Chapter 3

Mila’s POV...

“Hi Eliza, have you arrived?” I said as I picked up the phone, leaving Mr Blackwell. 

Eliza always had a habit of showing up late, so it wasn’t unusual when I received her call. I had spent quite some time with Mr Blackwell as the event had already progressed quite far when I caught up with Eliza. She was waiting for me at the bar where I joined her. 

“Here, have a drink. You seem to have had a long day”. She said, looking me in the eye.

“That obvious, huh?”.

“Well, there's no bad day, a drink or two won't solve”. Eliza said with a grin.

Eliza and I were just a few years apart. My Dad got married to Eliza's mum after my mum had passed. My mum died during childbirth, and I really didn't know much about Eliza's mum because, shortly after, she also died. 

My Dad both cared for me and Eliza, but I always looked out for Eliza more as she tended to be both nonchalant and reckless at times. Even though we were stepsisters, I didn't consider her as such.

Eliza said she couldn't stay for long because she had other business to attend to. I didn't really give much thought to her leaving early as she didn't really care much for family and even company events. I was grateful she at least showed up for Dad's birthday.

“Before you go, at least, let's go and wish Dad a happy birthday. I hadn't even seen him all evening”. We wished our Dad a happy birthday and Eliza left. I went back to the bar for a couple more drinks.

I was already feeling light-headed and dizzy even before I could help myself with another cup. It seemed I had enough for the night. I decided to retreat to my hotel room for the night, not minding staying until the end.

The next day……

I had woken up with a throbbing headache as I opened my eyes slowly to my surroundings, and I realized the room didn't really look like mine. I was still feeling quite dizzy.

I was wrapped in a duvet completely naked. Shit! What happened last night?

Panic started to creep in as flashes of the night before danced just out of reach. I was still trying to piece it all together when I heard a low groan beside me.

That was when I turned and met those same pair of icy blue eyes staring at me in shock too. I let out a piercing scream right before his hands were on my lips, covering them.

After he saw, I had stopped screaming and struggling. That was when he removed his hands.

"What did you do?” 

"Did we really have sex?” I wanted to hear something different from what my mind was screaming at me.

“Well, from the appearance of things, we did…” He replied in an indifferent tone.

That was when I looked around and saw clothes littered on the floor. The room looked like a total mess. The night actually seemed to be heated too badly. I didn't recall any of it.

“Why the smug-looking princess? "Never had a one-night stand?” he said in a sarcastic tone while he pulled out a lighter to light the cigarette already between his lips.

I was still in shock, trying to wrap my head around how I ended up in bed with the one man I couldn't even stand. 

"So where is the camera or the tapes you took? Because I know this is a plan of yours to paint me badly to the media or blackmail me. What exactly do you want?". I said now, yelling.

“Oh, you wound me, princess. I am not one of those business people who stoop so low to get what they want through such dirty means.I work hard for my money. Besides, why would I save you from your stupid ass boyfriend only to end up doing the same? "You seem to have forgotten you were the one who came to my room and begged for it.” He said in a mocking tone.

I didn't believe him, but he actually made sense. Why would he stop Felix from taking advantage of me when he could have easily used it to his advantage, I thought to myself.

He seemed to have noticed my flushed cheeks.

“It seems you're already hungry for a second round, Princess?”. He continued in his sarcastic tone. 

“Stop calling me princess, and if you don't mind, I will need some privacy to get changed”. 

“Privacy? But I have already seen all of you. There's no need to be shy”. 

Before I could reply to him. He dragged me into his lap. I was now straddling him.

“Mr Blackwell, I don't quite remember what happened last night, but it will be nice for us to never cross paths again or speak about this ever again". I said still on top of him. Before, I grabbed a shirt beside him and dashed off to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.

I held my chest closely as I felt air constricting in my lungs, wondering how, in just two days, my life seemed to be going in the wrong direction. Had I really drunk that much that I blacked out? I heard his room door open and thought he was probably leaving.

When I came out of the bathroom with his shirt now covering me, he was no longer in the room.

I quickly picked up the remaining of my belongings and went to my own room. My room was right next to Mr Blackwell's room. I knew all the guests had been assigned rooms before the evening, and I could see how I might have mistakenly ended up in Mr Blackwell's room. Maybe he didn't lie after all. I actually was the one in his room.

When I entered my room, I could finally breathe. That was when my phone rang in my hands, and my father's name popped up.

Oh shit. I thought to myself. My Dad usually never calls except when there's an emergency; otherwise, he usually just emails, and that is mostly about work. I tried to calm myself from worrying. After all, it could be about the new CEO appointment. I picked up the phone after a few deep breaths.

“Hello Dad”

"Report to the office immediately, I have called for an emergency meeting now with the board”. My Dad said on the phone in a stern voice.