"Uhh."

Dizzy was an understatement for what she felt when her eyes flicked open. Rose shut them again, groaning mildly at the sunrays burning her eye. Someone must’ve forgotten to close the bloody curtains. Or maybe she forgot.

It got worse when she tried to sit up. Her body ached all over, even in places that shouldn’t hurt. Rose found herself heaving leaflets of breath, trying to salvage herself. ‘Okay, here we go’. She pulled her weight up, gradually relying on the bedpost and the side drawer.

She swayed just before her feet touched the ground, and ‘up’ the rest of her body went.

"Ah!"

That didn’t end well. Her limbs gave up, leaving her on the floor with a bashing throb in her head.

"What’s happening to me? Olivia..." she called the name of the person who should have been with her.

No response.

Her mind went blank when she noticed the clothes scattered on the floor. Only three pieces were hers. She never wore a suit. Or a vest. Or leather boots.

It hit her when she glanced at her chest.

Rose was stark naked.

She scrambled back onto the bed for clues… and found one. The owner of those other clothes was on the other side of the bed, face down, head snuggled against a pillow.

When Ivan woke up, a woman was watching him with an ashen expression. He lifted his neck as she hastily swaddled herself in the sheets, leaving his body bare. She looked away the second he was exposed, like he was a sash squash or some ugly yeti.

"What did you do to me?" Her question amused him.

Ivan sat up, rubbing a hand over his face, trying to snap out of the daze. When was the last time he woke up with a headache this bad?

"You should have a better answer for me, lady. Why are you in my room?" He was not in the mood for silly games.

"Your room?" Rose puffed, tucking dishevelled hair behind her ear. She was about to tell him off but as her eyes swept across the place, she grew quiet.

‘How did I get here?’ she mumbled, her mind spiralling.

Ivan heard her but chose to ignore the signs. Last night must’ve been wild. His prick didn’t even bother with its usual morning rise.

"If you’re here looking like that, you must be an escort. Get dressed and head to the lounge. My men will sort you out." He turned over.

"What?" Rose was torn.

"How dare you!"

She snatched the bedside lamp and swung it at him. Ivan rolled out of the way just in time.

"Are you insane?" He stormed around the bed and grabbed her by the hair.

"Argh! Let go, you ass-wipe!"

"You must have a death wish. Ivan is many things, but a man who forces himself on a woman!" His voice was gravelly.

Then he saw it.

The purple ring around Rose’s neck.

Something clicked, a flash down memory lane. Her against the wall. His tongue buried down her throat.

Ivan clenched his jaw, confused by how blurry it all was.

Just then, two men barged in.

"Boss, we heard shouting-"

"Who brought this woman here?!" Ivan growled at them.

"You did. She followed you back last night. We thought she was your escort," Ross, one of his trusted henchmen said.

"I am no escort! And I demand you unhand me!" Rose protested.

"If my men say you’re an escort, then it must be true."

"Unhand me!" Rose dug her manicured nails into his arm until he let go.

"Do you know who I am? How dare you compare me to a prostitute?"

"And who exactly are you, if not a whore who forgot her place?" Ivan snapped, too pissed to bother covering himself.

His boys stood by, watching the drama unfold like a soap opera.

Rose spat in his face. "Atali Sinclare will have your head if you lay another finger on her granddaughter."

Ivan’s brows knit slightly. That name rang a bell. Not a dainty bell - a giant bloody church bell.

"Did she say Atali? As in the Blue Viper?" one of Ivan’s men whispered. That was a dangerous name in East Chorlud.

"Boss... maybe you should cool down and settle this..."

One look from Ivan shut them up.

He turned back to the woman in his grasp.

"What’s your name?" If she really belonged to that powerful clan, he needed to watch his steps. Too many people already wanted to sink him.

"Rose Anderson Sinclare. Owner of this hotel."