The smirk slowly faded from Tavian's lips.

A cute giggle followed... coming from no one else but Nyssa.

She stumbled closer to the tub, her dazed eyes locked on him until she stopped right in front of it, blocking the wall he had been staring at.

Now, his eyes were on her, unreadable.

Her cheeks were flushed so red. Damn, she looked cute.

"Pho-murderer," she mumbled again, slurring the word.

She suddenly grabbed her head, wincing at the pounding inside.

Her eyes blinked slowly like she was trying to think through

"Argh" she groaned, shaking her head as her lids fluttered shut.

Tavian tilted his head, watching her. His eyes darkened, but he said nothing

FLASHBACK

Nyssa blinked again, her gaze drifting right back to the door she'd been staring at.

Just like that, Her feet moved before her brain could stop them.

Step by step, she walked toward it, a little too slow, a little too shaky.

What was she even doing? Going to his room? 

She tried to keep her eyes open, but everything swayed and blurred.

Was she drunk for real?

She didn't drink that much...so wh-why?

Her head spun.

Meanwhile, the guy had just finished his call and turned but spotted her from a distance.

His brows lifted.

Is she leaving so soon? He thought.

"Nysserly!" he called out, hurrying toward her.

"Nysserly!" he called again, about getting to her.

She heard him, but she didn't care. She stopped in front of the door and reached for the knob. It turned easily. The door wasn't locked.

She stepped inside and shut the door behind her.

His voice was still calling her name from the other side.

She looked up, squinting at the cozy living room in front of her.

She stumbled in, moving slowly, like she wasn't even sure what she was doing.

Then another door caught her eye.

She headed for it without thinking, dragging her feet and blinking through the blur.

Her brain was screaming, What are you doing?

But her body? It wasn't listening.

She opened the door and walked right in, leaving it wide open.

It was a huge bedroom. Dim but not too dark. It was empty.

She dropped to the floor, curled up and pouted.

"He's not here... did he run away?" she mumbled with a half-drunken laugh.

She hugged herself.

"I'm co-ld..."

The growl of her stomach made her grinned.

"I'm h-ugr-y..." she said drunkenly.

Her gaze drifted around the room until it landed on another door.

"I-Is he there?" she whispered, slowly rising to her feet.

End of flashback

*

Nyssa's eyes finally opened again. She stared down at the water.

Stepping closer, her bare skin brushed the edge of the tub.

She lifted one leg, dipped it in - then the other. Now she was inside, standing.

Her gaze shifted back to him. He was still watching her.

His face also started to blur, her eyes growing heavy.

She moved toward him and sank into the water... landing right on his lap.

"I'm cold" she whispered, licking her lips.

Then slowly, leaned forward, letting her head rest on his chest. Her eyes slipped shut.

He didn't push her off but his jaw tightened.

Then he muttered, low and sharp,

"You've got some f*çking nerve"

4:30AM*

"Hmm... that's so cold"

Nyssa stirred, her body shifting against something cold. She shivered, her fingers twitching slightly.

Her lashes shook. Her skin prickled. Something wet and cold clung to her.

Her clothes? 

She shifted again, but everything felt off. Wrong.

Where am I? She thought.

Her eyes blinked open slowly, stinging a little. Blurry at first, until her vision settled on a smooth white ceiling above her. Then her gaze dropped and her breath hitched.

She was in a bathtub.

Her legs were stretched out inside it, shoes still on. Her dress completely soaked.

She sat up quickly but gasped, grabbing the side of her neck. A sharp pain jolted through it.

"Ah" she winced, her face twisting.

Her fingers rubbed gently at the spot. It felt like the pain was from her bone. She tried stretching it, but it only hurt more.

Looked around slowly to see it was a bathroom, her heart beginning to race. The bathroom wasn't familiar, it was not hers.

Her lips parted.

What the hell...?

She stared at the tiled walls, the soft lights, the mirror and the unfamiliar scent in the air.

Where am I? She thought again 

She reached for the side of the tub and tried to stand but her foot slipped. She lost balance and fell back into the water with a splash.

"Shit" she muttered under her breath, gritting her teeth as water sprayed everywhere, droplets hitting the floor.

She groaned and tried again - she managed to lift herself out, dripping wet. Her soaked dress clung tightly to every curve of her body.

She stood still for a second, her arms wrapping around herself, head bowed.

Her eyes closed.

Think, Nyssa. Think.

How did she end up here?

Her mind was foggy. Her head ached, twisting her face again.

She raised her head, her eyes flicking to the door. Without wasting a second, she rushed toward it.

She yanked it open and stepped out right into a massive bedroom.

Nobody was in sight.

She clenched her fist and closed her eyes to remember something again, willing her brain to cooperate

Then, like pieces of a dream falling into place, flashes came back.

Her eyes opened, widening as she gasped.

"I tailed that phone murderer to the nightclub... I drank... I followed him out when he left the VIP party room. I felt dizzy... I watched him go into one of the private rooms..."

She pressed a hand to her forehead.

"I watched the door from a distance and... and..."

Her stomach dropped.

"Ahhh!" she screamed.

"I was so drunk and I went into his room!!! Why the hell didn't he lock the door?!"

She let her bun loose, both hands grabbing her hair, raking through in frustration.

"F*çk. F*çk! I slept overnight with a guy?!"

Idiot. Why don't you try thinking again about how you ended up in the bathtub, her inner voice hissed.

She blinked quickly, trying to slow down and actually think.

She shut her eyes tight for seconds.

Nothing.

It was like someone had erased the rest of the night.

Her eye snapped open.

Should she ask him?

No, stupid.

Ask him what? "Hi, sorry, did we sleep together in bathtub?"

She winced at her own thoughts.

No way.

She should get out of here. Now!

What time is it?

She scanned the walls for a clock but saw none.

She patted the sides of her gown for her phone, only to remember there's no pockets.

Meanwhile...

In the living room, Tavian sat quietly on the couch, holding an unlit cigar between his fingers.

His eyes were shut.

The television was on, playing an old black-and-white piano performance ....soft, beautiful notes floating through the space.

He wasn't watching. He was just listening.

Suddenly, his phone rang. The sound mixed in with the music 

His eyes opened lazily, and he turned his head slightly toward the noise.

His gaze landed on the phone beside him.

The caller ID lit up. He stared for a second... then looked away.

His eyes closed again.

The ringing stopped. Next sound was that of footsteps.

He didn't turn to it.

Behind him, Nyssa froze mid-step when her eyes landed on a male figure seated in the living room.

Her heart flipped.

Is that him?

Color rushed to her cheeks, feeling embarrassed.

Shit. Someone just bury me alive, she thought, biting her lower lip until she tasted blood.

She looked away and dashed to the entrance door, trying to open it.

It didn't move.

Her breath caught. She tried again, twisting harder this time, rattling it.

Still nothing.

She stared at the knob, her pulse racing. Then the realization hit.

Did he... lock the door??