When Lust Turns to Love

Chapter 3

Hannah Towers' POV

I let the tears fall freely from my eyes and onto my bed sheets. I can't remember the last time I cried this way. I feel devastated and disgusted at myself.

After arriving to the comforts of my small apartment, I immediately proceeded to my bed and let the tears I have been holding flow out.

What have I gotten myself into?

I feel so dirty and worthless. I just sold my body to a stranger and damn him for taking advantage of my situation. I never knew that debt would cost me my dignity.

I don’t know if I could bring myself to blame my mom who left me early when I was fifteen. Or my dad who acted pitiful and asked for a large amount of money. He reasoned out he needed money for his operation. I knew he has his heart problems so I never hesitated and withdrew all my savings and sent it to him. I never fathomed that he would lie to me and gambled all the money I sent him. I was so devastated when I learned what he did.

The worst part was that he has large debts that I never knew about. One day I just received a threat that I have to pay two million dollars or else my life is on the line. I wanted to trash my father and curse him for what he did but before I could get to him, the news reached me first that he died of a sudden heart attack. How ironic how he lied about getting an operation then karma got him good. I couldn’t even think properly on how to deal with the sticky situation he left me with. I cried lots of rivers this year mostly on pitying myself, agonizing on how to pay the debt, worrying on how to keep my job and how to cope up with my messed-up life.

And now, I’m burying myself deeper with the deal with that damned Justin Royce. I never knew I would ever allow myself to enter into that kind of relationship. I teach teenage kids not only with Geometry and Physics but also with moral messages and keeping dignity intact but now, I feel so ashamed at what I’ve done.

I suddenly miss my best friend, Amber Ace. She’s currently away on her honeymoon so I couldn’t get in touch with her. But even if she reaches out first, I wouldn’t be able to tell her what kind of deal I just accepted.

My tears wouldn’t stop flowing but my eyes start to droop slowly and I let myself fall asleep on top of white sheets soaked with my own tears but not after silently praying that two months might pass by in a flash and this will all end.

I wake up to the loud ringing beside my head. I groan and lift my heavy eyes open. I squint my eyes at the bright sunlight through my window. I turn off my alarm and groggily gets up and head to the kitchen for a glass of water. After washing my mouth, I head over to the bathroom and stop at the mirror to take a look at my tear-stained face. My red puffy eyes are looking back at me as I sigh at the pathetic sight in front of me.

Get your ass up, Hannah and be the woman that you are! I mentally tell myself and grab my towel. That’s right. No need crying over spilled milk. I need a warm bath to help me think things clearly.

As I dip myself in a warm bath, I feel better and in high spirits. I have a life to get going and there’s no room for pathetic situations to pull me down. If life is giving me that fucker Justin Royce to get me through my father’s huge debt, I will swallow my dignity for once and get over this obstacle. It won’t mean he could just use me whenever he can, I will not let him crush me all the way. I need to be tough on this and set my boundaries for him. I got myself into this, I can get out of this mess once it’s over.

I wrap myself in my towel and ready myself for another session of tutoring my students. They will be here soon and I have to get ready.

Just as I was brushing my hair down, my doorbell rings and I glance at the wall clock. It’s still thirty minutes to ten. My students usually arrive at ten thirty in the morning. I hurriedly finish my brushing and head over to the door, naively thinking that maybe one of my students is early today.

I compose a smile, ready to face whoever is the early bird but the smile faded seconds later. What the…?

I stand with my mouth gaping at the person I find at my door as soon as I opened it. Justin Royce is unexpectedly standing in front of me wearing a grey suit that fits his well-built body.

“What are you doing here?! How…how did you know where I live?”

He ignores my questions and just steps inside my apartment. I look behind him and saw another man in a suit probably his body guard standing beside a sleek and shiny black car. I roll my eyes. So he brought a bodyguard with him. Or does he always have one whenever he goes out?

I turn my attention back to Justin and follow him as he steps in and roams around my living room as if he has the right to inspect. He stops at the center just in front of my center table and regards me with a look.

“What?” I irritatingly frown at him. I didn’t know that part of our deal is having him visit me abruptly. “I thought you would call me whenever you need me, not coming in here and…”

“I just wanted to check where you’re living.” He interrupts me as he stares at me.

“Check for what?”

He ignores me again and looks down to gaze at the picture frame standing on the table. It was a picture of me with my students last year when we had a house party here at my apartment to commemorate our last tutoring day.

“You looked happy here.” He whispers.

I couldn’t agree more with what he said. I always feel contented and happy whenever I bond with kids or teenagers as I tutor them.

“Why are you here?” I ask him again. “Don’t tell me you want to…” I feel my tears starting to form again as I swallow and start to feel shitty about myself.

He seems to have gotten the message for he quickly said, “Just as I said, I just wanted to check on your apartment.” He strides to the door. “I will soon call you and be ready when I do.”

He didn’t even say goodbye and just went out the door leaving me. Damn! Why did he have to come here? I thought I could handle this toughly. I thought I already agreed to be headstrong but whenever he is in front of me, I feel weak and feeble.

***

Justin Royce's POV

Damn it! I hiss in annoyance as soon as I get inside my car and Mark, my bodyguard and driver closes the door and walks to the driver’s seat.

“Straight to my office.” I order him as he starts the engine.

I look at the rearview mirror at the fading apartment behind us. I shouldn’t have come here.

I didn’t know that coming here was a bad idea. I debated long enough this morning if I should pay her a visit. I don’t know why I wanted to see her badly.

It was a bad idea. I could still clearly picture the shock and the fear in her eyes when she saw me at her door.

I muse over the fact that I felt guilt creeping up on me when I noticed her red puffed eyes. She must have been crying all night. What have I done? Is she regretting her decision to be part our deal?

You forced her, you fool.

Damn it! I never experienced this kind of guilt when it comes to women. I never give a f*ck and I’ve never done this deal before.

In no time, we arrive at the front door of the large building I own. My employees stop in their tracks to greet me but I’m in no mood to spare them a glance. I unbutton my suit and loosen my necktie as soon as I enter my main office.

I heave a sigh and sit down. I push away the disturbing thoughts on Hannah as I bury myself to the paper works in front of me.

Thankfully, I was busy the whole day with lots of meetings and interviews in my schedule that I temporarily forgot about Hannah. I didn’t realize it but it was already six in the evening when my secretary Liam informed me that my last business meeting for seven PM is cancelled.

I frown at his notice as he stutters and tries to explain. That business meeting is for the upcoming launching of my new product and it’s very important that it should not get cancelled.

“Why the hell is it cancelled?” my stern voice makes Liam stutter more.

I roll my eyes. This is no news for me. I don’t know how it came to be but all of my staff are always trembling in fear whenever I use my stern voice. I have the reputation of being an authoritarian and a strict boss.

“Uhm… Sir…th-they called a while ago that…Mr. Andrews won’t be able to−”

He stops midway when I forcefully slam the pen I was holding onto the table.

“Get out.” I say through gritted teeth. Liam hurriedly goes out and I could hear his sigh of relief.

I can’t believe that important meeting would be postponed. I pinch the bridge of my nose in frustration.

Damn it! I have been looking forward for that business meeting and it gets cancelled at the last minute. God knows how much effort I have exerted in preparing for that meeting. I need a distraction.

I pick up my phone and dial a number. After the fourth ring, she answers.

“Hello.” Damn, even her voice on the phone mesmerizes me.

“Be ready. My driver will pick you up in an hour.” I immediately command her and without hearing her reply, I hang up and lean backward in my swivel chair.

I need her tonight.