Merry Christmas in advance," her voice followed behind me.

"Same to you, too." I half screamed as I stepped into the elevator.

She didn't need to ask who I was here to see, as I've become a regular visitor in this building for the past three years.

When the elevator got to Declan's floor, the new feeling inside my stomach returned. Pushing it aside, I walked towards his door.

My brows met in surprise when I tried to slip in my keys but found out that the door was open. Declan isn't supposed to be home. He had told me he'd be working late today.

That was why I arrived three days earlier, to surprise him. Pushing the door, I entered quietly. But as I was about to take off my boots I heard a moan, then a grunt.

It was Declan's voice. My mind raced with thousands of thoughts. Standing before his door, I didn't even realise how I had gotten there, and I pushed it open.

On the bed, Declan was butt naked, backing me, humping a lady. My eyes widened in shock and my heart beat raced up. My eyes caught the blonde-haired lady under him.

It was Fiona, his work colleague. From where I stood, I could see prints of fingers on her pale skin which obviously belonged to Declan. He held her blonde hair, which was in contrast to my red hair, with one hand while the other teased her nipples simultaneously.

"Ughh, Clanny. Right there. Yeah." Fiona's loud moans covered the room.

"Louder, scream some more," Declan grunted as he rammed into her. Fiona's moans got louder and I knew she was about to reach her climax.

My eyes widened in shock at his words. He'd always taunted me for being loud, saying it would disturb his neighbours. Hearing Fiona scream, my moan was just a whisper.

I felt my eyes closing in dizziness while my hands trembled. My phone fell to the floor, announcing my presence to them.

Declan jerked, turning to the door. His eyes widened, but returned back to normal almost immediately.

"Emma, I didn't know you were going to come earlier." He said in a raspy tone, as if I had interrupted him while playing his favourite game. They remained in that position.

Tilting my head back, I stared at him. "That's all you have to say?" The words came out as a question instead of a statement.

"That's because he has nothing to say to you," Fiona said from under him, her eyes moving from my head to toe.

She pulled the sheets and tried to cover her nakedness as I fixed my gaze on her. But part of her breast was still open to my view.

"You should have known that you were something... temporary." She continued. "His mother would never accept you as her daughter-in-law. You're not from our country."

My chest felt heavy and I took a deep breath. I'd asked Declan several times if his mother was in support of our relationship, but he'd always found a way to shove me aside with the topic.

"When were you going to tell me?" I asked Declan as my voice cracked, returning my gaze to him.

He stared at me with remorse or shame in his eyes. That was all I needed to know his answer. He was never going to tell me.

"After all I did for you. Giving you my life savings and resigning from my job so we could plan our lives together." I yelled all restraint in me breaking.

"I didn't ask you to." He said.

My vision blurred as he said those words. The tears I'd been trying not to shed fell without control. I picked up my phone and ran out of his room.

Squeezing my face, I dropped my glass on the table. I quickly put the lime into my mouth to numb the effect of the whisky I was drinking.

I couldn't remember how I'd left Declan's building, but I found myself in a dim bar a few blocks away from his building.

"Fill up my glass again." I half screamed at the bartender, my voice fading away as the music box blared loudly around me.

I had lost count of how many glasses I had taken. My plan was to drink 2 or 3 glasses and face my reality.

"Is everything alright?" The bartender asked, filling up my glass.

"Yeah," I replied, nodding. "The restroom please?" I asked, struggling to stand on my feet.

The bartender pointed to a corner that my eyes vaguely caught. Without looking at the inscription on the door, I pulled it open and walked in.

I had walked in with the hope of crying some more or breaking anything. But I stopped dead in my tracks because a man was standing at the urinal.

A very tall, broad-shouldered man with tattooed arms. He was in the middle of zipping his jeans. His head snapped at me; he had sharp, grey eyes.

I had just entered the men's restroom. "Oh my God. Sorry. I'm so... sorry," I stuttered then I turned to leave. Instead, hot tears erupted through my eyes, and I started sobbing.

"Are you okay?" The stranger asked slowly.

"You can guess."

He hesitated, but walked towards me. "Do you want me to beat someone or buy you a drink?"

A broken laugh escaped me. "Is it both an option?"

He barely smiled, but his gaze was steady. "Rough night?"

"You could say that." I felt my voice crack. "I just walked in on my boyfriend having sex with someone else in the bed we picked together."

I saw his jaw tighten. "Oof. That's worse than rough."

A beat passed in silence as we both stared at each other. Then an idea came into my head. What's the best way to get over a cheating partner if not to get f**ked by a random, hot stranger you meet in the wrong restroom?

I stretched my hand. "Emma."