Use me, I dare you
1282 Words
Hailey
****
The sharp smell of antiseptic hits my nose before I even open my eyes. When I do, I realize I’m not in an ordinary clinic. The room is too luxurious. The nurse’s uniform too clean. Too polished.
“Miss Hailey, you’re awake! I’m Doctor Oslo,” a woman says with a warm smile.
Hailey? How does she know my name?
“Hi, Doctor,” I reply, blinking in confusion.
“You were brought in yesterday after you passed out. Do you remember anything?”
Everything crashes back—Chris, Stacia, the street, the men, the stranger…
I shift uncomfortably. My hands go to my lower body, the pain there stirring panic.
“No need to worry,” she says gently. “We checked. There are no signs of s****l assault.”
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Thank God.
“So what happened?” I ask, my voice shaky.
“We found a high level of GHB in your system,” she says. “Unless you knowingly took it, I’d say you were drugged.”
“Drugged?” I whisper, stunned. “No… I just had dinner with my boyfriend.”
The word feels wrong and Heavy.
And then I remember Chris words, “I was going to get it tonight, so obviously my plan worked.”
My stomach drops. My head starts to spin.
“Chris drugged me…”
“You can report him,” the doctor offers kindly. “We have proof.”
“No—it wasn’t him,” I lie quickly. “Can I see the man who brought me here?”
“You’re lucky,” she says. “A gentleman stepped in and brought you. Paid all your bills too.”
“He saved me?” I ask, stunned.
“Yes. He left quickly, he didn’t share his name. However he said to tell you- you may not be so lucky next time. Be careful.”
All I can remember is the safety I felt beside him.
“What about my health?”
“Your ulcer reacted badly to the drug. Your stomach is inflamed and Your blood pressure’s high. You’ll need a strict diet.”
“Oh my God…” I whisper.
“You need rest, Hailey. We’ll monitor everything. Is there someone we can call?”
I pause. No. Dad is far away, and my sister…she’s why I’m here.
“No one. But thank you.”
Dr. Oslo gives a kind nod. “Please consider reporting this. What happened is serious.”
I nod slowly.
She leaves and I finally let myself think. I can’t remember his face.
But his scent…I close my eyes and it’s there, clear as glass: deep oud and ash, sharp like wood and danger. Expensive and old. Nothing like Chris’s youthful cologne.
And I remember the way I felt when I got into that car.
Safe. Not saved.
Not rescued. But safer than I’d ever felt.
Just then, my phone lights up, fully charged. A message from Stacia.
One look and my heart drops. Then it hardens.
Chris and Stacia won’t get away with this.
My phone’s been blowing up since I left the hospital.
Ten missed calls, four voicemails—none from Chris or Stacia. Three from Dad, four from Ava, my best friend. They’re probably just worried. I always text back, always pick up. This silence is new for them.
The other two calls are from my church’s “Walk for the Needy” group. I’ve been showing up for four years, basically their unofficial leader. Too bad it ends now.
Charity begins at home, and if mine’s a wreck, why bother giving to anyone else?
The doorbell rings. I hurry to answer.
“Delivery for Miss Hailey Cavelli.”
“That’s me.” I sign and take the briefcase, the one thatcontains everything I need for what comes next.
I was never the smartest girl in the room,always second-best. Second daughter. Second top student. If Julia hadn’t dropped out senior year, I wouldn’t even have been valedictorian.
But one thing I am is done being is the fool.
After what Chris and Stacia did-drugging me, mocking me, throwing me out—I’d be a fool to let it go.
They think I won’t fight back. That I’ll forgive like I always do. They’re wrong.
I thought long and hard in that hospital bed, and now I have a plan.
It starts with Chris’s father.
Chris barely spoke of him, except to say he hated that he’d be at his sister’s upcoming wedding. He Said he was glad I’d be there to help him avoid the man.
Well, joke’s on him.
I found Lucas Aptor—business mogul, billionaire… and Chris’s father, And I’ll be going to the wedding on his arm.
The dresses I ordered from Stacia and Ava’s favorite brand just arrived. Goodbye, baggy jeans. Hello, Hailey 2.0.
If I’m going to seduce Lucas, I need to look the part. The rest? Ava will help with that.
Right on cue, she calls again.
“Hey Aves,” I say, twirling in front of the mirror in a gorgeous red dress that fits like sin.
“Don’t ‘Hey Aves’ me. What prank are you and Stacia up to? Don’t you think that’s too far?What’s going on?”
“You’ve seen it.” I realize the reason for the multiple calls from them are because of Stacia’s post.
“Of course I’ve seen it! Can you take it down now please”
Stacia had updated her relationship status to ‘in a relationship with Chris Aptor “ while I was in the hospital
I sigh. “It’s not a prank Ava. Long story short? Chris drugged me at our anniversary dinner. Stacia showed up. They humiliated me, called me blind. Kicked me out. I ended up almost r***d. Woke up in the hospital.”
“Oh my God… Hailey.” Ava’s voice drops. “They what? Quei bastardi! I swear, I’ll beat them in court and out of it.”
I smile. That’s my girl.
“They think I’m weak. That I’d never fight back. So I’m going to prove them wrong.”
“How?”
“I’m going to the wedding. With Lucas Aptor.”
Dead silence.
“Hailey. Have you lost your mind? Lucas Aptor—as in Chris’s dad?!”
“Yep.”
“Do you even know him?”
“Not yet. But I will.”
She groans. “This is wild. How are you even sure he’s Chris’s dad?”
“Same birthday. Chris once said they shared one. Lucas mentioned it in an interview. Plus, Aptor is one of Chris’s middle names. And his sister Mila? The resemblance to Lucas is obvious.”
“You’re going from virgin to vixen with your ex’s billionaire dad?! This is next-level petty.”
“If I was going to lose it that night, I might as well give it away on my own terms—preferably to someone who’ll break them in return.”
“You’re a madwoman,” she laughs. “And I love it. Get here already so we can fix your messy plan.”
She sobers a bit. “Just—be careful, okay? Lucas has a dangerous rep. People talk.”
“I looked into the rumors. Nothing solid. He actually seemed… different. Good different.”
Ava sighs. “I’ve got to run. Work’s calling. So when do I see you?”
“If everything works out? Tomorrow. I’ve got nothing left here.”
“Alright, babe. Be safe. And bring that chaos.”
I hang up and smile.
Let the games begin.
- Writer
