The Morning After

Raelynn's eyelids fluttered open, with soft light peeking through the thick curtains. Her head throbbed with a dull ache, and her body felt heavy, like she was waking from a deep, dreamless sleep. She blinked several times, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Where am I?

This wasn't her room. That much was clear.

She pushed herself up, flinching as the pounding in her head got worse. The first thing she noticed was the bed—huge, soft, and draped in what appeared to be silk sheets. The pillows under her head were so soft they felt like they were swallowing her up. The room itself was nothing like her modest bedroom back at her apartment. Instead, it was lavish, luxurious even, with dark wood furniture, golden accents, and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The walls were adorned with paintings, the kind that looked expensive and belonged in some fancy gallery. Everything about this place screamed wealth and elegance.

Raelynn's apartment was the polar opposite. It was small, cramped, and she could barely afford the rent, which was almost always late. Her room consisted of a worn-out bed, a shaky dresser, and peeling wallpaper. The difference between her usual setup and this lavish space was enough to make her feel woozy. What the hell happened?

Her head hurt so much. She pressed a hand to her temple, trying to recall the events of the previous night. I went to the bar… drank way too much vodka… And then… then what?

As she shifted to sit up, the blanket that had been covering her upper body slid down. Raelynn gasped, her eyes widening in shock. She glanced down, only to see that she was completely naked beneath the luxurious sheets. 

"What the—" she muttered, quickly grabbing the blanket and pulling it tightly around herself. Her mind raced. Why am I naked? She clutched the blanket to her chest, her heart pounding in confusion. I only went to the bar for drinks. Did I… did I get that drunk?

She scanned the room, her eyes landing on the bedside table. Her belongings—her phone, purse, and keys—were neatly placed there. Next to them, she spotted a notepad with gold-embossed letters across the top: Grand Crystal Hotel. Raelynn's jaw dropped. Grand Crystal Hotel?

"That's the most luxurious hotel in the country," she whispered to herself. How in the world did she end up here? Did she stumble into this hotel while drunk and somehow get a room? Or worse… was she kidnapped? But if that were the case, why would her captors bring her to a place this fancy instead of some dark, creepy warehouse? 

Her mind raced with all the possibilities. Organ traffickers? What the hell is going on?

Just as her thoughts were spiraling out of control, a soft chime rang through the room—a doorbell. Raelynn's heart nearly stopped. Someone was outside the door. Panic surged through her body, and without thinking, she sprang out of the bed, still clutching the blanket tightly around her body.

She glanced around the room, desperate to find something—anything—to defend herself with. Her eyes landed on the phone beside the bed. In a frenzy, she ripped the cord from the wall and yanked the phone off the table. Grabbing the receiver by its cord, she swung it in the air like a lasso, testing its weight. It wasn't much, but it was all she had. If someone tries to hurt me, I'll hit them with this stupid phone.

A few seconds later, the door opened slowly, and Raelynn tensed, ready to attack. But instead of some terrifying stranger, a young man stepped into the room. He was tall, with dark hair neatly styled, and he wore a perfectly tailored black suit that hugged his broad shoulders. His expression was calm, even polite, and as soon as his eyes landed on Raelynn, he smiled.

"Good morning, Miss," he greeted, his voice smooth and professional.

Raelynn's grip on the phone tightened. She took a step back, raising it as if she were about to throw it at him. "Who the hell are you? And how did I end up here? Don't you dare come any closer, or I swear I'll hit you with this… this phone!" she stuttered, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

The man's smile didn't falter. In fact, it only grew wider, as though he found her reaction amusing. "I mean you no harm," he said, holding up his hands in a gesture of peace. "My name is Kade. I work for my boss, and he asked me to come check on you."

Raelynn's head was spinning. His boss? She stared at him, suspicious. "Your boss? Who the hell is your boss, and why would he care about me?"

Kade's smile remained unfazed. "My boss wanted to make sure you were alright after the night you spent together."

Raelynn's eyes widened further, her grip on the phone slipping slightly. The night we spent together? Suddenly, fragments of memories from the night before flashed through her mind—blurry but undeniable. The bar, the man who had saved her from that creep, the way she had impulsively kissed him. And then… Oh, God. She actually went with him.

Her cheeks turned bright red as it hit her. She had slept with him.

"I… I…" Raelynn stammered, her eyes darting to the floor as embarrassment washed over her. She quickly put the phone down, laughing awkwardly to hide her embarrassment. "Hahaha, right. Uh, yeah. That… happened." She smiled awkwardly, her fingers fidgeting with the blanket as she tried to compose herself. What the hell was I thinking? She had been so emotional and drunk last night.

Kade chuckled softly, clearly enjoying how flustered she was. "You don't need to worry. My boss asked me to deliver something to you."

Raelynn's heart skipped a beat. "Deliver something?"

Kade nodded, reaching into his suit jacket. "Yes, my boss wanted to make sure you were well taken care of." He pulled out a small white envelope and extended it toward her. 

Raelynn eyed the envelope warily, her mind racing again. What now?

After a moment of hesitation, she took it from his hand. Her fingers trembled slightly as she tore it open, pulling out a neatly folded check. Her eyes widened as soon as she saw the amount written on it: $10,000.

"W-what is this?"

Kade smiled again, this time with a hint of amusement. "A gift from my boss. He wanted to make sure you were compensated for your time."

Raelynn's jaw dropped, her eyes flicking between the check and Kade. Ten thousand dollars? For what? A night she barely even remembered? It didn't make sense, but she wasn't about to question it too much.

"Well, that's… very generous of him," she said, still in shock.

Kade nodded. "My boss is nothing if not generous." With that, he gave her a polite nod and turned to leave. "I'll let you get dressed, Miss. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call the front desk." He paused briefly before adding, "Enjoy the rest of your morning."

Raelynn watched as he exited the room, she was still processing everything that had jus thappened. She stared at the check in disbelief, her lips parting in a silent gasp. This can't be real.

Her shock quickly turned into excitement as she lifted the check above her head, letting out a small, gleeful laugh. "Yes!" she whispered under her breath, a grin spreading across her face. She threw her arms up in triumph, forgetting about the blanket for a split second.

The blanket slipped down her body, exposing her bare skin to the cool air. Raelynn gasped, quickly grabbing it and pulling it back up, but not before glancing at the check one more time. She planted a kiss on the edge, her grin growing even bigger.

Maybe this day isn't so bad after all.