Page 15

I wake up, but I don’t want to open my eyes.

I used to dream, but today’s reality is better.

The heat and scent of his body are still in me, permeating my skin and senses, and I love the feeling.

He’s awake but not in bed.

I move around a lot during the night, and I’m spread out on the bed. There’s no way he could be here without me feeling it.

God, I can’t believe I did this. I lost my virginity to a stranger, a man whose name is all I know.

No, I quickly correct myself. I know a lot more about him than just his name. Xander saved me and helped me when I needed it. Despite what he’s done, choosing to stay with him—and yes, I’m already determined to stay until the end of the summer—has nothing to do with the fact that he was my hero yesterday but because he makes me feel complete.

How crazy is that? Even though we don’t know each other well, I feel more whole with him than I have ever felt in my life.

Despite the attraction he awakened in me, I didn’t know what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t what happened all night. To be honest, I was a little afraid of sex. Not the act itself but getting naked in front of someone or allowing my body to be intimately touched. However, ever since that kiss by the door of his car, when I thought we’d never see each other again, it felt like we’d been doing this forever.

Sighing, I surrender to the fact that I need to get up and reach for my phone to check the time.

I find it odd that I can’t find my clothes on the floor, but then I see they’re on top of an armchair, folded. He must be a neat person, which is the exact opposite of me.

When I go to the bathroom, I notice a note on top of my dress.

Sleep as long as you want. My housekeeper will serve you breakfast as soon as you wake up. Had to leave.

The words feel like a cold shower and make my stomach churn.

Casual, dry, straightforward.

Without calling me by my name or signing his.

In his world, what happened between us is normal, but not in mine. Of course, I wasn’t expecting a marriage proposal, but he should at least have been here when I woke up.

God, what have I gotten myself into?

How should I act? Is this note some sort of sign, meaning that now that he’s gotten what he wanted from me, I should go? What changed his mind?

I shake my head. I need a shower and a cup of coffee. I can’t think clearly yet.

Half an hour later, showered, I feel more lost than ever, and it doesn’t get any better when, as I enter the kitchen, a woman looks me up and down as if I shouldn’t be here.

Normally, much of this feeling comes from my natural insecurity, but people usually smile when they first meet someone, even if it’s out of politeness. Instead, she just asks me to sit down so she can serve me breakfast.

I barely eat, nervous and crazy to get away because that’s who I am .

After a few sips of coffee, my confidence goes down rapidly. I’m on my feet, thinking about getting out of here really quickly, when she intercepts my path and hands me an envelope.

The handwriting is the same as the note, so I guess it must be from Xander, but just to confirm, I ask her.

“Mr. Christos, you mean.”

“No. Xander Megalos, your boss, right?”

“No one calls him that, only by his full name: Christos Xander Megalos Lykaios. The whole world only knows him as Christos Lykaios,” she says, frowning and looking at me with even more contempt, probably because I don’t even know the name of the man I slept with.

But I’m no longer worried about what she thinks of me; I’m worried about what I’ve discovered.

“ Christos Lykaios. Christos Lykaios. Christos Lykaios ... ” I repeat over and over as I leave the kitchen.

It can’t be! Oh my God! Life wouldn’t be so cruel.

I walk into the bedroom, too horrified to believe it’s true. To distract myself from my despair, I open the envelope. Inside, there’s money and another note.

I thought you might need it.

I start to shake. Is he paying me for our night of sex?

This just confirms that what I discovered is true. I slept with the same despicable human who destroyed Pauline’s life.

Stunned, I google his name.

Yes, it’s him: Christos Lykaios, Massachusetts College graduate, the same place where the accident took place. He’s the one who ruined my best friend’s future.

A man cruel enough to offer me payment for a night of sex, even though he knew I was a virgin before we slept together.

I put my things in my suitcase and leave the apartment without even bothering to say goodbye to the maid. Instead, I leave a note on the bed, not because I think he deserves it but to make sure I don’t ever see him again.

Few words but easy to understand .

Don’t look for me. What happened between us was a mistake I will regret for the rest of my days.

Just like him, I don’t say goodbye.

He doesn’t deserve that. He doesn’t deserve anything.

I’m in line waiting to get on the plane when I see a woman staring at me intensely.

Even though I’m shy, I have a gentle nature, and if people try to talk to me, I politely answer them. Today, however, I just want to be alone.

I haven’t cried yet, but my heart is broken. The guilt eats at me like acid.

So, when she takes a few steps closer, I seriously consider dodging, but I’m not rude.

“Hi, how are you?” she greets, and my first thought is that she must be confusing me with someone.

“Hi,” I say, forcing myself to be polite.

“Are you a model?”

“What?” Of all the things I expected her to say, that wasn’t one of them.

“I’m asking if you’ve ever worked as a model,” she says, smiling, but then she shakes her head. “Excuse me, I’m being rude. My name is Bia Ramos; I’m a scout at an agency, and out of habit, I’m always looking for new faces. You’re perfect.”

“Forgive my bluntness, but this seems crazy.”

“I know it wasn’t the best approach, but I realized that you’re about to board, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. What’s your name?”

“ Turner.”

She holds out her hand, and I hesitate but eventually take it. “Nice to meet you, . Here’s the thing: I’ll leave you my card, and you can google me to make sure I’m not a serial killer.” She’s smiling when she says that, and I relax a little .

I take the card she offers me. “What do you expect from me?”

“A screen test, although I have no doubt, I’ll hire you.”

“Look, I’m flattered by what you’re saying, but I’m having the worst day of my life. Believe me when I say this is a big deal because I’ve been through a lot of them. So, I’ll take your card and we can talk later, but today . . . I just really want to be alone.”

“It’s okay, . Just promise you’ll call me.”

“You have my word.”