As soon as she walked out of the gate, she was plunged into darkness.

The street lights were out but it wasn't necessarily pitch black. The moon illuminated the path ahead of her, and it took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to her surroundings.

She didn't know for how long she had been leaning against an abandoned wall, waiting for a cab, only to realize the time wasn't ideal. Deciding to walk, she stood straighter and stepped forward but all she could manage in her state was to sway and stumble with her suitcase in her hand.

She should have known better than to drink. It was a terrible mistake, and now she was nothing more than a drunken moron—homeless and suffering.

It dawned on her what she had done on the spur of the moment. She had never been the type to speak rudely to others, but today she had crossed her limits and behaved outrageously. She felt guilt consume her, and she couldn't be more upset about the situation. She wanted to go back and apologize to Rita, but she wasn't sure if she could face anyone right now. She was so ashamed of herself.

And here I thought I have nothing to lose.

Tears blurred her vision, and she felt lost. Hopeless.

A bright light filled the air, blinding her for a moment. Her steps came to a halt, and her hands rose involuntarily to shield her face.

She thought her drunken mind was playing tricks on her, and she was losing all her senses again when she heard some noises around her, shattering the silence of the night.

Her eyes slowly opened, and she saw a black car standing afar at this ungodly hour of the night. Probably of some rich jerk. She scoffed at the thought, feeling anger bubbling within her. God had to be so cruel for making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

She shook her head and leaned down to pick her suitcase from the ground just as the door slid open. She stilled when footsteps approached her and soon black shoes appeared in her line of vision.

Blinking, she stood up and lost her footing in the process, falling flat down on her butt.

A throaty chuckle escaped from the person standing in front of her and that alone sent a shiver down her spine. Looking up, she narrowed her eyes at the man before her, but all she could see was the outline of his expensive suit, his face shrouded in darkness and shadow.

"Here." He held out his hand. She may be drunk, but she wasn't dumb. Red flags went up in her head. She felt the urge to scream and run for the hills, only her alcohol-induced haze wouldn't permit it. "Do you plan to sit here all night?"

She gulped and looked around before placing her hand in his. Unexpected tingles zapped through her, causing her to yank out of his hold. "Um, thank you."

He didn't say anything for a while, so she took it as her cue to leave, relieved that he wasn't going to murder her. She grabbed her suitcase and began walking away, but her relief was short-lived when he abruptly gripped her arm and spun her around. She yelped, her face ungraciously colliding with his chest, and she realized how strongly built he was when her palms came into contact with his solid stomach.

She felt extremely small in comparison to him as he towered over her like a predator. She could feel his gaze burning through her, and she wondered what he was thinking.

"Let's go." His voice rumbled right next to her ear, so deep and alluring, she couldn't help but tremble. She wasn't sure if she had heard him right but a tug at her elbow confirmed her skepticism.

"Excuse me?" She tried to slip out of his hold, but he clasped his arms around her waist and drew her into him. Her heart somersaulted when he trailed his hands up her back, his fingertips caressing her bare skin, gentle and oddly soothing. "W-who are y-you?"

Kill me for wearing a skimpy dress.

"Come on." He ignored her question and pulled her in the direction of the car, which she now realized was his, of course. Her eyes widened in panic, and she knew some serious shit was going on here.

"I'm not a prostitute, I swear. Let me go!" she cried out and thrashed her arms, which only made him tighten his grip around her. He opened the door and thrust her inside, seating himself beside her. She watched another man toss her suitcase into the trunk of the car before getting in the driver's seat and starting the engine.

I'm definitely cursed because this has to happen to me.

She watched the partition close, separating them from the driver. Fear settled in her stomach and she tugged at the door handle, hoping for some miracle to happen, but it didn't budge. She no longer felt drunk. "Oh God!" she whispered helplessly and did the only rational thing that came to her mind.

She screamed.

The man immediately pressed his palm over her mouth. "Shh! Just keep your voice down."

She didn't want to give up without fighting, but the pepper spray and pocket knife she carried with her always wasn't with her when she finally needed them. That didn't stop her from digging her nails into his hand.

He cursed and let his hand fall. "We are heading to my place."

"Please." She hiccupped as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "Let me go. I'm not who you think!"

She heard his sharp exhale before he angled his body toward her. His index finger lightly touched her chin, lifting her face to meet his stare. She clenched her eyes shut and bit the inside of her cheek when he wiped away her tears. "I know who you are." He pressed his lips to her forehead and a whimper escaped her lips in response.

She knew it was wrong, but the closeness did not have a repulsive effect on her. It was confusing, so much that she moved away from him and looked out the window, at the darkness that was now slowly seeping into her. Hot tears slid down her cheeks and her shoulders trembled as she cried silently.

She was being kidnapped, but she couldn't fathom the reason.

No one will care if I am gone, so why me?

"Come here." He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. She gasped when heat enveloped her from head to toe. Somehow, in his embrace, she felt safe.

She flinched, appalled by her own thoughts.

"Don't take me. I haven't done anything to you."

"I can't let you go."

She looked up at him with wide, horrified eyes. "But...but why?"

"Because you are mine." He gave her a faint smile as if he shouldn't have said that. Not when she wasn't sober enough to understand him. It was another reason why he had resorted to this measure rather than explaining the matter. She'd just forget everything the next morning.

A strange sensation coursed through her, and her stomach clenched in response.

He ran his fingers through her curls and stroked her scalp. She felt her eyes grow heavy, and she unconsciously buried her face in his chest, feeling almost comfortable.

"Go to sleep." That was the last thing she heard before she was lulled into a deep slumber.