BURNING THE PAST;

Lena Dean wrapped her fingers around her coffee mug and walked to the window. Istanbul, as always, was chaotic, loud, and gray. But she loved this city. She'd grown up here, dreamed here, and been disappointed here. At twenty-eight years old, she had made a name for herself in the magazine world. She was a writer with a considerable following. Her articles caused a stir. Her words seeped into her readers' hearts. But she was tired of working for other people's magazines. She wanted to start her own. Do you know what the problem was? Money. To make her dream a reality, she would need to work for nearly fifty years. When her stepfather went bankrupt, Lena had sunk to the bottom with him financially. Loans were being rejected. Investors wouldn't even look at her face. She could stand on her own two feet, but the system wouldn't allow it. Her family? They were traveling the world. Her step-parents had thrown on backpacks and run toward freedom. They were enjoying their lives, and Lena didn't blame them. She had received enough love from them. When she was little, she learned she was adopted, but she never cared. Because love was stronger than blood. But right now, she didn't want to think about love. Because she had learned in the most painful way how fake love could be. Erik and Bella. Those two names made her feel like she'd been punched in the stomach. Erik... the man she'd given seven years of her life to. The man she'd grown up with, loved, trusted. Erik had promised her forever. Infinite loyalty. Infinite love. And Bella... her best friend. Or rather, the woman she thought was closest to her. She thought about the moment she learned of the betrayal. How she learned it, how a coldness had filled her insides... Words couldn't even describe the feeling when she learned that the man she was going to marry in a week had been in a relationship with her best friend for a year. She felt like an i***t. Was she blind? That blind? But she wasn't going to think about it anymore. Tonight would be the night Lena Dean was born again, started over. She finished her coffee in one gulp. Everything inside her, all that anger, resentment, pain, rebellion, she would push it all aside and go out tonight. A wedding? Good for them. The past? She didn't care. Tonight, Lena would just be Lena. And if that meant drinking too much, she would drink. With the darkness of the night, Lena's plan had begun to work. Lena Dean slowly swirled the drink in her crystal glass. Ice cubes danced in the alcohol, dazzling under the bar's dim lights. She was sitting in one of the city's most luxurious bars in the heart of Istanbul, but she hadn't come here to have fun. She was here to erase her past. She couldn't help but laugh to herself. She thought about how stupid she was. All these years, she had saved her love, her loyalty, even her body... only for Erik. And the result? Nothing. That's why she had chosen tonight to make a new beginning. Her friends had taken her out to cheer her up, but she had something else in mind. Tonight, she would be with someone. But it couldn't be just anyone. This person had to be a complete stranger. Someone whose face she would never see again, whose name she would never even know. She would have fun with him until morning, then continue on her way as if nothing had happened. With that thought, she scanned the bar with her eyes. And she saw him. But the man... looked like a storm. His jet-black, slightly wavy hair looked like the night. The first few buttons of his shirt were open, his tan skin gleaming like gold under the bar's pale lights. His broad shoulders, muscular arms, and tall stature, evident even while sitting, showed that he was no ordinary person. But what really affected Lena were the man's eyes. Dark, dangerous, and deep. The man sat at the bar, calmly sipping his drink. Despite the attention from the women around him, he seemed to ignore them all. This was exactly what she was looking for. She narrowed her eyes, straightened up, and without thinking, went to the man. The clicking of her high heels echoed in the bar. When the man noticed Lena approaching, he lifted his head slightly. Lena parted her lips slightly and said, "Come on, you're with me tonight." Blaze raised his eyebrows. In a harsh and threatening tone, he murmured, "Do I know you?" Lena rolled her eyes. "You're paid by the hour, right? Come on," she said confidently. The man's face took on an expression she couldn't understand for a moment. Then... He smiled. But this wasn't an ordinary smile. The corner of his lips curled slightly, his eyes gleamed slyly. It was obvious he realized the woman thought he was a male escort. He let out a deep laugh. Apparently, this situation amused him greatly... A shiver Lena couldn't explain ran through her. The man slowly stood up. When his magnificent body moved, Lena realized just how strong he really was. His chest was broad, the fabric of his shirt unable to hide his muscles. He was a complete rugged country type. Dangerous and charismatic. She wondered why someone who looked like this would be an escort. Lena's eyes examined the man's every move. The man looked her up and down, and with hidden amusement in his eyes, said, "Of course, ma'am. Tonight, I'm yours." She hadn't expected that answer. But she liked it. This was Lena's night....