The Heiress

Chapter Three

I woke up.

The breakfast...the figure with the gun...the blood...it was all a dream.

As I slowly opened my eyes, I could feel them burn just like they did in that dream. I struggled to keep them open, wiping off droplets of tears from the corners of my eyes.

The room was dimly lit, but not as dark as it was the night before — thanks to God's amazing sunlight.

The curtains were still in place and the bed was in disarray.

He wasn't here....

I felt my heart sink in disappointment. I would take a walk and look around for him but there weren't any other rooms — excluding the bathroom — like there were in the dream, it was just a lodge room. Sigh.

I sat up on the bed, and immediately regretted it as I felt how heavy my head was. It was spinning and things were still in a haze, much less than they had been last night though — thankfully.

There were no traces of his clothes in the room. He was gone, without doubt. My dress, was however, on the other side of the bed, with my shoes positioned on the ground beneath it. I reached around for my phone and sighted it on a table.

In minutes, I was dressed amidst the throbbing pain in my head.

I walked to the table, and grabbed my phone. There were calls and texts from _Father, Mom, Godfrey, Barb_.

I texted Godfrey.

I'm fine. I'll call you soon.

Mom and her husband could wait a little longer before they ruin my mood.

I ignored Barb's text. I was going to be with her in seconds anyway.

On the table, there was a photo. I picked it up. It was a man who looked like he was in his late twenties. With beautifully cut hair, an elegant suit and the most stunning face I'd ever seen.

My hands trembled, just from looking at the photograph.

I felt a rush of bile coming up my throat and into my mouth.

I dropped the picture and immediately scampered into the bathroom to bring it all out.

Ugh... hangovers are a mess.

I let the tap run and washed my face with water scooped in my hands. I looked up at the mirror standing above the sink, my skin looked pale, my eyes were surrounded by a black messy eyeliner, my hair was in disarray. I attempted to untangle my strands with my fingers but stopped midway, realizing I would take a shower and have a proper hair wash.

Back in the bedroom, on the table that had the photograph, was a wrist watch. A Patek Philippe , with an engraving, R.B.

I stared at the picture of the man I had spent the night with and my heart ached — It was only a one night stand, Ava.

The buzzing from my phone brought me back to reality and I placed the photo and the watch back where they had been.

Barbara was calling. I ignored.

I stepped out of the room and made my way to room 16, the very next room.

I stepped in without knocking and Barbara sprung to her feet at the sight of me, her worried expression disappearing as she let out a sigh of relief.

"Hey Barb." I said nonchalantly as I walked straight in putting my shoes aside and preparing for a bath.

"Really?!" She stared at me wide eyed. "Do you want me dead?"

"Sweetie please, no one's going to kill you." I chuckled as I undressed.

"Your father seems like a joke to you?"

"What? You're in a hurry to marry me off too?" I blurted, but I didn't look at her.

"You aren't seriously going to guilt trip me after disappearing on me, Ava. "

I sighed. "I'm sorry," I said facing her. "It wasn't my intention, okay? I couldn't find you when I wanted to leave and I decided you'd come meet me in the room...only that didn't exactly go as planned."

I stopped and noticed that Barbara was giving me a questioning look, that was when I realized that I had been smiling at the last part of my sentence. I swiftly turned away from her, playfully trying to run away from the conversation even though I knew Barbara wouldn't let it go until I spilled the whole factory of milk.

"Ava," Barbara gasped. "Tell me all about it immediately." She was laughing. I was laughing too.

"Relax," I giggled. "It was only a fling."

"Girl, that fling got you blushing a great deal."

"Well... I don't know him, didn't even see his face when everything went down."

Barbara looked confused.

I rolled my eyes at her. "I was dead drunk."

"Well, that figures." Barbara was a lot more relaxed now. She lay on the bed, fully clothed in navy blue suit pants and a white shirt. Her amber eyes shimmered like they had tears in them. Barbara's eyes were glassy like that most of the time. It gave her a sweet, innocent look that could easily deceive anyone, especially with that blonde wavy hair she recently cut to a bob length. My best friend was an epitome of beauty and class.

"It's strange though, Barb," she looked up at me. "How I was intrigued by this man. I haven't ever felt that way about a stranger."

"That's... interesting, I guess..." Barbara didn't know what else to say, I wouldn't know what to say in this situation either. "You should hurry up and get ready, you don't want to miss your flight."

"Ugh!" I groaned. I had an hour to be at brunch with my father and my supposed suitor.

Barbara chuckled and I glared at her. She gave me a faraway kiss and a smile.

"So you have no clue what that guy looked like?"

I shrugged, "Found a photo of him this morning."

"And?..."

"He looks absolutely gorgeous, Barb.

"Awww..." Barbara had her lips pouted, giving puppy eyes.

I rolled my eyes at her, shaking my head and we both burst out laughing as I went into the bathroom.

In some minutes I was ready and Barbara had done my make up as well. I looked beautiful, my doe shaped emerald eyes were pronounced and my blonde hair was in a low bun, with curls coming down my face like bangs on each side, styled by Barbara of course.

I put on a red pant suit, with thin white stripes and red stilettos.

Barbara already had our boxes packed and taken to our car.

Outside, Godfrey stood beside my Rolls Royce. He gave me a stern look and held the door open. "You are late for your flight, Miss. I've made sure that you're on the next available flight."

"Thank you," I smiled at him and then made myself comfortable on the leather seat. I blew Barbara a goodbye kiss before he shut the door, and we were off.

For the entire ride to the airport, I couldn't stop thinking of the man in that photo and how I felt the previous night, wrapped in his arms.

I knew I had to stop this fantasy, considering that my father was marrying me off to a total stranger. I winced at the memory that brought me back to reality and my eyes burned with tears. I turned my attention to the window, staring at the fast moving buildings as I blinked back tears.