6. The Trap

ARDEN

The Emerald Hotel was fancy…like really really fancy. This wasn't the kind of place our company usually celebrated at.

I walked into the restaurant and saw my coworkers already sitting at a large table. Sarah waved me over.

"Arden! Over here!"

I sat down next to her. There were about eight of us total. Rita was sitting across from me, already sipping on a glass of wine. She smiled when she saw me.

"There's the star of the hour!" she said loudly. "Everyone raise your glass to Arden and the Windsor account!"

Everyone cheered and clinked glasses. I smiled and took a sip of my water.

Lucas had wanted to come but I convinced him not to. "It's just a work thing," I'd said. "You'd be bored." Really, I just didn't want to watch him and Rita make eyes at each other all night.

The dinner started off normal. People were laughing, drinking, talking about work drama. Someone ordered appetizers and another ordered a bottle of expensive wine.

Rita kept looking at me. Every time someone complimented me or mentioned the Windsor account, her smile got tighter. 

"I heard Mr. Windsor specifically requested you," one of my coworkers said. "That's amazing, Arden!"

"Thanks," I said. "I just did my research."

"More than research," Sarah added. "You knew everything about that campaign. Rita couldn't even answer basic questions."

Rita's wine glass hit the table a little too hard. "I was nervous," she said quickly. "Public speaking isn't my strong suit. But I'm so proud of Arden for stepping up."

Liar.

"Well, Derek seems impressed too," another coworker said. "I heard he's recommending you for the senior position."

My eyebrows shot up. He actually did it? That fast?

Rita's face went white. "Senior position? But that hasn't even been posted yet."

"It will be next week," the coworker said. "My friend in HR told me."

I watched Rita's hands clench around her napkin. Her knuckles turned white. She was pissed. Really really pissed.

"Excuse me," she said, her voice tight. "I need to use the restroom."

She stood up and walked away. I noticed her pulling out her phone as she disappeared around the corner.

"Another round of drinks!" someone shouted.

The waiter came over and started taking orders. When he got to me, I ordered another water.

"Come on, Arden," Sarah said. "Have a real drink! You're celebrating!"

"I don't really drink," I said.

"Just one glass of wine," she insisted. "Please?"

I sighed. "Fine. One glass."

The waiter nodded and walked away. A few minutes later, he came back with everyone's drinks. He set a glass of white wine in front of me.

Rita came back from the bathroom right as the drinks arrived. Her eyes went straight to my wine glass.

"Oh good," she said sweetly. "You're finally having some fun, sis."

The way she said "sis" made my skin crawl.

The dinner continued. People kept talking and laughing. I took a small sip of my wine. It tasted fine.

Then about twenty minutes later, Rita suddenly knocked over her entire water glass.

"Oh no!" she gasped.

Water spilled everywhere. All over the table, heading straight for my phone and purse.

I jumped up. "Shit!"

Everyone was grabbing napkins. The waiter rushed over with towels. There was so much chaos and movement.

When I sat back down, my wine glass was exactly where I left it. I took another sip.

We ordered dinner. I got the salmon. Rita got the steak. Everything was delicious and I was actually having fun talking to Sarah about the Windsor campaign.

But then halfway through my meal, something felt wrong.

My head started feeling fuzzy. Like cotton was filling up my brain. The room tilted slightly to the left.

"You okay?" Sarah asked. "You look pale."

"I'm fine," I said, but my voice sounded far away. "Just tired."

I took another sip of wine to clear my head. Big mistake. The fuzziness got worse. Everything started spinning.

Rita leaned forward. "Arden, you don't look good at all. Maybe you should go rest?"

"I'm fine," I said again, but I wasn't fine. My hands were shaking. My vision was getting blurry around the edges.

"There's rooms upstairs," Rita said, already standing up. "Let me help you get one. You can lie down for a few minutes."

"No, I should just go home…"

"You can't drive like this," Rita insisted. She grabbed my arm and pulled me up. "Come on. Just rest for thirty minutes and you'll feel better."

I tried to argue but my mouth wasn't working right. The words came out slurred.

Sarah looked worried. "Should we call someone? Her boyfriend?"

"No need," Rita said quickly. "I'll take care of her. We're sisters."

She pulled me toward the elevator. I tried to walk straight but my legs felt like jelly. Everything was spinning faster and faster.

We got in the elevator. Rita pressed a button. The number was blurry. I couldn't read it.

"What's... happening?" I mumbled.

"You just had too much to drink," Rita said. But she was smiling. That cruel smile I'd seen right before I died. "Don't worry, big sis. I've got you."

The elevator doors opened. Rita dragged me down a long hallway. There were so many doors. Numbers everywhere but I couldn't read any of them.

"Here we go," Rita said cheerfully. She pulled out a keycard. "Room 1208."

She swiped the card and pushed the door open. The room was dark and spinning.

"Rita... something's wrong..."

"You just need to rest." Rita pushed me inside. "Sleep it off, sis."

The door clicked shut.

I was alone in the dark room. Everything was spinning. My skin felt like it was on fire and it was burning from the inside out.

I stumbled toward the bed but my legs gave out. I crashed against the wall, barely catching myself.

What did she give me?

I needed to get out. Something was very wrong. My whole body was burning up, and aching. I was needing something I couldn't name.

I somehow got the door open and fell into the hallway. I started crawling away from that room. 

There was another door ahead. Half open. I pushed it and collapsed inside on the carpet.

I heard footsteps. Someone was here.

"What the…"

Strong hands grabbed my shoulders and lifted my head.

I looked up through blurry vision. And I saw a familiar black haired man.

"Jett..." I whispered.

"Arden?" His voice was shocked. "What are you doing here?"