Chapter 2 The Stranger's Kiss

Long after she left, the manager stood at the doorway, watching her car speed away. He sighed.

A few moments later, Lilian approached the manager.

“Sir, you called for me.”

He looked at Lilian. His conscience ate him up, but the decision had been made. He felt like calling Emma back, but it was too late.

“Hmmm, you can now resume as the new host,” he said, walking back to his office, while Lilian did a little dance as she walked toward the studio room. She walked in and said,

“Guys, the manager has given me the position.”

Hmm, now at least things will be done properly,” Jane said.

“Of course,” Lilian replied with a smile. “If your problem can't wait, then you should go.”

“Yes, baby.”

At Logan's Music Studio

The studio was quieter than it usually was in the afternoon. She opened the front door and walked past the empty reception desk, down the hall toward the lights shining from the recording room.

A soft moan escaped from a woman's voice, followed by a man's groan. The man's voice sounded too familiar. She walked closer to the door and pushed it open.

Her chest tightened.

Could Logan really do this, to me? To us? Why now? Why? This is not happening!

Logan, her boyfriend of two years, stood between a woman's thighs, thrusting hard into her. They were so consumed in their affair that they didn't hear the door creak open.

Her vision blurred.

It's really happening.

Her head spun as she staggered back against the door, closing it with her back and making a loud creaking sound.

Logan finally realized that someone was in the room. He pulled away quickly from the woman, picked up his clothes, and hurriedly put them on.

The woman was Lucy, the receptionist. She was the most decent person Emma knew, but now…

Decent indeed!

She didn't pick up her clothes hurriedly like Logan did. She simply draped them over her chest and, sighing, walked shamelessly to the bathroom.

“Emma,” Logan called after a long silence.

Holding back her tears, she shot him a dead glare. Logan's heart skipped. Emma had never looked at him like that. Her mouth parted, then she spoke. She will eventually know anyway tsk.

“How long?” she asked.

Logan stood there looking at her. The look on her face made it obvious to him that he had lost her. He sighed, wiping the bead of sweat that had formed on his forehead from what had just happened.

He began to talk.

“Can we talk about this somewhere else?” he mumbled.

“Just answer the question, Logan. Answer me!” she shouted for the first time. Her voice cracked, but she didn't care. I am done! No never again.

She didn't have room in her heart to love anybody again. She had always hated cheating.

“Emma, it's actually not what you're thinking”

“Don't you dare try to lie to me”

“Fine, fine. This is the first time. I was only trying to clear my mind,” Logan said as if it were nothing.

Emma nodded, then clapped.

He was clearing his mind. From what exactly? Could it be more than losing my job because I wanted people to be helped? I wanted to help her. I thought I had you? What if I still do? No!

“Beautiful. Clearing your mind? So I should also go and clear my mind, then?” she said mockingly. She turned to leave.

“Emma, please. Let's talk this over.”

“Don't you dare touch me. Don't you dare!” she snapped.

Logan retracted his hand.

She walked out of the room, banging the door hard.

No I can't break down in front him.

Maybe you should listen to him

No he is not worth.

You should try

No.

She looked at the door for a few seconds and walked to the parking lot. She got into her car and decided to drive around for a while, hoping to clear her mind after what she had just witnessed.

She kept driving without any direction in mind.

“Have got you anytime,” Logan said

“Are you sure?” she asked

“Yes baby” He hugged her.

She tightened her hold on the wheel and clenched her jaw.

The day was growing older. The blurry sky made it difficult for her to see clearly.

If I continue driving like this, I might have an accident.

She pulled out her phone from her bag and checked for the nearest café on Google Maps. She turned her car around and drove there. The café was located miles away from their estate. She had been driving for a long time.

Don't go, just go home

But I need to clear my mind too.

What if this leads to trouble?

I don't care right now.

She climbed out of her car and walked toward the café. The moment she stepped inside, a lively mix of music and conversation greeted her. Music played from a speaker near the counter, blending with the clatter of plates and the loud chatter of customers. A few people sang along to the song, laughing when they missed the lyrics.

Waiters in neat uniforms moved between the tables, balancing trays and stopping to take orders before hurrying off again.

Outside, heads had turned the moment her car pulled up. Now, a few curious eyes followed her as she walked through the café, but Emma paid them little attention.

She walked to a table in the corner, ignoring the curious stares that followed her. She had no energy to care what anyone thought. The day had thrown more at her than she could handle, and she had come here simply to clear her head and forget about it for a while.

Even though it was her first night, she didn't care.

The waiter came over.

“What would you like, ma'am?” she asked.

“Something strong and expensive,” she said, forcing a faint smile.

The lady nodded.

The waitress looked down at her notepad, then looked up and replied, Emma. “Yes, ma'am. We have Macallan 18, Grey Goose, and...”

“Enough. Just give me Macallan 18,” she said to the waitress while holding her head. She seemed not to care how many more they have.

She remembered hearing about Macallan 18 during one of their outings with the radio team. Someone had joked that it was the kind of drink people reached for when they wanted to forget their problems.

The waitress brought the drink. Emma opened it and gulped it down without minding the burning sensation in her throat.

She continued drinking. The first glass was barely enough to clear her mind, so she ordered another.

By the end of the second, a warm heaviness had settled over her. Her head began to spin, and the room seemed to sway slightly around her. She blinked, trying to steady her vision, but the dizziness only grew stronger.

I told you don't drink.

Am fine, don't worry about me.

By the time she stumbled back outside, the street was dark. The streetlights were half-broken, and her head was spinning more than her heart was aching.

She didn't see the edge of the sidewalk. Her foot hit the edge, twisting her ankle and sending her down hard. Her knees hit the pavement, and her palms scraped against it until they were raw.

Oh! She screamed in her head. I told you, now you have fallen.

She was expecting her face to meet the floor.

A pair of hands caught her before her face met the ground.

“Whoa! Hey, are you okay?”

She looked up, blinking through the darkness, the alcohol, and the tears. She hadn't stopped crying, and all she could make out was a shape.

His shoulders were broad, and a black mask covered most of his face. Still, it couldn't hide the sharp line of his jaw.

A faint trace of his cologne reached her, clean and intoxicating.

“I'm fine,” she mumbled, even though she was not fine. Her head buzzed.

So cool.

How?

Leave and him go.

No.

She argued back with the other voice on her mind.

“You're not fine. You can barely stand.”

His voice was low, rough at the edges. His perfect white set of teeth reflected under the streetlight.

He pulled her arm over his shoulder and helped her off the ground like she weighed nothing.

For a second, she just wanted to lean on a stranger who didn't understand her problems but cared enough to save her from falling.

No you shouldn't.

Just for a moment.

But he could be dangerous.

No he is not.

“Why are you wearing a mask?” she chuckled.

“Why are you drinking alone at midnight?”

“No it's not yet midnight.”

“Then what is it drunken lady”

Fair, she thought. Hahaha drunken lady. Am I drunk?

He guided her to a small garden beside the bar. A circle of green grass surrounded two molded chairs in the center.

He helped her sit down, but didn't let go of her arm immediately. He stayed beside her, watching closely until he was sure she could keep herself upright.

“Rough night?” he asked.

“Rough life,” she mumbled letting out a laugh that came out more like a sob.

His eyes lingered on her round face, drawn to her plump lips. For a moment, his breath caught.

There was a faint trace of alcohol at the corner of her mouth. His thumb moved instinctively, brushing it away.

The fire burning under her skin intensified. She grabbed the hand pressed against her lips and leaned in completely.

Her lips brushed his, soft and slow. He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her back.

Everything seemed to fade around Emma. The breakup was not as painful anymore. The job loss felt like a glitch.

The man claimed her lips hungrily, like he had been longing for a long time. He pulled her closer to himself, Emma let go of her worries, she melted in his arms.

This is good. Do you know who he is? I need him now. Who?

She tried to pull herself out of her muffled mind but the kiss…

She hugged him tighter. She blocked the voices in her mind except the faint sound of his heartbeat.

The moment didn't last long.

Two men wearing black suits walked toward Emma. The taller one, Andrew, cleared his throat.

“Ahem.”

“Madam, we have been looking for you”

Emma pulled away from the stranger. Her eyes fell on the mask covering half of his face, and she shook her head.

You can't e

ven see him. My father knows.

“ I am not lost”

Still unsteady on her feet, she staggered toward the black Jeep waiting for her.

His lips parted as he muttered under his breath.

“You didn't say your name.”