SPENT THE NIGHT WITH A STRANGER

Blaire stirred awake, her body was warm and heavy beneath the soft bed sheets. A feeling of confusion washed over her as she blinked against the morning light filtering through the curtains. It took her a moment to realise she was completely naked, and panic rushed through her. She sat up immediately, the bed sheets slipping from her shoulders.

“ Oh my God! Damien?” she called out, but her voice echoed back to her, bare and unanswered. The bed was rumpled beside her, the space where he had rested now just a memory, as he wasn't there. She became confused and disappointed washed, as she struggled to recall the events of the previous night. Shards of laughter, whiskey, and that thrilling kiss danced in her mind, but she felt distant and disgusted, like shadows fading in the dawn.

She turned her legs over the edge of the bed, her heart dashing as she searched for her clothes. She was late for work. After hastily dressing, Blaire stood in front of the mirror, checking out her reflection. Who was she now, after everything that had happened? The thrill of their connection clashed with the nagging disappointment that wore her down.

“ He must see me as a prostitute now. Well, he was a stranger, there shouldn't be expectations or judgments.

With a deep breath, she gathered her thoughts and made her way down to the reception counter. The hotel lobby was quiet, the staff barely moving as she approached the front desk.

“Excuse me,” she said, her voice more calm than she felt. “I’d like to check out, please.”

The receptionist looked up with a friendly smile. “You’re all set, Miss. Your bill has already been paid by your boyfriend.”

Blaire blinked, confusion creeping in. “Paid? My boyfriend?”

“ Yes by a gentleman named Damien Smith,” the receptionist replied, her eyes flaunting with recognition. “He checked out early this morning. You must be lucky to be dating the son of the most influential man in the city.”

“ What? Damien Smith…” The name looped in the air, a thread binding her to the fleeting night. But who was he really? She didn’t know. He had been a stranger, a momentary flash in her otherwise ordinary life. Disappointment curled in her chest as she realised that the stranger from the previous night was the heir of the most wealthy and influential family in the city, and she didn’t recognise him, even ended up having sex with him.

Blaire walked out of the hotel, the cool morning air stroking against her skin. She felt a mixture of longing and loss as she stepped onto the busy street, her heart still racing from the memories of the night before.

Meanwhile, Damien returned home, the weight of the previous night’s events heavy on his mind. The entrance of the mansion was before him, the marble floors and ornate chandeliers starkly contrasting with the chaos swirling inside him. As he stepped inside, a servant greeted him with a nod.

“Good morning, Mr. Damien, welcome home.” the servant said, taking his coat.

“Morning,” Damien replied, his voice isolated. He moved straight to his room, the luxurious surroundings feeling strange as he replayed his time with Blaire in his head. He also realised he had cheated on Gina, his fiancee.

After a quick shower, he dressed in designed clothes, but the routine felt unfilled. He headed downstairs, the aroma of breakfast blowing through the air, pulling him to the dining room.

His father sat at the table, having his breakfast, and his sister, Rachel, was also eating. “There you are,” his father said, glancing up. “We need to discuss your upcoming marriage to Gina. You can’t keep postponing it, you know. It's high time you get married.”

“Right, Gina and will consider that, when she returns” Damien mumbled, pushing his food around on his plate. The thought of marrying Gina felt suffocating, especially after the exciting connection he’d felt with Blaire. He couldn’t shake the memory of her laughter, the warmth of her body, and the spark in her eyes that had moved him.

Rachel, unaware of his inner chaos, dinged in, “ Dad, Damien has been anticipating that moment. I can’t wait for the wedding! We have so much to plan.”

Damien forced a smile, he wasn't sure he wanted to continue with Gina, as they have been distant. The weight of his father’s expectations and his impending marriage imposed over him like a dark cloud, leaving him feeling trapped. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something Epic had shifted within him during that one night stand, and now he had to figure out what to do with it.