Bellamy POV
My head hurt.
No, scratch that—throbbed. Like someone had opened my skull, poured in a marching band, and told them to play every instrument they had. My forehead was hot, my tongue felt like it was coated in sandpaper, and my throat was dry like I’d swallowed a desert.
I groaned and rolled over. The bed creaked beneath me. The sheets smelled musty—old cologne, maybe beer. My eyes cracked open to a yellowish light, a chipped nightstand, and… floral wallpaper?
What the actual hell?
This wasn’t my room. This wasn’t any room I’d ever been in before.
I sat up fast—and then instantly regretted it. My vision spun. The ache in my skull pulsed like a warning siren.
Where was I? What happened?
And then—
Crash.
The memories slammed into me all at once. Running from my husband. My mother slamming the door in my face. The bar.
Him.
The stranger with the storm-colored eyes and the sharp tongue.
“Oh my fucking god,” I gasped, clutching my face.
I looked around. The bed beside me was empty. The blanket ruffled, the pillow still indented. He was gone.
Gone.
Just like that.
I scanned the room. No note. No name. Not even a business card. Just… gone. A million things exploded inside my chest. Shame. Confusion. Panic.
And then, worst of all—my eyes shot to my phone.
7:25 AM.
Shit!
My interview was in thirty-five minutes. I leapt out of bed, heart racing. I looked down—no clothes. I mean, I had last night’s dress, which was wrinkled and smelled like bar smoke and regret, but I wasn’t walking into a professional office looking like this.
No way.
But I couldn’t go home. That house wasn’t a home anymore. That house was a cage with fists. I refused to set foot in it.
So I grabbed my purse, shoved on my shoes, and bolted out the motel door like my life depended on it. Which, in a way, it did.
I found a small clothing store two blocks down, thank God. The woman at the counter looked at me like I’d just crawled out of a sewer. I didn’t blame her. I tossed together the first blouse and slacks I could find and sprinted to the public restroom across the street to change.
The lights buzzed overhead as I scrubbed last night’s makeup from under my eyes and smoothed my frizzy hair down with water and prayers. I looked like a hot mess—and not in the sexy way.
But I was doing it. I was showing up.
And honestly, that was more than I ever thought I could do.
The office building loomed ahead like a glass giant, modern and intimidating. My legs were still shaky, but I forced them to carry me inside. The receptionist looked up from her computer, giving me a glance from head to toe.
Yeah, I looked rough. But I smiled anyway.
“Hi,” I said, trying to steady my voice. “I’m here for the interview. Bellamy Beau.”
She glanced at the time on her monitor and clicked her tongue. “You’re five minutes late.”
“Traffic,” I lied smoothly, even though we both knew it wasn’t true.
She rolled her eyes at me and said, “10th floor,” pointing toward the elevator. “Knock on the door at the end of the hall. They’ll call you in.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
As the elevator doors closed around me, I caught my reflection in the mirrored walls. I straightened my blouse and ran my fingers through my curls one more time. My heart pounded harder the higher I went.
This is it, I told myself. A new life. A new chance.
Ding.
10th floor.
I stepped out, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor. There was only one door at the end of the corridor. My hands were clammy. My throat tightened. I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.
You’ve got this, Bellamy. I knocked once. Twice. A voice from inside: “Come in.”
I opened the door. And froze.
My heart dropped so fast I swear it hit the floor before I did.
Sitting at the long glass table were two men. Both in suits. Both looking completely in control. Both watching me.
And both with the same face.
What the hell?
It was him. The man from last night. But also… him again. One sitting calmly with his hands folded. The other with a smirk tugging at his lips.
Two of them.
Twins.
I blinked hard. My breath caught.
Was this some twisted prank?
My heart pounded in my chest like a drumline. My palms went sweaty again. My vision tunneled.
What the actual fuck is going on?