The silk sheets clung to her bare legs. Her mouth was dry, her head? Spinning. She pushed herself up slowly, the white shirt draped over her frame slipping slightly off one shoulder. It wasn't hers.
The scent on the collar, clean, masculine scent, a jolt through her body.
And then it all back in fragments. The champagne, the man. His hands, his mouth, his voice, deep and unfamiliar but intoxicating. And the way he looked at her like she wasn't broken, like she wasn't standing in the ruins of her life.
She buried her face in her palms.
Last night, she hadn't cared who he was. Last night, she just wanted to forget.
But now? The bed beside her was empty. Her bra was on the floor, her heels flung by the door. Her dignity? Somewhere in between.
Then a sharp knock on the door. She froze
The knock came again, followed by a muffled voice! " Mia Wren! Open this door or I'll scream bloody murder!"
Mia dragged herself to her feet, buttoning the shirt higher as she stumbled across the suite.
When she opened the door, Jenny practically fell in.
"Mia you absolute maniac! You scared the life out of me! Do you even check your phone" Jenny stopped mid rant.
Her eyes swept the suite. Mia's dress crumpled on a velvet chair, a pair of lace panties near the bed, champagne flutes still on the side table.
"Oh my God", Jenny whispered. " You hooked up"
Mia didn't deny it. She turned away, walking back into the room, gripping the edge of the table as if the world might tilt again.
Jenny closed the door behind her and kicked off her shoes. "Talk to me, what happened?"
"I don't remember all of it", Mia said hoarsely. "I came here after the gala. I was drunk...furious. I just wanted to disappear"
Jenny stepped closer. " And this guy? You knew him?"
Mia shook her head. " No. Not really, I don't even know his name"
Jenny blinked. "You had a one night stand with a total stranger?"
Mia half laughed, bitter " is that really the worst thing I've done this week?"
Silence settled for a beat.
Then Jenny sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Mia....the internet's on fire. Your dad released a statement. He said you've been emotionally unstable lately. That this whole engagement thing was a misunderstanding ".
Mia turned sharply"what?"
"They're flipping the script ", Jenny said. " Emily's calling you a homewrecker. Ethan's people are pretending like the engagement was never official. And your father? He's letting them"
Mia swallowed hard
Of course he is
She crossed the room and picked up the wedding certificate still crumpled in her purse. It hadn't been a prank. Emily wasn't delusional, she was married to Ethan.
And Mia had been the fool paraded in front of the cameras dressed like a bride, treated like a mistress.
Jenny reached out. "Hey. We're going to fix this"
Mai didn't answer. Because deep down, she wasn't sure she wanted to fix anything.
***** ****** ******
Else where in the city, in a towering office wrapped in glass and silence, Liam D'Arcy sat behind a desk that over looked Manhattan like a king watching his kingdom burn.
The headlines lit up his screen like fireworks
"HEIRESS HUMILIATED: SENATOR'S DAUGHTER STORMS OUT OF FAKE ENGAGEMENT!!
IS IT SHE MISTRESS OR THE VICTIM?!!
"SCANDAL AT THE GALA: WINE, SCREAMING AND A WEDDING CERTIFICATE"
He scrolled lazily, one brow raised. The photos were brutal.
A woman head held high despite her ruined gown and mascara, smeared eyes being chased down hotel steps by cameras.
She looked like chaos wrapped in couture.
But Liam recognized her instantly. Not from the tabloids,but From last night, from his bed.
He leaned back in his chair, tossing his phone onto the desk
"So... you're the infamous mia wren", he murmured, a slow crooked smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
He reached down to adjust his cuff and that's when he noticed it. A single gold earring, clinging to his face near his suit pocket. It must have gotten caught during the night.
He plucked it off gently, rolling it between his fingers.
Still warm