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The chill in the room made my skin prickle as I groaned and reached for the duvet to cover myself. My hand, however, landed on a warm body. I jolted upright, immediately noticing my clothes scattered on the floor and realizing I was completely naked. I pulled the duvet around me and my eyes fell on a man sleeping peacefully on the bed.
"What the hell?" I whispered, shock and confusion mixing in my voice. "Shit, shit." The moment I muttered the words, my head pounded, and fragments of the previous night flooded back. I remembered following my friends-Bella, Tonia, and Mara to a nightclub for our usual ladies' night. I recalled taking shots and drinking heavily, but I had no memory of ending up in a stranger's bed.
I frantically searched the room for my cell phone, finally finding it under the bed. I unlocked it, only to be met with a barrage of messages and notifications. They all seemed to suggest that I was engaged to Smith Sinclair.
Smith Sinclair. The name was absurd. He was a top celebrity in Canada, a public figure no one had actually seen up close, except those in his inner circle. Why would I be associated with him?
Bella's name appeared on the screen, and I dialed it, my anxiety rising as I waited for her to answer.
"Emily, where are you?" Bella's voice was laced with concern. "Your mom's been calling me, and all I could tell her was that you were with me."
I rubbed my forehead, trying to soothe the throbbing pain. "How should I know? I woke up in a stranger's bed."
There was a pause, and then Bella's voice came back, hesitant. "Emily, I'm so sorry. I still can't believe it either."
"What... what are you talking about?" My voice trembled as I awaited her explanation, but before she could elaborate, someone snatched the phone from my hand. I turned to find myself face-to-face with a shirtless Smith Sinclair.
"Your call is disturbing my early morning sleep," he grumbled, tossing the phone onto the bed and heading towards the bathroom.
I stood there, frozen in disbelief. I had not only slept in Smith Sinclair's bed but was now confronting him directly. As reality set in, the possibility that something had happened between us became more apparent.
I scrambled to gather my clothes from the floor, dressing quickly and grabbing my phone. Without looking back, I hurried out the door.
Outside, I took a deep breath, attempting to calm my nerves as I navigated down a lavishly decorated spiral staircase. The gold and black decor made it look like something straight out of a real estate showcase.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs and neared the exit, a voice stopped me. "Mrs. Sinclair, where are you going so early in the morning?" A woman in a white and black uniform approached me, and I looked around, expecting to see someone else she might be referring to. But it turned out she was talking to me.
"No, my name is Emily," I corrected her sharply.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but since you're engaged to my boss, I'll have to address you as Mrs. Sinclair," she said, her tone firm but respectful.
I was tempted to ask her which engagement she was talking about, but I didn't have time. I needed to get out of there and head home before my mom started freaking out.
My phone kept vibrating with messages piling up as I made my way to the huge black gate. As I approached it, two men appeared out of nowhere and hurried to meet me.
"Mrs. Sinclair, your ride is here. Please follow us," one of them said politely.
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