Chapter 2

River's POV

I woke with a banging headache, feeling rather sore. But not the bad kind of sore, the delicious kind of sore; glancing at the digital alarm, I saw the time was already 7am (the next morning).

'Shit.’ I muttered softly, I turned around and noticed the space beside me was empty. What the heck? My eyes fell on my ripped clothes on the floor and I almost started panicking.

How the hell was I to get out of here, where exactly was I even? I jumped off the bed in search of my cell phone and I saw a beautiful black dress and a folded note.

I picked it up and read: 'Sorry for the ripped dress, and thanks for the beautiful night🖤’. I don't know why I smiled reading the letter. My phone rang loudly and I jumped slightly, swearing.

I checked my phone to see that it was Samantha calling, I picked up the call.“Hi babes.”

“The hell River, get your ass out of the hotel room. I'm outside the hotel with a cab.”

I chuckled despite the situation, “I'll be right down hot pants.”

I picked up my discarded bra from the ground and put it on before slipping on the new dress. I had a sick feeling about this that left my belly dipping. This couldn't be a good sign, could this be the breaking of a new order?

Leaving the room I stepped in the elevator thinking to myself. Was this a bad omen or something? Usually, I'm the one that does the leaving in the morning; I leave the men hungry for more and searching.

But instead, my handsome stranger left me. The elevator came to a stop with a ding and I got out of the building quickly. I might be ruthless with men but what I hate the most is the morning walk of shame.

I could feel the eyes of the receptionist boring into my back but I was too busy to care at the moment. I had barely one hour to report to court and I can't afford to lose this case.

Samantha waved me from a cab and I hurriedly got in, closing the door firmly after myself. “What the hell River? This is so unlike you and irresponsible. You overslept a night to the biggest case of your life.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to disguise my near panic.“I don't need a lecture Sam, I need to get back to the hotel and get ready. Don't worry about the case I'm gonna smash it.”

I said this, although, for the first time in a long time, I doubted myself.

Samantha eyed me wearily, “I hope you do, I really hope so.”

In less than forty minutes I had dressed up and arrived at the court with the speed of light. I adjusted my black pencil skirt before I walked in to see my client, Mr Gonzalo, tensely pacing around.

“Good morning, sir.” When he set his eyes on me I thought he was going to pass out of relief. He gave me a slightly upset look, “You're late Miss Harper, I'm sure you know the court is about to sit.All I'll say is don't disappoint me.”

I nodded rather too eagerly, “Of course Sir.”

I entered the courtroom to get seated and use my five minutes left to browse through the framework of my argument. I hadn't sat down for more than twenty seconds when I heard that beautiful velvet voice that was haunting my thoughts.

“Good morning counsel.” I can almost swear everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as I raised my head to confirm my suspicion.

My heart literally did a double flip when I met those hazel eyes, “what the heck.” I said loudly and everyone in the courtroom turned to look at me.

Yup, this was going to be one of the top cringe moments that'll haunt me every night before I go to bed.

I heard the sound of the hammer, “Court rise.” The handsome stranger disappeared like he was never there, and I would have thought him to be an illusion of my mind, except that he was now seated in the opposing counsel area.

Wait, he is a client of the defendant's counsel, but I thought my client was suing a sub-company, Hallow Technologies? Wait a minute, I took a closer look at the stranger from last night.

What the he** . I whispered under my breath how I did not recognize the man who took me home last night as Dante Williams as in the 'Dante Williams.’ He is a freaking billionaire and the top bachelor in the country.

I could feel my palms feeling sweaty and I was slightly shaking. Mechanically I announced my appearance before the court, taking deep breaths to calm myself down.

I can't fumble in this case, I just have to avoid his distracting sight. I made my case before the judge, luckily I had calmed down although not as confident as I had planned to be.

The opposing counsel responded, and I struggled to keep up with the line of his defense and argument; Dante kept winking at me.

I was glad when the court announced recess. I sat down dabbing cold sweat off my forehead and wondering why I was reacting to an ordinary man in such a manner.

Okay, not an ordinary man, a super hot man in such a manner, but still, he was just flesh and blood like any other man, only hotter.

An athletic waist and a pair of long legs appeared before me.

I knew he was the one standing before me even before he spoke. This time, I wasn't going to let him see how much he affected me; I was going to play it cool, calm, and aloof.

I raised my head sharply, “Can I help you with something?”

He gave a side smirk that melted my insides; wordlessly, he dipped his hand into his gray Armani suit pocket and handed me something tiny, red,and lacy.

Took me half a second, and I quickly collected my panties from last night and stuffed it into my purse.“you're welcome, my Angel.”

I hated how I shuddered at the sound of his voice, he turned and walked away with a satisfied look.

I'm sure my cheeks were flaming red and hot. That's it. I'm definitely screwed, my mind couldn't draw up a single coherent thought unrelated to this man.