CHAPTER 50
BRENDA'S POV
The door didn't just open.
It crept.
Slow. Careful. Like whoever was behind it knew they were stepping into something fragile… or dangerous.
A face appeared through the gap.
A woman.
And for a second—I forgot where I was.
She was beautiful.
Not the kind of beauty that tries too hard… no. The kind that just is. Effortless. Soft. The kind that makes you look twice without even realizing it.
But what caught me first?
Those glasses.
Huge. Sitting perfectly on her face like they belonged there, like they were part of her charm.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
Her voice—
Soft.
Feathery.
It didn't enter the room. It floated into it.
"How did you come here? And with who?" Reginald asked from beside me.
I didn't take my eyes off her.
Something about the way she stood there… like she wasn't worried, like she already belonged here—it didn't sit right with me.
She smirked.
And just like that, the air shifted.
Oh.
These two knew each other.
Not just knew—knew.
"I came with you, baby…" she said sweetly, tilting her head slightly. "Am I that easy to forget?"
For a split second—
I almost believed her.
That's how smooth she was.
That's how convincing that tone was.
But then…
She crossed her arms.
And just like that, the softness dropped.
Gone.
Replaced with something sharper. Something aware.
"Hello Brenda," she said, her eyes locking onto mine. "Nice to finally meet you."
Finally?
My throat tightened.
A strange unease crept up my spine, slow and cold, settling somewhere in my chest.
Before I could even respond—
Her entire face lit up.
Like the tension I felt didn't exist to her at all.
She walked in fully, like she owned the space, then without hesitation—
She threw herself onto the oversized bed.
Just like that.
No permission.
No hesitation.
She closed her eyes for a second, like she was testing the softness… then snapped her head in my direction.
"May I?" she asked.
A beat.
Then she grinned.
"Although I already did."
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
God… she was something else.
She turned her head toward Reginald, waving her hand lazily.
"I'm here. You can go now. Shoo."
Shoo?
I almost choked.
And the craziest part?
Reginald didn't even argue.
He just… left.
Like that.
The door shut behind him with a soft thud, the sound lingering in the room longer than it should have.
And just like that—
It was just me and her.
Silence settled.
Not uncomfortable.
Just… new.
"Hi," I said, a little awkwardly.
I didn't want to come off cold. Not to her.
There was something about her presence—it softened something inside me. Being around another woman… it did something.
It made me feel less alone.
Less… exposed.
Like maybe—just maybe—someone here would understand the things I couldn't even put into words.
She looked at me.
Really looked at me.
Then grinned.
"A nice hot shower will do," she said casually. "You could really use it."
My eyes widened.
Oh.
Oh God.
She wasn't wrong.
The last time I had taken a proper bath…
Hawaii.
The memory hit me like a wave—salt air, warm water, peace—
And then everything after that just felt… dirty.
Stale.
"How long have I even been out?" I muttered under my breath.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly, suddenly aware of myself. "Let me just—"
I stood up.
And froze.
My reflection stared back at me from the mirrored wardrobe.
Hair slightly messy.
Skin dull.
Eyes tired.
I looked like someone who had been taken.
Not someone who belonged here.
I opened the wardrobe.
Empty.
Completely empty.
I blinked.
Opened another.
Nothing.
Not a single piece of clothing.
Confusion turned into disbelief so fast it almost made me laugh.
I walked into the walk-in closet, expecting—hoping—maybe something was there.
Anything.
But no.
Nothing.
Just space.
Cold, empty space.
"There are no clothes in here!" I blurted out, turning around so fast I almost lost my balance.
It came out sharper than I intended.
Almost childish.
Like I genuinely couldn't process it.
Eva walked in right behind me, looking around like she was inspecting the place herself.
Then she slowly nodded.
And I knew.
We were thinking the exact same thing.
MEN.
I let out a breath, dragging my hand down my face.
"Of course," I muttered.
"Of course they'd bring me here… kidnap me… and forget the one thing I actually need."
I looked at her.
She looked at me.
And just like that—
We both knew.
MEN.
HOW TYPICAL.