Chapter 2: A One Night Stand

Earlier this evening, Petra sat before Oscar in the restaurant discussing the deal. The elegant restaurant was quiet, with only the soft clinking of cutlery and low conversations from other guests filling the atmosphere.

Oscar Briggs skimmed through the final pages of one last time before placing the document on the table.

Petra sat calmly across from him, confident but composed. She had spent weeks preparing for this meeting, making sure every detail of the proposal was flawless.

Oscar couldn't help but admire her professionalism.

Most executives tried too hard to impress him.

Petra didn't.

She simply knew what she was doing.

It was one of the reasons Briggs Corporation had decided to partner with Brooks Construction despite competing offers from several larger firms.

The meeting had gone smoother than either of them expected.

Petra gathered the remaining files into her briefcase before pushing back her chair.

"I'll be expecting your signature soon." Petra said with a smile as she rose from the seat.

***********

"Hey, it's you." Petra said, smiling sheepishly as she still lay weakly on the bar.

Oscar stood silently for a moment.

Only a few hours ago, she had walked out of that restaurant looking confident and accomplished.

Now she looked like someone whose entire world had fallen apart.

Petra turned back, picking the glass of whiskey as she took another long gulp, her hand visibly shaking.

Her eyes were swollen from holding back tears, and although she tried to smile, it looked painfully forced.

"You men are the same." She said again, looking at the almost empty glass in her hand. "Liars. Cheaters. I can't wait to divorce your sorry ass, and I hope you and Emma rot."

She raised the glass again and gulped the remaining drink.

Oscar rested one hand on the bar, quietly watching her.

Whatever had happened to her was clearly fresh.

Very fresh.

"Looks like the famous Petra had her heart stopped." He said and sighed. "Is that right?"

Petra released a tired sigh.

Instead of answering him, she reached straight for the whiskey bottle sitting on the counter.

She wrapped her fingers around the bottle and lifted it toward her lips.

Before she could drink, Oscar launched forward.

"Hey, stop!" Oscar snapped, pushing forward as he gently snatched the bottle from her. "I think you've had enough, don't you think?"

Petra blinked, staring at him fiercely.

What immediately shocked Petra wasn't that he snatched the bottle from her. But the nerve to take the drink.

Oscar raised and took a long gulp from the bottle of whiskey.

"Hey!" Petra snapped, turning sharply. "That was mine."

Oscar lowered the bottle onto the counter, placing it close to himself instead.

"I know it was." He said, unbuttoning the two upper buttons of his shirt.

Petra released a breath then lay her head back on the bar, supporting it with one hand.

The alcohol had begun taking its toll and she could no longer keep her eyes fully open.

Oscar remained beside her, studying her expression.

She looked exhausted.

"Mr. Briggs." Came a young male voice— Maxwell Houston, Oscar's assistant, as he approached Oscar. "How can I assist you?"

Oscar's eyes remained on Petra as he casually rested one hand on Maxwell's shoulder.

"We're about to sign a company deal with this girl." Oscar said, dropping a hand on Maxwell's shoulder while his eyes remained on Petra. "We can't let anyone see her like this. So do me a favor. Go grab her a VIP room. Make it quick."

"I'm on it, sir." Maxwell said with a nod. He turned and left immediately.

Oscar released a long breath, watching Petra who had now dozed off on the bar.

The once-confident businesswoman who had negotiated a multi-million-dollar contract that afternoon was now asleep in the middle of a bar, completely vulnerable.

He couldn't just leave her there as people had already started glancing in their direction.

A few minutes later, Maxwell returned with the room key.

Everything had been prepared.

Oscar walked closer to Petra.

"I'm gonna pick you up right here." He said, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Some place to rest, okay?"

Petra didn't respond.

She was barely conscious.

Oscar carefully bent down before sliding one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back.

As soon as he lifted her, Petra wrapped her hands round his neck as he led her away to the VIP room.

*******************

The suite was spacious and quiet, completely isolated from the noise downstairs.

Oscar walked straight to the large bed before lowering Petra carefully onto the mattress.

He adjusted her head gently against the pillow, making sure she was comfortable.

Only then did he straighten up.

Petra smiled from the bed, her eyes weakly fixed on him possessively.

She was awake.

Or at least awake enough to recognize him.

He figured it was best to leave before she became any more uncomfortable the next morning.

Immediately he tried to leave the bed, she grab her tie, pulling him down to her so their lips almost met.

Oscar stiffened.

His eyes widened in surprise.

He wasn't expecting that.

"Petra, what are you doing?" Oscar asked, taken aback. "I have to go. You're drunk. Okay?"

He gently tried to pull away.

Petra pulled him back without word, smiling.

The sudden tug threw him off balance, falling to the other side of the bed.

Before he could recover, Petra playfully climbed on top of him.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

She just stared him, smiling. "I want you." She said.