Chapter 3. THE WRONG ROOM

It was the Brooks family’s 25th anniversary. The house was full of guests. Music played softly, people laughed, and waiters moved through the room with trays.

Nina sat at the corner of the ballroom, her glass of wine untouched, her eyes flicking toward the entrance every few seconds. Tonight wasn’t just any celebration—it was her chance to finally introduce Joseph Brown, heir to the prestigious Brown International Conglomerate, to her family.

They had been dating for a year and tonight was the night she wanted to take a step ahead of Clara to meet the Brooks family’s other rule: whoever becomes heiress must also prove she can make a strong marriage into a respected family. She hoped Joseph would show them she could do both.

She checked her phone, then looked at the door again. She tried to sit still, but her fingers tapped lightly against the glass, giving her nervousness away.

An hour passed..

A waitress came by and offered her a fresh drink. “Miss Brooks, would you like more?” she asked with a small smile.

“Thank you,” Nina replied, and smiled back. She didn’t look eager — only tired and a little anxious. She took the glass and sipped.

She was already running out of patience, so she picked her phone out of her clutch and texted Joseph.

Hey babe, where are you? she typed.

A moment later his reply popped up.

Something came up. I won’t make it tonight. I’m sorry.

Her stomach sank. Oh babe, why now? We planned this, you know how tonight is really important to me. she texted back.

I know. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you, he answered.

She put the phone down and tried to steady herself. The room felt warm. The music sounded far away. She raised the glass to her lips again, hoping the cold wine would clear her head.

But suddenly, a weird dizziness hit her – light at first, then heavier, like the room was spinning. Her legs turned wobbly, almost like jelly, and the edges of her vision started going blurry. She grabbed the edge of the table with a shaky hand, trying to pull herself up.

Something was wrong. Really wrong.

A hot, confusing flush was spreading through her body, starting low in her belly and creeping outward. Her skin felt too tight and warm. Her heart started racing, but not just from panic – there was this strange, restless ache building inside her, making her thighs press together without meaning to. She could feel her breathing getting quicker, shallower.

I had to get out of here. I gotta get to the bathroom, now, she thought, her mind foggy and desperate. 

She pushed the restroom door open and rushed inside. Her hands shook as she splashed water on her face, trying to steady her breathing.

Then, in the mirror, she saw him.

Black hoodie. Black jeans. Cap pulled low.

 A thin scar ran down his cheek, catching the light when he moved.

Nina’s breath caught in her throat.

“What do you want?” she whispered. Her voice trembled, but she tried to hold it steady.

He didn’t respond.

He took a step toward her, then another. His footsteps were sharp against the tiles. Before she could react, he closed the distance and grabbed her wrists with one hand, pinning them. With the other, he reached for her, his lip caught between his teeth, his eyes dark with intention.

Fear shot through her.

Before he could touch her again, Nina summoned every bit of strength she had left and kicked him hard—right where it hurt.

He let out a sharp grunt and dropped to the floor.

Nina didn’t wait. She ran out of the restroom, running on pure instinct and panic.

The hallway spun around her. She could barely keep her balance anymore. Her skin burned hotter with every step, her panties already damp, her thoughts slipping in and out like a fading signal. She tried to find the way back to the party, but everything looked the same. Every door. Every light. Every voice.

She pushed open a room without even checking where she was.

A man stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around his neck, water still dripping from his hair. He stopped, shocked to see someone standing in his room.

His hot body increased the growing tension in Nina and before he could ask anything, Nina moved toward him. She didn’t think—she couldn’t. Her head was foggy and her chest tight. She stumbled forward and kissed him, clumsy and desperate, lips crashing against his

He went stiff for half a second, eyes wide. Then her small, shaky “I’m so hot… please…” broke something in him. His hands slid into her thighs, pulling her in, and he kissed her back like he was starving.

…..

Morning light slipped into the room, and Nina felt a sharp sting behind her eyes. Her head was heavy and body ached badly. She rolled over a little, and that was when she realized she wasn’t wearing anything.

She froze on the spot, and whatever sleep was left in her eyes vanished instantly.

She turned her head slowly… and saw a man sleeping beside her.

Everything rushed back at once—her clumsiness, the drug, the confusion, the wrong room, the kiss. Her cheeks burned so hard she wished the ground would open and swallow her.

She sat up quickly and spotted her dress on the floor. As she bent to pick it up, she caught a full look at the man’s face—and froze.

It was him.

The same man she had crashed her car into that morning while rushing into Hart Holding for her board presentation. She had apologized quickly and then disappeared, thinking she’d never see him again. Now here he was, inches away, asleep on the same bed with her.

“Oh, Nina… what have you done?” she muttered under her breath, her cheeks burning.

She scrambled for her dress on the floor, trying to slip it on quietly, praying he wouldn’t wake up. But in her panic, she knocked over a glass on the bedside table.

The sound snapped him awake.

He opened his eyes immediately and stare at her

“Trying to sneak out?” he said, voice low and rough from sleep.

Nina froze, caught like a child stealing cookies. She turned around slowly, heat crawling up her neck.

“I—I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I just… I didn’t want to wake you.”

He didn’t speak at first. He just stared, like he was waiting for her to say something..

Can we pretend nothing happened between us, we can just go our separate ways, we wouldn't be seeing each other again anyways.

Pretend…? I think we’ve been running into each other lately, he said with his brow raised. 

Nina blinked, stunned. “Oh… damn. Nina breathed, muttering to herself “He remembered my face.”

“Hard not to”

She swallowed hard. “Look, I wasn’t in my right frame of mind last night. I didn’t even know where I was. I’m sorry if I caused any trouble”

He raised a brow, calm and unreadable. “Do you really think I’m letting you walk away like nothing happened?”

Nina’s heartbeat tripped.

 She didn’t know if she should run, explain, or disappear completely.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For… helping me twice. I’ll make it up to you somehow.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Your name?”

“Nina.”

“And your surname?”

She grabbed the door handle. “I think that’s enough information for today,” she said, trying to sound firm, though her voice wavered a bit.

He smirked lightly. “Ethan. Ethan Voss,” he said. “Keep that name in your mind.”

Nina nodded once, pushed the door open, and slipped out before her nerves could betray her again.