Chapter 1

On our eighth anniversary, Jace completely humiliated me. After drinking way too much, I ended up in the wrong room.

The next day, when he found out I was quitting, he just laughed and hung up.

He thought I had a bit of a tantrum and would come back in a few days.

But I bought a ticket and left that night, cutting ties with everyone in Angrinton, including Jace.

My bestie thought I was just heartbroken, so she dragged me out to a bar to help me forget.

With my face flushed from the booze, I grabbed the nearest guy and started crying, spilling all my regrets.

I said, "I swear I didn't mean for any of that to happen.

"I was completely wasted, okay? I couldn't control myself and ended up doing something stupid with that poor guy.

"God bless me. I've run so far. There's no way he'll ever find me, right?"

Suddenly, the whole place fell silent. My bestie was the only one brave enough to nudge me.

Through my blurry vision, I looked up and saw that familiar face from that night.

"So, Ms. Puckett, you're not going to take responsibility for what you did to me, huh?" the guy said.

*****

The door clicked shut, locking tight behind me.

My heart was racing, but after a moment, I managed to calm down. I hobbled as quickly as I could toward the elevator.

My knees were shaking so badly that I almost collapsed. Every muscle in my body ached, but I couldn't afford to slow down.

Just thinking about the furious look in that guy's eyes made me gulp. I quickly hit the elevator button, desperate for the doors to open.

Last night, someone drugged my red mine. By the time I realized something was wrong, I was already stumbling around dizzily and opening the door of a random room.

Without a second thought, I stormed in and tackled a stranger who had just finished washing up. He was attempting to get out of his wheelchair to bed when I barged in.

Like a desperate whoremonger, I kicked his wheelchair aside, climbed onto his lap, tilted my head back, and tried to kiss him.

I slurred, "It's so hot. How about you? Maybe we should strip.

"Hey, don't go, sir. Just help me out, okay?

"Come on, have some pity. Let me touch you, maybe it'll cool me down.

"Maybe a kiss will help... make me feel less thirsty.

"And I need..."

I was rambling, squirming in his arms, my hands wandering everywhere.

The guy, whose face was a blur, just stiffened, pressing his lips into a tight line. Silent, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Thinking his legs were useless, I boldly straddled his waist, grinding against him without shame.

When I was completely exhausted, I collapsed onto his chest, gasping for breath.

That was when he finally spoke, his voice cold as ice. "Do you know who I am?"

But before I could respond, I blacked out from sheer exhaustion.

I left the poor guy there, barely able to move, stuck in the mess I'd made.

When I woke up, just before dawn, my first thought was to get out fast.

The lower floors were where the party had been last night, but this was the penthouse, the kind of place only the rich and powerful stayed.

There was no way someone like me, just an assistant, could get involved with someone who lived here.

A shiver ran down my spine as I waited in the elevator.

At least I never answered him. He had no idea who I was. I just ended up in his room by mistake.

As long as I got out quick, he'd never be able to find me. It would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

He probably thought I was just some gold-digger throwing myself at him. He must be disgusted and couldn't wait to forget about me.

I hoped this would all blow over.

*****

The elevator dinged as it reached the ground floor. I stepped out, lost in thought, when a loud voice called out behind me.

"Julieta, what are you doing here alone? Where's Mr. Kane?" a man asked.

It was Dustin, Jace Kane's driver. He was waiting outside the elevator for Jace, looking genuinely surprised to see me.

Before I could respond, the other elevator dinged.

Jace stepped out, followed by his personal assistant and a couple of bodyguards.

He looked like he hadn't slept, his whole demeanor dark and tense with tightly furrowed brows.

But as soon as he saw me, he was stunned for a moment. His frown softened just a little, as if he'd quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Dustin shot me a knowing look, raising his eyebrows with a mischievous grin.

I could tell right away he'd totally misunderstood the situation.