02: The Only Way Out.

ROSE.

"Wake up, Rose! You really need to see this!" Lydia's voice cut through the room and I groaned, pulling the pillow over my head.

Waking someone up right after a rough night out was apparently her idea of a good morning, no matter how many times I complained about it.

"Really, Lydia?" I muttered, sitting up slowly, my head pounding. "I can't even get one good night of rest. You guys know yesterday was hell for me, and you're adding to it, It's barely nine!"

Sharma smiled from the doorway. "I told her not to wake you, but she insisted she had something important to show you."

Lydia was already crossing the room with her phone in hand, the screen glowing bright. "Okay, girls, look at this. Remember that whole scene last night with the CEO?"

My stomach twisted.

I had hoped last night would just fade quietly, something I could bury and never think about again.

But I remembered his eyes clearly, the way they looked at me right before he walked away, the threat that followed me all the way home.

For some reason those words kept circling in my mind like they refused to leave.

"Oh my god," I said, scratching my head as I stared at the screen. "So this is out in public now? I'm actually screwed."

Sharma rolled her eyes. "Honestly, I think he was going to come after you regardless. You know how these powerful men are. They don't let things go, especially not when the person who embarrassed them is just a regular person."

"That's not even the real problem," Lydia said, her voice tight with worry. "These bloggers are saying he tried to force himself on you. They're spinning it into some sex scandal about him, which is completely wrong."

My eyes went wide. "You've got to be kidding me."

"Rose, you're in serious trouble," Sharma said. "What if this gets bigger? What if someone actually calls you to speak on it?"

I swung my legs out of bed and slid my feet into my slippers, already walking toward the door.

Lydia stared after me. "Rose, don't tell me you'd turn them down if they needed you to speak."

I stopped and turned around slowly. "What is your obsession with all this social media stuff? I'm not going anywhere, and if I were you, I wouldn't be handing my contact out to bloggers for any reason. Moreover, he wasn't forcing himself on me, he was just being the usual arrogant CEO shit...and I did put him in his place. Honestly, I was the violent one that night."

Both their eyes dropped to the faint marks still on my wrist and neck, right where he had gripped me too hard.

I followed their gaze and understood immediately.

"You two are unbelievable," I said. "My point is just keep my name out of all of it. I'm not speaking against anyone, and I don't have the energy for that today. Excuse me."

I walked out, leaving both of them behind me without another word.

In the bathroom I splashed water on my face, but no amount of washing could quiet his words still echoing in my head.

I wasn't supposed to be scared of a stranger from one bad night, yet somehow his voice had wrapped itself around my thoughts and wouldn't let go.

I looked up into the mirror and saw Sharma standing behind me, and I flinched.

"Hey, hey, it's just me," she said gently, pulling me into a hug. "I know you're worried about what he said, but even if he comes after you, it probably won't be soon, and it probably won't be that serious. He's a busy CEO, and he might just forget that some girl ever embarrassed him."

I sighed. "I know, but now these bloggers are feeding the whole internet with lies, and that could stir up whatever anger he still has toward me. What if someone comes after us thinking we're going to speak out? I'm so confused right now, and Lydia isn't helping."

Sharma grabbed my hand gently. "Rose, you need to calm down. None of this was your fault. You were high, yes, but I know you would've handled him better if you were sober."

I laughed despite myself. "Honestly, I think being high was a good thing. Imagine being in the mood Vance left me in and having to deal with his bullshit too. You think I was giving that man an inch either way?"

We both smiled, the tension breaking. "I'm sorry I read that room wrong last night," Sharma said.

"It's fine. We're good," I told her, and we hugged it out.

Just then my phone buzzed, I looked around. "Where's Lydia?"

"She stormed out earlier, you know how she gets," Sharma said.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever." My phone rang again and I grabbed it. "Oh fuck, it's my dad." I answered quickly. "Dad?"

But a woman's voice answered instead, tight with urgency. "Rose, we need you here now."

I blinked, glancing at Sharma. "Ma Gina? What's going on?"

"Your father's been taken to the hospital again, he collapsed and we need you right now," she whispered.

My hands moved before my mind caught up, grabbing whatever clothes were nearby.

Sharma held me steady. "Rose, what's happening?"

"It's my dad," I said, my voice cracking. "I think it's happening again."

"Oh fuck, we have to go," Sharma said, and within minutes we were dressed and in the car.

We reached the hospital in under twenty minutes and I ran straight through the doors, searching until I found Doctor Riehmann near the nurses' station.

"Doctor, what's going on?" I asked.

"Hey, Rose. Long time," he said gently, before his face turned serious. "I'm sorry to say this, but we need to start the operation as soon as possible. Your father has three to four months to survive this, and I don't mean he'll be walking around. He'd be bedridden here the whole time until surgery."

Tears welled in my eyes, my father was the only family I had left. "Doctor, what does that even mean?"

"It means if we don't operate soon, his situation could turn fatal," he warned.

I staggered back, and Sharma caught me, rubbing my arm gently. "Can't you just start it, and I'll find the money after? It's too much for me right now."

The doctor shook his head. "You know I've helped where I could, but the policy's changed and I'm not in charge of that anymore. I'm sorry, that's all I can say." He walked off, and I stood frozen until a nurse told me my father was awake.

Inside the ward, I took his hand, tears falling freely.

He smiled weakly. "Rose, look at your eyes. Drinking all night, weren't you?"

I laughed through tears. "It's fine, Dad. You know how I am."

"I'm proud of you," he said. " And I'm sorry I haven't shown up for you the way I should have."

"No, Dad. You've worked yourself to nothing making sure I finished school. I just don't understand why you would want to leave right when I'm starting my life," I said, sobering up.

"I'm not leaving," he said. "The doctor told you about the operation, right?"

I nodded, leaning closer. "He did. But where do I even find that kind of money?"

My father gripped my hand. "I spoke to my boss's PA and he said the boss has agreed to see me today. I asked him for an advance on three months' salary, and I'll work it off after surgery, which he accepted. So I'll give you the address. Go there, tell him I'm in the hospital and that you're my daughter. He'll understand."

Hope rushed through me. "Really? That's good news, Dad!" I hugged him tightly.

He smiled and handed me a scrap of paper with the address written on it.

"Funny how a butler could raise that much in three months," I teased.

"Well, I work for one of the most powerful CEOs in the city. My salary's worth ten times what most people make," he said, chuckling.

I kissed his forehead. "Okay, Dad, we need to go."

"Stay safe, my dear. He can come off cold, but don't let that scare you. He'll help you, but just don't let that man-hater temper of yours loose on him."

I rolled my eyes fondly and walked out with Sharma.

Once in the car, Sharma asked to see the address, and I handed it over without thinking.

She stared at the paper for a long moment, her face going pale. "Wait. Arden Capital?"

"Yeah, that's where my dad works," I said. "For the CEO there."

Her expression twisted into something close to fear. "Rose, don't tell me you don't know who owns Arden Capital."

I raised a brow. "I don't understand?"

She let out a long breath and leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. "Rose. You're heading straight to the office of Drake Machorace."

Everything around me seemed to freeze.

My heart slammed against my chest, and for one terrifying second, I forgot how to breathe.