Chapter 4 MARIA

I woke up to the most terrible headache ever. It felt like my head was splitting into two.

I sat up clutching my head. I rubbed my eyes and yawned.

"Ma'am, room service."

I opened my eyes again to find a young lanky boy staring down at me.

In an instant, the events of the previous night came rushing back to me. My happiness when I received my letter of promotion which shortly after turned sour when I caught my fiancé in bed with my best friend, the man at the club...

The man at the club.

He had left before I woke up. I had slept with a stranger. Oh my God, what happened to me? I've never been this careless before.

I tried to remember what he looked like but I couldn't. I could only remember the sound of his voice.

I grabbed my phone from my purse to check the time. It was ten o'clock in the morning. I saw a ton of missed calls from both my mom and my dad. There was one from Elena.

What was she calling me for? To feed me with more lies?

I knew my parents would be so worried. I was supposed to spend the night and the next few days at their place. I had not showed up or communicated my whereabouts with them.

My eyes landed on the room service boy again.

"Hey, can you come back later. Like in an hour."

He nodded and stepped out of the room.

I stood up quickly and went into the bathroom to freshen up. I got dressed as soon as I could and called an Uber.

It was there in no time and soon, I was at my parents place.

My parents were not filthy rich, but they lived in an extravagant house which my dad told me was passed down from my his father to him.

It was an heirloom that had been in the family for years.

My parents were outside when I arrived. I could see the worry on their faces. Especially my father.

"Dad,mom."

I hugged them.

"Maria. What happened? We've been calling. We thought something bad happened to you." My dad said.

"Oh no, Dad. I spent the night at Elena's," It surprised me how easily I told that lie. "I went over to tell her the good news about my promotion and we had drinks and well..."

"Okay. We're happy you're okay. I made your favourite for breakfast."

"Thanks Mom."

"Well, let's get inside and have breakfast."

At the breakfast table, I spilled the news of my breakup with Franklin.

"Thank God. I always knew that man was not right for you." My dad said.

"You did?" I asked, surprised. Dad had never acted in any way to show that he did not approve of Franklin.

"Yes, but you loved him so much. I knew you wouldn't listen if I tried to warn you."

And he was right, I admitted.

"Anyway, your dad's having a visitor over today." Mom said.

Dad barely ever entertained visitors. Mom always said Dad was a big loner before she came into his life.

"Really? Who's that?"

"A friend and former business associate. We went to school together. He was also there during our wedding and during your naming ceremony. Sadly, he had to leave because of his wife. She didn't really like this city and he was all about pleasing her." Dad laughed.

"And he's back now because?" I asked as I chewed on a piece of bacon.

"Oh, his wife died some time ago. So he sees no need to remain in Seychelles. Besides, he has a booming business here."

"Oh, that's sad." I said.

"Right. Well, he'll be here anytime soon. You should change into something more pleasing.

I got you a dress I thought you'd like." Dad winked at me and I wrapped my arms around him.

"Thank you, Dad."

"Anything for my little princess."

...

"The news of her death definitely came as a shock."

I heard my father say as I stepped into the living room in a light blue dress and sandals.

My father and his visitor sat close on the lounge chair, their conversation pausing when they saw me

"Oh, This is my daughter, Maria." My dad said, gesturing to me.

"Pleasure to meet you, Sir. My dad told me a lot about you." I said, despite the sudden flutter in my chest as I looked at him.

He held my gaze with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

I took in his face, striking, high cheekbones carved beneath a neatly trimmed beard, a strong jawline, which was softened by a light, knowing smile.

His dark hair was lightly streaked with silver at the temples. He was undeniably gorgeous. I swallowed and looked away. But his gaze didn't waver.

His gaze lingered in a way that should have felt intrusive. Normally, such attention from older men disgusted her.

But his was different. His look, steady and apologetic, sparked something unfamiliar.

It made my heart beat faster. It was unsettling and yet strangely exciting.

"Pleasure to meet you too, Maria. It's a shame your father never told me anything about you."

The room seemed to tilt as he spoke. Yes, I might have been drunk last night and my senses blurred, but I would never forget that voice.

The voice that said my name over and over again like it was his lifeline.

He was the man at the club.

The memory surged back to his words, the way he leaned closer to me as he spoke, the way he held me and how good I had felt.

And suddenly the room felt smaller as realization set in.

I had done all that with my father's best friend.

I had slept with my father's best friend.

This is why I was always careful. Just one night of carelessness and look what happened.

"Petyr here was just telling me about his latest project. The man is a genius..." My father continued but I was barely listening.

I wondered if my dad could feel the sudden tension.

"Maria, could you get a drink for us?" My dad said " whiskey for me, and Petyr, what will you have?"

Petyr. That was his name.

"Same," Petyr said, his gaze still on me.

I nodded and turned towards the kitchen. The moment I was out of sight, my mind spiraled.

How could it be? Was I so full of bad luck? First, Franklin and now this? I had had enough for one year at this point.

Did he know who I was last night?

And if he knew, what would that mean?

Oh my god.

I grabbed the whiskey bottle from the cabinet. My hands trembled slightly as I set two glasses on a tray.

Back in the sitting room, I approached the lounge chair where my father and Petyr sat.

I leaned over to pour the whiskey, for my father first and then for Petyr. My hands shook and the bottle tilted too far.

The liquid spilled onto the table.

"Maria." My father chuckled, shaking his head. "You all right, darling?"

My eyes flicked to Petyr and sure enough he was staring. There was a small smile playing on his lips.

I went red in the face from embarrassment.

"why don't you go rest? We'll take it from here."

It was such a relief to finally be out of Peter's stare.

I closed my bedroom door behind me and leaned against it. My emotions were a mess - shock, guilt and an unwelcome flicker of desire.

Slowly I took off my clothes and underwear and changed into a flimsy sheer red nightdress.

I sank into my soft mattress, willing my mind to settle but to no avail.

I'd been so reckless last night. I wonder what I must have said to him.

I bit my lip as I remembered how he had said my middle name "Sirena" over and over again. How he had begged, yearned for me. Just the way I wanted.

But Petyr was my father's best friend. The thought made my stomach lurch.

What if my parents found out? What would they say?

These thoughts lingered until exhaustion overtook me.

....

I jolted awake, my heart pounding as the ring of my cellphone sliced through the silence.

I reached out and took it from the night stand. Franklin's name flashed across the screen and I rolled my eyes.

I squinted at the time, 1:45 am. Why was he calling so late?

I let the phone ring until it finally fell silent. Whatever he was calling for could wait. I didn't care.

It was probably about my things. I had not gone to take them yet.

Either way, calling me now was useless. I definitely wasn't going to pick them by this time.

However, I made a mental note to send someone to get it for me. There was no way I was going back there to face him again.

Thirsty, I swung my legs off the bed and stood. I padded downstairs to the kitchen, the wooden stairs cold under my bare feet.

The kitchen was quiet, only the faint hum of the refrigerator could be heard.

I opened the fridge door and the cool air hit my skin.

I scanned the shelves and picked out a box of orange juice.

I thought about getting a glass but I was too thirsty and lazy to reach up to the high cabinet so I drank straight from the carton.

I froze mid sip as a soft creak sounded behind me.

I turned to find the one person I didn't want to see.