Wrong Room?

Chapter 1.

Wrong Room?

Tori Nathan.

“The bills, Tori…" He shook his head, a grim look on his face. “This can't keep up. You need to find a way. She needs a new heart, this palliative care wouldn't last much longer.”

I balled my hand into a fist as I recalled the words of Lily's doctor. My sister's heart was failing, and I was drowning in hospital debt, and my salary and side jobs were barely enough to foot them. We struggled to eat as well as pay utility bills. The weight of everything on my shoulders was stifling.

“Excuse me. You're in the way.” Someone bumped into my shoulder and I snapped back to reality.

I murmured an apology under my breath, but I knew she wasn't going to hear me. The building was blaring with loud music. This wasn't my kind of place, but I was here to see someone. My last resort to help with the bills… Holland, my rich ex-boyfriend.

I reached out to him as soon as I left Dr. Shelby's office, and he had given me the address of this club.

“There you are…" I heard a pat on my shoulder with a voice trying to be louder than the blaring music. “I'm glad to see you, Tori. You look really healthy.”

“Hello, Holland.” I forced my best smile. “You look good, too.”

He eyed my body with a lustful expression on his face and locked his lips. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” He asked, his eyes still not leaving my body.

“I needed some money, Holland.” I began, trying so hard to keep my tears at bay when I thought about how much I was going through. My chest was heavy, but I bit my lips and blinked away the tears.

“You said that on the call.” He replied dismissively. “How much? And what do you want to use it for?”

He began to reach for his back pocket to draw out his wallet. There was a wad of cash in it as he began counting them, but I knew that amount wasn't going to be enough.

“I need a little over ten thousand dollars. Lily is sick.”

His paused and his eyes snapped back to my face. “Ten thousand dollars? I have barely a thousand on me.”

“Holland, please… I know you have the money.” I begged, almost considering going on my knees. “This is my sister I'm talking about. You know the great lengths I would go for her to be well. Please, Holland, I will do anything for you…"

His hazel eyes remained the same, but his lips curled up to reveal a cunning smile. “That should have been the first thing you said. You can't just give away that sum of money for free, you know. These are tough times, with the stock markets crashing and all…"

I nodded, agreeing with him immediately. “I understand. What do you want in return?”

His eyes raked my body. “You know what I've always wanted, Tori. Two nights with me, and the ten thousand dollars will be yours. If you still want more, then that will mean more nights with me. I'll be gentle with you…"

My hands fisted the hem of my clothes as my heart sank. He knew how much I hated sex, how traumatizing it was for me. I thought he would ask me to be his maid or something even more embarrassing, but the fact that he wanted to sleep with me instead was…

“Are you still with me?” He asked, searching my face.

I bent my head low and nodded, letting the stray tear fall from my face. This was for Lily. This was for her health. It didn't matter what he wanted, I would do anything for Lily to live. She was only six years old and has a full life ahead of her.

“Yes.” I raised my head and faked a smile, the shimmering of years still in my eyes, but he pretended like he didn't notice. “Where would we go?”

“We can do it here, you know…" He said immediately, his eyes shining with anticipation.

My heart dropped, and I shook my head with mortification written all over my face. “No. No. We can't. Not here.”

“Relax, sweetheart. I'm just kidding.” He smiled and pulled out something from his wallet and stretched it towards me. “Here, it's the card to my hotel room. Just go in there and prepare yourself for me, I have to make a quick stop at the ATM to withdraw more money for you.”

*

The hotel screamed luxury, and there were people of high caliber casually making their way in or out of the rotating doors. Their faces were full of smiles that made me wonder if they ever experienced pain or loss like the common person did. I shook the thoughts off my head and located the elevator, and a tall and elegant woman stepped in beside me. It looked like we were both headed to the top floor.

The elevator dinged and opened, and we both rushed to step out at the same time. At that same moment, a burly man seemed to be rushing into the elevator, and we all collided, our things scattering over the floor.

There were murmurs of “I'm sorry” as we all bent to pick up our scattered belongings, disappearing out of sight immediately.

I bent low and picked my bag and the shawl that had slipped out and covered some contents of my bag that had spilled. It was then I realized a flash drive on the floor. It didn't belong to me. Maybe it might have fallen off one of them.

I turned towards the long corridor, but the other woman was out of sight, and I turned to check behind me, but the elevator doors were already closed. I sighed and picked it up. I would just have to return it to the receptionist's desk when I was leaving. I packed the remaining things and tried to locate the room on the card. Once I reached there, I swiped the card against the door, and it opened with a click.

The room was chilly as I stepped in, my heart slowly crawling to my throat, suffocating me. Was I doing the right thing? I was developing cold feet over this arrangement. Suddenly, my phone pinged in my pocket. I took it out to see a message from my neighbour.

"Lily got sick again and I rushed her to the hospital. Can you send in some money immediately? They want to reject her unless we deposit money."

As soon as I read the text, my heart dropped and I balled my fists in anger and frustration. I tried calling her back, but her line was busy. I called Lily's doctor immediately. Thankfully, he picked up on the first ring.

"Doctor..." I began but he cut me off to speak.

"Lily is here, I know." He said calmly. "I have managed to stabilise her, but you have to get the money, Tori. If not..."

I squeezed the phone tighter in my hands and nodded even if he couldn't see me. I would do it. I would get the money. I will do anything for Lily.

I settled myself into the nearest plush leather couch and kicked off my heels. Holland had said I should prepare, hadn't he? I didn't understand how he meant it, but I was sure it meant something like getting naked.

I began peeling off my clothes from my body when I heard a door open and close. Was he already here? He told me…

“Is anyone there?” A deep and husky voice came and the first thing I saw was lean fingers wrapped around a glass of whiskey.

That wasn't Holland's voice. Was I in the wrong room, or was Holland planning a threesome? My heart fell instantly, and I felt my knees go weak.

This couldn't be happening. I was just in my lingerie and I wrapped my hands around my body…

The figure stepped out of the shadows, his eyes scanned the living room and landed on me. His brows rose for a fraction of a second when he stared at my little to no outfit, his eyes burning into my skin. A dark look crossed his face, and a dark aura had begun to form around him.

His jaw clenched and his eyes hardened. “What are you doing in my room, Victoria Nathan?”

I gulped as I stared at him— my boss. Kaius Ravensworth. What were the odds that I would find myself in this situation after I stood up to him earlier this morning at work?