Chapter 2 The stranger from the other night

Regina opened her eyes and the daylight hit her face, as she tried to sit up, her head hurt like she had been hit in the back of the neck. She moaned in pain. Kelly entered carrying a breakfast tray.

- Hello Gina! You woke up, that's great.

- Ooooh Kelly, my head hurts a lot! The young girl complained, sitting up on the bed.

- It's a hangover I think. With this mixture you will get back on your feet very quickly. Do me the pleasure of drinking it all in one gulp, my darling.

She gave Regine a steaming bowl of hot drink that smelled very strong.

- Beuurckkk! How am I going to manage to swallow all this?

- Drink slowly so as not to burn your tongue. Trust me it may smell strong, but the taste is not bad. Go ahead, drink Gina, you need to gain strength to face what awaits you.

- Please Kelly, tell me what happened yesterday! I'm sure I'm not at home here, not in a hotel room either and my whole body hurts like a truck ran over me.

- My darling, I'll tell you everything but first, please drink the contents of the bowl.

- All right. I'm going for it .

Bravely, Regina drank the entire contents of the bowl and placed it on the tray when finished.

- Well done, big girl! You did the hard part. Kelly encouraged him.

- Now tell me everything that happened yesterday please.

- Okay, anyway it's all the buzz on social media at the moment. Peter surprised you naked in a hotel room. He was with Anna and someone else who filmed and posted the video live.

- Oh my God! How could this happen to me? I was supposed to spend the night with Peter! How did I end up with another man? And then who is he?

- Unfortunately Gina, I don't have answers to these questions.

- I didn't think I had drunk too much to act like that. I don't remember anything anymore. How I got into this room and how I slept with a complete stranger. Said Regina with full tears on her face

- This scandal will affect my father and my brother! How could I do such a thing Kelly!

- Don't cry my dear, we will solve this problem don't worry.

- And how Kelly? Tell me please! I can't face my father or even the world yet. Said the young girl, crying very unhappy.

Kelly took her in her arms to rock her.

- I'm sorry my dear, you didn't deserve such misfortune on your birthday.

- Where is my phone? Regina asked suddenly, coming back to her senses.

- I put it on charge in my room. But I don't think it's the right time for you to open it, you'll be inundated with messages and calls which will stress you out even more.

- I need to talk to my father and reassure him that I'm okay. You have to, Kelly, he must be worried to death. And even though I know he is angry and disappointed in me, I have to reach out to calm him down.

- Okay, you're right, that's what you need to do. Wait for me here, I'll get it.

Regina got out of bed and sat down in the armchair in the corner of the room. This is how Kelly found her back in the room. She handed the phone to her friend, who immediately dialed her father's number.

The governor picked up on the first ring.

- Hello ! Regina, where the hell do you find yourself? His father scolded on the other end of the line.

- Dad, I'm fine. I'm just calling you so you don't worry anymore. I know you are angry and disappointed in me, but please dad understand that right now I don't want to talk to anyone.

- My dear, I'm not angry! I'm angry yes but at all the people who put you in this situation. Tell me where you are, my daughter, I will go find you and I will personally take charge of making all of them pay for every tear you have shed.

- No dad! The only thing I can ask you to do is to delete this video if possible. I don't want to go home at the moment and don't worry I'm fine, I'm with Kelly who takes good care of me!

- Okay honey, I understand. Can you pass me Kelly? I would like to talk to him.

- Ok daddy. Here, Kelly, he wants to talk to you.

She gave him the phone and took the opportunity to freshen up in the bathroom. When Kelly returned, he had finished speaking with the governor.

- SO? What did my father tell you?

- He asked me to take care of you. Some members of his bodyguard will arrive here in a few hours to take care of our security. Don't ask me how he knew we were here, I don't know, but what is certain is that you have the support of your father in this ordeal.

They were silent for a few moments then Regina asked the question that had been burning on her lips for a while.

- What is being said about me on social media?

- You know how it works, on one side there are those who are happy with the situation, they make fun of you and insult you and on the other side those who are against this action and support you.

- And Peter?

- Sorry my darling, since the incident he has remained silent. I think it's because of your father that he is silent. But the one who surprises me in all this is Anna!

- What Anna? What did she do ?

- It seems like she takes pleasure in stirring up internet users' hatred of you! I have the impression that she is rejoicing in your misfortune.

- Hmm....!

- Listen, you told me that she accompanied you to your room, right?

Regina nodded.

- So she's the one who got into the wrong room.

- Yes it is possible, but for what purpose? She didn't force me to give myself to another man! - - It's true. Gina, let's forget about this subject for the moment, it's making you suffer too much. Let's go make breakfast and enjoy our retirement, okay?

Regina followed her friend into the kitchen, what she hadn't admitted to Kelly was that she had vague memories of her first night of love coming back to her. Without being able to explain it to herself, she wanted to keep it to herself. She smiled and shook her head to chase away the naughty memory that came back to her just now.

Regina had been walking in circles like a caged animal for several minutes.

- Gina please sit down, you're making me dizzy at the end.

- How long does it take to get information from a hotel guest? I mean this is our hotel and Bruce as the general manager he has access to this kind of information!

- But Gina, your brother told you that he would call you in an hour, and it's barely been half an hour! So come join me and taste this freshly picked guava juice!

Docile Regina obeyed and drank the juice that her friend lovingly gave her. She was determined to stay in retirement far from everything and everyone. But it wasn't her brother Bruce's intention to leave her alone.

He called Kelly to get his sister, since she had turned off her phone.

- Hello little sister! How much longer do you plan to hide?

- Hello Bruce, I'm fine if you're interested. She replied sarcastically.

- Yes Yes Yes! I know you're fine, otherwise you'd think our father would have gone to pick you up in person! Replied Bruce.

- All right! What do you want?

- Listen! Someone has decided to ruin your reputation and at the same time mine and Dad's, and I'm not going to allow that. What really happened?

- I do not know! I ask myself a lot of questions that remain unanswered since that night.

- You are serious? How come you don't remember anything? Did you drink too much or what?

- I don't know anything about it, I tell you! Regina shouted in frustration.

- Okay! It's okay, I believe you! But tell me what you plan to do now.

- The occupant of premium room four hundred and twelve, I would like to know who it is and their address if possible.

- This is the guy Peter is talking about?

- Please don't ask questions and give me what I want.

- Hey who do you take me for? Your lackey? You should have come to me instead of running away like you did. But that's okay, I'll find out who this customer is and I'll call you back in an hour.

- Thanks Bruce!

- You'll thank me later.

And since then Regina hasn't stopped looking at Kelly's phone, too impatient to receive her brother's call. She drank the guava juice without really liking the taste, she was eager to know who the stranger was who had made her a woman. Even if she didn't remember him, all she had to do was close her eyes to feel all his caresses, his kisses, his perfume! Hold! she remembered its scent, a woody blend of tangerine and lavender. She smiled happy to have this bit of memory of this man who had taken an important place in her life.

The ringing of the phone pulled her out of her reverie, reading the name that appeared, Kelly handed the phone to Regina.

-Bruce? Do you have news?

- Yes little sister, the room was in the name of a company ALMO Construction for one of their executives whose name was not mentioned. I say was because the occupant vacated the room yesterday morning and left. We have a photo of him when he arrived, I don't know if it will help you. I send it to you.

- Thanks Bruce.

- Please, sister. Too bad your lover left, your breakup with Peter would have been worth something at least.

- Stop making jokes, it's not funny!

- I know sister, you know I love to tease you. Well when you're ready to resurface, tell me and I'll come get you.

- Alright it's noted.

- See you later, little sister. Bruce had sent the photo of the stranger, we couldn't see much because he was wearing a red cap, sunglasses and a t-shirt.

- This photo doesn't help me much! Regina complained.

- Maybe, but we can see that he is a handsome guy! Say you haven't kept a tiny memory of your first night? Even a little bit that you can share with your best friend?

- No nothing Kelly! And it would kill me if you knew!

- I imagine. Perhaps with time memories will come back to you little by little.

- I hope so, anyway.

- Well Gina let's eat, with all these emotions, we didn't have lunch.

The two friends were seated on the veranda of the house, enjoying a good hot meal, and a security agent approached her quickly.

- Are you waiting for someone, ladies? he asked

- No why ? Kelly replied.

- There is a man at the entrance to the property, he refused to give us his name. He simply said that Miss Lewis left an indelible mark last night and he was coming to deliver it to her in person since she left without saying goodbye.

- Damn, he's here! Regina exclaimed.

- Who is here ? Asked Kelly who had not understood the message.

Instead of answering him, Regina asked the security guard to let the man pass.

- Kelly, I'm finally going to meet the stranger from the other night.