"Rise and shine, Princess," Lucky murmured.
The figure on the bed stirred, then turned, slowly raising its head. A beautiful lady with long hair and brown eyes that looked somewhat wrong.
"Just a few shots," he smiled. "I didn't think you'd be out this long."
Nelly squinted as her eyes opened. She tried to move but couldn't; her body felt weak. Too weak.
It was still dawn. No wonder she felt tired—she'd barely had any sleep.
She turned her head toward the man calling her attention, not hearing a single word as she recollected herself. The memories of the night slowly emerged within her.
Samuel was dead.
The thought made her blood run cold. She was tempted to say he deserved it but held back. Now she was back with no lead.
"Hello? I know a lot of thoughts are going through your head, but it's Friday and I'm sure you have work. Your friend already called."
Oh right. In these moments, she forgot about her real life. Was it even enough to be called a real life?
"Good morning, Lucky." She said lazily. "Sorry about last night. And for driving you out of your comfy bed."
"I told you my bed was nice. Now imagine the two of us on it."
"In your dreams."
"If I will it, so it shall be." He smiled. "I still want you... but you'll have to do something else first."
Nelly stiffened. The thought of this playboy needing her for something else was alluring. What could he possibly want? His penthouse was luxurious; somehow she was certain he owned the whole building too. Several thoughts spun at once.
Then it hit her.
Oh no.
The playboy was out to get Kelvin Akor. She hadn't seen them at odds with one another, but she didn't need to. Kelvin had embarrassed Austin, and probably spent months planning it. Could Lucky be planning the same? Was that why he was interested in her working there?
"Did I make you uncomfortable?" She stopped, color draining from her face. "How did you get in? I was certain I had locked the door when I woke, and you were nowhere to be found."
"Well, it's my house. Is it not fair that I can come and go as I like?"
Had he come in earlier? Did Lucky know she'd left the house? Nelly had no way of knowing, but something stopped her from asking.
"Do you know Kelvin?" She turned to him now, curiosity nestled in her eyes.
"Better than you think."
"That's why you need me, isn't it? Some sick plan you're cooking up against him."
A moment passed, and he only smiled. "What if it is?"
She replayed a certain memory in her mind, replacing Austin with Lucky. Would the enigmatic playboy back down so easily?
"What's your beef with Kelvin?" she queried.
"And what is it to you, princess? Are you perhaps interested in your boss?"
"Hell no. Why would you even ask me that?" she yelled, but her cheeks turned red.
"You can't even deny it." Lucky laughed. "It's a good thing you won't be seeing him today."
"Why won't I be seeing him today?"
"Well, for one, you won't be going to work."
"What are you saying? Today is Friday. I have work."
"Not by 1 PM, you don't."
"Huh?"
Nelly turned and quickly grabbed her phone. It was a few minutes past 1. How long did she even sleep? No—why was it still dark?
"Don't be confused, princess. These glass walls aren't transparent. In fact, they're more than that."
"How? I don't understand."
"Well, you know how I'm a night person. They're designed to always reflect dawn, to make me feel most at home."
"What the hell, Lucky? Why didn't you wake me up earlier? How long have I been sleeping? And how did you even unlock my phone?" she yelled.
"I've said it's fine. I texted everyone—including your mom, who kept calling, and one John, and the model too. And finally your colleague at work. I called that one, and he said something about the boss looking for you."
"No. Nothing is fine. I could lose my job. How would you even think it's fine? I'm going out now."
She stood up, furiously grabbed her bag, and walked toward the door.
His voice stopped her near the entrance. It sounded different—serious.
"In other news, someone was killed last night. The person you went to visit a few days ago."
He stood up and began walking toward her.
"You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you, Miss Nelly?"
Her body went limp. She opened her mouth to speak. She was hurt too. Samuel was truly dead. Nelly had hoped it was all some strange nightmare—that she herself hadn't been present, hadn't heard the glass shatter or watched the blood flow from him.
Another person close to her had died. And it was because of her.
"I don't," she stiffened.
"My condolences, then." He smiled. "You can always rely on me, Miss Nelly."
Nelly squinted as her eyes adjusted to the brightness. She had a slight hope that both her phone and the playboy were lying. But it truly was past mid-afternoon.
Taking another look at the club behind her, she made a mental note never to go there again. A moment later, her ride arrived.
Walking up the stairs to their apartment, she didn't know what to expect. Knowing Amanda, she probably had the worst possible thoughts and would be angry if she discovered Nelly went to the club without her. If she found out, right?
Opening the door, one crucial detail hit her.
Lucky... had... called... her.
Damn that playboy.
She stepped into the house, fully ready to defend herself. Her tall roommate stared back, frowning with arms folded across her chest.
"Where have you been?" she snarled.
Nelly stood still, unable to move or speak. She already felt terrible enough lying to her bestie.
A second passed. Long arms caught her in an embrace.
"Congratulations, darling!"
"Of course." Nelly sighed. Her friend had settled on the worst possible assumption.
"What was Lucky like?" Amanda giggled. "Was he good in bed?"