Chapter 2 I Had A One Night Stand

• POV (HANNAH):
• As my eyes flickered open, I found myself in an unfamiliar place. I quickly realized I was naked and covered only partially by a blanket. Beside me lay a man, peacefully sleeping like a puppy in spring. It took me a moment to recognize him—Ethan, my school bully and crush. Of all the people in the world, he turned out to be the one I had spent the night with. Embarrassment and regret washed over me as I realized that I had reserved my first night for my fiancé, and now it was gone.
• Feeling a mix of shame and urgency, I knew I had to leave. I couldn't bear the thought of him recognizing me and the potential humiliation that would follow. Slowly, like a thief in the night, I crept out of bed and gathered my scattered clothes from the floor. My hair was disheveled, and everything felt chaotic.
• I quickly dressed and hastily packed my belongings into my bag. Before leaving, I couldn't help but take one last glance at Ethan and the blood-stained sheets. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I let them fall without hesitation. I bolted out of the room and rushed out of the hotel.
• Inside the taxi, I fought back tears, but they continued to flow uncontrollably. The middle-aged taxi driver looked at me with concern, his face filled with worry. He seemed to understand what had happened, given the sight of my disheveled appearance and the bra I held in my hand.
• Memories of the previous night flooded my mind, and I couldn't help but cry harder. Images of how I ended up in that room, willingly surrendering my body to him, flashed before me. I felt a sense of betrayal, embarrassment, and disappointment in myself. The driver, unable to offer much comfort, handed me a tissue to wipe my face. I appreciated his small gesture of kindness.
• Putting the events of the night behind me, I took a shower and got dressed hastily before heading to work. Filled with a sense of deception, I rushed to the manager's office, determined to confront her. As I burst into her office, I held back my tears, but what I encountered was even more surprising.
• "Good that you came. Drop off your resignation letter, or I'll do it for you," Manager Zara said sternly, leaving me stunned. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice trembling with confusion. Manager Zara gave me a cold look and replied, "How could you mess it up? We were so close to sealing the deal! And then what? You get drunk and assault our client?"
• Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Mr. Ryan had twisted the story to protect himself. "Drunk? Your client forced me to drink and drugged me. He tried to assault me! I acted in self-defense. I should be the one angry here," I yelled, my voice filled with frustration. Manager Zara frowned, seemingly unmoved by my words.
• "What?" I exclaimed. "Yes, he attempted to rape me!" I declared, shocked by her reaction. Manager Zara smiled, sending chills down my spine. "And so?" she replied dismissively, taking a step closer to me. "That's exactly what you were sent to do. When I said to please the client, I didn't mean singing lullabies. I told you to do whatever he wants," she said callously, causing my eyes to widen in disbelief.
• "Even if he put a gun to your head, you should have knelt down and taken it. It was just a business meeting, and you ruined everything!" Manager Zara's words cut through me, and a tear escaped my eye. I couldn't believe I had been working for someone who treated me this way. "You know what? I don't care if you fire me or anything. Just give me this month's payment, and I'll leave your damn company," I yelled, my voice filled with defiance. A silent chuckle escaped her lips.
• "I'm not paying you a single penny. Now get out!" Manager Zara declared coldly. This was where my problems truly began. My entire life depended on that paycheck—my bills, my brother's hospital bills—everything relied on that income. And now, I was being denied payment for my hard work. This couldn't continue.
• "I won't leave until I receive my payment! Give me my money, or I'll file a lawsuit!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice. "Fine, leave now, or I'll make sure you regret it," Manager Zara threatened, summoning security to remove me from the premises. Two guards forcefully grabbed my arms and threw me out of the company. I couldn't control my tears as I landed on the pavement.
• My phone rang, and it was my mom on the other end. I answered immediately, only to hear her crying and her voice shakingwith fear. "He's dying, Hannah!" she uttered, her words piercing through my heart.