Chapter 3 No One Saves Me
Marilyn
I got to my block and got out of the cab. I couldn’t drive properly, so I had to hire one. The club has cabs enlisted to them for nights like this when people are too tipsy to drive.
I hadn’t gone there in a long time because I used to do all my partying with Tom. And it was always freakishly fun, better than whatever the club had to offer. But I went today to clear my head and possibly have fun. To forget everything.
But that hot, dumbass, unnervingly attractive stranger had to ruin it.
I made my way into my apartment. I was hoping to go straight to my room and crash on the bed, but my house help stopped me before I reached the stairs.
“Madam… madam, have you seen the news? You are all over the news!” she said, words tumbling out fast.
At first, I struggled to understand her. But when her words clicked, my eyes widened.
That big-mouth Maya didn’t record me being embarrassed and it happened to make headlines, did she?
Before I could process it further, my house help—Ana—brought her phone to my face and pressed play.
It was news about a kidnapping and a theft.
I frowned. “What’s this got to do with me—” I started, but Ana was already forwarding to the part where a familiar car… my vehicle… sped off, and to the clip of me giving the dumbass from earlier the finger.
I took the phone from Ana and sat on the staircase, now intrigued.
Apparently, the guy who was advertising had been there not just to distract people, but to manipulate the traffic lights so everyone stayed stuck while they ran what was supposed to be the biggest kidnapping of all time.
But when I had brushed past and driven through, it ruined their plan. That alerted the police. So when the kidnappers rushed their mission, instead of the police chasing me, they ended up already being in the right place at the right time to stop the abductors.
I handed the phone back to Ana, who was enthusiastically calling me a hero.
And suddenly the stranger words from earlier made sense. He was referring to this moment and wasn't trying to do what I assumed of him.
“Turn off the lights before you go to bed, Ana,” I said dismissively as I started walking to my room.
I saved lives today.
But no one has ever shown up for mine.
“That two-faced bitch.”
I stared at the picture of Maya, Trisha, and Tom on Trisha’s story. The timestamp said it was posted just minutes after I had left the hotel yesterday.
So it was Maya and Trisha who planned to get her to find out about Tom cheating on her on purpose?
“That conniving snake,” I hissed. “No wonder she walked right out when I entered the room. She probably went to mock me with Maya in some corner.”
I had stalked Trisha’s page earlier, and I found out more than I wanted to.
Trisha and Maya were best friends.
Best friends.
And Trisha had been posting Tom.
She probably posted him hoping I’d see it, but I never followed her back.
I never gave a fuck about her enough to be on her page.
Till now, at least.
I stared at the picture again of all of them smiling. and celebrating.
Except me. I was the one stuck here, sad and bitter with no peace while they are out there with the biggest smiles.
My jaw clenched.
If I wasn’t happy, then nobody who betrayed me deserved to be happy either.
Fine.
If they wanted a show, I’d give them one.
I stood from the couch and grabbed my purse.
Their joy was about to be short-lived, even if it made me look petty, even if it made me look crazy. I didn’t care. I needed relief, and this was the only thing that made sense.
I headed down the stairs, already planning how I’d ruin Tom’s peace in that shiny office of his.
“Madam,” Ana called from the kitchen. “I prepared lunch—”
I paused at the bottom step, realizing I hadn’t eaten since yesterday.
My body felt weak, but my anger kept me upright.
“Eat it,” I said without looking at her. “I have somewhere to be.”
“But madam, you didn’t eat last night—”
I didn’t wait for her to finish. I was already out the door.
I ordered a cab and told the driver the address of Tom’s office.
I had never been there not even when he got promoted.
He never invited me.
Now that I think about it, he probably didn’t want me to see the life he was already building without me.
The cab pulled up outside the building.
I got out.
Straightened my coat.
Fixed my hair.
I walked toward the entrance, ready and itching to see his face when I humiliate him in front of everyone.
But before I could enter, a voice came from behind me.
“Well, if it isn’t traffic girl.”
I froze.
I didn’t need to turn to know who it was.
The arrogant stranger from last night.
I turned anyway.
He looked even better in daylight. Sharp suit. Confident posture. And somehow more irritating than before.
“Are you following me?” I asked, not bothering to hide the annoyance.
He laughed. Actually laughed.
“What? No. I work here.”
My eyes narrowed.
“You work here?”
“Work here?” He stepped closer, amused. “I own this place.”
Before I could respond, my vision suddenly blurred and my knees felt weak. Before I could process anything, darkness crept into my vision, and I blacked out.
