Chapter 3 A Night to forget

A Night to Forget Lila stormed out of the café, her emotions tangled between anger, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. What am I going to do now? she thought, clutching her bag tightly as she walked down the street. She had been so certain that her job at the café was secure-something solid in her otherwise uncertain life. But now, it felt like everything was crumbling beneath her feet. As she wandered aimlessly, Max suddenly came to mind. Max! He could help. He always seemed to know people, and maybe he could pull some strings to find her a new job.

With newfound determination, she spun on her heels and headed towards his place. Before she left, Lila stopped by the orphanage. Nanny Vivienne was sitting in her usual chair, her gentle eyes lifting when she saw Lila approach. "Where are you going, sweetheart?" Nanny asked, concern etched in her voice. "I'm going to see Max, Nanny. I... I need some help finding a new job," Lila said, trying to sound more hopeful than she felt. Nanny's expression softened. "Alright, darling. Take care of yourself, and don't hesitate to come back if you need anything." Lila leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I will, Nanny. See you later." With a forced smile, she grabbed her bag and hurried out the door, not wanting to linger too long in the safety of home-it would only make the world outside feel more daunting. Max lived in a small but cozy apartment on the other side of town. When Lila knocked on his door, he opened it almost immediately, surprise lighting up his face. "Lila! I wasn't expecting you. Come in!" he said, stepping aside and gesturing towards the couch. She slipped in and sank onto one of the cushions, letting out a deep sigh. The weight of the day pressed on her shoulders. "I have a big problem, Max," Lila began, staring at her hands as they fiddled nervously with the strap of her bag. "I... I'm looking for a job. I got fired from the café today." Max raised his eyebrows and sat down across from her. "Fired? I thought you loved that place. What happened?" Lila took a breath and recounted the whole ordeal, from the unreasonable customer to the manager's decision to let her go. As she spoke, Max's expression shifted, but not with concern for her situation-something else lingered in his eyes, something she hadn't noticed before. When she finished, Max rose from his seat and sat closer to her, much closer than she was comfortable with. "You know," he began, his voice lower now, "I have plenty of connections. I could help you find a job, no problem." Relief started to bloom in Lila's chest, but it quickly withered at his next words. "But... Lila, there's something I need to say first." "What are you talking about, Max?" Lila asked, frowning. "I've admired you for a long time," he said, moving even closer, his hand brushing against hers. "And I can't deny my feelings anymore." Lila blinked, confusion turning into discomfort as Max leaned in, attempting to kiss her. She turned her head sharply, pulling away. "Max, what are you doing?" He didn't back off. Instead, he reached for her hand again, pulling her back when she tried to stand. "Come on, Lila. You know we've always had something between us. Why fight it?" "No, Max," she snapped, yanking her hand free. "Stay away from me!" She jumped to her feet, but Max grabbed her arm again. Panic surged through her as she struggled to get away. "Max, let go of me!" With all her strength, Lila fought her way out of his grasp, shoving him aside before bolting for the door. She didn't stop running until she was far from his apartment, her heart pounding in her chest. By the time Lila found herself at a nearby club, her hands were still shaking from the encounter. She had never expected Max to act like that. He was supposed to be her friend, her ally, not someone who would take advantage of her when she was vulnerable. She ordered drink after drink, trying to drown the bitterness rising in her throat. Why did everything have to go so wrong? The lights of the club blurred together, and soon, Lila felt herself slipping into a dull haze. Just as she reached for another drink, a man approached her, his voice smooth but unfamiliar. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, glancing at the empty glasses in front of her. "No," Lila slurred, blinking up at him. "I need peace... and pleasure tonight." She giggled, the alcohol clouding her judgment. The man's eyes gleamed with interest, and a sly smile crept onto his lips. "Mmm, I can give you that. In fact, I have something for you." He slid another drink across the bar towards her, his fingers brushing hers. "Here, try this. It'll help you feel even better." Lila took the drink, not thinking twice, and downed it quickly. "Where... where are we going?" she asked, her words beginning to slur more heavily. "Room 347 at the lodge down the street," the man said smoothly, his hand resting on the small of her back. "I promise, you'll have the best night of your life." As Lila stumbled out of the club with him, another man in a dark car watched from across the street, his sharp eyes narrowing as he saw the situation unfold. He stepped out of his car, his movements quick and purposeful. Within moments, he was at Lila's side, intercepting the man's arm just as he was about to lead her away. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" the stranger demanded, his voice cold and commanding. The first man scowled. "Mind your own business, pal. She's with me." The newcomer didn't back down. "She's drunk, and you're clearly taking advantage of that. Back off." Without another word, he grabbed the drink from Lila's hand and tossed it aside before pulling her gently away from the man. Lila, confused and disoriented, looked up at him, her head spinning. "Who... who are you? What do you want?" she slurred, her words barely coherent. "Are you... kidnapping me?" "Shut up," he said, though his voice wasn't harsh. "I'm trying to help you. Now, where do you live?" "I... I'm not telling you!" Lila said, struggling against him as much as her wobbly legs would allow. "You're a thief... you're going to steal everything and kidnap Nanny!" "Right," the man muttered, rolling his eyes. "You're too drunk to think straight. Fine, I'll take you somewhere safe." The car ride was a blur to Lila, her head lolling against the window as she tried to make sense of what was happening. When they finally stopped, she looked out the window and saw... a mansion. A massive, elegant mansion that seemed to tower over her. "Where... where are we?" Lila mumbled, her vision swimming. "My place," the man replied flatly. "You're in no shape to go home, and I'm not letting you wander around like this." "You're... you're really kidnapping me!" she insisted, trying to push open the car door. But her body was too sluggish to cooperate. The man sighed, clearly exasperated. "Look, just come inside. I'm too tired for this conversation." Without waiting for her consent, he lifted her out of the car and carried her into the mansion. Lila protested weakly, but before long, she was too exhausted to argue. He took her to a guest room, setting her down on the bed. "Okay, this is where you'll sleep tonight," he said, adjusting the pillows beneath her. Lila groaned, still half-asleep. "It's so hot in here..." He walked over to the thermostat and turned on the air conditioning, then made his way toward the door. But as he tried to leave, Lila reached out, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down, causing him to fall awkwardly onto the bed next to her. The next morning, Lila woke up with a pounding headache. The sunlight streaming through the curtains felt like daggers in her eyes, and as she sat up, memories from the night before began to trickle back into her mind. She gasped, looking around the unfamiliar room. Where am I? Then, panic set in as she noticed her clothes tossed on the floor. "Oh my God... what did I do?" she whispered, her hands shaking as she clutched the blanket. "Did I... did I lose my virginity to a stranger?" Her heart raced as she tried to piece together the events of the previous night, but her memory was too fuzzy to be certain. What had she done?