CHAPTER ONE

SHARON

I rolled and twisted on the sheets, my hair was in a mess, the duvet was on the ground, I looked like I had just gotten hit by a truck.

I stood up and tried to walk, but I was hit by an annoyingly stinging pain in my head. The hangover was worse than I had expected.

I sat down on the bed and wrapped my hands around my body.

“Oh I'm such an idiot!” I said in anger

What I would give to turn back time and undo everything that happened. Why did I have to drink so much and turn into a complete fool?

Why did that domineering and irritating son of a bitch have to—

“Sharon fucking Gray!”

My friend screamed as she opened the door.

“Remind me not to leave you in the club for more than half an hour. It's bad enough that you got yourself completely drunk, you had to go ahead and get yourself laid!”

“what do you have to say for yourself?”

I balled my fists and groaned

“Ughhhhhh!”

“I was drunk okay, I'm sorry for getting drunk and all, and the guy was a total asshole. He literally —”

Claire looked at me and covered her mouth with her hands, obviously trying to stifle a laugh. Then the laughter erupted and she fell back on the bed.

“Long story short, you didn't enjoy your one night stand.”

“It was a mistake, a really stupid mistake” I said.

“Please tell me he wasn't your first.”

At that point, wanted to give her the answer she wanted to hear, but it wouldn't change anything.

“He was my first.” I sighed. “he didn't deserve the opportunity either but—” I stuttered.

“I really just wanted to forget about my marriage”

“Look Sharon, if I gave you the slightest impression that I'm judging you then sorry, I'm not. All I'm trying to say is fuck him!

And your supposed husband too”

“Infact, most men are first class assholes and you just happened to bump into one last night—”

Claire stopped talking all of a sudden. then she continued

“I'll get you some medicine for your hangover, you'll take a shower, get dressed, put on some makeup and act like last night never happened.”

“Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand”

**************

I was the only child, and the only heir to the Gray family.

It was such a disappointment, I mean my dad would've preferred a son…

All my life I had never made a decision for myself, until last night I guess. Every step I took in life was predetermined by my father.

He owned me, literally.

And now he just sold me to a more powerful family, forever. It's my worst nightmare come true.

I could still remember the day, barely a week ago. For some reason, my mum, Emilia Gray insisted I wore her pearls. She even complained about the colour of my hair. I had no idea then, but my life was about to change.

We were met with the ruthless Rufus Pavilochenki, well I didn't even get a good look at the old man's face, my head was bowed the whole time.

A deal was struck…..and I was the payment.

It wasn't even said like a big deal, he didn't say it like he was talking about human beings. Rufus Pavilochenki announced my marriage to his grandson like he was talking about two firms that needed to be merged.

Then it hit me …..

All my grooming, tutoring, education, everything I had ever had to go through, was so I could be a good enough asset.

Was so they could use me!

It made me sick to my stomach.

An engagement ring was passed to me in a box, no proposal, no flowers, no romance, nothing. My supposed husband couldn't even present it himself, and I was supposed to marry him in a month

I cried my eyes out that night. No one deserved to be treated that way. I would have to marry someone I had never seen, never known, a total stranger. I couldn't bring myself to wear the ring.

Was my life some sort of joke?

Because of my position, I had to live a double life. One that my family would be proud of, and one that I would be happy with.

I was Sharon Gray to make my family proud, to uphold their reputation. I was respectful, and intelligent, and disciplined.

But…..

As Riann, I could have fun, make stupid decisions, without having to worry about my family's reputation.

That was how I met Claire.

Claire was and still is a night club dancer.

The first time I entered a bar, she was sitting across from me, watching my every move, then she came over and struck up a conversation.

She asked if that was my first time drinking, I just turned 18.

“If you really wanna get wasted, you have to drink more than that”

“Well…it wouldn't hurt would it?”

“Nahhh”

I took my second shot.

“Are you some rich girl or something?”

“You know, I'm really not supposed to tell.” I said.

“Look, you can't trust every girl that dances on a pole, but you can trust me. My name's Claire.”

“Sharon Gray”

“Is that who you really are right now?”

She hesitated.

“You can always pick a name for yourself, disclosing your identity isn't safe here…..”

“Riann, my name's Riann……”

That was how I got drunk for the first time. I told her I couldn't go back home, couldn't show up in my house like that, she understood.

The next morning I woke up on her bed. She had missed a night shift to watch me, to make sure no one came to take advantage of me.

From that day, I had decided that Claire was going to be my friend. And that was five years ago.

After hearing the sad news of my marriage, I couldn't bring myself to smile, I had to leave our mansion, I had to become Riann one last time.

Claire was a little busy, I had to drink alone. I sat at the loneliest corner, and I just kept drinking, kept trying to down the sorrow away, glass after glass.

Then I stood up to go to the bathroom, and something hard hit my shoulder. I was still holding my glass of liquor.

I could feel the impact, maybe the alcohol made me exaggerate a little, but I felt it.

And when I looked up, I saw it or rather I saw him.