Third P.O.V
Waking up in a strange room with things scattered across the floor was the first thing Tara noticed.
"Ahh… why is my head pounding so much? It feels like someone hit me with a brick. And why does my whole body ache like I've been working as a slave for a century?" Tara groaned.
She pushed the bed-covers away and slowly stood up. The moment her feet touched the floor, her eyes landed on something that made her freeze.
Drops of blood… on the bed.
At that very moment, terror seized her heart. It felt as if all the life had been sucked out of her body.
"What… what kind of mistake did I make? What did I get myself involved in?" she whispered, panic rising in her chest. "God… please don't tell me that what happened last night is what I'm thinking."
She staggered slightly, her mind spinning with fear and confusion. Her thoughts were so chaotic that she only came back to reality when the cold air from the open window brushed against her bare skin.
That was when she realized—
She was completely naked.
Her heart raced as she hurried into the bathroom and grabbed a towel, wrapping it tightly around herself. After calming down slightly, she returned to the room and sat on the couch, trying to recall what had happened the previous night.
But no matter how hard she tried, her mind remained blank.
"Why can't I remember anything?" she muttered in frustration, clutching her head. "I have to find out what happened."
Determined, she stood up and picked up the phone to call room service. The line rang a few times before someone answered.
"The reception desk. How may I assist you?" a female voice said politely.
"Hello, this is Tara Logan calling from… one of the rooms here. I think it's…" She stood up and checked the number written on the inside of the door. "Ninth floor, Room B-35."
"Yes, Miss Logan."
"I want room service to send me a set of new clothes immediately. Also, inform your manager to come to my room in thirty minutes. And make sure the clothes arrive within fifteen minutes."
Her tone was calm but cold.
"Yes, ma'am."
Before the receptionist could say anything else, Tara hung up.
"Ahh… what kind of problem have I brought upon myself?" she muttered in frustration.
Less than five minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
Tara walked over and opened it.
The moment the door swung open, she froze.
"Vanessa?"
Her best friend stood in front of her.
"Vanessa, what are you doing here?" Tara asked in surprise.
"Yesterday you suddenly disappeared," Vanessa replied quickly. "I was worried, so I told the hotel staff that if they heard anything about you, they should notify me immediately."
"Oh… I see," Tara said softly as she stepped aside. "Then come in."
Vanessa walked inside, her eyes scanning the room.
"But… what are you doing in this room?" Vanessa asked, sounding confused.
"What do you mean?" Tara asked, looking straight into her eyes.
"Don't get me wrong," Vanessa said carefully, "but if I remember correctly, the room you checked into yesterday wasn't this one."
Tara stared at her silently.
Venessa continued looking around discreetly, almost as if she were searching for something.
Suddenly, she gasped.
Tara frowned. "What?"
"Tara… why are there blood stains on the bed?" Vanessa asked, shock and concern evident in her voice. "And why does this room look like something terrible happened here?"
Tara looked away.
"I don't want to talk about that."
"Girl, talk to me," Vanessa insisted.
"What do you want me to say?" Tara snapped, exhaustion filling her voice. "I don't remember who the person was. I don't even know what happened. All I know is the scene you're seeing right now."
Vanessa bit her lip.
"Then what are you going to do? If people find out… or worse, if your parents find out… things will be bad. Not to mention your fiancé, Frank."
Her words carried an implication that made Tara's chest tighten.
"I don't know what to do," Tara admitted, her emotions cracking. "But the first thing I need to do is buy contraceptives to avoid getting pregnant. As for the rest… I'll tell my parents and the others once I figure out how to explain everything."
Before the conversation could continue, another knock came from the door.
The two girls looked at each other.
"Who is it?" Tara called out.
"Room service. I'm here to deliver the clothes and breakfast."
"I remember requesting clothes… but I didn't order breakfast," Tara whispered.
"I'll get it. You freshen up first," Vanessa said.
Tara nodded and walked into the bathroom.
While Tara was bathing, Vanessa opened the door and collected the items. After closing the door, she placed them on the table.
That was when she noticed a letter beside the breakfast tray.
Curious, she picked it up and read it.
"I apologize for leaving without telling you who I am, but I will come back for you and take responsibility. For now, eat the breakfast and consider it my apology."
Vanessa's expression immediately darkened.
Without hesitation, she tore the letter into pieces and threw it into the trash.
Just as she finished, the bathroom door opened and Tara walked out.
After getting dressed, Tara sat down and began eating the breakfast since she was already hungry.
A few minutes later, another knock sounded at the door.
"Vanessa, please get the door," Tara said.
Vanessa nodded and opened it.
The hotel manager stepped inside.
"Good morning, Miss Logan."
Tara hummed in acknowledgment.
"I want you to check yesterday's CCTV footage," she said coldly. "Find out who entered this room and who left. Also check if this room was registered under someone else's name."
She paused briefly and glanced at Vanessa.
"Why are you investigating this?" Vanessa asked, her voice slightly panicked.
"I just want to know the jerk who took advantage of me," Tara replied calmly.
Then she turned back to the manager.
"Go check it now. I want the answer in less than ten minutes. I hope I've made myself clear."
"Yes, ma'am," the manager replied nervously.
"Oh, and while you're at it," Tara added, "get someone to buy me very potent contraceptives."
"Yes, ma'am."
The manager quickly left the room.
Although things seemed calm on the surface, the atmosphere inside the room was anything but peaceful.
Vanessa looked both panicked and furious.
Tara, however, had no idea that the mysterious man who took her chastity was only the beginning of a much bigger storm.
What frightened her even more was that she didn't know whether what happened to her was simply fate…
—or a carefully planned conspiracy meant to completely destroy her.