CHAPTER 2

Atarah Klyte

I woke with a sharp ache between my thighs, a dull, throbbing pain that felt as though the area had been repeatedly struck until it went numb.

“Ouch,” I murmured under my breath as I slowly tried to sit up. But as soon as I moved, I felt an arm draped around my stomach.

Someone was beside me.

My eyes snapped toward the source of the warmth to confirm who the pest was that had his arm wrapped around my waist.

“What the hell?” I muttered softly when I realized I wasn’t wearing anything at all—nor was the man sleeping beside me.

Right. A man.

Ah, sh*t. So it really happened? There goes the precious innocence I had been guarding all these years. My gosh, Atarah.

I quickly scanned the room and confirmed that we were still inside the VIP room.

Carefully, I lifted the stranger’s arm from around me. Once I managed to free myself, I stood up despite the soreness in my body and reached for my clothes scattered across the floor. But I immediately pressed a hand to my forehead when I noticed that every piece of clothing—from my dress down to my underwear and bra—had been completely ruined.

Damn it. What am I supposed to do now?

I had to leave before he woke up. The thought of facing him filled me with unbearable embarrassment.

Covering my body with my arms, I limped across the room and grabbed the clothes the man had worn earlier, which were also lying on the floor.

The nerve of him. He tore all of my clothes, yet his were perfectly fine.

Fine then. I’ll just take his.

I slipped on the white polo he had worn and his pants as well. Never mind if I wasn’t wearing underwear or a bra.

Like duh. There was no way I was putting on a man’s underwear even if it was the only thing available here.

Sigh.

I picked up my phone and bag from the floor as well. Then I took out two sticky notes from inside my bag and wrote a message.

*Hi, Stranger. Thank you for last night! Thanks for the sperm—hehe. I owe you a lot. If something does happen, don’t worry. You won’t have any responsibility. This was my decision. Thanks again.*

I stuck the note on the side of the bed before quickly making my escape, limping slightly as I walked. Thankfully, the hallway outside the VIP room was still empty.

I hurried downstairs. Luck seemed to be on my side because there were only a few people around—mostly Jazzy’s staff. I rushed outside toward the parking lot to get to my car, but irritation shot through me when I saw that one of the tires was flat.

Great.

Instead of wasting time sulking, I decided to leave immediately. All I wanted was to get home. Luckily, a taxi happened to be waiting outside, so without hesitation I got in.

“Ma’am, where to?” the driver asked.

That was when I realized the driver was a woman.

“Ah… to…” I paused, thinking. I couldn’t go back to the mansion—everyone would probably already be awake, and there was no way I was letting them see me looking like this.

So I decided to head to my condo instead.

I had bought that condo with my own money. I was proud to say I was an independent woman who never relied on my parents. Even when I was in college, I had already learned to stand on my own—perhaps because I had always felt distant from them.

“To Akario Condominium, please.”

“Alright,” the woman replied with a friendly smile.

I fell silent for a moment, suddenly feeling both cold and embarrassed.

“Ma’am, it’s a good thing I was the one who picked you up,” the driver suddenly said. “Some other drivers out there might take advantage of someone in your condition, especially since you’re beautiful. Next time, please be careful about getting into taxis when you look like this, okay? I’m a woman too, and a mother. I know how people can be these days. Sorry if I sound like I’m lecturing you—I’m just concerned.”

She scratched the back of her head awkwardly after saying it.

“Uh… maam, you’re right,” I replied with a small smile. “Thank you for the reminder and for caring. I’m really lucky you were the one who picked me up. I promise next time I’ll be more careful.”

If only more people were like this taxi driver.

“It’s nothing, Ma’am,” she said, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. “I just worry because I have daughters too.”

“Thank you for the concern,” I said warmly.

We fell into a comfortable silence until we finally arrived at my condominium.

“Here’s the payment,” I said, handing her the fare along with a little extra.

“Thank you, Ma’am. Oh—and here,” she added, handing me a jacket. “It’s new. You can have it so it won’t be too obvious that you’re not wearing a bra.”

My cheeks immediately burned.

My God.

“Thank you. May I get your number so I can return the jacket?” I asked sweetly.

She simply shook her head.

“No need, child. I don’t even have a cellphone. Consider it a gift. You’re such a lovely young woman.”

“Thank you so much,” I said sincerely.

We exchanged smiles before I put on the jacket and quickly stepped out of the taxi. I hurried toward the elevator since my condo was on the third floor.

The black jacket hung loosely on my body as I wrapped my arms tightly around myself. When the elevator arrived, I stepped inside and pressed the button for the third floor.

When we stopped on the second floor, two women entered. They glanced at me curiously, making me turn slightly away in embarrassment.

Fortunately, it didn’t take long before we reached the third floor. I stepped out immediately and hurried down the hallway. People glanced at me as I passed—my appearance was definitely eye-catching—but I ignored them and continued walking.

Finally, I reached my unit and quickly entered the passcode.

The moment I stepped inside, I collapsed onto the sofa, breathing heavily. That was when the soreness between my legs hit me again—much stronger this time.

Well, how could it not hurt?

We had gone several rounds last night.

And, well… the man was… big.

I mean, the bed was big too—very big.

But seriously, his birdy was huge. At one point it even felt like something inside me had torn. And to top it all off, he had this intense, almost Christian Grey kind of aura.

How did I know?

Well… it all started like this.

**Flashback**

I had no clothes left on my body—he had already torn everything apart.

He seated me on the sofa and spread my legs wider. His fingers began to massage my most sensitive spot gently, and I shut my eyes tightly as an unfamiliar sensation rushed through me.

Then I felt his lips brush against my neck.

I bit my lower lip as his kisses slowly trailed downward, moving from my neck to my chest. When he reached my breasts, he began teasing my nipple with his tongue, sucking softly.

“Ahhh!” I cried out, overwhelmed by the sensation.

One of his hands was still busy between my legs. I could feel his finger moving slowly, sliding in and out, making my body tremble.

“Ouch!” I gasped.

It was only one finger, yet it already hurt. What more if the other *thing* of his went inside me?

“Your scent is so sweet. You’re beautiful, baby,” he whispered huskily against my ear before pressing another kiss against my lips. But a moment later, he suddenly stopped.

“Why?” I asked with half-lidded eyes.

He simply looked down at himself. There was a noticeable bulge in his pants, as if it might burst any moment.

“Then take it off already,” I said, frowning slightly.

“As you wish, baby,” he replied with a teasing grin.

He pulled off his white polo, and my mouth fell open the moment I saw the defined lines of his abs.

“So delicious,” I muttered under my breath.

Apparently, he heard it because the teasing look on his face deepened.

“This is even more delicious, baby,” he said with a smirk as he lowered his pants—and the last piece of clothing he wore.

My eyes widened.

*F*ck. That’s… really big.*

It was almost intimidating.

Can I even handle that?

He stepped closer to me. I thought he was going to start right there, but instead he suddenly lifted me into his arms and carried me into the bedroom inside the VIP room. He laid me down on the bed before stepping out again.

I frowned in confusion.

“Hey!” I called out in frustration.

A few minutes later he returned, holding several things in his hands. What caught my attention immediately was the metal chain that looked like a pair of cuffs.

“Hey, what’s that?” I asked nervously.

“Just follow me,” he said calmly as he climbed onto the bed.

He gently laid me down and secured the metal restraints around my wrists.

“What the—!” I cursed when he locked them onto the headboard.

“This makes things more exciting, baby,” he said with a mischievous grin before taking a sip of the alcohol he had brought.

He spread my legs again and positioned himself between them.

A wave of nervousness ran through me, but the heat building inside my body slowly overpowered it.

Then, slowly, he pushed himself inside me.

I cried out instantly, the pain sharp and overwhelming. My hands struggled instinctively, but they were chained to the bed.

Why on earth did he think of tying me up like this?

“Ah—sh*t!” I whimpered, tears forming in my eyes.

He didn’t move at first, as if giving my body time to adjust to the warmth and tightness surrounding him.

Minutes passed before he finally began to move.

At first, slowly—almost cautiously—as he searched for a rhythm. The motion gradually made my legs tremble as unfamiliar pleasure started to mix with the pain.

Soon, both of us were moaning as his movements grew faster.

Maybe people were right. It hurts at first… but slowly, the sensation changes.

I found myself moving with him, my body responding to every thrust. Sometimes he moved slowly, gliding back and forth, sending shivers across my entire body. Other times he moved faster, making me cry out uncontrollably.

“F*ck… so sweet,”* he groaned.

As his movements grew rougher and his breathing deeper, his hands traveled upward—from my thighs, to my waist, to my chest. He cupped my breasts, teasing them again while his lips followed.

The pleasure made my thoughts dizzy.

Instinctively, I reached up and touched his face.

That was when I truly noticed how handsome he was—dangerously handsome, the kind that pulled you in without effort. His scent was intoxicating. His sharp nose, his tempting lips… but above all were his intense eyes, dark and commanding yet strangely alluring.

Everything about him—his touch, his strong body—was completely captivating.

He kissed me fiercely, and this time I didn’t hesitate to kiss him back.

And like that, the night went on.

Round after round… until exhaustion finally forced us to stop.

End of Flashback

And that was what happened last night. There were many more… exciting moments, but I’ll keep those to myself.

After resting for a while on the sofa, I immediately went to the bathroom to take a shower because I still felt overheated. I hurried through it, partly because sleepiness was beginning to take over again, and partly to ease the soreness lingering in my body.

°°°

“Hey, woman! Wake up!”

My eyes snapped open when I heard that familiar voice. As soon as I looked up, the first thing I saw was Mikee’s annoyingly familiar face.

“What are you doing here?” I asked with a yawn. After my shower earlier, I had decided to lie down and rest since my body still felt completely drained.

“I came to check on you! When I woke up, I was already in Prince’s condo. I asked him if you had gone home, but he said he didn’t know because when he took me back, you were no longer in the VIP room. I got worried something might’ve happened to you since you were drunk—and honestly, I can’t remember anything from last night except us drinking. So I came here to see if you were okay.”

She pouted dramatically while explaining.

A small smile formed on my lips. My best friend could actually be sweet sometimes.

“Kee… are you serious? You really don’t remember anything from last night?” I asked.

She quickly shook her head.

“No! Don’t tell me I did something embarrassing, Ath! Oh my God! Please don’t even try telling me if I did!” she said hysterically.

I rolled my eyes at her reaction.

“No, nothing embarrassing. But you did challenge me to lose my virginity.”

Even though I had been drunk, I remembered everything clearly.

“You what?!” Mikee nearly screamed, her eyes widening in disbelief. “What do you mean?!”

“Well, remember when I told you I wanted to have a child?” I began. “When we were both drunk and you were dancing wildly on the dance floor, you told me we should find a guy who could get me pregnant. I agreed because I was desperate.”

Mikee’s mouth slowly formed a dramatic “O.”

“Then while we were walking, you suddenly stopped in front of VIP Room 92 and said whoever came out of that room would be the one to get me pregnant. I agreed to the challenge. But after several minutes, no one came out, so you told me to just go inside.”

I paused for a second before continuing.

“But just as I was about to enter, this really handsome guy walked in. And… well, that’s where everything started.”

Mikee stared at me with wide eyes.

“Holy—so you’re really not a virgin anymore?! And I helped you do it?!” she shrieked. “Ath! What are you going to do now? Do you at least know the guy? Did you ask his name?”

I rolled my eyes again.

“Relax. I didn’t bother asking who he was. I don’t care about him. I just needed his sperm. That’s it. When I woke up this morning, he was still asleep, so I left him a note and left.”

“Ath! You’re stressing me out!” she exclaimed. “A one-night stand with a stranger? What if you don’t get pregnant?”

“Impossible,” I said confidently. “We did it several times, and he didn’t use protection. Besides, that’s how those stories and movies go, right? One night stand… and then a baby.”

Mikee stared at me like I had completely lost my mind.

“Why don’t you get yourself checked just to be sure?” she suggested.

“Mikee, it literally just happened last night. It’s only sperm right now, nothing’s formed yet,” I said bluntly.

She groaned in frustration.

“How can I not panic? I didn’t even agree with your crazy plan! And when I got drunk and lost my senses, I was the one who suggested finding a guy to get you pregnant! What if he has HIV?”

“Relax,” I said casually. “It was my choice. If something happens to me, that’s on me. If I get HIV—well, that’s my problem. But if I get a child out of it, then thanks.”

“You’re unbelievable, Ath!”

Just then, my phone began ringing from the coffee table.

“Kee, can you pass me my phone?” I said.

She handed it to me.

Nurse Mae’s Calling…

I answered immediately.

“Hello?”

“Atarah, sorry for disturbing you,” Nurse Mae said. “Can you come to the hospital right now? Chu Chu…”

“What happened?” I asked nervously.

“She’s getting weaker. She really wants to see you.”

“I’m on my way,” I said quickly.

I grabbed my wallet and stood up.

“Where are you going?” Mikee asked.

“To the hospital. There’s an emergency. Just lock the condo when you leave,” I said before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and rushing out.

Chu Chu was one of our patients—a nine-year-old girl suffering from leukemia. The illness had come back several times, but she had fought through it every time. I had grown incredibly close to her. She was cheerful, kind, and brave. In many ways, she had become like a little sister… even like a daughter to me.

I was dressed simply: black jogger pants and a white V-neck shirt. The soreness in my body had eased slightly, though a faint ache remained.

After taking the elevator down from the third floor, I went outside and quickly flagged down a taxi.

“St. Calisha Foundation Medical Center,” I told the driver.

The ride took nearly thirty minutes.

When I arrived, I hurried inside the hospital. The guard greeted me, and I simply smiled in return while rushing past.

As I made my way toward Chu Chu’s room, I noticed several nurses gathered together in the hallway.

“What’s going on?” I asked Nurse Abby, frowning.

“Oh, hi Ath. You should go to Chu Chu’s room. She’s been waiting for you,” Abby replied.

“Yes, but what’s happening here?” I asked again curiously.

“Dr. Rare Cedrick Grison arrived,” Nurse Cath said excitedly. “The exchange doctor from Paris!”

“Where is he?” I asked.

“The director is giving him a tour of the hospital right now.”

I nodded. “I see. I’ll head to Chu Chu first.”

Even before his arrival, the entire hospital had been talking about this Dr. Rare. Apparently he was incredibly handsome and considered one of the best surgeons in the world.

Personally, I wasn’t convinced. I didn’t really follow those kinds of things.

As I continued walking, loud squeals suddenly erupted from the nurses nearby.

“How embarrassing,” I muttered under my breath.

Curious, I glanced over at the source of their excitement—the hospital director and the man walking beside him.

I looked closer.

And my jaw nearly dropped.

He really was handsome.

But then something clicked in my mind.

Wait…

He looked familiar.

My eyes widened.

What the—

That was him.

The man from last night.

The man who had taken my virginity.

The man I had asked to get me pregnant.

“Oh my God…” I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief.

Without another glance, I quickly turned around and hurried toward Chu Chu’s room.

This can’t be happening.