Taylah stood rigid, trembling with fear, her heart racing uncontrollably.
He stepped closer, and she could feel his hot breath against her bare neck, causing her face to flush with trepidation. He traced a finger from her forehead down to her mask, and she shivered.
Initially, it had been a wild guess for him about the identity beneath the mask. But when he finally removed it, his eyes widened in shock, boiling with anger. Taylah was the first woman who had attracted him sexually, and his curiosity had drawn him to her again today. He never expected that the person standing in front of him would be her. It felt like fate, but it was a fate he had not anticipated.
A mask fell to the floor with a clatter, breaking the silence between them. The moment Arjan realized she was Taylah, he slammed her against the wall, causing her head to hit it slightly. She gasped in pain.
"So... it's you again. No wonder I felt the same way," he said, trailing a finger from her neck to her collarbone, applying just enough pressure that it felt as though he could cut her skin. "The whole Edwards family is searching for you. What would happen if I let it slip? What would your situation become?" He spoke while sliding the strap of her dress down.
"I'm not scared of your threats, Arjan. Just go ahead," she replied defiantly, trying to block his hand, but it was futile; he pulled the strap down.
"What the hell are you doing? Let go of me!" she cried, struggling against his strong grip, but all her efforts were in vain.
"Can't I have my pleasure here, Taylah? Frankly, you are the first person who attracted me sexually. Absolutely. I can't waste my time to get your permission, and today is your payback time, Taylah," he spoke against her skin, a tickling sensation spread all over her body. Her eyes drifted to the door of that room, hoping that someone would come inside and take her away at this moment.
She looked up into Arjan's dusty blue eyes, which glared at her as if he was about to kill her with just his cold, intense gaze. He stepped even closer, causing her heart to race against her chest. She felt uncertain about what he would do next, and he could see a sheen of sweat on her exposed skin.
He grabbed her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. Speaking softly yet with a dark undertone that sent shivers down her spine, he leaned in close to her ear.
"Let's try what we did in the hotel room. It will be thrilled if we do it in this room", he tried to kiss her but she turned her face and his kiss fell on her cheek.
Arjan grabbed her chin, faced it forward, and dominated her mouth with his lip, but she wasn't kissing him back. He pulled her head by her hair, and when she didn't kiss him, he gripped her hair roughly; she gasped opens her mouth. He took the chance to tug his tongue inside her. His lips were soft and skilful.
He placed his hand on her butt and squeezed it harder, and a little whimper escaped from her mouth in between the kiss. He was sucking her tongue crazily. Her heart became heavy as it was crushed by something cruelly.
At that moment, the doorknob turned and someone entered the room—Louis.
"Sir, it's inappropriate to treat my employee this way. Please let her go," he said, approaching them with a warning tone. Arjan didn't want to argue and pushed Taylah away before leaving the room. Taylah fell on the floor, feeling helpless.
Taylah could only see Louis approaching her as he took off his coat. Everything had happened in a blur, and she could barely hear his voice.
"Taylah... Are you all right?" Before she could fully respond, she fainted.
"Taylah, wake up! What happened?" he said, shaking her gently. "Don't scare me, girl. Wake up." He lifted her into his arms and carefully carried her out of the bar.
At the Hospital
Taylah slowly woke up and looked around. The smell of disinfectant filled her lungs, making her feel nauseous. Her head throbbed as if it had been struck by a heavy iron rod.
Louis was sitting beside her, resting his head on his hand. "Louis… Why am I here?" she asked weakly, trying to sit up but stumbling back onto the bed.
"Taylah… You're awake! You really scared me! Thank goodness it's not serious—it's just because of your pregnancy," Louis said in a rush. The word "pregnancy" hit her like a shock, and she struggled to comprehend what he was saying.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand," she questioned as he helped her sit up. Louis adjusted the pillow behind her, and she leaned back against the bed.
"Yeah, I was shocked too when the doctor told me. You're pregnant, Taylah—the fetus is one month along," he said as he sat down in a chair. She couldn't believe she was pregnant, especially with Arjan's child. She placed her palm on her abdomen.
Her heart began to race, feeling like it might burst from her chest as she touched her belly. She struggled to accept the truth. Tears started to stream down her cheeks. "Taylah… Are you okay? Why are you crying?" Louis asked, concerned.
"Yeah… I'm fine… It's just…" Words caught in her throat, and she couldn't say anything more. She felt choked up.
"Okay, okay… Don't talk. Just rest," Louis said, sensing her stress. He didn't want to pressure her for details; it was her choice to share her past. Still, he couldn't shake his worry for her.
"What time is it, Louis?" Her weak voice pulled him from his thoughts. She didn't want pity, but her situation left her feeling vulnerable.
"It's just past 3 AM," he answered with a yawn. She had been unconscious for over five hours, yet he stayed by her side to care for her. Even her own family treated her like a burden, while this stranger she had met a month ago was doing everything for her. She scoffed at herself for feeling so miserable.
Leaning against the pillow, she placed her hand on her forehead. "Louis, you can go and rest," she said without looking at him.
"But I can't leave you alone," he sighed.
"It's okay, I can manage. Just let Dicentra know I'm in the hospital," her calm voice surprised him.
"How stubborn she is," he thought to himself. "Okay… I'm leaving. Take care," he said as he got up from the chair and exited her room.
Silence filled the room. In that quiet atmosphere, a small whimper escaped her lips.