A Risky Christmas

As expected, he didn't remember her.

Sora wasn't surprised. In his eyes, there had never been room for anyone but Bella. To him, every other woman was exactly the same.

"I will take responsibility for last night. Name your price. As long as it's not too outrageous, I'll give you whatever you want." That was the very first thing he said to her when dawn broke.

Sora began to recall the events of the previous night. To secure a massive contract for her company, she had entertained clients whose eyes practically screamed 'pervert'. She had thought she could handle it smoothly—after all, her alcohol tolerance was incredible, and she had weathered plenty of storms in her two years in sales. But she never expected them to spike her drink.

The moment she realized something was wrong, Sora used the excuse of going to the restroom to flee the private booth. But with the alcohol amplifying the effects of the drug, she was completely powerless. Just as she was about to pull out her phone to call for help, he walked right toward her. Under her shocked, sleepwalker-like gaze, he opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace.

She inhaled the heavy stench of alcohol on him.

"Come with me," he demanded, his voice bossy and domineering.

Without a single hint of hesitation, she followed his lead with unusual obedience.

He took her to a hotel room, immediately turned on the showerhead in the bathroom, and ordered, "Wash up first."

Just like last time.

He thought any woman other than Bella was dirty.

However, Sora was no longer that naive little girl who looked up to him and worshipped him like a god.

"Take your time showering. I'm leaving," she said, turning to walk away.

But he grabbed her arm from behind, his voice laced with intense irritation. "Why is every damn woman so difficult?! What exactly do you all want to be satisfied?!"

Sora scoffed inwardly. Was he pissed off by Bella again? Was that why he got drunk? Why he was using this despicable act of revenge to teach that ungrateful woman a lesson, just like last time?

"I want—" She finally turned around, viciously cursing herself in her heart for being so cheap. But her body was terrifyingly honest; the moment she laid eyes on him, it ignited like a raging wildfire. Her arms looped around his neck. "I want... you."

Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed his thin lips. They were as cool as she remembered, as indifferent as always.

Sora couldn't remember much of what happened next.

It was a night of entangled passion, where she clung to him like a desperate vine.

Then, utterly exhausted, he turned one way, and she turned the other. They slept back-to-back, sharing the same bed but dreaming completely different dreams.

And then, daylight came. Impeccably dressed, he stood by the bed, ready to clean up the aftermath of this absurd one-night stand.

He couldn't even be bothered to spare her a second glance.

"Oh." Sora sat up unhurriedly. She reached into her small purse, pulled out a check she had been hiding for a very, very long time, and placed it gently on the nightstand. "Thanks for helping me put out my fire. Consider this your compensation. Goodbye—Julian."

Goodbye, Julian.

This time, you can truly get the hell out of my life.

It's time to end this five-year-long... farce!

My pathetic one-woman show.