Chapter 4: More than a Mistake

Ray's POV

6:00 AM

"What!" I bolted upright, regretting the sudden movement as my head pounded. 

I buried my face in my hands. She was gone, and I hadn’t even thought to ask where she lived or which college she attended. 

I started the engine and reversed out of the beach, driving toward my penthouse across town. I couldn't stop thinking about her—the way she'd laughed at my jokes, the surprise in her eyes when she'd tasted alcohol for the first time, the trust she'd placed in me despite being complete strangers.

There had been something different about Michelle—her nervous laughter, the way her hands trembled when she first touched the glass. That innocence clung to me now, turning last night into something that felt almost like a crime.

I needed to find her, if not for anything, to apologize.

As soon as I reached my apartment, I made a mental note to have my personal assistant search all the universities in the state for students named Michelle in nutrition programs. It was a long shot, but it was all I had.

I headed straight for the bathroom, turning the shower to a warm setting, as the thought of last night still stayed.

I dressed quickly in one of my brown suits, selecting a tie that matched. I was reaching for my watch collection when my phone rang, I glanced at the screen.

Dad.

I answered quickly. "Good morning, Dad."

"Have you checked what I sent to you, Ray?" His voice came through sharply.

"No, Dad. What's happening?" I asked, already dreading the answer.

"I want to see you in my house now!" He shouted before hanging up abruptly.

I reached for my laptop to see what had triggered his rage this time. 

It was a grainy but unmistakable photo of Michelle and I locked in an intimate kiss on the hood.

“Who could have done this?” I muttered, my jaw clenching as anger settled in my chest. My world had always been fair game for the press—but hers wasn’t. The thought of her face on every gossip site made my stomach twist.

"Oh, poor girl," I whispered, studying the photo more closely. I let out a sigh of relief when I noticed her face wasn’t visible at all.

 I grabbed my phone and headed for the door. “Father’s house first,” I told the driver. 

The city blurred past the window, but my mind stayed stuck on that picture. I couldn’t shake the thought of how easily her life could be dragged into my chaos. 

“James” I called my personal assistant who was seated at the front of the car.  

“Yes sir”

“I need you to check out a lady currently in her finals. Her name is Michelle, and she is in Nutrition and Wellness department” 

“Which university, sir?”

My jaw tightened. “If I knew that, James, I wouldn’t be asking you. Just find her.”

“Noted”.

“What time are we having the meeting with the production manager?”.

“3pm”

“Alright”. I breathed as we passed through the imposing iron gates of the Camor Whitney estate. The mansion was filled with manicured gardens, and gleaming floor-to-ceiling windows. A circular driveway curved around an ornate fountain.

I headed to Dad's study – a room lined with books and business journals, where aged whiskey and expensive cigars remained permanently in the air.

"Good morning, Dad," I said, stepping into his study.

He didn't look up from his tablet, he just sat there, swiping through more damaging pictures. "How many more am I going to have to bury because of your reckless behavior, Ray?"

"Tell me how many!" His voice thundered as he finally looked up.

"If pictures keep surfacing like this, how do you expect the board to approve you as my successor? As the next CEO?" He leaned back, suddenly looking every one of his sixty-five years.

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"Save it." His hand cut through the air dismissively. "I've spoken to the publication CEO, they won’t be publishing it. But this is absolutely the last time I clean up your mess."

"I understand." I responded sharply.

"Good, now, how are the Galaxy Entertainment merger negotiations? The board expects a full report by Friday."

"Everything's on track. Contracts will be finalized next week."

"Don't give me another reason to question your readiness." His eyes bore into mine. 

"Alright Dad, I'll be on my way now, I have documents to review." I responded as he gave me a dismissive hand gesture.

I stepped into the morning air and slid into my car. "To the office," I told my driver.

Then James looked back, and I raised my head slightly to meet his gaze.

“Sir, one of the car cleaners said he saw a neck chain at the back of the car you drove last night,” he said, a cunning look in his eyes as my gaze shifted instantly.

“A chain?” I asked. Since I didn’t wear any chain yesterday, I realized right away it might belong to Michelle.

“Let me have it,” I told him, and he handed me a small pack. I opened it quickly and pulled out a necklace with a small heart-shaped pendant.”.

I recognized it immediately—she had worn it yesterday.

And I noticed how she had touched the chain so many times within the short period we stayed together—it was clearly special to her. 

Now, it lay in my hand,  with her unspoken story , it wasn’t just about saying sorry anymore. I had to return it. 

I closed my fingers around it as the metal pressed into my palm. 

I must find her, by any means possible.