Chapter 1

I quickly sat on the bed as soon as I opened my eyes after hearing someone banging on the door and Felicity's voice was matching the loud sound. I groaned and immediately got up with an annoyed look on my face.

I couldn't help but to glare at Felicity the moment I saw her standing in front of me and almost hit my face if I didn't get to catch her wrist.

"Don't you know how to consider being gentle at once?" I hissed at her and I leaned over the wall as I let go of her.

Felicity didn't say anything and only looked at me from head to toe. She clenched her jaw before she slowly nodded at me.

"Where have you been last night, Cielle?" Felicity crossed her arms in front of her chest. "The guards said they saw you run away and when you came back home, someone was carrying you. And guess what else I heard?"

I looked at Felicity with confusion in my eyes. I don't remember those things that happened last night. The last thing I can remember was when we were dancing with random strangers.

"I don't remember much, Felicity." I massaged my temple. "What else happened?"

"Your maid said that someone brought you home, and you freaking kissed before you parted ways!" My whole system was startled after hearing Felicity's shouts.

I covered my ears and turned my back to her. "Damn you! You don't have to shout!"

"Don't turn your back on me, Cielle! Who was that guy? Tell me!" She pulled me again to face her.

I rolled my eyes at Felicity. She interrogates me like how a mother would do when her daughter is out and dating someone.

"I don't know, okay?" I pushed her away from me. "He's just probably some random guy from the party. I got wasted and can't remember anything, but shouldn't what matters is that I am here, safe and sound?"

Felicity rolled her eyes at me and she groaned in annoyance. "Whatever! Just know your limits and don't be like your.." The emotion in my eyes slowly darkened with the idea of who she would mean. Felicity sighed deeply. "Nevermind. You already know that, of course."

I went straight back inside my room and closed the door behind me. I know that Felicity only cares for me, but she should've not mentioned that part!

I'm not as weak as my mother did before. And I am not as low as they are. I would never have a man be satisfied in between my legs. No one will have that privilege. No one.

I was about to get inside the bathroom when I noticed something on my side desk. I was in such a hurry to open the door for Felicity that I didn't get to see that one.

A flower. I went to carefully pick it up and check its sides. 

A black rose?

Who would give me this kind of flower? And from what I know, this type of flower doesn't exist. Maybe it's artificial? I analyzed it carefully and gasped when I realized that it was real.

'Where did this come from?' Was my question in mind when I suddenly remembered what Felicity said to me. 'Was it from that man?'

I tried to remember everything that happened that night, but I really couldn't do it even after my head started aching. I soon gave it up and just got ready for work today. 

After having a cold shower, I straightly went downstairs and found my cousins sitting on the couch. The look on their faces was too serious for me to make fun of. So without asking them any questions, I sat on the side with Felicity.

Confusion filled me while waiting for them to speak up, until Drake spoke in a serious way.

"We heard about what happened at the last event project you accepted, Cielle." I quirk a brow while looking straight at him, not backing down to how dark he gazes at me. "A failure, don't you think?"

I leaned on the chair as a smirk slowly made its way to my lips, "What about it?"

"Yeah, what about it?" He retorted back, repeating my question in a mocking way.

"Drake." Ethan called him in a warning tone before he averted his eyes on me. "Speak now, Cielle. What happened to that event?"

I heave a deep sigh and shake my head at him, "I don't know."

"People died back there, and our name is being blamed for it! If it gets to the authorities, we'll be doomed!" Drake hissed at me and my eyes sharpened while looking back at him. "How could you let this happen to a project that you're handling?"

"I told you, Drake. I don't know what happened that night!" 

"What do you mean?" Ethan butted in so I averted my attention on him. "You were there, you probably saw everything."

I straightened my back and shook my head at them. "How could I possibly know when there was a sudden blackout and those people who died, mysteriously disappeared?"

"What about the camera footage?" Felicity asked beside me. "There were offline cameras that were working at that time."

"Someone broke those cameras, Felicity. We couldn't tell what really happened there. Even the authorities who went to check the crime scene." I stood up and looked down at them. "That's all I know so stop bothering me about this matter."

"Ciellei—"

"Sure." Ethan cuts off whatever Drake will say and he nodded at me. "Do you have work today? I can drop you off before I go to attend a meeting."

"Nah, no need!" I shake my head at him. "I prefer you three to leave my house. I need to lock it before I go."

Thankfully, it didn’t take me long to be able to send them away. I was locking all the entrances in my house when I suddenly felt someone move from behind me. Chills went down my spine, realizing that I’m not alone and that person is slowly approaching my direction.

Oh, no! My cousins are no longer here. What if this person is one of our enemies? I’ll be doomed! I don’t even know how to throw a punch!

I heard the footsteps just inches away from me and before anything else could happen, I ran as fast as I could to save myself. I straightly went downstairs and out of my house. I was about to enter my car while holding my phone and key when someone cornered me, closing the door in front of me.

It’s morning and if I can, I would be able to see his face from my car’s reflection once I lowered my gaze, but I’m too afraid to even move an inch. It left me unable, but to follow him.

“Hmm..” I felt it when he lowered his head to me and leveled his face at my neck.

I flinched when he did that, but when he placed his left hand on my waist, my body went frozen as a smirk made its way to his lips, even brushing it against my skin.

“P-Please, stop..” I couldn’t help it anymore when my voice trembled.

It might still be early, but no one is around and would be able to help me. The distance between the houses in this village is enough for me to scream to my heart’s content without anyone hearing.

“Stop what, baby?” His deep voice sent shivers within me and I felt my knees trembling in fear. “Hmm?”

“S-Stay away from me!” I forced myself to scream those words, but I ended up tearing up until I slowly cried in fear.

He seemed to enjoy seeing me shaking in fear while he locked me in between his arms. I used to see this kind of position in movies and supposedly, they should be sweet and romantic yet I feel horror and entrapment while being with this stranger behind me.

Only if I could call someone and beg them to save me and only if I didn’t let my cousin leave to go on my own!

“You smell good.” He gently planted a kiss on the bridge of my neck and my eyes widened because of that. “It’s addicting, you feel me?”

“W-What? You’re crazy!” I tried to move and face him, but I ended up being pushed in my car and he yanked my head back, giving him more access to my neck. “L-Let me go!”

I thought he would kiss my neck or something, but he ended up just smelling me before I heard him cursing under his breath and slowly let go of me.

“F*ck!” His hand gripped my wrist. “Now now..”

“What?” His grip loosened before I felt a strong force going past me.

I slowly turned back with nervousness inside me, but I didn’t see anyone. I clutched my chest before I fell on my knees while catching my breath and my tears wouldn’t stop falling in fear and anger.

I don't know where that man went and how he managed to leave that fast, but that’s less of my worry now. What I should be thinking of is my safety. My hand quickly reached for my phone and I was about to call Drake when I suddenly stopped.

If I call Drake and inform him, he would never let me live in my mother’s house all alone. He would probably appoint his men around me. And I don’t want that. I don’t want to be involved with that kind of life.. What if being in that situation can endanger me the same way it did to my mother? I don’t think I can take that.

I swore. I would never make the same mistakes my mother did. But without their help, that man might come after me again! Memories of what happened at the party last night suddenly erupted in my mind the moment I calm down… and I, then, get to realize who that man was.