“WAKE UP! IT’S A NEW REALITY!”

“Wake up, Chelsea!” A strong palm tapped me severally on my foot till I blinked my eyes open.

The very clear difference in environment hit me as I sat up, stretching and mentally calculating. I looked around for a bit till my eyes fell on the mask, for the umpteenth time! In an attempt to scurry away, a hand held me back.

“Where do you think you're going?”

I know that voice. It’s too familiar, too close for comfort! Ricci Rutherford. I slowly turned my head, somehow wishing I could disappear before we lock eyes but it’s too late. We locked eyes; his gaze piercing into mine, searching for unknown answers.

“Remember me?” He laughed like anything about this is funny.

“Where am I? What are you doing here?” I finally managed to ask, looking around in added confusion.

“Did you just ask me what I am doing? In my house? Well Chelsea, I live here.” He smirked, leaning towards me.

“Excuse me? Why the hell am I in your house?” I shouted, stressed and frustrated.

“I should be asking you, you know. I found you on my property.” He nodded, furrowing his brows.

“What property?” I asked, trying my hardest to recollect my memory.

“You should be grateful that I signed a good deal today, so, I am in a good mood. Also, you owe me a new shirt.” He paused, sipped vodka, then stood up.

I stared down at myself, gradually remembering the blood at that creepy warehouse.

“The warehouse is yours?” I asked, finally putting the question together. He stood tall, backing me as he stared haughtily at the city so full of life and light.

“Took you long enough.” He replied.

“Then why was my father there?” I whispered, scared of his reply.

“You should ask him.” Ricci’s hoarse voice stoned the last element of comfort out of my system.

“Ricci, I want to go home.” I drawled after several seconds of dead silence.

“You are at home, Miss Ambers.” He swiftly responded, turning around to stare at me.

I immediately lifted myself from the bed, refusing to allow more confusion weigh me down.

“I want to go home, I need to see my father. Something’s not right; I need to talk to my best friend. Where’s my phone?” I demanded, stepping up to him.

“Hmm, Chelsea, you don’t seem to understand. You need to wake up! You are still asleep! Open your eyes!” He shouted before breaking into a subtle laugh.

“What are you the talking about?” I frowned, already agitated.

“Miss Ambers, after we had sex, your best friend, Aria Rossi, took those pictures of us now my father’s company is at stake! You, Chelsea Star Ambers cannot run free while my family rebuilds what we built for fifteen decades! Listen here,” he paused, lifting me and tossing me on the bed. “For one hundred and fifty years, the Rutherfords have toiled day and night to have the name we have today so if you think you and your little best friend can ruin that, then you’ll have a whole ocean to mop dry.” In a split second, he picked up his vodka glass and his phone, storming out. He walked back in, stopping at the door, “before I forget, get ready, it’s almost time for dinner.”

The slam of the door sounded against my heart as sweat covered me whole. Involve him in a scandal? My best friend took those pictures? 150 years of building? I live here now? More than a million questions swirled my mind but no answer showed up.

I staggered to my feet, unsure if anything he said was real. A few seconds after letting the words sink in, I took off my clothes and strolled into the shower.

As I sat in the icy cold bath-tub, my system relaxed but my head began to spin. Why wasn’t Aria home when I went to grab a dress? She’s always home; after all, she’s unemployed. Why would she take those pictures? Why am I the victim? What happened to my father? Even worse, why the hell am I here? I am supposed to be at my club right now serving alcohol and happiness but here I am, overthinking and drowning in a billionaire’s bath-tub.

“Chelsea!” Ricci’s voice sounded heavily as he stormed into the room. “Where are you?”

“In here.” I shouted back, planning my next move. What the next move is, I don’t know but for a fact, I need to escape and I need to escape now!

“Hurry up! You can wear my clothes when you’re done. I’ll take you shopping tomorrow. You must be on time! It’s a family dinner. My mother will be there. You have twenty more minutes.” He stopped, slamming the door again on his way out.

I got up and wrapped myself in a large towel with the same ‘R R’ logo on the ring from that night. Hurrying out, I tore through his closet and picked up his black joggers and grey top. I comb my hair, sprayed perfume and left the room wearing his sneakers.

Sneaking out, I tiptoed all the way downstairs with my eyes laser focused on the front door. Heavily built men stood there, watching everyone like eagles. If anything, I blended in with the domestic staff; some dressed in all black, some dressed in black and grey.

“Good evening,” I bowed, trying to hide my face from the guards as I slipped in between them.

“Your ID ma’am?” One of the guards commanded, startling me.

“Oh it’s ahm- I-“ I stammered, cursing my brain for being so slow.

“There’s a dinner going on, no one is allowed to leave the premises.” He retorted, pushing me back. My leg missed the balance and I fell.

“Miss Ambers?” Another staff called, unfortunately recognizing me.

The next second saw me in the air as one of the bodyguards lifted me all the way up the stairs till I met myself in the gathering of the high and mighty. Right in front of all the Rutherfords.

“What’s happening?” Ricci laughed as the guard put me down.

“Hello everyone,” I breathed, hearing my heart beat as I glared at the floor, too ashamed to look up.

“Sit down, Miss Ambers.” Blake Azrael Rutherford spoke. A flood of anxiety hit me from my guts. Reluctantly, I moved towards the fancy chair the maid pulled out for me. “How are you doing this evening?”

I stared at him, startled at how fast life is suddenly moving. I glanced at their faces in genuine amazement, no mask? This dinner feels so illegal.

Returning my eyes to the table, I muttered, “Fine thank you.”

“We have a lot to do tonight so let’s jump right at it.” Mrs Nathara began.

I looked up, avoiding any eye contacts as I waited for the worst. Mrs Nathara pulled out a blue book and opened it down, placing a pen on it.

“Stand up, Miss Ambers.” Mrs Nathara commanded. I stood up immediately- here goes the worst. “Sign it.”

I froze, squeezing my brows together to show what I call ‘polite confusion’.

“Are you deaf?” Ricci barked, banging his fisted palm against the table. I jerked back, gulping down my twisted guts.

“Take it easy on her. She at least deserves an explanation as to what is going on.” Matteo defended and his father, Mr Blake nodded in agreement. Mrs Nathara took a sharp breath in, expressing her anger and frustration.

“Miss Chelsea Star Ambers, you will sign this contract right here and right now to show a permanent bond between you and Ricci and more importantly, between the entire Rutherford family. You are somehow, for some reason, pregnant! You are pregnant for Ricci even though you haven’t figured it out yet. I cannot allow, not in my lifetime, will I allow the heir to The Rutherford Organization to roam the streets with common man! Even worse, those pictures and videos of your night with Ricci surfing the internet now, has jeopardized my hard work. As I told you earlier today, you owe me and I thought to myself after Matteo spoke with me and I realized that neither you nor your dad can produce a million dollars as we speak, so, where the hell will you get the amount you owe me? Now, since it was your best friend who took those pictures and she has confirmed that it was your instruction because you wanted to know Ricci’s name, right? So here you go, you’ve known his name and you are pregnant.” She paused to catch her breath. I returned the gaze, bewildered.

When this is over, Aria and I have a lot to talk about because come to think of it; where is she?

“Miss Ambers!” Mr Blake’s voice bounced me back to reality.

“How do you know I’m pregnant?” I asked, trying to control my wobbly knees. I have a million questions but only time will give me the answers because these fierce faces might shoot me.

“A doctor left just before you woke up.” Matteo responded calmly. I gaped at him, searching for comfort but only fear was tucked away in his eyes.

“Enough!” Mrs Nathara slammed the table, halting the room. She stood up aggressively with her nose high and her eyes fixed on me, she said,

“Sign the fucking contract!”