Sin With Me: One Night with the Bully

ROXANNE'S P.O.V.

It was the first quiet time I was getting in what seemed like two weeks. Since the wedding preparations reached a peak, I have had friends, cousins, relatives over, and even at this time of the night, we would be attending to one detail or another, fixing things and making sure everything would be perfect.

Now the wedding is tomorrow, and I am standing here, watching my dress, my heart feeling light. I could see everything spiral in front of me.

The first time Damien had asked me out. It was seven years ago, and we were both just starting college. I didn't take him seriously because then, I had just started fixing up on myself.

I had just taken off my braces and had lost the glasses and switched them for contacts. I was taking care of my skin, and I had shorter, better styled hair now. I was slowly growing into the woman I was now, and I didn't think someone who knew the chubby girl from high school would ever want me, even with the changes.

He apparently did, and the relationship that had started out as a joke, with me keeping my heart away so I don't get it broken in the long run, ended up being a seven year commitment. Through every problem. The times that felt like we couldn't go on anymore, the times that felt like we would never end up together. We somehow powered through it.

I turned to the wedding dress that was still resting on the mannequin. It was a custom dress, and I had asked for a fusion of colour at the bottom of the dress. It was a large ball gown that burnt into a deep purple towards the lower part. It was an absolute dream.

From my gown to my husband, I was convinced it was all I had ever dreamed of ever since I was a child.

I smiled to myself again, then started to walk to the violin that was propped up in a corner of the room. I had gotten a piece ready as a surprise for Damien tomorrow, and I intended to play it at the reception.

I slowly walked to the violin, then pulled it to me, resting it on my shoulder. My eyes closed, but right before I could get the very first note out, my phone started to ring.

I looked up to the dresser. It was probably Damien calling to check on me as he always did whenever we weren't together. I hadn't been expecting it today, however, as he and his guy friends had prepared a last night out to drink and play games at Damien's family country house.

I walked to the phone and slowly took it. It wasn't Damien. There was no caller ID, and it seemed to be a hidden number, too. My brows furrowed as I felt my heart skip a beat.

I have been a little anxious, but I knew it was customary of brides. Maybe I was being paranoid again. I shook my head and answered the call, then brought it to my ear.

"Hello?"

There was no answer for a long minute, and I was starting to contemplate dropping the call when the static cracked and a smooth female voice came through.

"Congratulations to you, bride."

I lightened up a little, even though I couldn't exactly pin the voice to a face.

"Thank you. Who am I speaking to, though?"

She gave a small laugh. "A well wisher, sweetie. Your husband seems to be having fun. I hope you are, too."

My brows furrowed. Damien hadn't mentioned there would be any women around their little getaway.

"How do you know he is having fun?"

There was a bit of silence before she started to laugh. I could hear loud music behind her and the unmistakable sound of a moaning woman. I could hear knocks on a door, and I felt my heart sink.

Who could this woman be? That place didn't sound like where Damien said he would be, mot even in the very least.

"Answer me," I said, my voice cracking a little, my chest heaving hard.

"Oh, sweetie. What was your question again?"

"How do you know my husband is having fun?" I asked again, my fingers shaking violently now, my chest heaving. "Where are you? Who are you?"

"One question at a time," she drawled, and I heard her slurp on something, probably a drink. "For your first question, oh, I know because the first girl he took from the back said so. I haven't confirmed it for myself, and for the sake of the sisterhood, I won't."

I felt my brain immediately shut down, and the violin I had cherished all my life left my hand, the sharp strings cutting the tips of my fingers as the violin fell to the floor and shattered into broken pieces, scattering around the room.

"Wh... what? What the fuck are you saying?"

"For your second question," she said, then laughed again. "I am simply a well wisher, and I am currently at Dirty Dreams. I trust you can find that on your map?"

Before I could say a word, the phone had gone off, leaving me standing there in the dim lights of my room, contemplating between trusting this strange woman and the first man I have ever loved.

I closed my eyes briefly, then started to call Damien. He didn't pick, and I kept calling and calling, till the tears could hardly let me see the phone screen.

I gave an exasperated scream as I flung the phone across the room, my chest heaving. I swallowed hard, then immediately turned to the dresser again.

My car keys were there, and I knew everyone would be asleep by now in anticipation of tomorrow. I bit down on my lips. I had to check. I wouldn't be able to rest until I know what this was all about.

If it was nothing but a prank call, good for me. But if it wasn't...

I shook my head. Damien can't do that to me now. He had said he loved me. He had said he loved the fact that I was waiting till we were officially married. He had sworn to wait, too. He had sworn all of that...

I tried hard to attain a bit of composure, then slowly snuck out of the house. Once I was in the clear, I took a few deep breaths to calm myself before I headed to the car.

Dirty Dreams. The map in my car showed me the exact location, and I swallowed again, watching the screen. What if Damien was really there? What if...

I tucked my hair back and turned on the ignition. If he was really there, I would want to know. That, I was completely sure of.

With new found resolution, I backed out of the garage and sped off, my eyes resting on the dark road in front of me.

ROXANNE'S P.O.V

The drive was a full hour, and I checked my time before getting out of the car. Twenty-eight minutes past ten. I swallowed hard, then got out, my chest heaving. The place was lit up, and I could see a neon sign above the place.

Dirty Dreams followed by the illustration of a pole dancer. I bit down on my lips before I slowly walked to the entrance.

"ID," said one of the guards at the door.

I sighed and turned to him. "I just need to check something inside."

"You can't enter without an ID."

I nodded. "Can I enter with a police man?"

His brows furrowed, and he turned to the other.

"I am turning twenty-six soon, and even if I wasn't, I am not here for any of the business that apparently goes on here."

They went silent for a long minute before they finally opened the door for me and let me in. I slowly walked into the place. The music was loud, and the place was dim, but from the blue and red lights, I could see some scantily dressed women pole dancing on stage, with men throwing money at them.

I felt bile rise up my throat, and I hoped to God that Damien wasn't really here. That the call was some stupid prank. That I had driven all the way here for nothing.

"You look lost."

I turned swiftly, and a woman wearing a long gown with slits on both sides was staring back at me. She had a small smile and long hair, and I swallowed, taking a small step back.

"I am looking for someone."

Her eyes dropped to my hand, and she smiled at the massive diamond ring that I was still wearing. I had planned on taking it off tomorrow morning before the ceremony. I hoped I wouldn't have to take it off tonight itself.

"You are not the first, darling. Do you see him down there?"

I turned, my eyes scanning the screaming men. "No," I said, turning back to her. "If what I heard is true, he wouldn't be here."

She gave a small chuckle. "So he is getting down already. Want my help?"

"Why are you helping me?"

"Trust issues, huh? I do understand. But I oversee this place, and I am not looking for trouble. I will help you find your fiancé, but you need to take the drama outside. I am being kind."

I nodded slowly. I would lie if I say I don't resent her for being the one to mobilize these girls. But these girls do not owe me any sort of loyalty. Damien does, and I hope he is out there staying true to the vows he had so religiously written.

"Thank you," I managed to say, and her smile returned.

"Come with me."

I hesitated for a bit as she walked away. I still had time. I could still pretend none of this happened. I could go on like I hadn't received that call. My wedding tomorrow could still be held.

I swallowed again, shaking my head. If the truth was going to shatter me, then it would.

I immediately followed her, running a little to catch up to her. We went around the dancing stage to a quieter hallway that held a total of ten rooms on each side.

"If he isn't in one of these rooms, then he isn't here."

I nodded, my chest heaving. Please. Please let him not be in any of these rooms.

She walked to the first, then opened it and stepped in. There were four men sitting around and three women serving them wine while they giggled and laughed.

Damien wasn't there.

She closed the door and led me to the second. A man and a woman. The man wasn't Damien.

It was the same with the third, fourth, fifth rooms, and I could feel myself calming down and at the same time growing even more apprehensive. We still had five more rooms, and it made me nervous.

We got to the fifth room, and it was completely empty. The sixth, seventh, and eighth were empty, too.

She gave a small laugh. "You might need to buy the man a rose for not trusting him."

At this point, relief was starting to wash over me already, and I smiled, my hand coming to my chest. She laughed at the gesture, then shook her head as she led me to the ninth room.

There was only one woman in it, and she was lying in bed, her eyes closed. My eyes fell on the phone next to her, and for some reason, it felt weird. I noticed how the music from the stage was louder in the rooms from five downwards because the building was a full circle.

This room was particularly loud, just like how it had been over the phone. Come to think of it, if she had been outside, there wouldn't be sounds of moaning or the door I had heard. She would have to be yelling in order for me to hear her above the music, but she hadn't really been yelling over the phone.

I hated how well the dots connected, and I slowly turned towards the last room. My heart sank, and my eyes immediately filled with tears.

I couldn't wait for the mistress to lead me to the tenth room, and I immediately walked to it, wrapping my hand around the door knob in a death grip.

I blinked, tears running down my cheeks, my body shaking lightly.

"You think he is in there?"

I turned to her, my lips parting. "I hope he isn't," I managed to say, but at this point, I knew it was nothing but blind hope. I was too scared of getting my heart broken.

I turned back to the door and slowly opened it, then stepped in, my chest heaving.

The first person I saw was my very own brother. He was passed out on the floor, a few bottles of beer laid out around him.

A tear dropped to the floor and shattered into pieces, just like my heart.

"I am sorry," the mistress said behind me, but I could barely hear her.

My eyes fell on the bed, and right there, in the middle of underwear, bodily fluids, and three women, was the man I was going to get married to in a few hours.

ROXANNE'S P.O.V

My fairytale was crumbling in front of me, but there was nothing I could do. The illusion I had made up in my head was shattering, and I realized just how my own mind was my biggest enemy. How everything that I had carefully glazed over came back, glaring at me. How Damien's inconsistencies now stared right back at me, daring me.

That secretary two years ago that he had assured me was nothing. She was, after all, his employee, and he wouldn't have anything to do with her. That time, he had stayed out throughout the night, and he had come back to tell me he had fallen asleep in his car. The strange number in his phone that was saved under my name, but I knew it wasn't me.

I blinked hard, my chest heaving as I struggled to breathe. I should have seen it all. I should have known that this... this drunk man speaking gibberish, swimming in despicable acts of shame with no remorse whatsoever, this was the real Damien. Everything else had been a fragment of my own imagination. A shield I had taken to avoid being hurt. A path I had carved out to lead me to a field of dandelions that would later burst into flames and leave me stranded.

Just like right now. I was stranded right now.

My knees were weak, and I slowly went to the floor, my hands covering my face. My chest felt like it would implode on itself, and I hit it again and again, hoping at first that it would loosen up and let me breathe. At some point, I just kept hitting it because of the pain. Because every hit distracted me slightly from the heartbreaking sight in front of me.

"I am sorry," the woman said again, her voice low. "Will you be okay? Do you want a man from downstairs to take the edge off?"

I turned to her, and she flinched, her hand on either side of her in surrender.

"I mean, it's normally the best option, but I understand if it isn't for you."

I bit down on my lips, then slowly stood up, my chest heaving. I walked into the room, my eyes taking the place in. The others were on the floor, all drunk, and I could only imagine how hard they had partied. How little care they had for me who was at home, waiting, practicing the violin for a fucking cheater.

It hurt even more that my own brother was here, too. I would have expected him to be the one to shut this down. To tell me he wasn't. He was here, lying on the floor, his back resting on the bed frame of the bed where my fiance had just cheated on me with three call girls.

The rest of the friend group was there too, and I recognized each and every face. They were mostly Damien's friends whom my brother had warmed up to because of my relationship with Damien. There was only one face missing, however.

Florian Hunt. I closed my eyes. I didn't want to remember the name. He was... the last thing I wanted to think of right now. The last thing I wanted to remember.

I walked to where Damien was lying, then slowly pulled off my ring. My finher had a mark from all of the time that ring had stayed intact, and my tears rolled down my cheeks steadily.

I leaned and dropped the ring next to him, and without waiting for much longer, lest I lose my mind, I walked away, my fingers clenched into fists.

I didn't need guidance to walk out of the place, and I soon found myself at the door, my feet wobbling in the mismatched shoes I had thrown on. I looked up at the sky, my eyes filled with a layer of tears thick enough to blur out the stars. My hand was empty, and I realized I most have dropped my keys somewhere.

I couldn't walk back in there for anything. I couldn't let myself see that again. I couldn't let him shatter me completely again.

I started to walk forward, abandoning my car, my hair slowly falling in front of my eyes, my lips parted. I had barely gotten to the middle of the road when my feet gave out on me, and I slowly went to the floor, my knees rooted on the warm ground, my lips quivering hard. I didn't know where to go or what to do, but I had zero survival or self-preservation instincts at this point.

I just stayed there, in the middle of the road, my eyes watching the stars, like if I looked hard enough, the life, the illusion, the lie I lived just two hours ago would be miraculously given back to me.

A loud honking sound caused me to turn to my right, and I swallowed, my tears turning the blinding lights to a sea of separating colours. The sound came again and again, as the light grew brighter and brighter, but my brain had shut down, and I could hardly register that I was in danger, or that I needed to get out of there.

I just sat there, watching the car approach me.

"Rox!"

My brows furrowed, and I started to turn the other way, but I didn't have to. I felt myself being pulled out from the car's path violently. I gave a small yelp as I stood, guided by this person's strong arms, my body falling freely into him, my lips parting.

"Fuck. Fuck, what were you thinking?"

I knew that voice. I knew that person. And I dreaded it. I dreaded this person.

I slowly moved, my eyes looking up to him. The two coloured eyes I remember finding extremely attractive on my eighteenth birthday came into blurring view, and I felt my knees go even weaker.

One eye was a dark grey, and the other was a light green. None of them looked very happy.

"What the fuck are you doing?" He asked, his hand cupping my face, his eyes darting across both of nine. "You are getting married tomorrow, and you want to die today?"

"I am not getting married!" I yelled, my chest heaving hard as my eyes met his. "I am not fucking getting married! You should have let me die."

"Don't be stupid, Rox."

"I was already stupid," I said, my voice low with all the weight of the puzzle pieces that fit way too well for me. "I saw the signs, and I ignored it. I loved him too much, and I knew he was always cheating on me, and yet... yet... I let it get here." My hands came to my face, and I swallowed, tears running down my face like broken dams. I slowly looked up to Florian, my chest heaving.

"What do I do? What do I do?"

"Let me take you home," he said, and before I could say anything, he leaned, taking me into his arms bridal style.

I gave a sigh of exasperation, my eyes flooding with more tears as my body went cold. He turned around and headed towards his parked car, a little distance away from mine.