Chapter one : wrong bed , wrong man

Morning.

Nadia Verne's eyes fluttered open, and her first sensation was a wave of soreness throughout her body. Instinctively, she looked down and realized she was completely bare, with even her underwear missing. She glanced around the room. She seemed to be the only one there. The bright red stains on the sheets and the scattered clothes of both a man and a woman on the floor told her everything she needed to know about the night before.

What on earth had happened?

She had only been a bridesmaid. How did it end up like this?

Her breath quickened as she shot up from the bed, cold sweat breaking out on her back. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and called her best friend, Sienna.

"You were so drunk last night you could not tell up from down, so I had no choice but to bring you to the suite the bride had prepared—room 2208. What's up?"

"Is there anyone else in the room besides me?"

"Who else could there be? It's just you. I have things to take care of right now. I'll call you back."

Nadia's hand dropped slowly as she closed her eyes, her mind swirling, a loud ringing echoing in her head.

"Get the clothes ready and send them to room 2210." A deep voice came from the direction of the bathroom.

There was another person in the room?

Startled, Nadia looked up. A man leaned casually against the bathroom doorframe, his toned body wrapped in a white bathrobe, one shoulder propped against the wood like he owned the air around him.

"Why are you here?" Her voice came out steadier than she felt.

Wasn't he the groomsman from yesterday's wedding?

Sienna had said she was the only one in the room. So how did he end up here?

"Well..." Caiden Wolfe appeared somewhat indifferent, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he watched her shock settle into something sharper. "Your acting skills are good enough to land you a role."

"What do you mean by that?" Nadia frowned.

Caiden narrowed his eyes, sizing her up slowly, his gaze turning icy. "First, you drew my attention. Then you sneaked into my room while I was drunk. I can't deny it—the whole setup was well-executed."

Nadia suppressed the heat rising in her chest, her expression going cold. "Are you sure you're not delusional? Maybe you should see a doctor."

The light in her eyes shifted dangerously. Caiden moved to the couch, crossed his long legs, and lit a cigarette.

"You'll be rewarded for your efforts. Since you put in so much work last night, you can have something in return. Tell me what you want."

"You're seriously delusional."

The smoke drifted toward her. Nadia coughed once, pulled the blanket tighter around herself, and asked, "What's your room number?"

Caiden shifted into a more comfortable position and looked at her with mild interest. "2210."

She picked up the room phone and dialed reception, putting it on speaker.

"Could you please tell me my room number?"

The front desk staff paused, briefly and politely bewildered. "Hello, dear guest. Your room number is 2208."

2208. Caiden's body stiffened, just slightly, just for a moment—quick enough that most people would have missed it.

*That damn Leo.*

Nadia's anxiety dissolved the instant the words came through the speaker. She set the phone down and looked at him.

"Mr. Wolfe." Her tone had completely changed—no longer uncertain, every word landing clean and deliberate. "How do you explain this? Your acting was impressive and the arrangements were very convenient. Don't you find it a little ridiculous?"

She stood straight and met his eyes. His sharp jawline gave him an almost chiseled appearance, a particular kind of masculine precision. But his eyes were deep and dangerous, the kind that made people feel a mix of unease and restlessness.

She held his gaze anyway.

"Shouldn't we avoid jumping to conclusions before everything is clear? I am the victim here, not you. Given your earlier remarks, don't you think you owe me an apology?"

She was still working out exactly what she would do if he refused—she was prepared to pursue it, whatever it took—when his voice cut through her thoughts.

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

Caiden extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, tilted his chin slightly, and rubbed his forehead. "I'm sorry. I was too drunk last night and ended up in the wrong room."

She had braced for a fight. The apology arrived instead, simple and without decoration, and making a scene now would only make her look unreasonable. That was never her style. She valued reason over conflict and she wasn't going to let this morning become a spectacle—not at Sienna's wedding.

There was nothing more to say. What had happened was an unchangeable reality. All she wanted now was to leave.

She grabbed her underwear, slipped under the covers, and quietly got dressed.

Caiden's gaze fell on the lump in the bed, squirming like a caterpillar under the sheets. A slight smile crossed his lips. "What do you do for a living?"

The squirming paused. Her voice came out muffled. "I'm a teacher."

"I see. When you called the front desk earlier, you seemed unsure about who was at fault. But once you had your answer, that demanding tone was very much like a teacher handling a student who had misbehaved."

His eyes stayed on the blanket. Nadia said nothing and moved faster.

When she finally came out from under the covers, her cheeks were flushed and beads of sweat dotted her forehead. As her feet touched the floor her legs wobbled—she caught herself against the bed, and her eyes landed on the red stain on the white sheet.

She went still.

The contrast was stark. Jarring. Real.

Caiden followed her gaze. His expression stayed lazy, almost indifferent. "Since this was my fault, I'll make amends. Feel free to name what you want." He paused, studying her. "Reconstructing your hymen is something I can certainly arrange."

Nadia held her breath. Her chest rose and fell. Through her teeth, she said one word.

"Pervert."

She strode toward the door, nearly out of the suite, when his hand caught her wrist from behind.

"Is there something else?" She turned, anger clear in her eyes.

"Take the emergency contraceptive."

A man in a sharp suit knocked, received permission, and walked in. He set down the clothes and a small pharmacy bag without making eye contact.

Taking the contraceptive after a night like this was basic sense. Even if Caiden hadn't sent his assistant for it, she would have picked it up herself once she got home. Since it was already here, there was no reason to refuse.

She followed the instructions, took it, then walked to the door and stopped.

She turned around, and there was something almost amused in her voice when she spoke.

"Does your charm rival a superstar's, Mr. Wolfe? Or does it simply outshine money?" She tilted her head slightly. "You are charming—but aren't you a little overconfident?"

Caiden paused. His long fingers stilled on the button of his shirt. For the first time in recent memory, he had absolutely nothing to say.

After a moment his gaze deepened. With unhurried ease, he finished buttoning his shirt, the dark silk catching the morning light, and said nothing at all.

Nadia was already gone.