Chapter 3 BETHANY

Chapter 3- Bethany

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The gentle flutter of my eyelids brought me back to consciousness, and I found myself surrounded by the warmth of a plush and luxurious bed. The comfort it provided was so indulgent that I couldn't help but feel grateful for the softness beneath me. As I sat upright, my mind started to race with memories of the previous night, the scents, the sounds, and the sensations.

My cheeks flushed as the events of the evening came flooding back, every detail painted into my mind like a beautiful work of art. But as I looked around, I realised that he was nowhere to be found. Where was he?

After looking around the suite for a while, I realised that he was nowhere to be found. I scanned the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of him but to no avail. That's when my eyes fell upon the stack of cash left on the bedside table.

The sight of all that money left me feeling hurt and bewildered. I couldn't help but wonder if I had been used. The feeling of foolishness crept up on me, and I sat down on the floor, feeling the weight of my choices and the shame that came with them. I was lost in thought, trying to understand why I agreed to follow him here. Was I the kind of person to sleep with someone I didn't know? The question lingered in my mind.

I couldn't shake off the guilt and regret that consumed me. With a heavy heart, I gathered my clothes and belongings from the hotel room, trying my best to maintain my composure and not let the world see what was going on inside me. Every step I took out of that room felt like a weight on my shoulders, reminding me of what I had done. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't help but feel like everyone around me could see the shame written all over my face. Nevertheless, I kept my head held high and tried to walk with what was left of my dignity.

As soon as I got to my apartment complex, Claudia was waiting for me with a bright smile on her face. Her cheerful demeanour was in stark contrast to the situation I had just left behind. I couldn't help but wonder why she was so happy.

Without wasting any time, she stepped in front of me and asked, "So, how was it?"

I stared into her eyes and said nothing.

She asked again, “Was he good in bed?”

When I didn't respond again, she assumed the worst and said, "It was that bad, huh?"

I didn't bother correcting her, but I think she saw that I wasn't in the mood to talk to her so with a sad smile, she changed the topic. "Anyways, this is your phone. You left it at the club yesterday after disappearing with Mr Hottie. See you later," she said, handing me the phone and then leaving.

As soon as Claudia left, a wave of guilt washed over me. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had let her down. She had seemed genuinely interested in knowing how my night went and how I was doing, but I had pushed her away, just like I always do to everyone else. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate her concern, but I was just so overwhelmed by the events of last night and how I was feeling now.

She didn't deserve to be treated that way. It was then that I made a mental note to apologise to her at work on Monday, this was my thought as I made my way into my apartment.

I had a really terrible headache which I figured must have developed because of how much I drank last night.I genuinely felt that my head would fall off. I decided to make myself a cup of tea and sat down on my couch, hoping to relax.

However, my mind kept wandering back to the stranger I met yesterday. Thinking about him, I realised that there was something strange about him. I thought I saw his eyes turn gold, but I brushed off the thought, as it seemed impossible.

As I slowly stood up from the couch, my mind was consumed with a deep sense of guilt and shame. The memories of last night, tangled in the sheets with a guy I didn't know, kept flashing in my mind like a broken record. Every time I closed my eyes, the images of what had happened flooded my mind, making me feel even more embarrassed. I knew I had to do something to shake off these feelings, so I headed straight to the shower, hoping to wash away the physical and emotional residue of the previous night's events.

The water cascaded down my body, and as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath,I felt the warmth of the water on my skin. I allowed it to soothe me, trying to forget all the things that happened the previous night. I could feel a warm blush creeping onto my cheeks as I remembered the intimate moments with him.

However, I quickly snapped out of it, reminding myself that I didn't even know his name. I couldn't help but wonder what he thought of me. Did he think I was just a cheap woman? The fact that he had left money on the bedside table only added to my feeling of worthlessness. It was as if he had paid me to perform an act that prostitutes performed. The thoughts swirled around in my head, until I finally realised that I didn't need to worry about what he thought. I needed to focus on my own self-worth.

After my long shower, I tried to shake off the thoughts of him that had been consuming me for the past few hours. I put on my favourite pair of comfortable loungewear and decided to distract myself by watching a movie. However, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about him. The entire weekend was spent in a state of confusion and regret.

As Monday morning rolled around, I knew that I had to snap out of it and get back to work. So, I got up and got dressed in a suit skirt and a bright pink top and I made my way out of my apartment complex.

Upon arriving at the office, I headed straight to Claudia's desk. She was always the first person I saw in the morning since I started working here, and she has welcomed me with coffee every single day. Today wasn't an exception.

"Hey, Claudia," I said, trying to sound as remorseful as possible.

"Hey, Beth," she replied, smiling at me.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for the way I acted the other day. I was in a terrible mood, and I shouldn't have taken it out on you," I explained.

Claudia's smile widened, and she reached out to give me a quick hug. "It's okay, Beth. I understand. We all have bad experiences sometimes," she said.

I laughed, getting the drift of her joke before leaving her to continue with her work.

As I made my way to my desk, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Claudia had been so understanding, and that had lifted a weight off my shoulders. I took a deep breath and turned my attention to the pile of paperwork that had been waiting for me. It was a daunting task, but I felt determined to tackle it today and finally get it over with.

As I began to sort through the papers, I couldn't help but feel grateful for my job even though I hated it. Despite the lingering sadness that still weighed on my mind, I knew that I had to make the most of the day ahead. There was work to be done, so I started working.

I managed to focus on my work, and the day passed by quickly. As soon as the clock struck five o'clock, I packed up my bag and headed home. I decided to stop by the grocery store on the way and pick up some ingredients to make a nice dinner. As I wandered down the aisles, I couldn't help but notice how many couples were shopping together. It made me feel a little lonely, but I pushed the thought aside and focused on my shopping.

Back at home, I put on some music and began to cook. There was something soothing about chopping vegetables and stirring a pot of soup that helped calm my mind. As I sat down to eat, I turned on the TV and tried to find something to watch.

But no matter what I put on, my mind kept drifting back to him, to the way we danced that night, his hands roaming my body in that hotel room and the strange way that his eyes turned gold even though I thought I was imagining that part. I knew I needed to stop thinking about him but I couldn't.

After dinner, I decided to take a walk around the neighbourhood. The cool night air felt refreshing on my skin, and the stars twinkled above me. As I walked, I thought about everything that had happened over the past few days, trying to make sense of it all.

When I finally arrived home, I was completely drained and utterly exhausted. The day had been long, and I was hoping that a good night's rest would help clear my head. As I crawled into bed, I couldn't shake off this sudden feeling of dread that washed over me, as if something ominous was looming over me. I couldn't help but think about the strange man, and I wondered if I would ever be able to forget about him. His intense gaze and his mysterious aura had left an impression on me. As my eyes slowly closed, I drifted off to sleep, thinking about the stranger.