Episode001
1305 Words
NINA'S POINT OF VIEW
A chilly hand touched my cheek before sliding down towards my chest. I felt my heart racing while my body actively pushed away the unwanted contact. Every attempt I made to move failed because my limbs felt extremely weak. The edges of my vision blurred within a fuzzy haze while my eyelids struggled to stay open as I fought to concentrate.
His lips pressed against mine, and he forced me into a kiss I did not want. The room was filled with the smell of costly cologne which combined with the stagnant air. My clothes—where were they? My body felt bare, exposed.
I whispered "No... stop..." in a feeble voice while attempting to push him away, but he remained still. He didn’t listen.
A deep whisper brushed against my ear. “You’ve been paid, so enjoy it.”
Paid? My sluggish brain scrambled for meaning. With a shaky breath, I whispered, “I have no idea what you’re referring to.”
The man above me didn’t care. His invasion persisted in its cruelty as each touch caused me to tremble. Even though my sight was blurred, I noticed piercing blue eyes peeking beneath dark brown hair. A black suit. His attire suggested he belonged at a high-level conference instead of being with me in this miserable situation.
Tears formed at the edge of my eyes while I attempted to escape, but my body refused my commands. A combination of pain and nauseating sensations overpowered my entire being. I needed to scream and fight, but my voice came out as no more than a whisper.
Before darkness took hold, I remembered his body moving against mine while his breath touched my skin and understood that there was no way to escape.
LASSI'S POINT OF VIEW
The door of my hotel room secured itself with a click as I closed it. My phone vibrated in my hand and I answered it right away.
“I’m already in the room,” I said.
“Good,” Teemu responded smoothly. “She’s the girl I arranged for you.” Beautiful, isn’t she?”
A woman lay without movement on the bed before me. Her flushed cheeks supported long lashes while her lips parted, subtly showing pink stains. The cascade of her wavy brown hair spilled onto the pillow beneath her.
Perfect.
“Yes, she’s beautiful.”
Teemu chuckled. “Enjoy your night, sir. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow.”
I gave a subtle affirmative sound before pocketing my phone.
Mother had been insistent. Mother insisted I should finally relax and take the present she had prepared. If I refused, she would investigate my life further, but I didn't want additional complications.
I removed my suit jacket and loosened my tie before getting into bed next to her. I moved my fingers across the silky curve of her cheek before letting them wander down to her chest. Her body twitched slightly while she produced a gentle whimper in response to my touch.
She was restless.
I moved closer to capture the faint aroma of her perfume. She smelled sweet, delicate, untouched. My fingers found the shirt buttons and began to release them sequentially. As I removed the fabric, it peeled back to expose smooth unblemished skin underneath.
Her brows furrowed as she shifted. A feeble push against my chest. A weak protest.
A pause.
Hadn’t she agreed to this?
A moment of uncertainty danced through my thoughts, but I chose to ignore it. I moved in close enough for my lips to touch her ear softly. “You’ve been paid, so enjoy it.”
A dazed reply. The words escaped her lips in confusion because she didn't understand what I meant.
She was blushing. How adorable.
I devoted time to exploring her body in its entirety. I was taken aback as her body responded with unexpected breathy sounds from her lips. She was tight, soft, warm—
Perfection.
I reached my peak, which filled me with satisfaction while I fell beside her, breathing heavily. A few moments later, sleep claimed me.
The curtains let in morning light as I began to move. I raised myself to a sitting position and stretched in a slow, relaxed manner before heading to the bathroom. The warm shower cleansed me of the night's residue while bringing a sense of refreshment.
I emerged holding my towel around my waist while my eyes settled on the bed. I felt my stomach churn when I saw the blood-stained sheets in front of me.
Blood.
My heart thudded heavily in my chest.
A virgin?
Could Teemu have made a mistake? I furrowed my brows and reached for my phone to send him a text.
I need you to call me as soon as you arrive at work.
I put on my clothes fast and brushed my wet hair before departing from the hotel without looking back.
NINA'S POINT OF VIEW
A loud bang jolted me awake.
I shot upright, my heart hammering. I experienced a headache while the bright illumination caused my eyes to hurt. A sharp pain shot through my body when I tried to move because every part of me felt sore.
Where was I?
I glanced around in panic. I felt a wave of dread consume me as I examined the unfamiliar hotel room. The sight of the bloodstains on the rumpled sheets stopped me from breathing.
No.
The attempt to recall memories was futile because my mind remained fogged over with broken fragments. I spent time at a bar with Noora where we shared laughter while drinking. Then…
Nothing.
The door burst open.
Noora burst through the door, folding her arms while her lips twisted into a sneer. My grandmother, Ritva Joni, followed Noora into the room while her cane made a rhythmic clacking sound against the floor. Her icy glare made my stomach twist.
The man who stood behind them immediately sent a chill through my body.
Aleksi Salonen.
My fiancé.
The tension in his sharp jaw betrayed no emotion while his hands remained clenched into fists by his sides.
I managed to stammer “Noora, what is this?” despite my voice being extremely hoarse.
Noora smirked. “Look at her, Grandma. Our little whore.”
Ritva cut her off with a hard stare and a single word, "Enough." She took slow, deliberate steps toward me. Her presence was suffocating.
I wrapped the blanket closer around my shivering body. Scattered clothes covered the floor as bruises and faint marks covered my skin.
Shame crawled over me like poison.
"I don’t know what happened, Grandma," I whispered, pleading. “It’s not what you think.”
Ritva’s gaze bore into mine, unyielding. “I do not tolerate disgrace, Nina. You have tarnished this family’s name.”
I shook my head desperately. “No! I didn’t—”
Bang! The cane struck the floor, silencing me.
“You will leave this house. I will never want to look at you again.
Tears blurred my vision. A pain beyond any physical injury gripped my chest tightly. Without saying another word, Ritva left me with her rejection, cutting through me as sharply as a knife.
When I tried calling Noora again, she laughed and shot Aleksi a lingering look before strutting toward our grandmother.
I faced Aleksi while a faint flicker of hope pulsed inside my chest. “Aleksi, I—”
He took a step back. The betrayal in his eyes shattered me.
“Our engagement ends here,” he said coldly. From this point forward, we will not interact with each other.
Then he was gone.
I was alone.
My tears streamed down my face while my entire world seemed to fall apart around me.
But one question haunted me above all.
Who had set me up?
- Writer
