CHAPTER 6

Winter Pov

My head was spinning and I could hear a loud ringing in my ear. My heart was beating ridiculously fast and I couldn't see where I was because my vision was blurry.

My body had betrayed me and my hand refused to move by my command. My long black hair was cascading all over my face, merging with the beads of sweat on my forehead.

My body ached. I soon realised that I wasn't able to move because my hands were tied and so were my legs, but that wasn't the case, because I'm unable to move my body totally.

It was like I was under some intoxication. My eyelids felt very heavy, but what I failed to recognise was the masculine scent that had filled the room. I was so focused on freeing myself that I forgot to think of how I got here.

The bed sank beside me, and I could see the silhouette of a man in the corner of my eyes, but my vision was too blurry to see him clearly.

I was now able to wiggle around a bit and move some parts of my body but I hadn’t gained total control over my body. The man's hand suddenly grabbed my bare thigh and I felt my stomach drop. I was basically powerless against this man.

His strong cologne had invaded my nose, meaning that he was dangerously close to me. My vision was clearing up a bit and I was now able to move my hand.

I suddenly felt the man's wet tongue come into contact with my skin and a small gasp left my mouth at how disgusting I was feeling. After nibbling and biting my skin, he pulled up and with one single tug, he tore off my top, revealing my cleavage.

“NO!” I was finally able to speak when I realised the intentions of this stranger. My hands were still tied, he lowered himself, untied my legs and parted them open. I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision to see him but failed miserably.

I couldn't stop the dreadful feeling I was feeling at this moment. My eyes became teary, and I began pleading with the man, trying to reason with him, but it seemed like he had no interest in listening to my pleas. I was wearing a skirt so he just pushed it up and tugged on my thong while tearing it into shreds.

My lower body was now completely bare to him and I let out the loudest shriek. I wiggled on the bed and he suddenly grabbed my tied hand and pinned it at the top of my head while undoing his belt.

“P…please, don't do this, i…beg y…you.” my voice trembled. He just let out a sinister laughter before positioning himself in front of my entrance and thrusting into me with full force.

“Aaah!” I screamed and opened my eyes, I scanned my environment and I was in a safe environment. My clothes were intact and there was no sign of a man around me.

My heart was still pounding very hard and my body was trembling slightly. Fuck this dream again. I thought I would finally stop having it, why is it back again?

I took a moment to catch my breath and started scrolling through my phone to ease up a bit and I felt better.

My mind suddenly drifted to Zayn and what he said to me at the hotel. Why would he even say that? I just got divorced recently, why would I want to venture into another one?

“Can't sleep?” Janice entered with a glass of water. I sighed lightly and fell back on my bed. “The craziest thing happened to me at work,” I said in a tired voice. I didn't want to bother her with my dream.

“Tell me about it.”

“You remember how I told you that we were expecting some VIP guests?”

“Yes, what about it?”

I sat up while running my hand through my hair frantically. “That VIP guest somehow turned out to be my one-night stand.”

“Shut. Up.”

“I wish I could.” I dropped my voice. “He recognised me immediately. “He was so annoying throughout the night, and do you know what he said to me?”

“What?” Janice placed the glass on the bedside table and sat on the bed. “He asked me to marry him.”

“Whoa.”

“I know, right? Like that is so random. He thinks he's some Prince Charming and people would throw themselves at his feet or something.”

“Is he cute?”

“Really?” I arched a brow at her.

“OMG is he ugly?” I giggled lightly. “No, Zayn is not ugly.”

Her eyes widened when I said that. “Did you just say his name? What's his surname?”

“What? I think it's Marcini or something I don’t really know.”

Janice stared at me, mouth open. “You’re kidding.”

Her hands shot to her mouth and she wore a shocked expression. I was perplexed at her reaction. “What is going on?”

“No, Winter. You do not know who he is?”

I frowned. “I mean… he’s rich. I figured that out from the watch alone.”

Janice was already pulling out her phone. “Girl, rich" is an understatement. Give me a sec…”

Her fingers flew over the screen. The light from her phone illuminated her shocked face.

She turned the screen toward me.

A full-page article. Glossy photo. Zayn Marcini The Billion-Dollar Enigma. CEO of Marcini International. Investor. Powerbroker. The man behind some of the largest mergers in the U.S.

I stared at the screen. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Winter,” Janice said slowly, “you had a one-night stand with Zayn freaking Marcini. You’ve been assigned to take care of Zayn Marcini. Do you have any idea what this means?”

“That I should’ve smacked his annoying face?”

She threw a pillow at me. “Be serious!”

“I am serious!” I stood up, pacing. “Janice, he said he wanted to marry me, why would he ask that?

Janice stood too, her voice awed. “Did you ask him why? But don't get your hopes up, girl, he has a reputation for being a womaniser and a playboy. He has dated a lot of models and actresses.”

I wanted to behave like that didn't have any effect on me but it stung me a bit. “You know what Janice? I don't care, I'm not going to marry a rich playboy who thinks I can be his sex slave.” I stopped, my heart thudding.

“Atta girl, don't get involved with these rich people. They're trouble. Goodnight babe.”

“Goodnight.” She said and left my room.

I was still deep in thought, I should've noticed it earlier. He was literally surrounded by politicians and some other influential people, I should've known that he was rich.

From the way he spoke to me, I realised that Janice was right, he really was a womaniser. Ugh. ‘Come on Winter, you're seriously thinking about a guy you met recently? Get a grip on yourself and go to bed.’

I scolded myself internally and tried to sleep