Love at First Bet

Chapter three - The last toast

Evelyn



Our kiss was interrupted by a man who positioned himself beside us, making a loud 'ahem.' Alexander looked at him, his expression turning to anger.

"Sweetie, can you wait for me a minute? I need to say goodbye to the people I came with."

"Sure! It's good because I'm also looking for my friends!"

He gave me a peck on the lips before turning things around and joining the other man, looking quite unfriendly. I messaged Lya and Jenny, but they didn't read it. I figured they must have found, like me, some boy, after all, that was the intention of the night”dancing, drinking, partying, and finding someone cool to hang out with.

After a few minutes, I asked a server to bring two glasses of champagne. I waited a bit longer, and I even found it charming that he didn't take too long, as if he didn't want to leave me alone for too long. He had his hands behind his back.

"Another last toast before goodbye?" He inquired, bringing his hands forward and showing that he also had two glasses in his hands.

'Depends. Will I get your phone number to talk to you later?' The waiter was approaching with the glasses I ordered, and I took them, offering him one too.

I was bold, I know, but what was I going to do? Just let him go, knowing that I would never taste his kisses again? Leave a reunion up to fate? Let him take the initiative? I don't know if he found me as interesting as I found him.

'How about," he placed the champagne glass in my hands and leaned his body closer to mine, reaching my ear with his lips, 'we don't say goodbye tonight? My driver is waiting for me, sober. We could go somewhere more... private.'

I shivered from head to toe, almost dropping the glasses. It's not like I didn't want to, but I was a virgin! It's not like I had made any vow of chastity, or was prevented, or had any health issues preventing me. Just, until that moment, I hadn't found 'the guy' who made me want to make love.

“I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.” He stepped back a bit.

“You didn't. It's just that... How about we toast, exchange numbers, and talk later?” I changed the subject.

“Sure, it's not like there's any obligation to do more on the first date.”

I swallowed hard, but then smiled. After all, he had been a nice guy so far and yes, he did pique my curiosity to go further. The curiosity to feel what my friends talked so much about and even criticized me for choosing not to do.

He placed one of the glasses on the table, taking one of the ones I held in my hands. I understood immediately what he wanted: I picked up the one he placed on the table and we toasted with all four glasses, then downed the contents right away.

After that, everything became a blur.

I remember we engaged in another kiss and a hug. He whispered in my ear, asking us to stay a little longer and dance. I agreed, especially since I saw my friend Lya nearby, waving at me while dancing with someone. If they were still in the venue, it meant I could have another drink, as I wouldn't be going home alone.

I felt weak in his arms, with a growing sleepiness and the need to close my eyes stronger.

“Eve, are you okay?” His voice sounded strange, with a different tone, lacking the usual tenderness.

“I'm just sleepy...”

“You're pretty drunk, and so am I... Come on, I'll take you home!”

“No...” I managed to say, but I'm not sure if he heard me, because everything, after that, turned dark.

***

Minutes later

“What's going on?” I woke up to the shout. I could barely open my eyes, feeling a strong hangover. “Tell me, what did you do to me?”

The man's voice sounded somewhat desperate.

“ What?” I raised my torso slightly, to see almost all of my body exposed, except for the sheet covering my hips, which I pulled up to my chest. I had no idea what was happening. “What am I doing here?”

I looked at him, dressed only in boxer briefs.

“You drugged me, girl! That champagne was spiked! What did you want? A one-night stand?”

“What? I... I would never do that! Did you drug me and... Did you touch me while I was asleep?” I asked, showing my disgust and fear.

“I would never do that!”

“It's easy for you to say that! You scumbag!”

I got out of bed, almost falling because I still felt dizzy. There was blood on the bedsheets.

“You took my virginity, you jerk!”

“Of course not! You staged all of this to...”

The bedroom door slammed shut.

“Just a moment!” He shouted, followed by a curse I won't repeat.

He opened the door somewhat forcefully, not caring that he was only in his boxers.

“The neighboring room reported shouting. Is everything okay, sir?”

I heard a voice from the other side of the door. Well, if it was a hotel, at least I wasn't alone. And before Alexander could say anything, I appeared at the door.

“Sir, please help me! This man drugged me and... I don't know what to do!”

“I didn't do any of that!” He spoke rudely, yelling.

“I... I'll call security...” That's what the hotel attendant managed to say as he pulled out a cell phone from his pocket.

I couldn't believe this had happened to me! A man in his thirties behaved like a criminal, drugging me to take me to his bed. How infuriating! When my father found out, Alexander would be in deep trouble.

While security was being called, I picked up my clothes scattered on the floor and saw Alexander doing the same. I ran to the suite's bathroom, allowing myself to cry a bit. I locked myself in that room, sitting on the floor, and sent a message to my father to come pick me up urgently, without specifying the details. I stayed locked in, even when hotel staff came knocking on the door. I only opened it when I recognized the voice on the other side:

“Evelyn, are you in there?”

It was my father's voice.

“Dad!” I ran out of the room, hugging him.

It was just tears at first, with him comforting me. When I calmed down a bit, he asked:

“So it's true that Alexander Adams did what they're saying out there with you?”

“Yes, Dad! He drugged me and...”

“The police have been called! But we'll need to go to the police station.”

My father took off his suit jacket and put it over my shoulders. We left the room, and there was already press and curious people outside. I always judged girls who kept quiet in these situations, but now I felt the shame of everyone looking at you. And the judgments. And the flashes of lights in your face. It's horrible.

I didn't see Alexander again until we reached the hotel lobby. My father removed his hand from around my shoulders and lunged at him in a fit of rage. Both of their security guards had to step in, avoiding an even bigger scene. But unfortunately, they couldn't keep both of them from shouting insults, among which I could tell they knew each other and were about to close a million-dollar deal!

“You worm!” My father cursed. “What do you want with this? Impregnate my only daughter and become my heir as well?”

“I didn't do anything to your daughter! You sent her to seduce me and gain from my company! This won't go unnoticed!”

“Mr. Brown,” Mr. Smith, my father's lawyer, reprimanded him “please don't say anything more! Look at the media!”

My father's driver is standing in front of his Rolls-Royce Ghost Black. He is impeccably dressed in a stylish suit and wears sunglasses. He opens the car door, and I enter first. My father sits beside me. The interior of the car is dark, which I appreciate because my head hurts a little. It is also luxurious, with soft leather seats, and the finish is impeccable.

As the engine starts, and we pull out of the garage, my father activates the panel that separates the passenger area from the driver's seat. This car is an extension of my father's personality: a man of success and power, and this car was purchased to demonstrate that.

"Now that it's just you and me, answer me: Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course, Dad!"

I told my father what happened, about my intentions just to get to know him, not end up in bed! It was too embarrassing to talk about that with him! But who else could I trust? His lawyer accompanied us in the car behind, but I would be ashamed to tell him details, although I knew that sooner or later, I would have to.

"Were you really going to close the deal? Who is he?"

"He's the CEO of one of the most prominent fintech companies in the market, Zenith. His father retired recently, and he seemed competent in maintaining the legacy. And yes, we were about to close a good deal."

"How disgusting! He should have known that I was your daughter and wanted to profit from it!" I theorized.

"Oh, but I'll make sure he's arrested for what he did to you. Don't worry! He may be rich, but he doesn't have the contacts I have!"