Page 20 of Red Queen
“You hired me for a job, and I didn’t finish it. Why are you so forgiving?”
“You did your job, Rosa. We finished it. It’s not your fault that you were drugged.” For a moment, my brain doesn’t comprehend what she just said.
“But I—Whoa, wait. I was what?”
“The guys who took you home, they were talking about how you might have been drugged, and that’s why it hit you so hard.” Oh my god. So it wasn’t the alcohol. I knew I wasn't a lightweight.
“I’m sorry. I’m gonna have to call you back, Ivy.” I need to think this through. I need a moment.
“Of course. We’ll talk later, alright? Thank you again for your hard work, Rosa. See you.” I mutter a quiet yeah before I drop my phone on the bed and just stare in front of me. I was possibly drugged.
This is hitting me hard. Someone made sure I drank a lot so they could’ve taken advantage of that. They wanted to rape me.
14
ROSA
Iran toward the bathroom, hoping Mateo had left the door unlocked, but he didn’t. I slap the door out of anger, and I hear his voice call out to me, but I’m too shocked to stop now. My ears are ringing, my head’s spinning, and as I reach the kitchen sink, I throw up.
I drank some water after I was sure no more stuff was going to come out. A shiver runs down my spine as I think of the possible outcome again. If Nathan and Mateo hadn’t been there, I would not have spent the night here, but at some stranger’s house instead, and I’d be in a much worse state now.
Mateo’s loud and fast footsteps get closer and closer to me, but I can’t move from the floor. I’m stuck, crunched up next to the cabinets, my face buried in my hands, the familiar lump starting to form in my throat once again.
“Rosa, hey. What’s wrong?” He crouches down to me, stroking my arm in a soothing way.
“I talked to Ivy… Was I really drugged?” I still don’t move my head. I can’t look into his eyes now or I’ll burst into tears.
“We don’t know for sure. You seemed more than just drunk. But you weren’t that sick. So I don’t know, I’m sorry.” He sighs and sits next to me, pulling me into his arms.
“I… I could’ve ended up in a stranger’s house… God knows what would’ve happened to me.” I trail off, trying not to think of the worst outcomes. I finally let my arm down, just resting my head on his shoulders while I fidget with my hands.
“Well, you still ended up with a stranger.” He chuckles, and I slap his thighs.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I snap back, anger taking over me.
“Okay, I’m sorry, bad joke. I just wanted to say that… Nothing would’ve happened to you. You were surrounded by friends, there’s no way they would’ve let you leave with a stranger.”
“You know, I was wondering, why did you stay with me? This is Nathan’s house. And yes, you’re basically a stranger.” I finally have enough courage to look up at him, and I realize how beautiful he looks from up close.
“I’m not leaving a woman behind in your state.” He replies as if I asked the stupidest question. Given that he has the most fun when he’s drunk after a party, it’s hard not to think about why he rejected me when he’s a certified playboy. “Besides, it would’ve been hard to say no to you when you demanded cuddles.”
My heart flutters at his smirk, and my face immediately heats up. This situation can’t get any more embarrassing, I swear. I hit the bottom. “You could’ve done more than cuddling.”
“Not when you were that drunk.” His hands trail up and down my arms, giving me goosebumps from the sweet feeling.
“Did you give up being a playboy?” I ask with a sly smile, but it doesn’t stay too long as I feel his fingers wander up to my collarbone, playing around my neck.
“For you, I’ll try.” Well damn. I have him wrapped around all ten of my fingers. Never thought I’d be the one to tame the playboy.
“You sound too confident that something more is going to happen between us.”
“I haven’t been able to think about anything else but you, since you ran into me that morning in Miami.”
“I’m not sure if I’m ready for a relationship right now, Mateo.”
I like him, and he probably likes me too. But I should focus on my career more, and a relationship doesn’t fit into my plans right now. That’s what one night stands are for.
“Who said anything about relationships?” He gives me the sexiest smile that humankind has ever seen, and once again, my heart flutters at the sight. He’s dangerous. “I’ll take anything you give me. Just be sober while doing so.”
