Chapter One
I stepped out of the blue taxi in front of Sterling Tower Hotel and just stood there. The driver drove off before I could even find a cash in my bag to give him as a tip.
I'm in my early twenties, and honestly I don't dress like that. Due to the nature of my job, I'm always on cooperate but today was an exception. A plain short red cotton dress, my long curly black hair was let down for the first time in a while instead of my usual bun falling past my shoulders, which I had done myself with a straightener and a lot of patience for over an hour, light simple makeup up I was already worried it would clean up before the party was over . My left hand was a silver handbag I borrowed from my best friend and on my feet were painful black heels I had also borrowed from her .
My beauty isn't the type to stop traffic or awe a crowd . My features are delicate, the kind person remembers without knowing why.
There are women in this world whose beauty isn't stunning but still enchant you anyway. Quiet. Persistent.
Turns out I'm one of them. My name is Olive Andy . I have learned that I can captivate people without even trying. It's not the facial expression, it's the presence.
And that's harder to forget.
Standing there with the hotel's expensive silver glass doors behind me , I felt a way I couldn't explain. Like I was a quiet room in a loud house.
I straightened down the front of my dress and took a huge breath . The glass doors reflected me back. I haven't felt this nervous for a very long time.
Miss, are you going in ? . The hotel Porter's voice drew back my attention. I nodded, gave him a faint smile and walked in .
The lobby was freezing and too bright. I kept my eyes straight ahead, pretending I do come there every week.
My colleagues at work who were in charge of welcoming guests were by the elevator. Sharon, head of my marketing department, spotted me first.
" Oh my God , Olive Andy , You actually came ! Go upstairs to the peony room on the eighteenth floor . Everyone is waiting.
She grabbed my arm for a hug . It was warm and real .
I smiled back at her . Thanks, Sharron, you look great.
Go on," she said, waving towards the elevator .
I don't usually come to my company's end of the year party, because I always felt it wasn't meant for people like me .
I had only come because the HR had said that attendance would be strictly taken.
I pressed the elevator button for the eighteenth floor and its doors slid shut immediately, and the quiet got me . I was alone.
The Elevator dinged . Eighteenth floor.
I stepped outside the peony room , placed my hand on the door handle. Straggling within myself if I should open it not . My hand was shaking, and I made a fist and let go off the door.
When I finally pushed the door open , there were already about three hundred Orion corporation employees from all departments inside . Dress in glittering gowns and expensive suits.
Soft music floating through the air .
I walked in, scanning the entire room, I found a dark and lonely spot .
Waiters were moving around with trays of champagne.
I took a glass of it in and finished it in one go .
Then another waiter passed by, without thinking, I took another champagne glass .
Then another . And another.
Another one ! . I laughed softly as I lifted another glass from the tray passing by me .
At this point, I had already lost count .
The peony room looked extremely beautiful with the silver lights and the loud music that echoed throughout the entire hall . Everything around me blurred beautifully.
I was definitely drunk.
Very drunk .
" I need air, I said out loudly , I didn't know if anyone could hear me or not .
I forced myself outside, pushing through people heading towards the hallway. The farther I went, the quieter everywhere became.
I needed it .
My head was spinning badly now.
The hallway stretched left and right with doors. I walked towards one the doors , stepped inside , kicked off my heels .
A huge dizziness fell on me and I sank into a couch .
The room was dark and had the atmosphere I needed at that moment.
Thirty seconds later, the door clicked open .
Oh ! I thought this room was empty.
A man stood at the doorway . His suit jacket hung around his shoulder , his tie on his hands . His hair was very messy.
Sorry I batch in ; he said.
I just need some romance," I replied . My voice came out not too loud.
He stepped inside and locked the door behind him.
He started walking towards me.
And that was it . The moment it stopped being weird . Two strangers , both bored and under the influence of alcohol.
Dennis," he said, after some minutes.
" Olive", I said.
Then we began talking about stupid stuffs.
Then his hand brushed mine where it rested on the couch . I didn't pull it away.
Then his lips moved against mine slowly at first, almost careful like he was giving me a chance to change my mind. I didn't Instead I kissed him harder .
A soft sound escaped me when his hands slid around my waist, pulling me closer until there wasn’t even an inch of space left between us.
Heat rushed through my body instantly.
The alcohol in my system made everything feel warmer , softer, dangerous in the best way possible.
He lifted me from the couch and placed me on the bed .
" You are beautiful, he murmured quietly.
He began kissing me again before I could think much about it. Light and gentle.
Kisses that stole every thought from my head.
"Tell me if you want me to stop?" he whispered into my right ear.
But I didn't want him to stop. Not when I was already enjoying it.
So instead of answering him, I wrapped my legs around his waist and began unbuttoning his shirt to give him a go-ahead order.
He began kissing me deeply. He kissed meme like he couldn't stop once he started. And I was kissing him same way too .
The tension between us increased. But neither of us stopped.
The slow pull of clothes slipping away piece by piece.
He lowered himself over me carefully, our bodies moving together with growing urgency . Warm skin against skin.Soft moans filled the room, accompanied by whispered words . The chemistry between us was impossible to ignore.
Afterward , I rested my head on his chest, while his hands wrapped loosely on my waist .
Gently and slowly, we slept off .
I woke up the next morning with a headache that felt like a punishment.
For some minutes I didn't move. I looked around the room. It was unfamiliar, too expensive . My curtains weren't white.
My mattress wasn't this soft. This wasn't my room.
I pushed myself upright too quickly and nearly choked when the sheet slid down my body.
I was completely naked. Under the same sheet with him .
My breath caught slowly as I slowly turned my head and that was when my heart stopped.
Him .
Lying beside me.