Chapter 5: The sex tape

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~CLAIRE~

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A loud shout roused me awake the next morning.

I sat up abruptly and immediately regretted it. The room spun, and a wave of nausea hit me.

God, I hated alcohol. The hangovers were always the worst. My head was threatening to split with a raging headache, and my mouth tasted bland.

When the spinning stopped, I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. Now that it was daylight, I could see the studio perfectly.

Bright coloured fabrics and pastel linens were piled upon the two other couches in the room.

There was a window overlooking the sea. I stood up and walked towards it, wobbling slightly. The time had to be almost noon because the sun was high up in the sky.

The sight of the sea made my nausea worse, so I turned away. I needed a bath and a change of clothes. I dreaded meeting Jason after what happened last night, but I didn't have a choice.

I walked back to the couch and leaned down to pick my heels. Then I spotted the dollar bills the stranger gave me yesterday, after he thought I was a whore.

I cringed badly. Of all the humiliation to experience, it had to be one where I was called a whore.

I couldn't take that money. I know I needed it, and it was probably sheer luck that he gave me such a huge amount, but I just couldn't accept it. I wasn't a whore, and taking the money would only mean I was accepting what the stranger called me.

Since I couldn't return it to him, what would I do with it? I lowered into the couch and sighed. There was no way I would show my face in front of the stranger a second time.

Across from me, I sighted a brown glass case. It belonged to the kindhearted old man who helped me last night. He must have forgotten it there.

An idea suddenly occurred to me. I could leave it behind for him. It would be my way of thanking him for giving me a place to stay. Besides, I didn't think they paid the janitors enough.

I picked up the case and tucked the neatly folded cash inside. He needed it more than I did.

As I turned to leave the studio, one of the mannequins closest to the door caught my attention.

I frowned. There was a plain black gown draped over it, with a perfectly round neckline. It had a high slit and tiny golden flowers shimmered along the hem.

But it just didn't look right to me.

"Something's missing." I murmured. I tried to push it off my mind, but as I got to the door and touched the knob, I stopped and looked back at the mannequin.

I sighed, knowing that I wouldn't rest until something was done about that outfit.

I moved around the room, not entirely sure what I was searching for, but I would know when I found it.

It didn't take me long to find what I was looking for. A bright golden belt draped across the neck of one of the unclothed mannequins.

I grabbed it and turned around. For a few seconds, I stared at the mannequin with the black gown, working out the perfect place for the belt.

On impulse, I placed it around the waist and clipped it, then adjusted the edge so the slit would be prominent.

"Perfect." I said with a smile. Now that the look was completed, the gown looked more stylish.

Turning away, I picked up my heels and left the studio.

The ship was very busy that morning. I had to smile politely and avert my eyes as I hurried back to the suite I shared with Jason.

Fortunately, he wasn't in. I sighed in relief. He was the last person I wanted to see that morning.

I took off the stranger's ring and placed it on the bed, then undressed and wrapped a towel around my body.

The hot water soothed my aching limbs and sore shoulders. For several minutes, I scrubbed my body thoroughly, wiping off the dried blood from my inner thighs, proof of being deflowered the previous night.

Then out of the blue, the stranger's face strayed into my mind. I shut my eyes, remembering how good he made me feel last night.

God, he was handsome. Incredibly good looking. Tall, broad shoulders, intense eyes. I used to think Jason was the most handsome man in the world, but he didn't hold a candle to this stranger.

He had a commanding presence, and his voice was to die for. It was a pity he had such a murderous temper.

When I caught myself smiling at the thought, I snapped out of it. What the hell was wrong with me? I was daydreaming about a total stranger who disvirgined me and thought I was a whore.

I got out of the shower, feeling much better than I did minutes ago. The hangover remained, and I was starving.

I changed into clean jeans and a blouse, brushed my hair and headed towards the ship's breakfast lounge.

Jason still hadn't returned, and I was glad because I really didn't want to talk to him.

The lounge was crowded, even though most of the guests on the ship already had their breakfast. It was almost noon.

I took a seat at the back, away from prying eyes. A waiter walked over to take my order, and after calling it out to him, I leaned back on the chair and waited, praying Jason wouldn't find me.

A few minutes later, the waiter returned, holding a tray. He placed the plate of pancakes, strawberries and orange juice before me.

"Thank you." I murmured to him. My stomach rumbled hungrily as I grabbed the fork.

However, I heard Jason's unmistakable voice. My stomach dropped as I looked up and watched him approach. I guess I wasn't so lucky.

He stopped at my table, pulled out a chair and lowered into it. My hunger disappeared instantly.

I lowered the fork and looked away from him. "What do you want?"

Jason looked innocent, like he had forgotten what transpired last night.

"Can't I sit with you anymore?" He questioned. "You're my girlfriend."

I shook my head. "I'm not your girlfriend, Jason. I meant it last night when I said we were done. Once this ship docks, I'm leaving you."

Jason didn't respond immediately. He just stared at me with an odd expression.

As I picked up my fork to eat, his phone dinged loudly with an incoming message.

The look on his face changed to one of horror and disbelief. My curiosity piqued instantly.

Before I could ask what the problem was, several dings echoed all around the lounge from the other guest's phones.

A soft murmur swept through the crowd, and I suddenly felt self-conscious when they started throwing furtive glances at me, whispering amongst themselves.

My curiosity turned to suspicion. Why were they all staring at me like that?

Suddenly Jason shot to his feet. His expression turned wounded as he glared at me.

"How could you, Claire? How could you hurt me this way?"

I rose to my feet quickly, breakfast forgotten, wondering what he was talking about.

"Jason what are you doing?" I asked.

In anger, Jason slid his phone towards me. I picked it up, and all the colour drained from my face in shock.

It was a blurry video of me in the stranger's room last night. Someone had filmed us while we had sex.