Chapter 2 A one night stand

ARICA

Three Years Later

Arica felt a hand gently squeeze her ass, and she flipped her eyes open.

For a moment, her vision blurred, then cleared, but she still couldn't make out her surroundings because the room was dark.

Her ass was gently squeezed again, followed by a deep breath on her neck. When she turned her head to see the gorgeous sleeping form of a man beside her, all the memories from last night came rushing back.

His smartwatch made a light beep. 7:00 a.m. It was a reminder that he shouldn't wake up and find her still there, and that thought kicked her alcohol-drugged limbs into motion.

She quickly swiped everything of his that looked expensive-watch, bracelet, chain, clothes, phone, heck, even his diamond engagement ring-and put them in her black bag.

Taking one last apologetic look at his sleeping form, she silently slipped out of the hotel room, her heart thumping wildly in her chest.

She knew he was one of the top moguls in Italy's competitive business world, and stealing from him would come with dire consequences. She hoped to never see him again.

In fact, when she reached the first set of stairs in the exclusive hotel, she started running.

---

She kicked off her shoes with the speed of light, knowing she had just a few minutes to shower and leave for her 9:00 a.m. job.

Three times she had arrived late and was given serious queries. They wouldn't forgive her tardiness a fourth time.

She knew immediately that something was wrong when she pulled at the doorknob and the door gave way instantly. She remembered locking it before going for her night hunt.

Moreover, she didn't hear the excited barks of her dog, which was usual whenever she came back. And then, her lights were off. She never left the lights off when going out.

"Arica."

A sinister voice purred from within.

Shit.

Her stomach sank. How did he know where she lived?

He was a loan shark she'd been owing over $5,000. She shuddered in fear when she saw the gun aimed at her skull from a distance.

"That's right. You should be scared."

His laugh was sickly and eerie, echoing off the walls of her apartment in a distorted way.

"I have your money here," she said, her lips quivering and her entire body shivering in fear.

She held up the bag of stolen items. His eyes wickedly glinted in the dark, gun aimed squarely at her forehead.

"It even contains a diamond ring," she managed to stutter.

"Toss it over." He beckoned with the gun.

She threw it over, and he snapped it up with his left hand. He smiled at her on seeing the contents of the bag, but it wasn't reassuring-more like a wolf sneering at its prey.

"Good. Very good." He gave a slow purr, making the hair on her skin rise. He tapped her head with the gun as he slicked out of her apartment. "Thank your stars. Your luck saved you today."

---

Arica's heart thudded in her chest as she knocked on her boss's office door.

She was 30 minutes late, and a query had been sent to her desk. Her head dropped as she walked into the office.

"Good morning, ma. You sent for me."

Her boss gave her a condescending once-over, then rudely tossed her an envelope.

Tears formed in her eyes as she read the contents of the envelope.

"Ma, please, you can't fire me."

"I just did," her boss chuckled. "You've come late four times in a row, despite our queries. It's against our policy to retain you any longer."

"Ma, please." Tears were pouring down her face now. "I'll do anything. Anything at all, but please don't fire me."

Her boss looked up at her pitifully. She didn't expect to see a 28-year-old crying over such a low-income job.

She sighed. "Get an executive director of Elysian Bank to sign this document, and you'll keep your job. It's Lily's assignment, but I've decided to give it to you."

Arica took the documents gratefully.

"When is my deadline?"

"Today by midnight."

Her mouth fell open. Her boss continued regardless.

"You have an appointment with one of them at Elysian Towers by 10:00 a.m."

Arica briefly glanced at her watch. It was 9:38 a.m.

"Okay, ma. Bye."

---

Arica stared up at Elysian Towers, a tug of sadness and anger pulling at her heart.

The last time she was here, she had signed over her mom's business to the Elysian brothers.

It was the day she lost her business, her mom, her six-figure funds, and her dignity.

Her watch beeped 9:55 a.m., and she started running so she could meet up with the appointment. Her job-and, consequently, her life-depended on it.

Wham – one moment her feet were planted on the floor, and the next she was splat on the ground, her documents flying all around her.

Worse still, the person who bumped into her was rude.

"You fucking bitch! Are the eyes on your head faulty?"

Arica looked up, dazed, her breath knocked out of her.

"Oh my fucking God!" The bitch laughed as Arica struggled to stand. "The almighty bitchy Arica dressed in the clothes of a peasant!"

Arica ignored her, scurrying to pack the documents. She had a deadline to meet. The bitch held her back when she tried to sprint away, and that's when Arica lost her cool.

"Get your hands off me, you bitch!"

When she turned around to see her attacker, shock rippled through her body.

"Amaris." Her voice fell.

Amaris flashed a triumphant smile.

"I almost didn't recognize you there, Arica. You look so scrawny."

Arica caught the flash of diamond on her ring finger.

"You're married?"

"Not yet. Engaged to the love of my life." Amaris wagged the ring finger in her face.

Arica's breath hitched.

"Bryan?"

"Oh, please. Not that loser you dumped. I caught a bigger fish," she giggled.

Arica's watch beeped.

"Look, I've got to go-"

"All right," Amaris sniggered, eyeing her shabby attire.

---

Arica deeply inhaled and prayed a silent prayer before knocking on the door.

A gruff voice told her to come in. She entered.

"You are late," the man at the desk said, not looking up from his laptop.

Arica felt her world spin as she recognized the sharp jawline and muscular body smugly fitted into the three-piece suit.

He finally looked up at her, bothered by her silence, and at that moment, her world tipped-and everything went dark.