I followed him into the living room in an effort to have a better understanding of what had taken place; nevertheless, I did not have the courage to question him directly. He picked up his phone and stepped out to the balcony, likely to have an important conversation. while I stood there unsure of what to do next, debating whether I should sit down and try to make myself more comfortable or whether I should continue standing. Why were there so many reports outside? In the four years that I have worked at Elite Oaks, I have never seen so many media congregate in the hotel before. Why was this happening? I cocked my head to the side to get a peek at him. His gaze immediately landed on mine. Still on the phone, he came back in and asked that I take a seat; I folded my silhouette in my arms and took the chair in the farthest corner to minimize being in his line of sight. With the booze still pumping through my veins, I was stumbling in and out of consciousness. A few hours ago, I pi
Once Mr. Colton and Winston had left the room. I headed to the restroom in an attempt to make myself appear at least slightly presentable. I glanced in the mirror. I had not gotten nearly enough sleep, and it showed in my appearance—my hair was a mess, and there were dark circles underneath my eyes. My skin resembled a dried out desert. I couldn't help but wonder what Mr. Colton saw in me that made him want to tie the knot. I despised seeing myself in such a mess. As I sprayed cold water on my face, the mascara ran down to my cleavage and stained the top of my ivory dress.After taking off any remaining makeup and brushing my hair, I pulled it back into a tight ponytail. My collarbones and naked shoulders were on full display. I went through the medicine cabinet looking for mouthwash in order to get rid of the putrid stench of alcohol that was coming from my mouth, and I slathered on a generous amount of lotion all over my olive-coloured skin.Before leaving, I made sure to maintain a
Winston and Mr.Colton left for a meeting. I was left alone in the suite, so I went for a walk around the suite and looked at all there was to see. I had cleaned this suite a number of times before, and each time, everything remained exactly the same. Nevertheless, this time, something felt different.After hearing a knock on the door, I began to head in that direction. Perhaps it was Mrs.Cha, who came to pick me up. I was clueless as to whether or not she was aware of what took place the previous night
Winston turned towards me and questioned, "Ms. Zara, are you married?"I wondered why on earth this particular conversation had any relevance to my marital status. Why did it have anything to do with what had transpired thus far? I quizzically raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Why does that minuscule detail hold any significance right now?"The two men's eyes locked onto me like a pair of confused children. It was clear that my choice of clothing had thrown them for a loop. Now, I'm not saying I was actually married or anything, but I did give off that vibe. Their puzzled expressions spoke volumes. It was as if they were trying to decipher the mystery that stood before them in a wedding gown. Was I a blushing bride, ready to walk down the aisle? Or perhaps a daring fashionista pushing the boundaries of societal norms? The possibilities were endless, and their bewildered faces only added to the intrigue. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I soaked in their confusion. It was like a
I was in a state of dumbfounded silence, as if someone had hit the mute button on my life. The irony of being rendered speechless at a time when I needed words the most!Before I could even begin to describe my shock with words.Winston clarified, "It will be a Contract marriage, and you will be paid generously at the end of each week. When the term expires in eight weeks, you will also be gifted with a luxurious apartment in the center of the Dorian coast."All of it seemed too good to be true, and it most likely wasn't. When it comes to money, that would completely alter my situation. I was out of a job and in a dire situation financially. I once attempted to be married out of love, but it was a horrible experience, and it didn't work out at all. But, a marriage without love?I was miserable at the thought of getting married, but ultimately, last night, I decided to stop thinking about it at all.However, the duration of this commitment is merely 8 weeks, and once it finishes, I wil
With an overwhelming feeling of urgency, I accelerated towards the washroom, driven by the desire to enhance my outward appearance to at least a modest degree. My reflection caught my attention. My sleep-deprived state was apparent in my disheveled appearance, with my unruly dark hair and the presence of weary, dark shadows beneath my eyes. My skin resembled an arid desert. It was embarrassing to see myself in such a mess. As I sprayed cold water on my face, the mascara dripped down my cleavage and soiled the top of my ivory dress.Once I thoroughly removed every trace of makeup from my face and delicately brushed my hair, I elegantly gathered them together, fashioning a sleek and secure ponytail. My exposed collarbones and shoulders were prominently on display. I rummaged through the medicine cabinet for mouthwash to help remove the rotten stink of alcohol emanating from my breath, and I applied a substantial amount of lotion all over my olive-colored skin.I rolled my shoulders back
As the lawyer entered the suite, Winston escorted him towards us. The lawyer extended his greetings to both Mr. Colton and me and settled into the chair positioned between us. He pulled out a handful of papers from his sleek leather bag and handed them over to Mr. Colton.Mr. Colton immediately conducted a thorough review of the documents.As the lawyer eloquently delineated a number of crucial clauses, Mr. Colton and I couldn't resist stealing fleeting glances from the corners of our eyes.As I sat there, trying to focus on every word the lawyer spoke, I couldn't help but notice Mr.Colton's thoughtful gestures. Every now and then, he would refill my plate with delectables. I was unable to resist feeling a connection, a silent understanding that transcended all confines between us.I was struggling to contain the radiant smile that graced my lips. His sweet little gestures, so tender and thoughtful, had the power to ignite a symphony of emotions within me. I was drawn by his charm and
Descending the staircase, I felt uneasy, my mind consumed by worry for Mrs. Cha. My concern lingered over whether or not she was aware of what had taken place the previous night. Perhaps she knew and was too frightened to come back to the suite to get me.All I wanted was to give her a hug and make sure she was doing okay. I gently pushed open the door to the housekeeping chamber. No one was around; apparently, Mrs.Cha had gone home after her shift to tend to her ailing husband.I took my bag and rummaged through it, looking for my phone.My phone screen was flooded with a staggering 52 missed calls and several messages, the majority of them from none other than Arlo. It was unthinkable for me to have a civil conversation with him after catching him cheating on me last night.The silence in the room was broken by the shrill ring of my phone. I glanced at the screen and saw the name "Arlo" flashing back at me. I hesitated, my finger hovering over the word "decline" on the screen as the