The Billionaire’s Contracted Bride

~Naina’s POV~

I woke up to a pounding headache, my temples throbbing like a drumline. Groggily, I opened my eyes, only to be met with an unfamiliar ceiling. The soft, rhythmic sound of snoring filled the room, but it wasn't Lucas's familiar gentle hum. Panic surged through me like ice water, my heart racing as I turned to face the stranger beside me.

His naked chest rose and fell with each breath, his chiseled features relaxed in sleep. I didn't recognize him, and my mind raced to piece together the fragmented memories of the previous night. The taste of tequila lingered on my tongue, and the faint scent of cologne clung to my skin.

Recollections flooded in: arriving at the party with friends, laughing and dancing, then...nothing. My memories were shrouded in a haze of alcohol and confusion. I had no recollection of leaving the party or ending up in this room with a stranger.

My gaze drifted down, and I noticed a red stain on the sheet. A wave of nausea washed over me as I realized the truth. I had lost my virginity, meant for Lucas, in a night I couldn't remember. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I scrambled out of bed, my head spinning.

"This has to be a dream," I muttered, my voice shaking.

My phone buzzed, Lucas's name flashing on the screen. Guilt and shame suffocated me, making it hard to breathe, andstopped me from answering. A text from Amy urged me to meet her in the lounge when I woke up. Could I trust Amy with what happened? The thought of her disappointment tore at me. What would she think of me now?

I cleaned up and dressed quickly, grabbing my purse, and rushed to leave, only to collide with Amy outside my door. I quickly shut it, but her surprised look lingered, her eyes searching for what I was hiding.

"Are you okay? Why the rush?" she asked.

"It's nothing, let's just go," I said, masking my turmoil as we left.

As we walked to the lounge, Amy chattered away telling me that the other girls had left , oblivious to my inner turmoil. I nodded along, trying to focus on her words, but my mind kept drifting back to what happened.

When we reached the lounge, Amy steered me towards a secluded corner. "What's going on, Naina?

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Amy was my best friend

"I... just had a rough night," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

Amy's eyes widened in concern. "What happened? Rough night? How? Did Lucas call you? Did something happen with Lucas?"

I shook my head, unable to meet her gaze. "No, it's not Lucas. It's... it's complicated."

"Complicated how?" Amy pressed, her curiosity piqued.

"I... I can't tell you, Amy. Not yet," I said, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me.

Amy's expression softened, and she reached out to squeeze my hand. "It's okay, Naina. You don't have to tell me if you're not ready. Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged her, grateful for her understanding. But as we pulled apart, a nagging doubt crept into my mind. Could I really trust Amy with my secret?

~~~

Two days later, Lucas invited me to celebrate his promotion at his workplace. Guilt and confusion gnawed at me.

Should I tell Lucas about the incident?

Would he believe it was a mistake?

"You've been acting strange since the party with your friends" Lucas said as he drove us.

"Huh?" I was lost in my thoughts.

"Is everything okay? Something seems off," he asked, concern evident.

I smiled, shaking my head, unwilling to burden him with my secret.

"Congratulations on the promotion," I said, trying to sound cheerful.

"Thanks dear " he replied, turning to face me "I wanted to talk to you about something important."

My heart skipped a beat.

"I've been thinking a lot lately," Lucas continued, "about us, about our future."

I held my breath, waiting for him to continue.

"I know things have been tough lately, with the wedding and everything," he said, his tone softening. "But I want you to know that I love you, Naina. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Tears welled up in my eyes. How could I tell him the truth now, when he was being so sincere?

"I love you too, Lucas," I said "I want to spend the rest of my life with you too."

A sense of relief washed over me. Maybe I didn't need to tell him after all. Maybe I could bury this secret deep inside and pretend it never happened.

But deep down, I knew the truth would always haunt me.

---

At his workplace, the celebration was in full swing. Lucas excused himself, and I wandered, admiring the company's grandeur. A message from Lucas summoned me to the fifth floor.

I went to the elevator. As the doors opened, I froze.

Inside stood the stranger from that night, accompanied by another man. I hesitated but entered, pushing the button for the fifth floor. Could he recognize me? Had he followed me?

"So, you mean you haven't found the lady yet?" he said, his voice husky and deep, the first time I had heard it.

"Actually, according to the receptionist, she came with her friends and left, and..."

"It's okay," he cut his secretary short.

I was shocked. Were they referring to me? Why was he looking for me?

"Cancel all the appointments I have today. I have somewhere else to be," he said.

"But..."

"But what? I own this company, and I can do whatever I want," he asserted, causing me to gasp out loud.

If he owned this company, then he must be Kyle Prescott, the arrogant, enigmatic, and lazy heir, the CEO of the company, and Lucas's boss.

So, I had slept and lost my virginity to someone like that. It felt like a scene from a book.

The elevator stopped, and the other man, whom I assumed was his secretary, got out, leaving me alone with him.

Suddenly, there was a jolt, and the ground shook. Losing my balance, I grabbed onto the first thing I could, which happened to be his arm.

The tingles of his skin danced across my palm. I looked at my hand, seeing his unwavering gaze on it. He scrunched his eyebrows, trying to place me.

"I'm sorry, but have we met before? You look familiar," his tone was questioning.

"No, we haven't," I stated coolly, pulling my hand away as the elevator stopped and the lights flickered. The speakers in the elevator filled the small space. "I'm sorry to inform you, but our elevator seems to have broken down."

Suddenly, the elevator abruptly halted, and the lights dimmed down into a soft glow. I groaned, knowing full well that I was truly and utterly screwed. I was stuck in an elevator with someone I had prayed not to encounter again.