TRIANA

I gasp in shock, that I almost hurt him with my heels, trying to get in position. He gets up while I quickly straighten up my dress, as a squeal fills the room. That's enough to get me out of my stupor.

I would say thank God it's my friends, but that would be too soon. Carolina, Mira, and Abbie walk in, each of them switching glances between me and the stranger.

Stranger.

Right, I don't even know his name. What I know is that he's hot enough to make me wet. And might I add how magical his tongue is. I shouldn't be thinking about it when my friends are about to drill me with questions. I'm a little embarrassed. Just a little. But part of me feels for the stranger, because I don't know what's in store for him, considering the fact that my friends are a bunch of idiots.

“Triana,” Abbie singsongs my name, tapping my shoulder.

“Finally, she's getting some,” Carolina adds, and then shifts her attention to the hot stranger. “Did you get cobwebs in there?”

“Carolina!” I widen my eyes at her, and then the stranger stares at me, licking his lips like he just had the most delicious meal. I can't deny it. The experience was awesome. But it's time to get out of this stupor.

“Your work here is done,” I tell him. “My friends will take it from there.”

“Are you sure?” He cocks a brow.

I'm not about to argue with a stranger again.

“You do realize this is the ladies’ room,” I remind him.

“But your dress still has stains,” he counters.

“Oh my goodness,” I snap. “Just leave.”

“Okay,” he says, so nonchalantly that I regret raising my voice at him.

I shouldn't care, but I can't control it.

As soon as he walks away, my friends begin drilling me with questions.

“New catch?”

“New crush?”

“Fuckmate?”

“He's so hot!”

All those comments fill the air, and I'm almost overwhelmed.

“Stop it, guys.” My voice is loud enough to make the place go silent.

“Forget you saw anything. I don't even know the guy. He was just a random stranger. It meant nothing, okay?”

“Triana?” Abbie calls out.

If I don't wrap this up, it could take the whole night, and I have a speech to make.

“Carolina, I don't know what connection you'll use, because I need another dress in the next five minutes.”

Before they can ask for more information, I say, “Abbie, help me fix my hair, and Mira, make sure everything is still set at the party.”

Giving something to put them on their toes gets me off the hook. My friends are flexible and reliable. It doesn't take long before I'm ready again. Carolina gets me a dress with a design similar to the previous one. Tiny sleeves, floor length, with a slit that goes way up my thigh, except this one is black. Another mess on this one wouldn't be noticeable.

Although I'm hoping not to bump into the hot stranger again.

Okay, that’s a lie.

Part of me wishes to see him again. That handsome face that is capable of making me forget who and where I am. What if we continued with what we started earlier? But maybe that's a dream. We might never see each other again. He will never get between my thighs again.

And that phenomenal feeling? My goodness! I’m not going to experience it again.

My speech isn't long, as I don't want to bore people who are in a celebratory mood. After the speech, my friends and I find a table to drink. My eyes keep sweeping through the crowd, hoping to land on the hot stranger, but to no avail. Why am I even looking for him?

I shouldn't be concerned about him. But I can't help it.

“Triana, are you with us?” Abbie taps my shoulder, startling me.

“She's looking for Mr Universe,” Carolina supplies.

“Mr Universe?” I raise my brows. It takes a moment to realize she's talking about the hot stranger, and although she's right, I can't accept it.

“I don't blame her,” Mira chips in. “That man looks like a model. Why did you let him go?”

“Can you all stop? He was a stranger…and I'm not looking for him. I'm looking for my father. He suddenly vanished,” I punctuate my words, hovering on my seat, scanning around.

“The hot mafia king?” Carolina asks.

“Carolina! Hush, that's not something to shout about.” I warn.

Carolina has always had an insane crush on my father, and I'm always quick to blow her off.

Aside from the age gap, my father is the type of dangerous man I wouldn't want my friends to get involved with.

The final realization that the stranger from earlier truly left is disappointing, and I have to deal with it. I convince myself for the millionth time that he was a stranger I should forget, no matter the insane amount of pleasure he gave me.

Besides, he was an asshole at first, and he ruined my dress. He looks like the kind of man who's trouble. He shouldn't occupy my mind like this on my big night.

After all, as hot as he is, he must have so many girls…

_________________

The following morning, I wake up feeling tired. It must be because of the massive drinking we did last night. My friends and I had ended up toasting the most useless things. For example, my having black hair, Abbie being a lawyer, Carolina having a crush on my father and never acting on it, and Mira being the most petite in the group.

Now, I'm facing the consequences of my choices.

Just as I'm holding my throbbing head, the memory of the stranger from last night comes rushing in. I don't even know his name. I should have long forgotten him. In fact, I should pretend the incident in the bathroom never happened. Yet here he is, infiltrating my brain.

I push the thought away and get out of bed to freshen up. When I'm done dressing up, I head to the kitchen to find something to treat my hangover. I find one of my favorite maids baking.

“Morning, Laura,” I greet her, massaging my temples. “Can I get some painkillers? My head is killing me,” I request.

“You must have had a lot to drink last night. You were pretty wasted when you came home,” she says.

I narrow my eyes at her. “You saw me?”

“Yeah, you gave me a long hug and thanked me for always being there for you.” She explains, and all that sounds like news to me. Speaking of which, I don't recall how I got home last night. But again, that's what we get for toasting everything.

“Who brought me home?” I ask.

“Axel,” she reports.

That's comforting to hear. If Axel brought me home, then all my friends are safe. Axel is like a responsible big brother, and sometimes I wonder what I'd do without him.

Laura brings some painkillers, after which she serves me breakfast. My appetite is at its lowest, but I have to eat.

“Your father would like to see you in the study…now.” Another maid reports, in the middle of my breakfast.

I stand to leave immediately, as she had made it sound urgent.

“I'll be back in a few, Laura.”

As I walk to my father's office, I hold my temples, hoping the painkillers will do their magic soon.

I slowly open the door and let myself in.

However, what meets my eyes makes me want to crawl underground.

My father seems to be deeply engrossed in a conversation.

It must be a meeting, and it's between three people.

My father, Axel, and…him.

Him.

My heart skips a beat. I pat my lips, but no words leave. Our eyes lock, and in that moment, a lot is said, just not verbally.

I thought I’d never see him again. But what is he doing here?