The Day We Met

Olivia POV

"Help! Help! I'm in the hands of people I don't know," Annie's troubling voice echoed in my mind. It was all I could think about as I arrived at the address she had given me.

My eyes scanned the area desperately, ensuring I didn't miss the exact location. My heart was pounding fast, my best friend was in danger.

Then I saw it: the sign that read "Parking Spot." It matched the location Annie had sent. Without hesitation, I rushed in to save her.

As I stepped inside, darkness swallowed me. My surroundings were blurry; I didn't pay so much attention, because all that mattered was finding Annie.

Suddenly, a strong grasp grabbed my arm behind and yanked me inside a room, the door slamming shut behind.

My breath quickened, each inhale I took was sharp and ragged as fear tightened its grip around my chest.

"Hey!" I barked. "What do you want?" My voice trembled. "Who are you?"

I scanned the dark room, searching for some recognition, anything at all, but I found none.

A shiver ran down my spine as a breath suddenly brushed my ear. "Shh! Relax. I don't bite. I bet you'll have a good time with me," his deep bass voice vibrated through my body as he licked his lips.

I shook in response to the fear that gripped me. I struggled against his imposing figure. "Who the hell are you? Where am I? Where's my friend? Are you holding her captive?" I fired off questions.

Before I could further my questions, he threw me into a couch and pinned me down with his masculine body.

I screamed but it seemed like the sound couldn't escape the walls of the room. Somehow, maybe they were made of soundproof.

Tears flowed down my cheeks, brimming with hopelessness. His hands and mouth moved all over my body, it was annoying but my body responded as I could feel some wetness down there.

After what felt like an eternity of struggling and screaming, he found his way into me. He did his thing and when he was done with me, I sat on the couch, tears flowing uncontrollably.

"Divorce and you'll get $1 billion," he ordered while he adjusted his clothes.

"I don't need the money," I muttered under my breath.

I could hear him chuckle. "You will. Maybe not now, but soon."

I didn't understand what he meant by "soon," all I knew was that I hated this man who forced his way into me.

"Get lost! I hate you!" I staggered out of the room.

Wiping away my tears, all I wanted was to ensure Annie's safety.

I hit myself for taking too long to find her, each second feeling like an eternity, and I prayed fervently that she was still alive, otherwise, I'd never forgive myself.

Annie's desperate voice pleasing for help rang in my head again.

I was about to dial her number when I saw a group of people coming out of the side door. Two of which were familiar.

One looked like Annie, my best friend, and the other was exactly like my stepmom, Jennifer. The other member though seemed to be closer but I could not recognize him.

My eyes were wide open in shock. What was Annie thinking? And Jennifer? Were they both together?

"Stop!" I screamed at the top of my voice, but none of them seemed to notice me. My legs began to close the gaps between us, "you heard me Annie, stop right there!"

Annie and Jennifer stopped and gently turned to me.

Surprise flashed through me. I was right. Not like they looked like them, It was actually them.

My foot was tapping on the floor restlessly waiting for either of them to give explanations, especially Annie, as to why she said she was in confinement but now all I saw was a free person.

Was I angry? No, I wasn't. I just wanted explanations.

"What now?" I finally broke the silence.

"You lied to me?"

Annie scoffed. "Took you too long to realize that."

Her words stung as much as the shock of finding her unharmed.

Confusion swirled within me. "You sent me a distress message, claiming you were in danger. Remember?"

Annie rolled her eyes. "Well, you took your sweet time, Liv. I was getting bored."

"Bored?" I snapped. "You made me believe you were in serious trouble. Now you're saying bored? Make a sense out of this."

"I-" Before Annie could respond, Jennifer interrupted with a sarcastic apology.

"Aww, poor Olivia. I'm sorry for the confusion. It was just a prank to teach Annie a lesson about being cautious in unfamiliar places."

My frustration grew. "You dragged me into this mess for a prank?"

"Relax, Liv. It was harmless." Annie smirked.

"Cut the crap! Do you know what I went through? Especially in there. You have no idea what happened to me." A stranger forced himself into me and all these people could tell me was 'bored and prank.'

"Oh, that!" Jennifer started. "How was it there? Better get an infection check-up. We know absolutely nothing about who was in there with you. But we can tell you had the best of your night with him. Didn't you, my darling?" She gave her usual wicked chuckles.

It was then I realized that they had both set me up.

"I have the proof I need to show to your Dad of how useless you are. A married woman having an affair with a stranger." Jennifer spat out in disgust. "It won't be that long until you're thrown out of your husband's house, poor Olivia."

Jennifer's words cut through me like a knife.

"You set me up!" I seethed, anger and betrayal coursing through me. "You both deliberately planned this to ruin my life?"

My family and my marriage were on the brink of collapse.

"Your father deserves to know what kind of daughter he has. And maybe your husband."

My hands clenched into fists, struggling to contain the surge of emotions. "I trusted you both. I thought Annie was in danger, and you, Jennifer, you're supposed to be family."

Annie rolled her eyes. "Family is just a word, Liv. You should know better."

The room seemed to close in on me.

I couldn't understand the depths they had gone to for what they deemed a prank. My mind raced, the thought of the aftermath and how I would rescue my soon-shattered life.

Just as I was about to unleash my anger, the man standing beside them said. "Enough of this petty drama. Olivia, I have a deal for you."

I scoffed, still reeling from the emotional turmoil caused by Annie and Jennifer. "I don't want anything to do with your deals. I just want to get out of this mess."

Annie smirked, clearly enjoying the chaos she had caused.

Jennifer said, "Listen to what Mr. Robert here has to say, Olivia. It might be your only chance to get something from this disaster."

"Annie," she turned to her, "you don't want to be seen with trash, right?" With her arm around Annie's Jennifer led her out.

My eyes watched them in disbelief as they walked away.

As they left, Robert's voice called me back. "So the deal. Get a divorce and you'll be rewarded $1 billion."

Just as I was ready to deny Robert's offer, a disturbance broke out outside the room.

Gunshots were fired, followed by screaming and commotion.

The door slammed open unexpectedly, and a gang of armed men stormed in, masks covering their faces.

My heart pounded in my chest as I realized I was in the midst of a life-threatening crisis beyond my control.

The guys approached me and it was as though the weight of the world was bearing down on me. The man I suspected to be their commander stepped up and said, "Cooperate with us, woman, and you might just survive the night."