Chapter 1 - Beautiful One Night

Synopsis: "Let's make something clear." He tilted my face sideways. "As long as you're breathing, you belong to me." "Your oxygen is mine; your lips are mine; your boobs are mine; your tight, fucking pussy is mine." "And if another man so much as touches what is mine, I promise you that it won't be his fingers that I take. It would be his head."

SABRINA

'Hey, this is Mike, and you've reached my voicemail; leave a message...'

I exhaled a shaky breath as I redialed his number, the sound barely audible over the hum of the car's engine. My gaze remained fixed on the road ahead as I listened to the ringtone.

'Hey, this is Mike, and you've reached my voicemail...'

"Son of a bitch." As I leaned over the car tablet, my fingers grazed the smooth surface of the red button, a nervous flutter stirring in my gut. With a firm press, I redirected my attention to the road ahead, my focus shifting away from the uneasy churning in my stomach as I accelerated down the highway.

Sure, it was weird for Mike not to pick up my call, but this wasn't in the realm of abnormal. He was probably just busy with his news piece that he was tasked with three weeks ago. Ever since he got that piece, we haven't gotten the chance to spend time together like we used to.

If we ever did.

But part of that was also my fault.

When I was considered for the promotion of my dream five months ago, I was overjoyed. This was the one thing I've been striving for since I got back in town three years ago, and Mike has supported and pushed me to get it, so I did.

We understood that if I got this promotion, I wouldn't have to work so hard, and we could finally settle down. Get an apartment, maybe downtown with a little less noise, and we will focus on strengthening our relationship.

I poured my soul into getting that promotion, drilling my time and energy into my project that I was sure was going to get me that promotion. barely having time for myself, much less him or my family, but Mike understood.

Mike has always been so supportive of me from the moment we met, and that is one of the things that drew me to him. It took me a long time to come out of my shell around him, and I was afraid he wasn't going to stick around for that, but he did.

He stayed because he loves me, unlike the people in my life.

Every fiber of my being gravitated towards him, like a magnetic force pulling me closer with each passing moment. It wasn't just a feeling; it was an overwhelming flood of emotions, a connection that I felt deeply.

But for the past few weeks, he hasn't been the same. There aren't any dramatic changes, but it still bugs me.

Like him being unavailable for me to call.

Plus, we haven't seen each other for almost two weeks, but I just summed it up to the fact that we're too busy for each other.

I let out a grasp when a red Jeep cut in front of me and swung to the left to avoid bumping into his bumper. Annoyed, I honked at the person, but the person ignored me and just drove off.

People.

I turned off the highway at the intersection, my eyes dashing to my phone beside me. I wanted to call him again, but I knew it was just going straight to voicemail again, so I didn't bother.

This news was too big to tell on the phone anyway.

A smile found its way to my lips as I remembered why I was going to see him. The queasiness in my stomach dissolved into a whirlwind of excitement, a rush of adrenaline replacing the discomfort I had been experiencing.

Mike was always the one who didn't like things going out of schedule. Planning things months ahead and showing up to his house without any announcement is going to set him off, especially when he's not there, but he's not picking up his phone, and I can't wait.

I reached his estate and took a deep breath as I approached the security man. Seeing my car, Sam tilted his face cap at me, his white teeth contrasting with his sweaty brown skin.

"Good morning, Miss Washburn. Nice to see you again. It's been so long."

I tried not to bite my lips at the reminder of how far me and Mike had been. "I've been busy."

"Haven't we all been?" A sweat rolled down his left eye, and he used his shirt to wipe his face.

"Yeah, I agree."

"It's nice to see you back, Miss Washburn; we've missed you."

Sam waved approval at the other security men, and they opened the gates for me.

"Have a nice day, miss," Sam beamed.

"Thanks, Sam; you too." I gave him as much of a smile as I could and drove off.

It might have been a long time we've spent with each other, but it won't be like that anymore.

My grin grew with each passing moment as I got closer to his house, my chest beating faster as I imagined the smile on his face when I told him, feeling his arms wrapping around me, the thought of his scent making me breathe a soft sign.

But that grin disappeared when I saw his car in the driveway.

My eyebrows knitted together in confusion, and I cut off the engine to my car.

When Mike didn't pick up his call, I just assumed that he wasn't at home and he couldn't charge his phone where he was.

But he is home, so why is his phone going to voicemail?

My stomach churned, twisting in knots as an overwhelming sense of queasiness flooded back. Shaking my head, I stepped out of the car, pressing her car remote to lock her car.

There's nothing I need to be nervous about.

So what if he's at home and picking up his phone? He could not be with his phone or even sleeping; after all, he's always busy with a new news update and doesn't get sleep sometimes, so I know he values his sleep.

I trusted Mike; he was my rock and my confidant.

I tried to calm myself by churning my stomach as I approached his house, but no matter how hard I tried to push it away, it stubbornly refused to leave. Inhaling slowly, I filled my lungs with air, letting the steady rhythm soothe the rapid thumping of my heart as I knocked on his door and waited.

And waited.

But he didn't come to the door.

A flicker of concern danced through me, and I moved to knock on the door again, but I remembered the spare key hidden on the plant pot next to the door. Deciding on surprising him instead, I bent down and lifted the pot, grabbing the silver key from its usual spot.

I pushed the keyhole as quietly as I could, turning the lock to let me in. As I opened the door, I was greeted with the familiar scent that I love so much: a giggle making its way onto my lips. I place my bag and coat on the dresser next to the door.

"Mike!" I called out with a cheery tone in my voice, but was yet again greeted with silence.

Where was he?

An uneasy feeling settled in the pit of my stomach as I ventured further into the house, the silence broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioning, but I tried to push it down.

My first place to check for him was the bedroom because I knew that was where he loved to spend all his free time, and every time I came over, we would snuggle in bed all day and, if I was up to it, have all the sex we wanted.

I can't wait for us to move in together.

As I was about to call his name, I was interrupted with a deep moan.

I froze, my hand still resting on the handle. A shiver shot up my spine as another series of moans and grunts exited the room.

"Ah, fuck, yes, just like that."

No.

"God, yes"

No, he wouldn't.

With trembling hands, I pushed open the bedroom door. When I saw Emily between Mike's legs with his dick in her mouth, I was certain I was going to throw up.

Mike's eyes widened in shock as he caught sight of me, and my best friend, whose face flushed with shame, let out a grasp when we locked eyes. They both scrambled away from each other and made a wide dash to the floor, searching for their clothes.

My pulse quickened, my steps faltered as I struggled to hold myself upright, and my breathing became heavy as my vision started becoming blurry. The world spun around me, nausea churning in the pit of my stomach as the reality of what was going on set in. I wanted to leave for fresh air, but it felt like I was rooted to the ground, forced to watch them dress up in front of me.

"Sabrina, I can explain," Mike said, but the panic in his voice made me even sicker.

I can't stay here; I need to leave before I pass out.

Tears welled in my eyes, blurring the scene before me as I stumbled backward. Still reeling from shock, I head to the entrance, ignoring their calls for me to come back as I grab my coat and bag before flying out the door.