Chapter 4: THAT NIGHT
After I turned sixteen, I realized that all the teachings of Madam Alyssa Cooper had prepared me for this moment. I learned to be strong, business-minded, and focus on my career, without any distractions of a romantic life. I knew that I had to apply these teachings to become a woman of authority, just like my mother had taught me. I gathered all the romantic novels I had been reading and put them away, ready to focus on my career. Even though I didn't want to go on the trip, my mother had already paid for it. However, fate had other plans; I met a man that I never thought I would fall in love with. It happened on a fateful night after I had suffered a heartbreak from losing a deal. I did what my mother and I always did after a loss; we moved on and tried again. But that one night changed everything.
EARLIER THAT MORNING
I got dressed up formally for a meeting with a finance company that was going to sponsor an entertainment show called Licia C. Entertainment. It was going to be broadcast this year. I went up to my mother's room to seek her blessings and advice, as we both usually do when we have an important deal that we can't afford to lose.
"Good morning, Mom," I greeted as I walked in gracefully in my heels, but she wasn't in her lounge or bedroom. I assumed that she might be in her study, so I went to check, but she wasn't there either. I knew where she was if she wasn't in the study - she was probably enjoying herself by the pool. I checked the pool on the balcony, but she wasn't there either. As I was about to leave, I saw something under the pool, and I didn't need anyone to tell me that it was my mother. So, I jumped inside the pool to save her. After bringing her out, I quickly called Nanny to ask the family doctor to come over, and he arrived a few minutes later to help my mom regain consciousness.
"She needs to rest well," he said as he packed his instruments. Nanny escorted him out after I expressed my gratitude to him.
"Go for your meeting," my mom advised me, but I suddenly remembered that I had an important meeting to attend. However, I realized that taking care of my mom was equally important.
"You need rest, Mom, and I will take care of you," I replied, forgetting about my meeting.
"But this is the foundation for your company, you can't afford to miss it," she said, trying to convince me otherwise.
"You are more important," I replied, even though what she was saying was true.
"I won't forgive you if you lose this deal," she said weakly. I knew she was joking, but at the same time, I knew she was serious. I walked out of the room pretending to be angry and changed my clothes. I asked the driver to hurry and drive fast to the company where the meeting was supposed to take place. However, I was already an hour late and the ride from my house to the company was also an hour, which meant I would be two hours late for the meeting. Finally, I reached the destination, but to my surprise, I saw someone else signing the deal that I was supposed to sign. I got angry since that wasn't the agreement.
"I asked, "What's happening here?" as I looked at the lady who was signing the deal. Suddenly, I heard my secretary say, "You were late Miss Alicia."
I was shocked and responded angrily, "Late? Two hours late? And you call that late?" Fortunately, the sound of a camera made me realize that the media was present. I couldn't afford to make any more mistakes, so I left the scene as the reporters ran after me. I was not only disappointed that I had lost the deal but also humiliated by my behaviour. I was sad and devastated. I ran as fast as I could to get away from the media, and luckily, my driver understood the situation and picked me up, driving off as fast as he could.
"Where should I take you, ma'am?" he asked, focusing on the road.
"Anywhere safe," I replied, trying to hold back my tears.
"Okay ma'am," he said and drove back to the house. I was hesitant to face my mother.
"Give me the keys," I said. He handed them over, and I drove off immediately as I saw my mother coming out of the house.
"Alicia!" I heard her screaming continuously.
After driving for about two hours to vent my anger, I stopped at a park to check my phone. It had been ringing continuously. The first newsletter that popped up on my screen was a video of my humiliation. I was about to swipe it away when I accidentally clicked on it, and the first paragraph caught my attention.
"Business guru Alicia Cooper, the daughter of Madam Alyssa Cooper, lost a financial deal to Emily Wang of Wang Management. Read the full story below."
"Emily Wang?" I asked myself. "How could that be possible?" I asked again.
I was feeling confused, but I didn't want to worry about it for the time being. It didn't matter who was responsible for losing the deal; the important thing was that I shouldn't have lost it at all. I continued driving for another hour, but it was getting late and I needed to rest. I pulled over by the road and saw a club across the street.
'It's time to forget about everything and move on,' I told myself as I entered the club. The music was slow and soothing, and I loved the atmosphere. It could become my new favourite place. I took a seat and ordered two bottles of Rasputin Vodka. I needed something to help me escape and be in my world. After drinking one bottle of vodka, I became more than tipsy, but I needed more to fully escape.
'Waiter, one more Rasputin Vodka,' I drunkenly requested. That was the last thing I remembered.
NEXT MORNING
The following morning, I woke up in a large room which was not my own. I was confused about how I got there from the club. Upon seeing my clothes scattered on the floor, I realized that I was not dressed. I checked under the large duvet which I had used and saw that I was completely naked.
"What happened to me?" I asked myself, inspecting my body. I looked around the room to see if anyone was there, but there was no one. I touched my body and knew that something had happened - a stranger had taken advantage of me. I screamed and was in a state of confusion. I wanted to understand what had happened, but there was no one to explain it to me. My phone rang on the table, and when I picked it up, I saw a letter beneath it.
"Last night was amazing. I can't believe you're a pro. Don't go anywhere. See you tonight," I read the letter out loud, and a few memories came back to me
LAST NIGHT AT THE CLUB
As the waiter placed my order on the table, a man in a suit approached and seated himself across from me.
"Hey, Xavier!" I slurred.
"I'm not Xavier; I'm here for the business meeting," he replied calmly.
"Oh! Do you want to sign a deal?" I asked in my intoxicated state. He looked puzzled, eyeing my table.
"How will you get home in this state?" he inquired. I trailed off, and before I knew it, he assisted me, settling me into his car. That's where my memory faded.
Recollections surfaced sporadically. Despite my initial impulse to leave, the prospect of encountering him again tonight held me back. I needed answers about what transpired. To wait, I switched off my phone, disregarding the concerns of my worried mother. Scanning the room, flashes of how he had dominated every corner came rushing back. I was wild, consumed by a craving for more. It struck me—he hadn't taken advantage; I had wanted it.
TODAY
I despised myself for what had occurred, wishing fervently it hadn't happened. As I attempted to push the memory away, it stubbornly resurfaced, causing a disconcerting sensation within me. I found myself conflicted—I both reveled in and resented what had transpired. Despite acknowledging that someone had taken advantage of me, an inexplicable desire for more lingered.
"Who reacts like this after being exploited?" I questioned myself, tormented by vivid flashes of my own willing submission. I screamed in frustration. However, I realized I couldn't dwell on being taken advantage of while grappling with the betrayal by my best friend, Emily Wang. She had usurped something that rightfully belonged to me. As I pondered Emily's betrayal, the door creaked open, prompting me to hastily conceal myself under the blanket, awaiting the arrival of the mystery intruder.
"Good morning, sunshine," a sweet voice greeted me as the intruder entered. Upon glancing up, I was taken aback by the unexpected identity of the person before me. Speechless, I wanted to unleash my fury at him for exploiting me.
"How could it be you?" I finally managed to inquire, my voice trembling with a mix of shock and anger.
"It could have been anyone," he retorted in his usual rude and indifferent manner.
"You had no right to do this!" I shouted, seething with anger.
"Relax, Alicia Cooper. You enjoyed it and desired more," he remarked, his tone oozing with a provocative allure. I was incensed that he was right.
"You shouldn't have done this, Ethan Robichaud!" I retorted with escalating anger. Who was Ethan Robichaud, and why was I so infuriated? You don't want to know the mistake I just made.
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