After One Reckless Night

The last time Kimberly Owens stood in New York, she was barefoot, pregnant, and bleeding from the heart.

Now she was back in heels, holding a slim portfolio, and doing everything she could to keep her hands from shaking.

Her reflection in the glass doors looked unfamiliar. Smooth hair, with a subtle makeup. The cheap-but-decent blazer borrowed from her friend. She didn't look like someone desperate for a second chance. But she was.

She pushed through the revolving doors into the dazzling lobby of Harrington Modeling Agency.

It was cold in the kind of way that didn't come from air conditioning. It was the kind of cold that said we don't have time for nerves here.

As she walked further, she saw stylish men and women walked by in expensive shoes, looking bored, like coming to one of the best modeling agencies in the world was just normal for them.

Kimberly gripped her bag tighter.

She hadn't walked a runway in six years. Hadn't worn anything but mom jeans and Keira's glittery stickers on her arms most days.

But today had to work. If she blew this, it wasn't just her dreams at stake. It was rent and groceries. The daycare bill waiting unpaid on her kitchen table.

She stepped up to the receptionist's desk.

The woman looked up from her computer with such elegance, sharp red lips and a flat expression it made Kimberly swallow.

Her eyes scanned Kimberly in one sweep, pausing at the fraying seam on her blazer sleeve. Kimberly straightened instinctively.

"Name?"

"Kimberly Owens."

She tapped on her computer for a second before she looked up.

"Head to fifteenth floor. The others are already waiting. You'll be called in shortly."

"Thank you," Kimberly said.

The receptionist didn't answer. She just returned to her screen and waved her toward the elevator.

Kimberly turned, took a steadying breath, then walked toward the silver doors, her heels echoing on the glassy floors. She pressed the button and waited, nerves buzzing under her skin.

A reflection flickered beside hers in the fancy steel. It was a tall, well-dressed man standing a few feet away. He didn't glance at her. He was on the phone, voice low and firm, saying something about "tightening selection standards."

She quickly averted her gaze, exhaling.

The elevator opened with a soft ding, and she stepped in alone.

Stepping into the fifteenth floor was like stepping onto a cloud. Wide, white, and silent.

A long hallway led to a double-door room where other candidates waited. Kimberly's stomach flipped.

She wasn't the only one chasing dreams today.

The waiting hall was already crowded, women in tight black dresses, impossibly high heels, and expressions that could make one uncomfortable.

Kimberly felt every second of the six years she'd been away from this world.

She took a seat near the corner, silently praying the others couldn't hear the nervous pounding in her chest.

But of course a few girls threw glances her way when she walked in. One even sized her up from head to toe with a smirk, like she already knew Kimberly wasn't a threat. She whispered something to another and giggled.

Kimberly scoffed and looked away quickly, trying to stay calm.

Ignore it, she told herself. She had walked into scarier rooms. Given birth alone in a hospital, faced rejections, landlords and life itself. She could survive this too.

She was doing this for Keira.

Ten minutes passed.

Then people began to whisper when a tall woman with an iPad walked in.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she said crisply. "Mr. Harrington will be joining us shortly. He'll make his selection himself. Please be ready."

Gasps followed upon hearing that. Even the girls who'd been pretending to be calm sat straighter, fixed their hair. Someone whispered, "The Bryce Harrington? Oh my gosh!"

Kimberly on the other hand, frowned upon hearing the name.

Mr. Harrington?

The name stirred something in her chest. She'd heard it before. Probably in one of those business articles or on the side of a high-rise billboard. Billionaire CEO, Media mogul. Fashion industry shark.

Whoever he was didn't matter to her. What mattered to her most, was getting this job she had come to audition for.

The door opened again, and they all heard the soft footsteps.

He walked in like he owned the world, which of course he did.

Kimberly didn't look at him immediately. She was too busy breathing through the sudden weight in her chest. But then his voice came. cool, deep, and unmistakably familiar.

When the owner of the voice stepped in, Kimberly's whole body froze.

He was tall in a sharp suit, with gray eyes that swept the room like a storm.

Bryce Harrington. The man from six years ago.

Her knees almost gave out.

He didn't notice her at first. He was speaking to his assistant, walking past the girls one by one, eyes cool and unreadable.

But when his gaze landed on Kimberly, everything stopped.

The room instantly faded. The voices, the whispers, the excitement. It all vanished into a tensed silence.

It was just the two of them.

Staring.

For a split second, time held its breath.

Bryce's brow furrowed slightly. There was something oddly familiar about her. The curve of her jaw, the eyes, the way she stared at him like she'd seen a ghost.

Kimberly's heart pounded. She could barely breathe.

It was him! The same man from that night, six years ago.

Her daughter's facial resemblance was unmistakable.

Kimberly's hands became damp and trembly, the portfolio she held tempted to fall, her heart racing faster than it ever had.

She thought she had escaped the past....that night that carried memories - heart-aching memories she always tried not to think about.

Still locked at that moment, Bryce suddenly cleared his throat, blinking hard as if snapping out of a trance.

He dragged his gaze away from Kimberly and stepped forward, regaining his usual composure. But the way he stared at Kimberly, and he....was that a smirk on his face?

Kimberly blinked, brows curved in disbelief.

The air in the hall shifted back to normal as if something hadn't happened just a few seconds ago.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Bryce's voice rang out, calm and collected. "Welcome to Harrington Elite Modeling."

Smiles were plastered on everyone's faces, but Kimberly's world was anything but calm.

Her knees felt weak. Her heart thundered in her chest loudly. So loud she could swear that those near her heard its beats.

*********

The interview came to an end with polite smiles and scattered applause. One by one, the applicants began filing out of the hall, heels clicking against the marble floor as low murmurs buzzed in the air.

Outside, near the parking lot, a small group of ladies had already gathered, their voices hushed but sharp.

"Did you see that look he gave her?" one whispered, glancing back toward the building. "She only just got here, and she's already seducing Mr. Harrington? Crazy!"

"Please," another scoffed, crossing her arms. It was like the whole room had disappeared. I swear, they were just standing there, staring at each other like some cheesy romance movie."

"Well, maybe she planned it," a third chimed in. "Pretty face, slim waist, maybe she thought she could sleep her way in."

Laughter followed, jealousy and spite evident in their voices.

Another girl named Vivian quickly joined them, clutching her phone and squinting her eyes as she zoomed in on a blurry picture from the hallway. "Wait a second... I knew she looked familiar!" she said, her voice rising with a mix of surprise and glee. "That's Kimberly Owens. She used to be one of the top faces at La Belle Agency seven years ago."

"No way!" the first girl blinked, snatching the phone from her. "That Kimberly? The one who vanished overnight?"

"Yep," Vivian affirmed, scrolling through her feed. She was everywhere. Magazines, runways, even landed a fragrance deal with Deveraux. And then poof-radio silence. No one ever said why she quit." She said, and everyone began to murmur, shaking their heads.

Not far from them, Kimberly walked alone, her arms folded tightly over her chest, trying to block out the sting of the words she was starting to hear.

She kept her head down, forcing her feet to keep moving, even as her mind spun with the intensity of what had just happened inside.

She hadn't come to be noticed.

But Bryce Harrington had noticed her.

And now, everyone else has too.

But they weren't wrong about one thing though.

Kimberly was once a top model at La Belle Agency. Her face had graced billboards and landed many deals. But she had walked away from it all - for Ryan, her ex.

Back then, Ryan had fallen gravely ill, and Kimberly, blinded by love, had sacrificed her rising career to care for him. She'd thought she was doing the right thing. The noble thing.

Now, looking back, that choice stood as one of her deepest regrets, one that clung to her like a scar.

*********

Back in Bryce's office, he stood by his window, staring blankly out at the city skyline, his hands shoved in his pockets.

But he didn't see any of it.

His mind was still stuck in that room. On her. That woman.

Her presence brought back memories from the past.

He had spent the past six years trying to forget that night. Trying to forget that woman.

That night had been nothing but a complete blur. A reckless decision fueled by too much whiskey and a desperate need to forget the troubles... the inner demons tormenting him.

His phone buzzed on his desk, jolting him out of his thoughts.

He walked over to the desk, glanced at the caller ID, and picked up the phone.

It was his PA, Marcus.

"Yeah?" Bryce answered gruffly in a low, impatient voice.

"Sir, it's Marcus. I, uh... I ran the background check you requested earlier." Marcus stuttered from his end.

Bryce straightened slightly, his grip tightening around the phone.

That was it. Time to confirm if she was the woman or not. Maybe he was wrong. She probably just looked like her!

"And?" Bryce asked, leaning against the desk, his other hand still shoved in his pocket.

There was a pause from Marcus's end as he took a hesitant breath before continuing.

"She's the one, Mr. Bryce." Marcus said carefully. "The woman from six years ago. The one from the penthouse hotel that night. Name matches. Face... I double-checked. It's definitely her."

Bryce's jaw clenched. A dark smirk suddenly plastered on his face as he pushed off the desk, ending the call.

*********

Kimberly had just finished signing some documents which were required of her to do so before leaving. She picked up her handbag to leave, when a sharply dressed assistant suddenly intercepted her.

"Miss Owens?" The woman asked with a polite but tight smile.

Kimberly stopped, clutching the handbag she had just picked up, tightly. "Yes?"

"Mr. Harrington wants to see you in his office," the woman told her.

A cold chill ran down Kimberly's spine on hearing that.

"N....now?" She stammered, her eyes darting around. She could already see the looks on the faces of the few models that were inside the hall too.

Gossips!

The assistant gave a crisp nod, gesturing toward Bryce's office. "Yes. Right this way."

The walk to his office felt like a walk to hell. Her heels echoed like gunshots against the tiled floors, each step reminding her that she wasn't ready for this. Not yet.

Her heart couldn't stop thumping hard within her ribcage.

What was it now?

Did he.....recognize her?

Kimberly adjusted the collar of her blouse, pressing her fingers to her chest to calm her racing heartbeat.

"Get it together, Kimberly," she whispered to herself. He didn't recognize you. You're just overthinking it."

She breathed out, and smoothened her hair, trying to regain the poise she'd practiced in front of the mirror so many times over the years.

The sound of the door opening jolted her out of her thoughts as the assistant opened it and motioned her in.

"Thank you," Kimberly murmured, barely recognizing her own voice.

Get yourself together, Kim!

As she stepped inside, she saw Bryce at the window. His back turned to her, one hand tucked into his pocket, the other nursing a glass of whiskey he probably didn't need.

"Close the door," he told her, but didn't turn around.

Again, Kimberly's heart hammered in her chest, ready to fly out.

His voice was so smooth and hypnotizing that it made her swallow.

She hesitated, then obeyed, the soft click of the latch sounding louder than it should've.

A heavy silence settled for a moment.

Then Bryce finally turned to face her, and Kimberly held her breath.

Gosh! He looked more handsome than the few hours ago she saw him.

Did he go for a quick makeup or what?

"Quite the reunion, Kimberly Owens." Bryce spoke, getting Kimberly out of her silly thoughts. The smirk on his lips didn't reach his eyes.

Her breath caught again. He just called her by her full name!

Bryce stepped forward, slow and deliberate, acting like a man who'd been waiting six long years for this exact moment. Kimberly stood still, chin lifted, her heart thundering like a war drum.

"No disguise. No name change." His gaze swept over her."

"W.....what are you talking about, Mr. Bryce?" Kimberly stammered, her pulse jumped as Bryce was now just few inches away from her.

He was so close she could smell the expensive cologne, so familiar it made her sick. Or it was just the memory of what they did in that penthouse suite.

"I wasn't sure at first," he murmured. I told myself it couldn't be you. Not after all this time. But..." He paused and leaned in slightly.

Kimberly blinked and swallowed hard.

He recognized her?! Oh no!

Bryce tilted his head, studying her like a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. "Tell me something," he said, his voice dipped in menace. "You thought I'd forget?"

Kimberly swallowed another lump she didn't know was stuck in her throat, her hands slightly trembling as she took steps backwards, but soon hit the wall and was trapped.

"This is a mistake, Mr. Bryce. I think you're mistaking me for someone else," Kimberly said quickly, grasping for calm, but it slipped through her fingers as Bryce cut her off, his voice sending cold chills down her spine.

"Did you really think you could run from me forever.....after the way I touched you that night?" he growled, his hands pinning her wrists above her head, eyes dark with intensity as they drank her in. "You became mine from the second I touched you....and no amount of time or distance will change that. And I will make you understand the consequences of crossing paths and messing with me."

Kimberly's eyes flew wide, her breath catching as the truth crashed over her. He did recognize her.....and he was angry. Furious, even.

Why?!

But Kimberly didn't have the luxury of wondering why he was mad at her right now.

Because the moment his voice hit her ears, the past crashed over her like a wave. Dragging her straight back to that night.

It had started like any other party. A luxurious, loud and soulless one.

Her father's business associate - the man she was arranged to marry, had hosted it in honor of their "upcoming union." Everyone was there to celebrate a wedding she wanted no part of.

It was also her birthday.

And Kimberly felt like a butterfly trapped in a glass jar. Beautiful, but suffocating. Barely breathing.

The gown was tight. The heels too high. The diamond necklace around her throat felt more like a collar. The champagne tasted like poison, burning her throat. The smiles people gave her were full of thorns.

Everyone kept saying she was lucky.

But she didn't feel lucky.

She felt doomed.

Her father had never cared about what she wanted. He only cared about control, legacy and money.

And she'd had enough.

Somewhere between fake laughter and empty toasts, she slipped away, unnoticed.

Her heart was pounding as she fled the mansion, clutching her purse, escaping into the night like a girl on fire.

There was only one person she thought could make the pain go away.

Ryan, her ex. Her almost everything.

But fate had one more slap waiting for her.

The moment she reached his house, her heart dropped.

The sounds filtering out from upstairs, the rhythmic thud, the moans, the voice, all made her freeze.

Her entire body turned cold. Maybe.... maybe she was hearing wrong.

She stepped closer.

Then she heard his voice.

"She's so clingy. God. I was never serious about her."

Kimberly blinked. What?

No.

"Kept her around till I found someone better."

No. No. No.

Her stomach churned. Her chest squeezed so tight she could feel it ripping up.

She inched closer. And then came the voice that broke her completely.

"I think I can keep up with that," Clara giggled.

Clara.

Her friend.

Not a close one, but close enough to twist the knife.

Kimberly's hand trembled as it reached for the doorknob. Her vision blurred.

Her heart shattered the moment she swung the door open.

The room was thick with betrayal. Clothes everywhere. Skin, sweat and guilt lingered in the room.

They froze upon seeing her.

Ryan's eyes widened. Clara screamed, scrambling to cover herself.

"Kimberly?! What the fu..."

Slap.

Her palm collided with his face so hard it echoed. She was trembling, breathing hard, fury and heartbreak pouring from her eyes.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Ryan snapped at her.

And that was it. The final crack.

Another slap landed on Ryan's face. This time even harder than the first.

"You bastard!" Kimberly cried, her voice breaking. "After everything I gave up for you?! You cheat on me with.... her? Clara?!"

She could barely see straight. Her mascara stung her eyes. Her whole world spun.

"This was the surprise you promised me?!" she screamed. "Is this it, Ryan?!"

Ryan had told her he had a surprise for her birthday. She had hoped... maybe a ring. A plan to elope. A future.

But no.

This was it.

Humiliation.

Kimberly turned and ran. Out of the house and into the cold.

Her bare feet hit the pavement as her shoes came off somewhere along the way.

She didn't stop. Not when her phone rang. Not when the tears blurred her path. Not even when her lungs burned if felt like she was running out of breath.

She just needed to disappear for one night.

One night without expectations.

One night without pain.

The city consumed her whole. The neon lights, noise, drunken laughter.

And that was where she ended up. At a hotel bar and ordered the strongest drink on the menu.

Gulped down one, then another.... and another.

By the time she stumbled toward the restroom to ease her restlessness, she was numb.

As she stumbled her way toward, she pushed the wrong door open instead, which was a suite.

It was dimly lit.

And iside it sat a man. Dark-haired, half-drunk, expensive jacket on the floor.

It was Bryce Harrington.

And just like her... he looked broken.

What happened next blurred into moans and heat. Hands, skin, desperation.

Two strangers trying to forget themselves in each other.

That night burned.

And the next morning, Kimberly woke up with a hollow chest, a raging headache, and the taste of regret on her tongue.

She left quietly, unnoticed, shame sinking into her bones.

With Cindy's help, she later fled the city.

The wedding was off. Her father had frozen her accounts. His men were scouring the city already, looking for her. Her phone was full of threats.

But she didn't care.

Because nothing hurt more than what came a few weeks later....

She was pregnant.

And now, years later...

That man. The one whose touch she couldn't forget, was standing in front of her.

Looking into her eyes like he couldn't believe he he was seeing her again after so many years.

Of course he couldn't believe it.

"You think I forgot?" Bryce said, jolting Kimberly back to the present, his gaze so intense it burned. "You think I wouldn't recognize the you? The way you looked at me that night?"

Kimberly's lips parted, but no words came out.

"The way you felt beneath me?" he added, voice low and dangerous. "Still pretending you don't remember? Or should I remind you right here and right now, how you moaned my name like it was the only thing keeping you alive?"

Her breath caught, hands trembling against his chest.

She couldn't speak, neither could she move.

Because she did remember.

She remembered everything.

And the scariest part?

A small, stupid part of her wanted it all over again.

That electrifying touch.

She held her breath, shutting her eyes tight as his face loomed over hers, his hot breath on her skin making her insides throb with anticipation.