ONE DECISION, ONE REGRET

The morning sun appeared as fast as lightning. As much as I tried to lift my weight off the bed, it remained impossible. The pleasurable pain of a few hours ago spiraled across my body. My nipples perked at the thought of everything. Whoever this stranger is, sure knows how to use his tongue.

“So Chelsea, you do know you owe me, right?” His firm voice itched my ear.

“How?” I yawned, pulling the bedcover over my naked body.

“You can’t remember our bet last night? I gave you one hour and while you were crazy good, you still don’t know my name neither have you seen my face.” He replied, dressing up. The thought of having to go to work flashed my mind and weakened my spirit.

“So, how much do I owe you?” I laughed, standing up.

“We can’t put a price on it just yet. First, deliver my message to your father. Tell him, a second strike might take his life.” He swiftly left the room. Scared, cold stranded, I stood gaping into thin air.

What’s my father’s deal with this man? I picked up my phone and called my father; he owes everyone an explanation.

“Chelsea,” he answered, whispering as usual.

“Mr Andrea,” I began, burying my words in his soul. “A man has a message for you.”

“Who?” He asked, obviously scared to his guts.

“I should be asking you sir! Where’s mom?” I barked, suddenly heating up.

“I don’t have time for this.” He hissed and hung up. I called him right back.

“The man said a second strike might take your life. Dad what the hell is going on with you?” I shouted, raging internally. The most secretive, unstable human being is my father!

“Where did you meet this man?” He queried as though I’d sit and lie to him.

“What the fuck do you mean? Do I look like a child? Dad you-“ another call interrupted. It’s from my boss- oh God no!

“Good day sir.” I grumbled, sick to my stomach.

“Miss Ambers, you have a query to respond from Mrs Nathara Rutherford. You must be available in ten minutes.” He hung up. Fear slashed my heart in half as my phone fell to the bed.

Tension oozed out of my system as I stood, dripping in cold sweat. Of all the persons in the world to need my attention, it’s Mrs Nathara?

I threw my clothes on and hurried out, now fully aware of my damn condition. I am half naked and stranded in a dilapidated hotel in the middle of now where good. I picked up my phone, ordered a ride and arrived at Aria’s house. Lucky for me, she wasn’t home so I grabbed a dress and escaped with the last air in my lungs.

“Good morning, ma’am.” I muttered, saving my life as I coughed out the dust particles that clung to my throat.

“Miss Ambers,” she called my name like a demon roll-calling sinners. Mrs Nathara might be the devil herself.

“What are you doing?”

Unable to think of any lies or truths, I remained numb.

“Speak!” She shouted banging her fist on the table. I jerked up, breathing very hard as my sanity flew to the wind. What does she want me to say?

“I- I ahm…” I muttered, struggling terribly. She embodies a very dangerous aura, it’s like sitting on spikes- if you get too comfortable, you’ll bleed.

“What are these pictures for?” She sighed, sliding her tab across her table till it hit my fingertips. My world stopped.

“Ma I, I don’t-“

“You don’t know? You no longer recognize yourself, Chelsea?” She frowned, flying to her feet.

“I swear to you, this isn’t what it looks like.” I bit my lips knowing my gloomy fate.

Why the hell am I staring at naked pictures of myself and that masked man? And why the hell is it trending?

“Who is this man?” Mrs Nathara asked, furrowing her gaze as she pierced a painful gaze at me.

“I don’t know him.” I murmured, shaking like paper in the storm.

“Do you have-“ a call came in and so did ten bulky men. Rushing into the room like spies sent to a new planet, they surrounded Mrs Nathara.

“Hello,” Mrs Nathara answered the call but her countenance only got worse.

“No, that can’t- listen I… hello?” The call ended.

In a split second, she aggressively brushed aside all the papers on her table to the floor. Her breathing intensified as she approached me.

“You fucking bitch!” She screamed, landing her right hand on my face. Light left my eyes as I staggered.

“Do you know what you just caused me?” She shouted again, placing a sting on my face. I stepped backwards and darkened and water filled my eyes.

“For two years! Two fucking years I chased this contract! Now your stupidity has cost me twenty billion US Dollars!!! Twenty billion you fool!!” She shouted again, connecting another painful slap to my face. Her men rushed forward, seeing how dizzy I had become.

“Guess what, Chelsea! You will pay me back! You must pay me back! I don’t care how you will do it, just know if I don’t see my money before next week runs out, consider yourself a dead man.” She shivered, slowly taking her stare off me before walking away.

Two weeks to produce twenty billion dollars?

My consciousness remained in the wind and my teary eyes remained glued to the ground. Who even took those pictures? Is this the second strike that man was talking about? What’s his name to even begin with?

“Miss Ambers,” my name echoed weirdly as my boss approached me. Goosebumps covered me, squeezing life out of me. “If you think you can tarnish the image of this astounding organization, then you have it all mixed up. Your vile images running fly in the wind of social media cannot in anyway speak for our legacy. You have what you deserve coming at you soon. Understand?” He hissed, sassy much. I glanced at him, wondering how the hell I wound up here. He walked out, slamming the door and leaving my thoughts to go even louder.

I sat on the bare floor, sniffing cigarette and alcohol out of Aria’s dress as my heartbeat got louder and louder.

“Hi,” a calm, sweet voice startled me. I sprung to my feet, recognizing the same mask from last night.

Instinctively, I stepped back, colliding with a furniture. “Take it easy.” He rushed at me, grabbing me to stay still.

“Stay away from me,” I shuttered, raising my index finger as a barricade.

“No, no, relax. I’m not him, I’m a different person.” He whispered, wiping my tears. My heart froze.

“What?” I breathed.

“I am Matteo Rutherford.”