Chapter Three: The Stranger Who Stepped In!!

Vanessa's POV.

I was brushing out my hair curls when the door to my room burst open. No knock. No warning. Just the sound of my mother's heels striking the marble floor like gunshots. 

My father followed behind her, silent but stiff, like a soldier marching to a war he didn't want to fight.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Vanessa?!” My mother spat, her eyes wide with something between rage and disgust. She looked like she wanted to slap me right across the face.

“Excuse me? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Like what?” she retorted back at me in a cold and vicious voice. “Like you are stupid? Because you are. You went on a blind date, and you didn't come back to tell us what happened? You thought we wouldn't find out about the embarrassment you caused?”

“Mom, seriously?” I said as I stood up on my feet as I rolled my eyes in exhaustion. “I didn't say anything to you guys because I was angry and needed to breathe. And let's not pretend you would have been okay hearing how obsessed he was with my uterus. He kept asking if I was fertile. Six kids—he said he wants six kids from me. Who talks like that on a first date?”

“Do you even know what your actions cost us?” 

“I don't know,” I replied, shrugging my shoulders at them. “Except that you will probably arrange another blind date for me

“You are not going on another blind date,” my father said, stepping forward. “You are marrying Mrs. Adisa’s son.”

I laughed at his words, but no one did except for me. “I just explained why I rejected him.”

“Your explanation is irrelevant. You are going to marry him, whether you love him or not. The last man you loved almost destroyed you,” my father said.

“So now you are going to mock me with my broken marriage too?’ I asked with a cracked voice. “I’m not the first woman to go through a divorce, and I won't be the last. But you want me to marry someone who practically sees me as a baby-making factory?”

“You were betrothed to him,” he said flatly.

“What?’ I whispered, clearly shocked by his unexpected words.

“Since you were a child. You belonged to that family before Damon even came along. And now that you are no longer with him, it's time to fulfill the deal.”

“So you sold me off?” I snapped at him. “Like a damn product?”

“We did what we had to do to secure our future,” my mom said, crossing her arms. “The Adisas invested everything into our company based on this marriage. And they brought other investors with them. If you don't marry him, they will pull out. And we will lose everything.”

“I don't care!” I shouted. “I just got out of a three-year nightmare! I can't do this again. Especially not with someone like him.”

“Your father's heart can't take much stress. You know how weak it is. Do you want to be the reason he dies?” she said, her voice suddenly softer and manipulative. 

Tears burned my eyes. I shook my head slowly.

“This is emotional blackmail. You are using Dad's health to trap me.”

And they said nothing to me. And that was enough of an answer, and I picked up my car keys and stormed out of my room.

I didn't realize how fast I drove until I pulled up at Bistro Rose Rooftop again. The soft jazz from the speakers felt too calm for how I felt. 

I walked inside, ignoring the stares I got from people because everything inside of me hurt so much. 

I ordered alcoholic drink after alcoholic drink until the bar blurred in front of me. The lights, the noise, the clinking of glasses—everything came together at once. 

I stood up on my feet, staggering slightly as my leg collided with the table, knocking over a tall gold candle holder that fell to the floor with a sharp sound, and it silenced the jazz band for half a second as I burst into laughter, not even bothering to look down.

“Oh my God,” I mumbled, brushing imaginary dust from my sleek champagne dress. “Oops. That was expensive, wasn't it?” I giggled, pressing my hand to my chest as I took another sip of alcohol, letting the bubbles blur everything.

“Let me help you, ma'am.” I heard a soft voice, and I looked down to see that a waitress had crouched beside me, trying to fix the mess. 

“You are wasted, ma'am. So please let me help you.” she added, and my smile froze instantly.

“What did you just say to me?”

“I—I just meant, you might need some help; you almost tripped, and—” 

“I don't need help. You think just because I dropped a damn candle I'm helpless?” I snapped at her, as my words came out like ice. Sharp. Clear. And sober, even though I wasn't. I took a slow step and nearly stumbled again, but I caught myself.

“No, ma'am, I didn't mean it like that.”

“Then don't speak to me like we are friends. Or like we are the same, because we are not.”

Her mouth opened like she wanted to say something, but she didn't. She just nodded and backed away quickly, still holding the cloth. Like I was something she needed to clean up too.

“Get another tray or something. Go serve someone who needs you.” I said, and the silence around us thickened. I didn't have to look up to know people were watching. I could feel it from the stares.

I raised my empty glass like I was toasting the night. “I need a refill!” I shouted towards the bar, forcing another smile, but this time around it was bigger and too wide. My face hurt from holding it. I was a walking heartbreak but still holding it.

And then I felt him.

A man slid into the seat beside me. He has slick hair and an overpowering cologne with a fake smile.

“Hey, gorgeous. You look like you need company.”

“I don't,” I said, trying to sit up straight.

“Come with me. I promise, you won't regret it.” He leaned in and placed his hand on my waist as I forcibly removed his hand from me.

“Don’t touch me.” I warned him, and his smile faded.

“What did you say?” he asked, grabbing my arm, and he pulled me closer to him. I tried to break free from him, but I was too drunk and too slow.

“Let go of her.”

I heard a familiar voice speak. It was deep and dangerous as I looked up to see Zane.

He stepped between us with rage in his eyes. His presence was so calm but commanding that the entire bar seemed to pause.

“Who the hell are you?” the creep asked.

“The man who will break your bones if you don't back off.” Zane threatened, and the guy let go of me, his eyes flickering between us. 

“Sorry. I didn't know she had a boyfriend.”

“Now you do,” Zane replied, and the guy ran off instantly at full speed. Then I slumped into the chair.

“It’s you again, Mr. Casual Joggers.” I said, and he knelt in front of me.

“Let's get out of here. You are too wasted to be here alone.”

“I don't want to go home,” I whispered.

He didn't argue. He just scooped me into his arms like I weighed nothing and carried me outside.

We were inside his car, and to me it felt as though the whole world had tilted. Zane drove with one hand, glancing at me.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“No, I'm not okay. Everything is crap.” I admitted it as silence engulfed us for some minutes, then I turned to him with heavy eyes.

“Have you ever felt like everyone is making decisions for you, and you just want to scream?”

He didn't answer me. He didn't have to. 

I reached for his shirt and unbuttoned the top two buttons. 

“You know you are really hot when you get all protective like that.”

“Vanessa,”

“What? I'm just saying thank you. With my lips.” I whispered as I leaned closer to him, and his hand caught mine.

“Stop it, Vanessa.”

“No, I won't. You know, you are not as boring as I thought you would be,” I said, tilting my head and leaning in just enough to be dangerous.

“Good to know,” he replied, smirking. “But you are drunk, Vanessa. And you should not be doing all of this.”

“I accept the fact that I am drunk, but I am not stupid. I am not drunk enough to not know what I want.” I said as I let my fingers trail up his shirt, slow, teasing, and deliberate. 

“You like this game, right?” 

“I don't play games,” he replied.

“Everyone does,” I whispered. “Even you.”

“You are a fucking mess,” he voiced out.

“Then clean me up,” I whispered, and something in him snapped.

He pulled over the car, turned to me, and before I could take another breath, his lips were on mine. Desperate. Rough. Hungry.

I climbed onto his lap, and our bodies molded together like they were made for this moment. His hands gripped my hips like he was afraid I would disappear.

I wanted to forget everything. My parents, Damon. The betrayal. The ache.

All I wanted was Zane.

And at that moment, he wanted me too.