Julie felt her body stiffened, paralyzed at the sight beholding her
No matter how much she tried to denied this wasn't reality it felt as if a bucket of ice was poured directly onto her face
This was the surprise May had planned tonight
Having caught her own stepsister with her bethroted left her in unmovable condition fueling with anger
Ashton had lied to her,he never left Seoul for some so called business trip. Here he was, in bed with her stepsister
She felt foolish after believing his nonsensical excuse,he never showed up for any special moment in her life, always giving excuses on every event. Yet today was the most special one and all she could get from him was his secretive affair
How disappointing, this was the biggest surprise of her life
Her cold eyes swept towards the shameless people covered in sheets, and her fists clenched tightly watching, she backed away slowly as tears clouded her eyes, this was the man she loved dearly for five years and the man she 'd plan to live her life with until deaths
After their engagement party last week they were already proceeding with the wedding plans but today changed everything
Back then she 'd fell head over heels with him but now she realized that was a huge mistake,all that remains in her heart for him was nothing less than anger surging inside of her
Only the voice of May chuckles and moans made her brows creased and her lips twisted, irritated.
Just as she pushed the door open her steps collided with Ashton 's who was at the same time stepping out
He looked somewhat surprise at her presence, moreover his clothes were barely tucked in and his hair was roughed as if he just fought a war on his attempt to leave without her noticing
"Jules, what 're you doing here? " His first word rolled out although he was being hideous,yet his face drained off colours showed more than his expression
Julie stared at the Man-whore Infront of her with disgust written on her face
"Thought you were at Los Angeles for a business trip,what're you doing here back so early? Must be very important that you forgot today seems to be a special day for me" her words lashed out emotionallessly with anger blazing through her eyes
Ashton Luke eyes wielded as cold sweat dripped off his forehead but In an instant he returned back to his superior demeanor " it got cancelled earlier than I expected, it was already late so I planned to book a suite before meeting you downstairs since the whole place was crowded, hope I'm not too late"
His tone was surprisely in check, lieing through his bright smile that only made her heart raised in anger
He even had the guts to lie as if nothing happened
Julie hand raised and a thunderious slap landed on his face making his face twist sideways"you lier!!! I should have known" she spatted out bitterly through gritted teeth
The minute her hands dropped halfway, cameras from no where flashed from behind
In shock, she turned only to meet the eager eyes of the paparazzi videoing the whole thing
Someone must 've called them, Julie didn't need a soathsayer to tell her who this particular someone was
It was obviously the plans of May Cortez inorder to stirr up trouble for her career and most especially ruin her reputation
"Babe, how could you do this without an explanation,I thought you had understand how busy I'm these days, we shouldn't fight like this when its almost close to our wedding day..."
Her jawline tightened as she watched Ashton who acted like he was the victim here
He drew closer whispering " You do know the consequences if you do anything stupid.. whether or not you do realize this but our marriage 's for both out benefits..."
Julie eyes flashed in disdain.. not only was she betrayed but now know the real Ashton Luke she'd once considered as the man of her dreams, he was nothing than a pretender, a deceiver and a vicious snake pretending to love her for the past five years in turn for her step sister. He wanted to put an act for the cameras especially for the safety of his own image
"Hey sis, what's going on? Did something happen? "
The sudden voice of May who just stepped out from a corner nearby attracted the cameras, she was all dressed up and well organized. She approached Julie with a caring and sweet tone
Julie scoffed stepping away from her when May reached out for her hands, her acting never changed she could clearly see the hidden smirk on her face
"Proving anything tonight is a waste of time.. since nothing stands as proof, you might stiir up so your own downfall with claims of our affairs but you should know there are alot of crowds downstairs, having a misunderstanding as the published headlines's better than loosing your reputation, you know that. .. happy birthday Julie" She beam a victorious smile at Julie,a grin curling at the corners of her lips
A smile that hid her malicious intentions
Julie expression darkened into a frost bitten glare , her face twisted in fury,her fingers nearly jabbing May's face.
...
Julie Cortez gulped down a glass of champagne down her throat countless times,her cheeks were red due to how drunk she was
Her throat burns at every glass she'd
All she wanted was forget whatever happened an hour ago but it felt like the whole thing was stuck in her memory
What could she have done after realizing May plans tonight?
Slapping her on the face?
Was a better option but she was that calculative of whatever act she might put up next
Kiara collected the bottle of champagne from Julie,her eyes filled with pity for her dear friend " I should have been there..if I hadn't left.....
Julie sighed heavily rubbing her eyes" it wasn't your fault.. " her lips pouted drunkly staggering
"Ashton 's such a jerk, a fucking asshole.., I even lost my chances of punching him right on his face I'm so sorry for leaving you alone, how dare he hurt my baby, after so much you've done for him, " She cursed bitterly, after hearing the whole story from Julie, she was left stunned and guilty for having left her best friend go through this without her help especially with giving Ashton a piece of her mind
Julie drank the remaining champagne left the pain she felt right now wasn't compared to the soreness of her throat
That damn jerk ruin... such a perfect day for her
"I'll make sure you pay.." She murmured gulping down Kiara's glass of wine
*******************************
Next Morning*
Julie Cortez 's eyes fluttered open, and her first sensation was a wave of soreness throughout her body
Instinctively, She looked down and realized she was completely bare, with even her intimate garment missing
She glanced around the room, and it seemed she was the only one there.
The bright red stains on the sheets and the scattered clothes of both man and a woman on the floor clearly indicated what had happened last night
What on earth happened?
Her breath quickened as she shot up from the bed,a cold sweat breaking out on her back. She quickly grabbed her phone from the nightstand and called her best friend, Kiara Smith.
"You were so drunk last night that you couldn't tell east from west, so I had no choice but to book you a suite, room 8804, is everything alright? "
"Is there anyone else besides me?" Julie couldn't help but ask
"Who else could there be? It's just you. Sorry Jules but I've some things to take care of right now, I'll call you back as soon as I'm done,"
Julie 's hand holding the phone dropped as she closed her eyes, feeling her mind swirl in confusion,a loud ringing echoeing in her head.
"Get the clothes ready and send them to my room" A deep voice came out from the direction of the bathroom door
There was somebody else in this room?
Startled, Julie Cortez looked up to see a man leaning casually against the bathroom door frame, with only a towel. His firm, perfectly toned abs were a feast for the eyes and the fact that they were still moist from his shower was not doing anything to keep her eyes away from them. She unknowingly checked and estimated that paired with his solid, biceps and a perfect revealing intricate tattoos that snaked up his chest
Julie's eyes wielded In shock as she looked at him, still trembling from the surprise " Why are you here? "
Wasn't he the gigolo she'd encountered last night?
Kiara had said she was the only one in the room, so how did he end up here?
"Well..." The man Infront of her appeared somewhat indifferent, a cold smirk playing on his lips as he observed her ghostly reaction " your acting skills are good enough to land you a role as an actress....
Julie furrowed her brows" what do you mean by that?"
Nathan narrowed his eyes, sizing her up. His gaze turned icy as he slowly dragged out his words" First you draw my attention, and then you sneak into my room while am drunk. I can't denied it.. the whole setup was quite executed....."
Julie suppressed the intense fire rising within her,her expression growing colder" Are you sure you 're not just imagining things. Maybe you should see a doctor. I should be the one thinking of this as a setup, after all, you approached me yesterday with a readable intentions....
The light in her eyes shifted, dangerously,filled with coldness.
Who was he make such claimes?
Nathan settled onto the couch, crossing his long legs and lit a cigarette
"You get what you pay for. Since you put in the effort last night..it's only fair you get something in return. What if I choose to take responsibility"
Julie nearly choked on her own saliva with his last statement
"You 're seriously delusional" she frown at his words
But wonder, why he sounded so serious?
Did he actually meant that?
She pulled the blanket around herselve tightly and asked " What's your room number?"
Narrowing his eyes, Nathan shifted into a more comfortable position and looked at her with mild interest. He was clearly intrigued "8801…"
8801? Julie raised an eyebrow, her body stiffening, her eyes went wide at her discovery. She felt embarrassed unable to meet him on the eyes with the same confidence she'd use a while ago
Damn it! . She cursed inwardly
"Any last words" Nathan thin lips twisted into a smirk, his tone laced out with cockiness
At the same hotel, Two hours, before Nathan and his cousin, had successfully settled a business deal with a new tech developing company. After the parmers left, Reggie, his cousin had suggested they spend the night out In the hotel rather than returning back to his villa, his playboy cousin of his had double thoughts in mind even planned to hooked him up overnight. After rejecting his offer. Nathan took two glasses of merlot wine to celebrate, chiming glasses with his cousin.
Nathan upended his glass and instantly felt his body ignite with a burning passion.
He'd left the busy VIP 's club for a quiet place when his eyes set on her by the top stairs above the crowds, recognizing her as the female on the banner outside
He had guess something was wrong with the drink earlier
That damn Reggie!!
Feeling tipsy, Nathan 'd left to his room by the pool. He was surprised when a drunken female, a familiar slender figure crashed onto his chest when he opened the door as soon as he got in
She even has the guts to lean further and kissed him like a crazy lunatic
Julie Cortez wish the ground could swallow her whole this instant. She had mistakenly entered a stranger room last night under the influence of alcohol. Julie cranked her brain for an explanation
How could she be so reckless?
If someone actually caught her entering a male's room, her situation could get more intense
Deepened in her own thoughts, Nathan voice called out to her again " your acting skills are impressive and the arrangements were just too convenient. Don't you find it ridiculous, the way you weigh your gains against your losses..." His words were sharp and very confrontational
Reality hit her like a high speed train. She felt herself being knocked off balance and then falling into a deep abyss. Anger, sadness, embarrassment. They swelled with her and threaten to undo her at the seam.
Ashton Luke and May Cortez 'd made her completely drained off in such a messed up situation and for fuck sake she was the victim here not him
She glared at him,fist clenched. However,her dangerous eyes resembled those of a leopard ready to counter his words
"Shouldn't we avoid jumping to conclusions before everything is clear? I am the victim here not you. I may've barged into your room, drunken but that doesn't explain the certain situation we're right now. Since we are adults,I rather suggest we forget what happened yesterday and continue as strangers.....
Nathan deepened gaze held onto her, a bit astonished by her words but it only lasted for a second. He extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray tilting his chin slightly as he rubbed his forehead" Damnit Reggie....
All thanks to his cousin he had ended up with such a nussiant.
Julie watched his unreadable expression, with nothing much to say. She decided to remain silent. The fact that her first time was gone was an unchangeable reality, all she wanted was to leave this place
Grabbing her underwear, she slipped under the covers, quietly putting on her clothes and a black t shirt nearby on top
Since her bra were torn
Nathan gaze fell on the lump in the bed that squirmed like a caterpillar. He raised an eyebrow,a slight smile playing on his thin lips " what's your profession, Miss"
The squirming stopped, and her voice came out muffled from the covers " I'm a fashion designer..."
"I see. The tone you used earlier I'd assumed you for a lawyer or a woman from a vulnerable family..." His eyes remained fix on the blanket
While Julie Cortez feeling exposed under his gaze, trembled slightly but said nothing
When she finally emerged,beads of sweat dotted her forehead. As her feet touched the ground,her legs wobbled, nearly causing her to collapse
She quickly braced herself against the bed,her eyes inadvertently landing on the bright red stains on the white sheets. She froze ,a sharp pain piercing her heart
The stark contrast of it's red stains against the white sheets was fully jarring!
Following her gaze, Nathan noticed the vivid red and well. His expression remained lazy and indifferent, almost apathetic " Since this's my fault. I should make amends for this, feel free to make your demands by the way...
He paused slightly noticing her reaction before contining" I'd mention earlier about taking responsibility..."
Julie held her breath,her chest rising and falling rapidly under his firm gaze. She grabbed her purse nearby, walking towards him as she brought out a note of 10,000 won dropping it on the glass table next to the couch
"This's for making sure whatever happened yesterday doesn't go out"
Without looking back to see his expression. Julie Cortez hurried out of the suite as she quickly fled the place.
After some minutes pass by, Dorian step into the room, his heads down unable to meet his boss gaze " am sorry for the delay President Scott....
" I want information regarding the woman who just stepped out of this room " Nathan instructed
.....
The Cortez Mansion+
Arriving at the mansion, Julie sighed as she pressed the door bell
In the next second the large entrance door pulled open and the face of her step sister May Cortez popped up with a flashing smile
"Where have you been, sister. Father have been worried if you actually did something stupid last night, when you didn't return home,he grew more curious on your whereabouts....
Just as she completed her sentence, a hard slap landed on her face
Julie Cortez eyes were burning in fury " Why? Why didn't you tell him your affairs with your sister's fiancee? . Stop the act May,it truly sucks with you being like this, even if I've no prove , don't just think I'll let you go that easily....."
May stood there,rooted in her position with her hands on her red cheeks, she was surprised on Julie sudden confrontation. "Aaarh!!! Sister Julie, how could you do this to me? What have I done " She knowingly drew the attention of the two figures on the sitting room
Her mother, Natalie and their father Morris Cortez rushed forward
Julie rolled her eyes staring at how much may was good at twisting issues
"Where have you been? " Her father questioned sternly, his tone sharp
" I spent the night at an hotel, there's nothing to be worried about father.... " Her calm demeanor only made May Cortez frown coldly
"What's are you doing with a man's clothes? Did you actually spend the night at an hotel or another man bedroom? " May Cortez pointed out aggressively
"We should have known, I told you Morris, this girl 's a disgrace to our family" Natalie spoke in support of her daughter words " after all she's the daughter of a prostitute,it still reigns in her blood,a slut 's better kick out of our family than ruining our faces....
Julie Cortez cold eyes swept over to Natalie Cortez, she stared at the two professional actress Infront of her with a fierce gaze especially with the mention of her mother
"Who would be called a slut here than a woman who seduced a married man and painted the whole story...." Her words dropped out coldly
Making Natalie eyes darkened momentarily
"That's enough, she's your mother!!! " Morris Cortez couldn't stand his wife being humiliated
"She 'll never be my mother..." Julie last words made her father twisted in fury
His hands raised and was about to give her a slap when suddenly his hands were held mid air
Julie Cortez blinked severally in shock staring at the man Infront of her
What the....
What 's he doing here?
May who was already jubilating for her victory felt shock seeing the man blocking Julie from the fury of their father
A frown displayed on her face and her eyes darted to his impeccably black suit
Morris Cortez had a deep frown on his face meeting with the murderous gaze of Nathan, his looks were piercing and his cold metallic eyes only made it worst
" Who're you to mendle in our family issues" He spoke with such excluding confidence but his heart wavered just with the look of Nathan's
"He's just....." Julie explanation was cut off by Nathan 's cold yet firm voice
"I'm her boyfriend...
Julie eyes grew large, and her mind went completely blank