CHAPTER 2

The Unexpected Meeting

Jane’s POV

The formal party was in full swing; the lively atmosphere was brimming with laughter, music, and clinking sounds of glasses. Jake, Sarah and I had entered the venue together; Sarah and I excited and determined to enjoy the night. However, as the night progressed, we found ourselves drifting apart amidst the sea of familiar celebrity faces.

“You didn’t tell me who party this is. The person must be important seeing that there are lots of celebrities here,” I said to Sarah.

“Yes, the host is Jaxson Sinclair,” Sarah said.

My eyes bulged. Jaxson Sinclair! The popular Billionaire CEO in New York? I couldn’t believe I was standing right in the middle of his house. Jaxson was a successful business man who owned lots of business and was thriving well in the business world. He was the envy of other business owners.

Soon I was left on my own as Jake apologized and took Sarah away, saying he needed to introduce her to a couple of people. I looked around the elegant crowd, feeling somewhat out of place in my transformed appearance. The room was adorned with shimmering lights and ornate decorations, but my attention was drawn elsewhere. 

I noticed a stairway and approached it, wondering where it would lead me to. I didn’t care where it led me to all I knew was that I wanted to leave the crowd of strangers. With my third glass of wine in my hand, I walked up the stairways and was met with a long hallway and I began to walk down the hallway.  

I walked until I spotted an open door. I quietly slipped into the dimly lit bedroom, seeking solace on the adjacent balcony. The cool night air brushed against my skin, providing a soothing difference to the heated energy within the party.

I leaned against the railing, gazing down at the bustling street below. Cars whizzed by, their headlights creating a mesmerizing blur of colors. The distant sound of traffic merged with the distant music from the party, creating a harmonious symphony of urban life. It was a beautiful sight.

Lost in my thoughts, I was unaware of the figure that silently approached. It was a tall and charismatic man who exuded an air of confidence. He leaned against the balcony railing beside me, his eyes fixated on the cityscape.

"It's a beautiful view, isn't it?" he remarked, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue.

Startled, I turned towards him, momentarily taken aback by his sudden presence. "Yes, it is," I replied, trying to regain my composure.

“I enjoy this sight everyday as I wake up,” the man said.

“You live here?” I asked surprised.

“Yeah, this is my penthouse; I’m Jaxson Sinclair,” he said, stretching out his hand for a shake.

“I’m Jane Collins; I came here with a friend of mine, Sarah and her boyfriend,” I answered, taking his hand and shaking it. 

We began conversing, exchanging stories and experiences. There was an ease to our conversation, as if we had known each other for far longer than the brief time we had spent together.

As the night wore on, the lively atmosphere of our conversation combined with the intoxicating effects of alcohol began to take hold. I carefully looked at his face and my heart began to pound because he was the most handsome man I had ever set my eyes on. 

In the midst of the swirling emotions, I found myself irresistibly drawn to him. Looking at his face, it reflected he was having the same emotions I had going on inside of me. Before I could say anything else, he pulled me to himself and plugged his lips to mine. We refused to go on a slower pace and before I knew it, our clothes were off and the rest is history. 

Morning broke, and the sun's rays cast a gentle glow upon the room, revealing the aftermath of our shared secret. Awaking from our slumber, we exchanged a knowing glance, an unspoken agreement passing between us. Without a word, we silently acknowledged the need to preserve the sanctity of that night, to tuck it away as a hidden memory.

Dressed in haste, regret and embarrassment washed over me like a tidal wave. I snatched my purse and practically ran out of the room, desperate to escape the weight of my own actions. Shame consumed me as I hurriedly hailed a cab, seeking solace in the confines of its anonymity.

I fumbled through my silver purse, retrieving my phone, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw the numerous missed calls. Sarah's name dominated the screen with 15 missed calls, while Jake's name appeared with 10 missed calls. Dread washed over me as I realized the extent of their concern and anger.

With my head pounding and emotions in disarray, I couldn't bring myself to call Sarah back. I knew that the moment our voices connected, a storm of questions and accusations would be unleashed upon me, and I wasn't ready to face it just yet.

Besides that, my head was banging seriously so I couldn’t call her back because I knew for certain that she was going to scream over the phone and ask me where I had been and I wasn’t ready for that now.

The cab stopped at my destination and I paid before getting out. I walked towards my apartment building and walked up the stairs since our elevator had faulty for over six months. I got to my door and fumbled with my keys trying to find the right one to open the door.

“JANEEEE”

A familiar voice yelled my name causing me to jolt on fear. With one hand placed on my chest, I turned to the voice and saw Sarah standing there.

“Why would you scare me like that?” I inquired.

“Where did you spend the night?” Sarah asked, ignoring my question.

There was a moment of silence. I looked back to the bunch of keys I was holding and found the right one. I opened the door and walked right in as Sarah followed behind.

“Would you say something or not? I deserve an explanation. I literally called the cops yesterday when I couldn’t find you and they said since it wasn’t 24 hours yet, they couldn’t do anything about it. So for the last time, where did you spend the night?” she asked again.

I didn’t know what to tell her. I contemplated between telling her the truth and cooking up a lie.

“Have a seat first, Sarah,” I said and she did as I said, much to my surprise.

After she had taken her seat, I decided on what to tell her. With a serious look on my face, I said,

“Sarah, please don’t be mad about what I’m about to say to you.”

“Speak girl,” she said impatiently. 

“I…”