Chapter 03

Anna's POV

The next morning, I woke up in an unfamiliar bed, wrapped in silk sheets that definitely weren't mine. Memories of the night before flooded back in fragments: his hands in my hair, his mouth on mine, the way he'd pressed me against the door...

My clothes were folded neatly on a nearby chair, and I was wearing what appeared to be his expensive shirt. A tall figure moved in the kitchen, his tailored shirt highlighting his athletic build.

He turned, those memorable blue eyes finding mine. His smile was polite but distant, as if we were meeting at a business function rather than the morning after.

"Good morning." His voice was cultured, carrying just a hint of amusement.

"I should go," I said quickly, reaching for my purse.

"Of course." His tone remained perfectly pleasant, unbothered. "Though you might want these first." He gestured to some aspirin on the counter.

I swallowed the pills quickly, then slipped into the bathroom to change. When I emerged, I handed back his shirt. "Thanks for the unforgettable night."

A flash of something—desire? amusement?—crossed his features before his expression returned to neutral. "The pleasure was mine."

Standing in the doorway, I turned to face him one last time. "In this city, nights like this are meant to be just that—beautiful coincidences. Once I walk out this door, we go back to being strangers."

He studied me for a moment, then nodded, his smile cool and detached. "A reasonable proposition."

The door closed behind me with a soft click, leaving me alone in a hallway that screamed luxury. As I waited for the elevator, I pulled out my phone, unsurprised to find several missed calls from Faith.

The morning air was crisp as I walked through the small park, my phone pressed to my ear. Faith picked up immediately.

"Anna!" Her voice cracked with emotion. "Where have you been? I've been calling and texting for hours... I was so worried—" She broke off, trying to steady her breathing.

"Faith, I'm okay." My heart clenched at her genuine fear. "I'm so sorry I worried you. How's your grandfather?"

"Stable now, thank God." She sniffled. "But don't change the subject. Where did you go? What happened after I left?"

I sank onto a park bench, watching early morning joggers pass by. "Remember that guy at the bar with the intense blue eyes?"

"Wait—tall, gorgeous, killer Tom Ford suit? No way!" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "You didn't!"

"I did." I closed my eyes, heat rushing to my face. "We... spent the night together."

"WHAT?" Her squeal made me wince. "Babes, this is so not you! Are you okay? Really okay?"

"I'm..." I paused, searching for honesty. "I'm not sure. It was intense. Beautiful. Completely unexpected."

"Anna." Faith's tone turned serious. "Please tell me you used protection. After what happened to my cousin—"

The question hit me like a bucket of ice water. "I... think so? I remembered we used it in the first round, but I don't remember the others."

Faith's voice dropped to an eager whisper, "Wait, first round? There were more? Oh my god, you have to tell me everything!"

I recounted every detail to her, and she exclaimed again, "Well, if a guy said he is single, he is definitely not, and he was super calm this morning. This is weird. You better get Plan B. Today. No arguments. I'm coming with you. And we're getting you tested next week, just to be safe. Promise me."

"Faith, you're overthinking this," I rolled my eyes. "Adrian's not that kind of guy. And..." I paused, a smile tugging at my lips as I recalled last night's memories, "it was beautiful."

"Hey." Her voice softened. "No judging here, ever. But you're my best friend. After what Zack put you through... be careful with your heart, and your body."

"I know what you're worried about," I sighed. "But I'm a grown woman, and I take responsibility for my choices. Though..." I remembered the unlabeled pill bottle in his bathroom cabinet, "maybe getting checked wouldn't hurt, just for peace of mind."

"That's my girl," Faith's voice noticeably lightened. "Though you still owe me every scandalous detail over brunch. Meet at Sarah's in an hour?"

"Deal." I stood, gathering my resolve. "And Faith? Thank you. For everything."

"Always, babes. That's what ride-or-die means."

After hanging up, I called the clinic. The nurse's professional and friendly voice came through: "For STI screening, we recommend waiting at least two weeks after exposure for accurate results. However, if you need emergency contraception, that should be taken as soon as possible."

"Actually... I just want to make sure everything's okay," I hesitated. "I saw some pill bottles in his bathroom..."

"I understand," the nurse's tone was reassuring. "If you're concerned, we can do a basic check-up. It'll help put your mind at ease. Would you like me to schedule you for tomorrow?"

I thought of Adrian's gentle eyes and those sweet moments we shared, and something inside told me everything was fine. But practicality won out: "Yes, please. Thank you."