Chapter 2: Night with Stranger
1689 Words
Jade's words hit me like a slap. "Engaged." The word lingered, suffocating me.
It couldn’t be real. Not after everything we'd shared, the kiss that felt so meaningful.
Panic surged in my chest, and I could barely breathe. The noise around me faded, and I struggled to process what I’d just heard.
How could he be engaged? How could Jade—my Jade—be with someone else?
I was a fool, clinging to a kiss that meant nothing.
I needed to escape. I pushed through the crowd to the bar. "Whiskey," I ordered, downing the glass in one go. The burn in my throat was a brief relief, distracting me from the pain.
Another drink. The room blurred, the music became a distant hum, and I danced, losing myself in the rhythm.
Then, a hand grabbed my arm, spinning me around. A man—tall, dark-haired, and handsome—looked down at me with sharp, unreadable eyes.
“Dance with me?” he asked, his voice smooth.
I didn’t think. “Sure,” I replied, my voice distant.
He pulled me closer, his hands firm on my waist. We moved together, the music overtaking me. For a moment, I let go of everything.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice low as we danced.
“Someone who knows how to make you forget,” he replied with a slight smile.
I didn’t care about anything anymore, just the rhythm and the escape.
Minutes passed, or maybe hours, until exhaustion and alcohol caught up with me. The world tilted, and everything went dark.
I woke in an unfamiliar bed, my head pounding.
The man was beside me, watching me. His gaze was calm but unreadable.
“What happened? Who are you?” I gasped.
He smiled faintly. “You don’t remember me?”
I tried to remember, but it was all a blur. “No,” I whispered.
“You kissed me first,” he said casually.
I had no idea what I was doing or where I was. And in that moment, I felt utterly lost.
What had I done?
I bolted upright, panic setting in. The soft sheets tangled around me, and my head spun. I glanced around the unfamiliar room, my heart racing. I didn’t even know his name.
I quickly dressed, my hands shaking as I pulled on my wrinkled dress. I felt like a mess—lost, confused, and angry with myself.
I had just slept with a stranger. It didn’t matter how handsome he was; he was a man I didn’t even remember. I hated myself. I had saved myself for someone I loved, someone who never felt the same.
Where was Emma? Why hadn’t she stopped me? I grabbed my phone. Ten missed calls from her. Panic surged as I read the notifications. I needed to leave. I needed to go home.
I rushed out of the room, hailed a taxi, and buried my face in my hands, tears falling. I couldn’t believe it.
When I finally reached the apartment, I rushed inside. Emma was there, worry on her face when she saw me.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
I couldn’t speak. I just shook my head, tears streaming down my face. Emma pulled me into a hug, but I barely felt the comfort.
“I did something stupid,” I finally whispered, my voice cracking. “I don’t even know his name. I lost everything to him… I lost my virginity.”
Emma pulled back, shock in her eyes. “What do you mean? Who was he, Celine?”
“I don’t remember,” I said, my voice trembling. “I was too drunk. I don’t even know how it happened. I just gave it all away.”
Emma’s brow furrowed in confusion, her concern deepening. “You need to figure out who he is.”
“I can’t. I don’t even know where to start,” I replied. “He was tall, dark-haired, handsome. We danced together.”
Emma stared at me, her face going pale. “Wait, that sounds like—"
“Who?” I asked, my anxiety spiking.
“Oh my God! Was it Fierro Jackson? Jade’s best friend?” she asked, her voice low and full of shock.
My heart dropped. “What? No...”
Emma nodded, her expression grave. “It’s him. I’m sure of it.”
I couldn’t process it. Jade’s best friend? How had this happened?
"Fierro Jackson," Emma repeated, disbelief in her voice.
"He’s a billionaire CEO of Macro lens industry, Celine. Just like Jade. But Fierro’s a notorious playboy. Always in the tabloids. Jade’s different—loyal, faithful, not like him at all."
The realization hit me like a slap. Not just any stranger. Fierro Jackson. Jade's best friend. The man who had taken everything from me.
Emma’s face twisted with anger. “You let him take advantage of you? Celine, I told you to be careful.”
"I think you need to file a complain against him!" she suggested.
I felt the world collapse around me. "But If I file a complaint, it’ll ruin everything. Everyone will know what happened. I can’t risk it, not with Jade."
Emma clenched her fists. "Why are you still thinking about Jade? He’s getting married. This is about you now."
But I couldn't shake the thought of Jade. I couldn’t let him see me as just another woman who gave herself away to a stranger.
"What if someone saw us last night? What if Fierro tells everyone?" I whispered.
“You need to take control of this,” Emma replied.
Suddenly, a thought came to me. "I need to talk to Fierro," I said, voice shaking.
Emma's jaw dropped. "Are you crazy? You want to see him again and talk to him?"
"I have to make him promise it stays between us," I said, forcing myself to stay calm. "I can’t let anyone find out."
Emma looked at me with disbelief. "Celine, he’s not going to protect you. He’s a playboy."
But I had no choice. "I can’t let this ruin everything."
Emma grabbed my arm, desperate. "Don’t do this. He doesn’t care about you. He’s just using you."
"I’ll find him. I can’t let anyone think I’m that woman." I insisted.
The next morning, I drove to his company, anxiety weighing heavy on me. Fierro was a billionaire CEO, and I had no idea how I had gotten caught up in this mess. But I had no other choice.
When I arrived, I asked to speak with him. The receptionist gave me an appointment at 5 p.m.
I waited for hours, nerves crawling under my skin. When the time finally came, I arrived at the restaurant where we were meeting. Fierro was seated at a table.
When he saw me, his expression softened just a bit, but his presence remained distant.
"Good evening, Ms. Jones—or can I call you Celine?" he said smoothly.
I sat down across from him, hands shaking. “We need to talk about last night. I need you to promise me it stays between us.”
He sipped his wine, studying me for a moment. Then, he raised his hand and called over the waiter.
“We’ll need two orders of the salmon,” he said in his calm, authoritative voice.
“One glass of white wine,” he added, before turning back to me.
I nodded silently, feeling the weight of the moment. He looked back at me with a faint smile, his eyes steady.
“And for you, Celine? What would you like to order?”
I swallowed hard, my nerves still wracked with tension. This was it—the moment to set things straight.
“I’ll have the salmon too,” I said bluntly. "And a glass of white wine." The words spilled out easier than I expected.
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by my frankness. “Good choice. What else?”
I took a steadying breath, ready to make my intentions clear.
"I’m here to make something clear, Fierro. What happened... it was a mistake. And it needs to stay a secret. It’s the biggest mistake of my life. No one can know." My voice was firm, a quiet desperation underlying every word.
Fierro’s eyes softened, but there was something unreadable in them. “I promise. But don’t mistake me. This won’t be the last time we talk.”
The weight of his words sank in, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure whether I had just made things better or worse.
He sipped his wine, studying me. “Anyway, What’s so terrible about people knowing?”
I looked away, heat rising in my cheeks. “I’ve worked too hard to protect my reputation. If Jade finds out... he’ll think I’m just another woman who gave herself away too easily.”
Fierro’s gaze remained steady, his voice cold. “You’re worried about him? Why?”
I flinched, but pressed on. “Please, just promise it won’t get out of hand.”
He leaned back, his gaze calculating. “I promise," he said finally. "But tell me something, Celine. Are you in love with Jade?"
I took a deep breath, my hands trembling. Fierro’s cold gaze made it hard to think clearly. I forced myself to meet his eyes, trying to stay composed despite the storm inside me.
"No, I’m not," I said, my voice steady but shaky.
"All I want is for last night to stay between us. I want it buried," I added.
Fierro’s gaze softened slightly, but he didn’t respond immediately. When he did, his words hit hard. “If it’s a mistake for you, fine. But for me, it was the best thing that’s happened.”
The words left me stunned. How could he say that? I could barely process it.
"This was a mistake, Mr. Jackson," I said, my voice sharp.
He leaned back, calm. “No, it was perfect.”
I froze as his next words cut through the air. "If you get pregnant, I’ll take responsibility. I’ll marry you."
- Writer
