Chapter 2 Failed Escape

The following morning, brilliant sunlight flooded through the window. Emilee lifted her aching hand with a groan of discomfort.

As she opened her eyes, the face of the man from her dreams lay on the pillow beside her.

Memories of the previous night's awkward incidents surged back, jolting Emilee awake.

Could it really be Jonny?

Had she and Jonny actually had sex?

Jonny was still asleep next to her. Emilee's heart skipped a beat, and she lifted the blanket quietly, rolled out of bed, and tiptoed away, cautious not to wake him.

Her memories from the night before were hazy, but she vividly recalled throwing herself into Jonny's arms.

She was at a loss how to explain last night's events to him.

If Jonny decided to confront her, she, a mere secretary, would be out of her depth to handle it.

With this worry gnawing at her, Emilee quickly dressed and slipped out of the room.

Unbeknownst to her, as she closed the door behind her, Jonny's eyes flickered open.

Rushing from the room, Emilee found herself on the hotel's top floor. She frantically jabbed the elevator button.

After a night she wished to forget, escaping was her only thought.

The elevator doors slid open.

Just as Emilee was about to step inside, a large hand clamped around her arm, yanking her back.

"I finally caught you. You're quite the escape artist, Emilee!" A sinister voice chilled the air. "Now, tell me, where did you vanish to last night?"

When Emilee caught sight of the man's hideous face, panic flickered in her heart, quickly followed by a wave of disgust.

The man was Fabian Warren, her company's project director, a married man who didn't hesitate to exploit his position to harass her.

It was Fabian who had insisted Emilee drink the previous evening.

There had to be something off about that wine.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have...

With this thought, Emilee jerked her hand away, desperate to break free from Fabian's grasp and flee.

However, Fabian was ready for this; before she could make her escape, he grabbed her hair fiercely.

"Bitch! How many times do you think you can get away from me?"

Emilee clenched her teeth, suppressing her fear, her voice quivering. "Let me go!"

She inhaled sharply and warned, "Or I'll call the police. You know what you slipped into my drink!"

"Call the police?" Fabian scoffed. "Do you really think they'll take your word over mine?"

"What are you saying?" Emilee hadn't expected him to be so blatantly unafraid of the authorities.

"There are lots of women like you who try to sleep their way to the top. I'm married and I'm a key figure here. If I just denied everything, they'd think you were just a slut trying to claw your way up. They'd believe you tried to seduce me and then accused me when you failed."

Fabian's hand crept down to her waist, caressing it in a suggestive motion.

His bulky frame pressed against her back.

"Why don't you just give in now? It would be better for both of us."

Emilee recoiled from the stench of his breath.

"Don't touch me!" She struggled violently, screaming for help.

In the fray, her shirt collar ripped, revealing her neck and chest.

Her smooth skin displayed suggestive red marks.

Fabian initially recoiled at the sight.

His anger surged when he grasped the situation.

"Nice, playing the innocent, huh? Ran off to another man's bed last night, did you? Been with someone else and still acting pure with me!"

He hissed, seizing Emilee with intent to rip her clothing right there.

In desperation, Emilee blurted out, "I was with Jonny Owens last night! You better not lay a finger on me!"

Fabian scoffed in disbelief. "Mr. Owens? As if he'd stoop to someone like you. You're trying to play me for a fool? Quit your struggling. Let's have a little fun!"

He sneered, pinning her against the wall and reaching for her.

Emilee cried out, "No!"

Just then, a large hand grabbed Fabian's wrist, twisting it and flinging him aside.

Before she knew it, Emilee found herself in a safe, warm embrace.

Looking up, she saw the man's stern, handsome profile and stood frozen, astonished.

It was Jonny.