Chapter 7 - As good As Dead

Stacy woke up at the horns and engine's sounds from outside of the building. Although it was distant, she heard the rushing crowd of the street. The city was already awake.

She turned and twisted in the bed and felt her body was aching. She groaned and sat up.

As she sat up, the sheet she had on her, fell on her lap revealing her naked body with bites and bruises. A gasp was about to leave from the back of her throat but she held it when her eyes fell on the man beside her. He was still sleeping soundly, his face buried in the pillow as his bare arms rested on the bed. The muscles were tight and she wanted to touch them again. 

No! She can't! She scolded herself in her mind as she searched for her phone and remembered that the man had broken it the day before. She cursed under her breath and slowly came out of the bed, careful not to wake him up. 

She gathered her clothes that were scattered all over the place. She flinched when she took a step. Her bottom parts were swelling and it still throb now. 

She heard someone knocking the main door as she immediately wore her lingeries and dressed haphazardly. She rushed to the door and saw a table with wheels stayed outside of the door. Two empty plates with spoons and forks were placed on a newspaper along with some dishes of food which were covered with steel cloches. The aroma was still lingering in the air as Stacy's stomach growled. 

She recalled she didn't have anything since yesterday evening.

She dragged it inside and uncovered the food. It was a normal breakfast. She took a plate and placed some salads, two toasts and an omelet. She poured herself a glass of juice and dug into it. 

As she was chewing on the toast, her eyes caught the newspaper and she took it from the table. She spread it wide and saw it was the newspaper she worked for. Cityscape. A smile spread across her face and her eyes fell on the front page.

Everything paused as soon as her eyes fell on the paper's large picture which was today's big news. In the scribble of words and news, a man's portrait was displayed in a tuxedo, who seemed really familiar. 

She gulped the toast that was about to choke her and read the news. Indeed, it was the same news she had edited yesterday. The news reporter was Joana Steve and the editor was Stacy Cyrus. And the man whose picture was on the front page was none other than Sebastian Rodriguez, the same man she had a one night stand with. 

"Shit! Shit! No!" She cursed and looked at the bedroom where the man was still asleep. Her heart thumped loudly as the news read, Sebastian Rodriguez might be one of the suspects and the men who were murdered because of the rivalry between Rodriguez and Benson. 

Stacy chewed on her nails as she paced in the room. Dis she just had sex with a suspect? And not only that, she was the editor of that news. 

Sweat covered her forehead and she wanted to call Mikaela but she knew her phone was no more. What would she do? Her mind couldn't think of anything and she felt herself panicking.

She buried her face in her palms and there was only one way she could think of. She needed to run away from here, away from Sebastian Rodriguez. 

Her career would be finished if anyone knew that the editor—although not very famous—of the news was sleeping with the suspect of the same news she was editing. Besides, Sebastian Rodriguez didn't seem to be a gentleman—neither in bed nor from outside.

What if he kills her? Or worse, tortures her to death... Stacy took her sling bag, wore her heels and without wasting a time, she dashed toward the exit. 

If he thought her as a prostitute like he was thinking, then she was safe but if he remembers her name—which was so unlikely since both were drunk—then she was as good as dead.

Her heels clicked on the concrete as she went to the lift and waited until it came. All the time, her heart was screaming in fear and she prayed that Sebastian Rodriguez would not wake up. 

As the lift's doors opened, it revealed two guards with black attires inside it and Stacy's heart jumped inside of her chest ribs. The tall men looked at her with their sharp gazes and she felt herself freezing but she got inside as the men got outside. However, they still looked back to see her one last time until the doors were closed again.

Stacy maintained a poker face all the while and held her breaths. She took a long breath when the doors finally closed. 

Now she knew why there were so many armed men around the building. It was because of Sebastian Rodriguez and hell! He was dangerous!

If his men were this much scary Stacy didn't want to see how scary that man could get. Her whole body was shaking in fear. 

As soon as she got out of the lift, she dashed toward the hotel entrance and to the road. 

She didn't look back as she got outside and looked for a cab. Her heart thumped, her body felt as if it was going to break down any moment and all above, she was scared. Scared if Sebastian Rodriguez found out about her. 

The way he was oozing dominance yesterday, it took just one look to confirm, he was damn powerful. How the hell did she end up in his room! 

And why the hell it had to be him! It could have been some other people, other famous or powerful people or anyone else. She had to had sex with the man she was editing the news of. What a mess she got herself into. 

The whole ride was frustrating and finally she reached her apartment.

She went up and saw the door wasn't locked from the outside which meant Mikaela came back. She rang the bell and the door opened almost immediately.

"Oh! My god! Stacy! Where have you been?" Mikaela exclaimed as she caught her hands. 

Stacy entered and closed the doors. It seemed Mikaela didn't sleep the whole night. She didn't even change her clothes.

"I have been calling you for ages and I was just so scared!" Mikaela said as Stacy took the couch. She was contemplating if she should tell her about last night. She didn't want to drag Mikaela into this as well. But she had to tell her something.

"I am sorry. I—I lost my phone." She lied.

"What?!"

Stacy nodded. "I lost my phone and then I was...umm... Feeling tired." Stacy looked up and asked, "Did you reach the suite?"

"Yes. I did and the client was late. My boss came as well and we managed to crack it." She said and added, "but where were you? I thought you came back so I didn't stay the night. I came back as soon as possible."

Stacy felt bad for making Mikaela worry. Now she couldn't tell her that she was practically fucking a stranger who turned out to be the business mogul, Sebastian Rodriguez.

"What was the room no again?" Stacy asked.

"607. Why?"

"Oh! Nothing. I just... I couldn't find it and I lost my phone so... I went to the nearest hotel and got some drinks and dinner then booked a room. That's all." She said.

Mikaela looked at her for a moment with a pair of suspicious eyes. It seemed like she didn't buy it at all. All Stacy wanted was to have a shower and sleep the whole day. She felt exhausted.

Mikaela nodded hesitantly and said, "Okay? I am just glad you are safe." She took the seat beside her and brought out a packet. 

The aroma of it told her it was her favorite strawberry muffins and a smile crawled on her lips. "You bought muffins?"

"Yes. I actually wanted to invite you yesterday for dinner but your phone wasn't available." Mikaela said.

"Sorry for that." Stacy's shoulders slumped down but Mikaela hugged her tightly, "What are you saying? I am just glad that you are safe."

They both hugged each other and Stacy felt the panic was perishing slowly.