The phone rang, but both of us ignored it. I was more focused on taking his shirt off. I gasped and bit my lips when I finally succeeded.

He made a comment “Like what you see?”

I didn’t reply. Instead, I took a more aggressive approach and put him under me and smiled, kissed his cheek, while getting his belt off and licked his ear, then went on leaving kisses on his neck, when I had successfully taken it off, I caressed his chest while kissing it lower. He groaned, and he cupped my face and took it to his and started kissing me while unzipping my dress in the back.

The phone never stopped ringing and by this point I grew annoyed.

I said in between kisses “can… you... please… get rid… of that… annoying sound.”

Maybe he just noticed the ringing because he stopped and reached for the phone. I saw the caller ID. Regina. He looked at me, he must be thinking I would comment or have some kind of reaction. I looked down and, by the looks of it, we were not going to continue. He put his pants back on, which were already halfway down his thighs. He answered the call with an annoyed tone “what is it now?” in front of me.

I zipped my dress back on, left the room and closed the door. I asked Percy “Hi baby, do you want to take a walk with mommy outside?”

Percy wagged his tail. I took the leash that was on the coffee table and went to the elevator. I went to my floor, changed into a different set of clothes that were suitable for running, went out of the hotel and proceed to jog with Percy to the nearest park, about a block away.

My mind went back to that phone ID, Regina. She is my cousin, my dear cousin who spent my parents' money after my aunt and uncle became my legal guardian, after I lost my parents and grandparents in that accident, my father had no remaining relatives after they were gone, and the will was supposed to entrust me to my grandparents. My mother’s parents, whom I also lost from an accident a month after I lost them, I loved living with them even if it was just less than a month. They reminded me of my mom, especially grandma. Living with them made me feel so loved and special, but suddenly they tragically left me as well, and I ended up with my uncle and aunt, who just wanted my money and neglected me. As the rule of our country, whoever becomes the guardian of any child, will be entitled to half of the will left by their parents. I had never met my mother’s brother until they took me in after the news of my grandparents. To say that they spent my parent’s money would be an understatement, they drained my parents' money that was given to them. As for what my parents’ business was, I did not know. They never told me, and my family lawyer didn’t tell me anything. Although I had a strict upbringing, they never forced a career on me and let me choose whatever I wanted for myself.

I never liked Regina, she is truly the worst person I have ever met. After I started living with them she proceeded to try and take everything I owned, and that includes my husband, but I should be thankful to her honestly if it wasn’t for the fact that I found her with my husband at a restaurant eating alone, I would not have suspected them and hired an investigator, and snooped in his office, found out about my husband buying me from them when I turned 22, and also a contractual agreement they had, I confronted him 3 months ago but never got any answers.

Those people made me feel like some antique being sold to the highest bidder, do they even consider me a person? I would never blame my uncle. He is a shrewd and a leech. But I thought my husband was a good man. I guess I was wrong. I’m not some object they can buy. I refuse to be such a useless doll being passed around and sold.

I had already cleared my head after the long run, so I looked at Percy beside me and said “buddy, I’ll go sit, I’m tired”, he barked and I made my way to the nearest bench.

Sitting there looking at the sky, thinking about what I should do.

“God, what should I do? If there’s something for me somewhere else, give me a sign. Please, Help me…”

I closed my eyes. I don’t know if I closed my eyes long enough that it was already getting dark, and opened my eyes, to see a beautiful shiny red hair in the bright red sun shading my face, at first I thought it was an angle picking me up. Then it said “Hi beautiful, Isn’t it too hot for a run?” then I realized it was the guy who said his name was Michael.

“Hi handsome, nice to meet you again. You should be asking yourself the same question,” I replied. Not looking at him and just looking around the park.

“I like the hot sun. Where I’m from, the weather is always cold, even in summer,” He answered.

“Where are you from? North Pole?” I looked at him and said jokingly.

He smiled and said “No, but close”, which made me chuckle.

Percy barked, he looked at him and said, “so you’re a dog person?”

I answered “no not really, I just enjoy his company”. Percy came near my feet and I pat his head.

He spaced out and whispered, “I had a dog ones.”

I replied “what happened?”

“She was taken from me a years ago” he replied with a sad and guilty face.

I felt sympathetic and said “sorry.”

He then smiled “oh? No, no, no… the dog is with my sister. I lost her in a bet. Her name is Erika. She’s a Pomeranian. To tell you honestly, you remind me of my sister.”

I felt warm since I never had a sibling, “in what way?”

He made a smile that was cheek to cheek “both of you are bad drinkers.”

I wanted to punch him in the face, but then I remember something that made me disgusted. “Yesterday why did I pass out after drinking the water you gave me. Did you drug me?

He looked at me concerned, “that’s actually one of the reasons I came and talked to you. I’m actually not out for a run. Ace told me he saw you going to the park, so I came here with the bag you left yesterday. As for the shoes. I left it outside your room. It will be there when you get back. And lastly, as for your question, Yes, you were drugged yesterday, but I didn’t do it. I was shocked you knew my name yesterday since I never told you my name, but you kept calling me, so I was concerned. I called for a physician in the hotel room to get you checked and give you medicine for the drug. Ace will send you the footage of the employee that drugged you. I had already informed the bar about it, and they said that person wasn’t hired by them. So I figured it was someone you know.”

He motioned to give me my bag, “Before I forget here is your bag, I have put my number on your phone. Ace is a hacker. It was easy for him to open it and put my number inside, since you were drugged by the water I gave you. I think I owe you a favor, so just contact my number, if you ever need my help. I’ll be leaving tomorrow, so we won’t be seeing each other. But would a pretty lady like yourself give me the honor of taking you to dinner?”

I smiled. “Sure handsome.”

He smiled, “you flatter me too much by calling me handsome, since you know someone with the name Michael, call me Theodore, or Theo, up to you. I find Theodore to be quite a mouthful myself.”

I smiled “Ok Theo, call me Sienna as well then.” And continued, “Do you always have a refreshing personality? Yesterday Why were you so ummmm” I couldn’t find the word.

“Aloof? Cold? Reserved? Distant? What word are you looking for?” he replied, smirking.

“That means the same thing, but yeah” I replied.

“I don’t know, you just really remind me of my sister, being around you comforts me, you even smell like her” He looked at the sky as he replied.

I just smiled. “I think Percy is bored now. Why don’t we go back now? We still have dinner planned, don’t we?

“Yes, our date” he smiled and replied.

“I’m married dip sh*t” I replied and raised my hand to show him the ring.

“I know I saw the ring yesterday, it was a joke”. He replied, and I giggled, and we stood up to leave, and he added “when you hit on someone next time, remove your ring, you aren’t fooling no one.”

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I blushed with embarrassment, “ I wasn’t trying to fool anyone.”

He chuckled and replied “yeah. Right”

We then heard someone say “Who’s fooling who?”

We looked at where the voice was, and I saw Michael with the most unreadable face.

“Let me guess that’s your husband”, he went back to his aloof face.

“yeah” I replied.

He replied “Okay then see you later”, he whispered “6:30, the restaurant beside the hotel. GSM. Glass and gold entrance, tell the front desk Room 8” and then he walked away.

“What did he say to you?” Michael asked.

“Nothing of importance” I replied.

I felt Percy not moving and said “Come ‘on Percy.”

He still wasn’t moving. I sighed and carried him inside and said, “you big baby!”

Michael wasn’t very fond of dogs, so I figured he wouldn’t offer to carry him unless he needed to, so he followed closely beside me silently. I clicked my floor, he didn’t say anything, I went out, and he followed me. I just ignored him and when I got to my door, As Theo had said, my shoes were there and a paper bag. I put Percy down and, luckily, he walked in with me. I took the shoes and a paper bag. I saw Michael’s confused face, but he couldn’t say anything after I saw Regina’s name on his phone. I’m not sure if any of us wants to talk about it anyway.

“So do you want to come in, or do you prefer standing there? I don’t mind either way, so which is it?” I said after I noticed he hadn’t come in.

He silently went in and I closed the door and said “Don’t forget you have a dinner appointment with Mr. Shaw, I’ll just go take a bath. When you leave, I don’t want to keep opening the door for you, so tell the front desk to give you a key card for my room.”

He nodded and asked “who was that man?”

I scoffed and said “So it’s OK for you to talk to my cousin, who I don’t like and also, let me remind you, is completely into you, and yet I can’t talk to a guy I happen to meet in the park?”

He looked depressed and replied “that’s not what I’m saying."

I gave him a calm reply, “so what are you saying?”

I know I still have no evidence of his infidelity, so I’m not insinuating that he is, I just can’t deal with him talking to Regina.

He went silent, and I scoffed. I went into the bathroom and bathed for a while. When I got out, I expected him gone but he was still there looking depressed, like someone had died.

I started to get worried, so I asked “Did something happen?”

He nodded.

“What happened?” I am now growing anxious.

He looked at me. “Your aunt and uncle had an accident.”

“Oh… OK and?” I was concerned something happened to my in-laws. My aunt and uncle never treated me well when I lived with them, so I was never attached to them.

“What do you mean by OK and? They are your family, aren’t you concerned?” he replied confused

“I was never that close to them. They only came to me when they needed money, since I was left with half my parents’ will and grandparents’ whole property after I lost them. They have already wasted the other half, so what do they want, but since Regina is there do you want to go to her side and comfort her?” I replied calmly like it was no big deal.

“Did anyone ever tell you, you're quite cold when you want to be? And no, I don’t want to go to Regina. I was just concerned about how you would react, since Regina said she has been calling you no stop since it happened. By the way, where’s your phone? I also have been calling you for a while,” He replied.

“I lost it and that guy you met earlier returned it” I replied.

He looked like he realized something and said “was he the one that left your shoes on the door as well with the paper bag?”

I never liked lying, so I answered him honestly, Yes.”

His face looked like he was about to explode, like he was going to kill me.

So, I told him “Speak your mind, I prefer you say it, compared to staring at me like you’re going to put a whole in my head”

And he exploded in an instant. At first, he sounded like he was pleading and took my hand. “Did you cheat on me? Why? I love you. Earlier you said you loved me as well, so was that all fake?!” then he became aggressive and tightened his hold on my hand, which started to hurt “You are mine, you hear me!! I married you. I bought you! You can never leave my side, understand?”

“Calm down tiger, your quite funny, so that’s what you think of me. Good to know, thank you for clearing that out” I replied with teary eyes and a smile on my lips, while trying to free my hand, unsuccessfully.

So that’s how he thinks of me, as a property who can’t do anything it wants. I mean, I kind of did have the intention last night, but I didn’t go through with it, but the thought is still awful enough, so I kind of deserved it. Then I remembered Regina and I got angry as well.

“Ohh so I’m, one big cheater. Then how about Regina, huh? Don’t think you’re so freakn clean, let go of my hand you hypocrite!” I replied in anger and pulled my hand.

He was also shocked by what I said and lost his hold on my hand, “I’m not having an affair with Regina.”

“Yeh keep telling yourself that, as much as I want to push you out of the room, I have a more fitting reason than “I’m not having an affair with Regina”. I mocked him, I just wanted to clear up my name and get him out as soon as possible.

He is staring daggers into me again? How can I love a man like him? I mean just why and how. Was I blind?

After waiting for my answer for a while, he said “SPEAK!”

I didn’t like his tone, but I wanted him to get out of my room, so I replied “someone spiked my water so he brought me to his room to get treated by a physician and let me sleep the night happy?”

“No, you still slept in a man’s room last night. Why would you think I’d be happy” he replied with a glare.

At that moment, I felt like putting fuel on the fire, so I said “Men”.

“What?” he replied, confused.

“Men, there were two men in that room” I replied.

At this point, I wonder whether his eyes could kill me or even already have. So I said “now get out.”

He didn’t answer nor did he argue, but he kept staring at me. I was wondering what he was staring at, so I looked into a mirror in the bathroom, and I realized I had just gone out of the bathroom, so I was just wearing a bathrobe.

When I turned, he was already near me, so I said “get out now! I don’t wanna talk to you anymore”

“Don’t worry, there won’t be anymore talking at this point” his hands touched my thighs and ended on my waist.

“Get your filthy hands off me, I don’t want to be anywhere near you nor do I want to talk to you, so leave, I have somewhere else to be and so do you! Now let me go!” I stopped him before he started again.

“Where are you going?” he asked curiously.

“Why should I tell you? Now please go.” I replied.

“Fine, but if you're not here by 10, I’ll look for you, got it? Come back before then, I’ll be waiting” he replied in a domineering tone.

“Whatever, now go!” I said and finally he left.

I went to look at the paper bag and found a simple, elegant black-looking top that had its own pair of pants, put it on and went out of the room with Percy. I went to the restaurant at the place Theo told me, and went to the receptionist. There was a note that the receptionist gave me.

The receptionist then signaled someone, and took Percy. At first, I didn’t let him, then the receptionist explained “Ma’am pets are not welcome in the restaurant to prevent any risk of allergies, contamination and accidents, but we do have pets care for all visitors with pets in our restaurant. It’s just for the safety of everyone inside, please understand.” and pointed at a big room with a lot of dogs and cats. Even some lizards, snakes and hamsters were inside that were directly beside the restaurant. The owner would be able to clearly see their pets if anything happened. So I let go of Percy and let the attendant take him.

I looked down at the note Theo left. “Something urgent came up I had to go home much earlier than expected. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t leave a pretty lady like you hanging. Ace is already in room 8. I asked him to make sure you ate a lot. You need to gain weight to be as pretty as my sister. Enjoy I have already paid for everything. Hope to see you again. Take care. PS. I hope you don’t mind the restaurant has a facility for pets”

Seriously, that guy, really can’t stop with his cheeky insults, but its fine. It means free food, thanks Theo. I went to the room and met Ace inside. Unlike Theo, he didn’t talk much, he was more like a bodyguard than a companion. So I thanked him for his company, and to ask him to thank Theo for the dinner, he nodded and left with me, as we got out, the attendant was already waiting by the door with Percy. I pat his head, walked back to the hotel. Ace escorted me to my room. When I got in, he also left. I checked my watch, and it was only 8:00 pm, so I just went for another bath and changed into my pajamas, sat on the bed, later slapped the bed to signal Percy to come, turned the TV on and watched some sort of drama. I had never watched it before. It wasn’t that entertaining, so I kept changing channels until I found a drama I used to watch. It was about a dumb FL and some love triangle with two best friends.

Next day

I woke up feeling someone was hugging me somewhere through the night. I knew it was Michael since he had that dark blue pajamas he always wear, so I just went back to sleep.

Later I heard someone calling me “Honey, honey wake up, yena? Wake up my love”, it’s probably 8:00am now, since that is his scheduled time to have breakfast when he isn’t working. And I woke up to him looking into a stack of paper wearing glasses sitting in the bed in his pajamas. Rubbing his hand gently on my shoulder to wake me up.

He then looked at me and put on a smile “good morning babe, did you have a good sleep?”

“Good morning, yeh I did. By the way, why are you sleeping here. Isn’t your room on the top floor?” I replied.

He looked disappointed, “because your sleeping here, why would I sleep there? So go up with me. I promise to stay with you till your project ends.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, but sure I’ll be moving with you upstairs” I replied.

“Good” I heard him say.

I stood up and went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and took a bath. It felt refreshing and got me thinking. He seemed to be in a good mood early in the morning, considering how we left everything yesterday. I don’t mind it, I prefer him not asking me questions when he can’t answer mine. I’m still not happy with what he did, but at this point I don’t want him clouding my mind. He is a distraction I can’t afford right now. With a project coming along, we'll just deal with it when it ends.

After I was done showering, I heard a knock “honey? What would you like for breakfast?”

“I’ll have what you have.” I replied, as I usually do.

“alright” he replied.

After doing my morning skincare routine, I went back to the room and went to my closet, then I felt a hand on my waist, and he whispered “didn’t you say you'd be having what I’ll be having, I don’t think you’ll be needing any clothes for that.”

He started kissing the back of my neck while caressing my shoulder. I then heard him say “baby, let's make our own baby”

I turned to him, touched his face with my right hand and said “No, Mika, we can’t.”

He took both of my hands, kissed them and looked straight at me. “yena, you asked for a baby before, and I’m now agreeing to it. It will solve your uncertainty about me when you can tie me down with a baby, doesn’t it? Let's have a baby, alright my love?”

“I can’t, Mika. That is not a good reason to have a child when we have all these problems. We just can’t” I felt like crying since I have always dreamed of becoming a mother, but I can’t do it with how much of a mess it has been recently.

“Okay, okay, but we have to try at some point, OK?” he asked, pleading.

I nodded OK, but right now I just need time.”

He kissed my forehead and hugged me, and I hugged him back.

I called him “Mika?"

He replied with a hum.

“Do you love me?”

He let go of me and looked at me. “Of course I do.”

“Really?” I replied.

“Yes, only you, I promise” he said reassuringly.

“Then can you do me a favor?” I replied

“Anything” he answered.

“Can you stay away from Regina from now on?” I said.

He looked conflicted but said “Yes, I will do my best to get as far from her if possible, so don’t worry, my love OK?” I doubted his words, but I nodded and looked down

he put his forehead on mine and said “Baby, look at me. I love you and only you, trust me.”

I looked at him, nodded and said “alright”.

He then put his lips on mine. I kissed him back as he kissed me harder. I put my arms around his neck, as his hands went down to my waist and then my thighs. I then jumped and locked my legs on his waist as he caressed my thighs and pushed me to the wall of the closet. When I moaned from the impact, he put his tongue inside my mouth, his kiss began to become aggressive. I then caressed his hair and pulled a handful of his hair, which made him groan. He moved to the bed as he sat down with me on top of him, he pulled the ribbon off my robe, and started to kiss me. I moaned as he started to kiss my collar bone and went further.

I don’t know how long it has been, but I am already tired, and he isn’t done yet. I feel like we have been doing this for hours now. He is good, but at this point, I think he is going to kill me.

“Mika” I called

“yena? Are you OK?” was what I heard, as my sight blurred.

In my dream, I was in our summer lake house sitting on the grass looking at the lake with my parents and grandparents. My grandparents then told me to look for my parents. I was confused.

“But grandma, grandpa, they are just beside me” I answered.

When I looked to my side, my parents were gone and my grandparents went back into the house. The house then exploded. And I woke up.

I awoke to Michael looking worried. It looked like he was shaking me since both his hands were on my shoulder.

“Yena, are you OK?” he asked worriedly.

I nodded

“You were talking and sweating in your sleep” he said, concerned.

What the hell was that? What a weird dream. It’s the first time I have ever dreamed of them since they died. Look for my parents? How weird.

“Yena, eat lunch with me”, Michael said.

“What time is it?” I found my voice very raspy.

“Here, drink some water, and it’s already 1:30pm” he looked guilty as he took the water and gave it to me.

He then moved the table near to me, and we proceeded to eat together. After eating, I took my phone and read the emails my assistant and agent sent me, informing me they had arrived at the hotel with their room numbers.

I met them at dinner. After that day, I began to be very busy filming. Michael kept his promise and didn’t leave while we were filming and came with me from morning to night. I also didn’t see Theo or Ace after that. 5 months flew by very fast, and I’m already going home. Michael is packing our stuff now for our flight later. Finally!