ZYLIAH'S POV

It was a long time later before I managed to pull myself together, rose to my feet, and headed for my car.

I took one last look at his closed door. They weren't out yet, and I didn't need to wonder what they were doing-I already knew. Still having sex, and probably talking about me... or mocking me.

That last part broke my heart. How long had this been going on between them? I'd probably been a fool to them, especially Fynn.

I settled in the driver's seat of my car, buckled up, and still crying.

Going home wasn't an option. Sabrina might not be there, but her mother would, ready to mock me in her place.

Picking up my phone to call my friends, I hesitated, and ended up setting it down again. I couldn't talk about it now. It was too painful.

Plus, what would I tell them? That I caught Fynn and Sabrina fucking each other in his apartment, and my supposed fiancé had texted me to come see the 'surprise' he had for me? No, it was too embarrassing.

Opting for a stay at a hotel far away from here, far away from home, from where anyone would recognize me, far from where I wouldn't have to be asked questions. I drove a little too fast.

My phone rang. It was Natasha, my best friend. I was supposed to meet her and Delia, my other friend, today.

I refused to pick up. Next was Delia which meant they were together, waiting for me.

They both kept calling until I couldn't ignore it anymore. "Hello."

"Thank goodness, Zyliah. We almost thought you'd gotten into an accident or something. Delia and I were about to come to your house, and if we didn't find you there, our next stop was going to be Fynn's," Natasha said, sounding relieved.

"I'm sorry, I can't make it anymore. You girls should have fun without me." It was impressive how I managed to keep my tone normal, not giving away my pain...

"Are you okay? You don't sound okay, Zee," Delia chipped in.

...or not. I heaved a sigh. Trust Delia to be the one to point it out-it's like her ears were tuned to emotion or something. "I'll talk to you girls later."

"Hey, don't hang up," Natasha hastily warned before I could press the red button. "What's wrong? Come over, let's talk. We don't have to go out anymore. We could just hang out in Delia's."

I blinked back tears and slowed down a little. "You guys are the best, but... no, I'll be fine. I just want to be alone."

I knew Natasha would argue, so before she could say anything more, I pressed the red button and turned off my phone.

Twenty‐something minutes later, I was settled in my suite. The seclusion and comfort I thought I wanted were starting to mess with my head.

For the past five minutes, all I'd done was let the memory of what happened in Fynn's apartment an hour ago torment me-mentally and emotionally. The tears wouldn't stop falling as the deafening silence pulled me deeper into it.

Unable to take it anymore, I left my suite with puffy eyes and a blotchy nose, looking for a way to quiet my thoughts.

I ended up at the hotel bar. "One shot of tequila, please."

The tattooed bar guy gave me a sympathetic once-over as he slid my drink to me. He was probably used to customers like me, and I knew I was right from the way he glanced at me.

"Whoever he is, he doesn't deserve you," he said, sliding my second shot to me.

Yep! My guess was right. He knew all about the heartbroken girls dumped by their jerk boyfriends.

I heaved a sigh and decided, with reckless abandon, to drown my sorrow and memories.

"Another round," I said, my words slurred and slow.

"I think that's enough for the night, ma'am."

After much argument-which the bar guy won, much to my annoyance-I paid and dropped a generous tip. I hobbled to my suite, unable to walk on my own, holding the wall for support.

I was so intoxicated, my brain had gone fuzzy. And yet, somehow, I was still thinking about my cheating ex-fiancé and my evil stepsister.

Reaching my suite, I realized I hadn't locked it when I left for the bar, but the lights were off. I staggered into the room and collapsed on the bed.

I was already dozing off when I heard a voice. "Oh, you're here already."

But being too wasted on tequila, I found it draining to speak, and when I tried, it came out as a grunt.

A pair of strange hands stroked my legs, and being vulnerable, heat quickly spread up to my soft folds.

A drunken moan escaped.

The bed dipped beside me. I couldn't see his face, but I caught the scent of aftershave and damp skin, like he'd just stepped out of the shower.

The tequila in my system made me wrap my arms around him, my nose brushing his jaw. He smelled so nice. "So niceee..."

"You're one drunk lady," he said. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. "Well, I am too."

He kissed me, his tongue sliding into my mouth, and it fanned the heat building between my legs. Drunk and aroused, I only clung tighter.

I felt his erection through his briefs, and a loud, needy moan escaped me again.

He was making me feel things I didn't even know I could feel, not with this much alcohol in my system. He left my mouth and trailed kisses down my body until he reached my breasts. His teeth tugged at the fabric of my dress, and I let out a lustful sigh.

His hands moved quickly, unclothing me until I was wearing nothing but my own skin-hot, flushed, and aching for his touch.

"Oh...yeah." I squirmed when he took a taut nipple into his mouth, teasing it while his hand kneaded the other.

Wriggling from the heady passion, my knees brushed his loins. He let out a grunt. "Oh, fuck!"

Within seconds, he was stark naked and thrusting into me like a man desperate for release.

In the dark, we found each other's lips-and everything else. We both demanded and gave with the same hunger.

By the time I neared climax, he had changed our position and was taking me from behind.

"Oh...mmm." I cried out softly as my body found its release.

A few seconds later, he spilled himself inside me, groaning as he reached his peak.

Drained and numb, I slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.

ZYLIAH'S POV

My eyes fluttered open, a lazy yawn tearing through me, and my head throbbed like it was about to burst.

I winced, turning over on the bed. A startled gasp left my lips, but I quickly clamped a hand over my mouth. My heart was racing a thousand miles per second, and the throbbing only got worse.

What was happening? Or what had happened?

The outline of a tall, well-built frame on the other side of the bed left me stunned.

Who was he? As the bedcovers slid off my body, another gasp escaped me-I was naked. What the hell?!

He moved, and my eyes widened. Praying he wouldn't wake up, I slid out of bed fast, spotted my clothes scattered across the floor, and quickly dressed while letting my gaze sweep through the suite.

"This isn't my suite," I whispered.

I grabbed my purse-still unsure how it had ended up near the door-and bolted out without slowing down.

A figure stepped out from a corner. I caught a quick glimpse, it was a woman, and I accidentally bumped into her.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

She was watching me. Another time, I might have wondered if she recognized me, but I didn't have the luxury of time to think about that, so I continued on my way out of there with my head still down.

I noticed her heading toward the suite I had just left, but I didn't think much of it. I just wanted to leave this hotel, where I had no idea how I'd ended up in a suite that wasn't mine-sleeping with a stranger.

"Stupid me," I chided myself, zooming out of there.

It didn't take long to get home, but not before stopping at a pharmacy to buy some contraceptive pills-which I downed-only to find Sabrina seated comfortably in the living room.

"Finally, she's home."

I ignored her and tried to go up to my room, but she blocked my path. Reeling in impatience and sadness, I exhaled. "What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing," she said with a mocking smirk. "I just wanted to know how my dear, dear sister felt after seeing me with her ex-fiancé yesterday. Are you good?"

I curled my fists, reining back stupid tears and hoping they didn't embarrass me again. "Get out of my way, Sabrina. I have nothing to say to you."

"Okay, well, I have something to say to you. Why don't you just die and leave this world?"

"What?" I stared at her in disbelief. How could she say something so evil to me?!

"You're just standing in my way, so I figured that's the only way to stop you from being a pain in my neck." She shrugged as though she hadn't just uttered something so outrageously wicked.

I wanted to punch her, but I knew I didn't have it in me, so I swallowed hard and fumed helplessly. "Move, Sabrina. You're just so evil."

She cackled. "You're pained-I knew it." Then another cackle. "I'm not evil, darling sister. I just know how to go for what I want."

"You can go for what you want without hurting anyone, but no-you just have to be like your mother," I spat, angry tears streaming down my face.

"You bitch!" she yelled, slapping me hard and shoving me to the ground. "How dare you insult my mother?! You know what? I agree. If you say my mother's evil, at least she's alive. Where's yours? Dead, that's right. She's six feet below, where she so obviously belongs, and it is only right you go join her there!"

The way she'd casually talked of my mom's death and said my mom deserved to die had my emotions spiraling out of control. I raised myself from the ground and lunged at her with that long-awaited punch.

It was her turn to hit the floor. I hovered over her as she whimpered in pain, blood running from her nose.

"Do whatever you want to me, take Fynn and have him all to yourself. I do not care. But don't you ever talk about my mom ever again. She might be dead, but she's still better than the living bitch who birthed you!"

Feeling even more heartbroken, suddenly missing my mom, I fled up the stairs toward my room.

"You'll pay for this, you fool! I'll make you pay for hitting me!" Sabrina's angry voice trailed after me up the stairs.

But I paid her no mind, nor did I bother to reply to her anymore. Besides, my sobs would make it quite difficult for me to even say anything in retort.

Upon reaching my room, I flung my purse onto the bed and followed it with a slump. The tears wouldn't stop falling, and soon I'd made a sizable wet patch on the sheets.

There was a knock on the door. Thinking it was probably one of the maids, I sniffled. "I want to be left alone, please."

"If you don't open this door right now, Zyliah, I'll break it down."

Natasha? What was she doing here? How had she even gotten here? I wasn't in the mood to talk to anybody.

"Your time's ticking, Zyliah."

Delia was with her too?!

I let out a weak groan, lifted my weary, aching body from the bed, and sluggishly went to open the door.

They attacked me with hugs the moment they set their sights on me.

"Now tell us what happened," Natasha began.

"Or what's been happening since yesterday," Delia added.

Finding some comfort in their hugs and familiar scents, I snuggled deeper into their embraces, changing my mind about wanting to be alone.

I needed them right this moment.

Natasha used her leg to kick the door shut, and still in their embraces, they led me to the bed and pulled away to get a good look at me.

"You look terrible," Delia was the first to speak.

"I second that. Puffy eyes and a swollen face-you've been crying for a long while," Natasha chipped in.

But I had a question of my own. "How did you guys know I was home?"

"Called Fynn. He sounded uptight and quite rude, and he said, he's not your keeper or guardian angel," Natasha explained.

"He was being a jerk. A senseless one," Delia sounded miffed. She was probably still pissed about Fynn's behavior toward them. "You guys had a fight, right?"

Tears fell again, uncontrollably. "It was more than just a fight."

ZYLIAH'S POV

It's been two weeks since the incident. Two weeks since I caught Fynn and Sabrina. Two weeks since I'd had that face-off with her in the living room that morning.

Ever since, things had been mostly uneventful. To my surprise, Sabrina had avoided me - which, honestly, was a good thing.

I was still trying to heal from Fynn's betrayal, and from him calling off our engagement. Though I still went to bed crying over the heartbreak sometimes, forgetting about Fynn wasn't easy.

A knock came on my office door, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Yes?"

"It's me, Dora," said my personal secretary. Sabrina had one too.

"Come in, Dora."

A young, raven-haired girl with a pretty smile and nerdy glasses opened the door and stepped in. "Good day, ma'am. Sorry to disturb you, but it's quite urgent."

"What's up, Dora? Anything the matter?" I looked up from the files I was poring over on my desk to give her my full attention.

"The Toronto client's office called to let us know they'll no longer be doing business with us. They said they've gotten a better offer elsewhere." she reported dutifully.

This new information had me blinking in both shock and disbelief. "What are you talking about? When did this happen? I mean, how? Mr. Gary was my biggest client. He... oh God!"

"I have no idea, ma'am. I just received the call and thought to report it to you."

Dad had put me in charge of that client, and things were going well. I had met him twice, and both times had yielded positive news.

The final deal was supposed to be this Friday, and Dad would have promoted me. He was so ecstatic when I'd told him of Mr. Gary and his interest in doing business with us.

The man was one of the top dogs in the business world, and every company-no matter how successful-wanted to do business with his kind. Fuck!

"Does my father know about this yet?" I asked her, nerves making me twiddle my pen.

He'd be so disappointed if the news got to him.

"I don't think so," she replied, sympathy gleaming in her eyes.

She knew how hard I had worked to get Mr. Gary's attention, let alone book our first business meeting.

"Did he give any reasons?" I probed further.

At this point, I was confused and on the brink of tears. I blinked, trying to stop them from crossing the edge and spilling over.

"No. Just what I told you."

"Do you know what company gave him a better offer? It's not even possible-we're the only ones with the idea to begin with. No other company knows." Frustration laced my voice.

"No, ma'am," Dora sighed quietly.

Another knock on my door. "Come in." I said it without an ounce of energy.

"Miss Smith, your father is on the line," Julia, his secretary, said as she handed me the phone.

Swallowing nervously, I raised the phone to my ear. "Hello, Dad."

"What is this nonsense I'm hearing?!" He boomed. I had to pull the phone away from my ear before he shattered it with his yelling.

Covering the mouthpiece, I turned to his secretary. "How does he know?" I mouthed.

"He received a call," she mouthed back.

Exhaling deeply, I brought the phone back to my ear. "Dad, I have no idea how this happened. I..."

"You do know how it happened! I'm just disappointed you'd do something like this. Of all the companies-it had to be our strongest competitor? How could you?!" Dad ranted, and I could hear his heavy breathing from my end of the line.

I could understand his anger, but I didn't understand why he was accusing me of something I knew nothing about. I didn't even know what he meant by those statements.

"Dad, I..."

"Come home right this minute, young lady!" The line went dead.

Puzzled and in shock, I handed Julia the phone and packed up to go home.

All through the drive home, I couldn't stop thinking about the Mr. Gray deal-and the company that had made a better offer.

The tension and silence, plus the heated glares aimed at me the moment I got home, nearly made me stumble in my heels, but I pulled myself together and forced my legs to keep walking.

My dad and his wife, Sabrina's mother, were on one sofa while Sabrina sat alone on another. All three pairs of eyes held one common emotion-anger.

Only Sabrina and her mother added spite to theirs, while Dad's was mixed with disappointment.

I heaved a weary sigh. "Dad, I can explain."

"Fine. I'd love to hear you explain how all of this happened."

I opened my mouth but found my brain came up with nothing to offer my lips to say. I was speechless. I closed my mouth like a fish out of water, licked my lips, and slowly gave a small, dejected shake of my head. "Actually, I can't explain."

"She's guilty, Dad. I told you! She did it!" Sabrina jumped into the conversation uninvited.

My brows furrowed. "Excuse me?! I did what?"

"You backstabbed our company. Dad's legacy. You let jealousy eat you up. You sold that idea to our competitor! You let our biggest client make a deal with the other company!" Sabrina's accusations shocked me to my bone marrow.

But it angered me too. "How dare you, Sabrina?! I worked my ass off to get Mr. Gray to even look at us. I met with him twice, and you think I'd let it all go to waste because... what? You say I'm jealous? Jealous of what exactly?!"

"Not what, but who." She rose challengingly, locking her heated gaze with mine. "And it's me. You're jealous of me!"

A dry, mirthless laugh escaped me. "Jealous of you?! Can you hear yourself?! How could I be that jealous-to the point of ruining something I worked so hard for? I'm sorry, Sabrina, but I think you give yourself too much credit. You're not worth it."

"What are you saying, Sabrina?" Dad looked confused, despite his anger.

"I have proof, Dad. Your daughter is not at all who she claims to be." She eyed me with malicious contempt.

My confusion grew. "What proof?"

She reached into the back pocket of her denim and pulled out a flash drive and her phone. "These are the proof. She made it clear she wants me to take the fall for it. Only, unfortunately for her, I was-and still am-smarter than her."

My heart dropped from its place, landing hard in the pit of my stomach. What had she cooked up this time?