Alaina's POV
I didn't want to get up, but somehow I needed to. Mother nature demands I wake up early. It was a habit I developed as a married woman.
"Oh sh*t," I groaned as I slowly opened my eyes, the bright light filtering through the curtains causing a sharp pain to shoot through my head. I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy and sluggish, as if I were moving through thick molasses. My senses slowly came back to me; I became aware of the soft sheets beneath me and the echoing sound of my own breathing in the silent room. Panic rose within me as I realised I was completely naked, my clothes discarded haphazardly on the floor at the foot of the bed.
I gingerly touched my lips, wincing at the tenderness there. I could taste the metallic tang of alcohol and something else, something more intimate. Not with Nicole; he doesn't kiss during sex... Sex! I am married!
Oh no, no. "You aren't married again, Alaina." I even managed to laugh. But then I was curious. I had sex last night, no doubt. But who? I closed my eyes to remember... that small guy or who... him rubbing the rim of my drink... him telling me he'd pay me... then his room... room 31: "Damn! I can't remember."
I pulled the sheets tighter around my body, trying to shield myself from the harsh reality of the morning light. What had I done? And more importantly, what did it mean? I had sex with a man, and he was gone now—no twenty thousand dollars. It was a scam! Oh Jesus!
"Okay, okay, Alaina, just get up, shower, and get the hell out of this place. The small man probably didn't pay for the room service, and you have no money. So up, up."
I wrapped the sheets around me as I ran to the bathroom and had a quick shower. I was done in no time and was wearing my clothes. I felt like I had dirt on my skin. What has come over me? Sleeping with men who are not even up to my standards! And he did what he had to do and went off without paying me the damned twenty thousand dollars!
"I've been scammed!" By a man short of being called a man. I had been used and tossed aside. I was literally broke; I was penniless. How the hell would I get to wherever I was going? Or should I call Kent? My damned stepfather? No, he was also a pest; he'd ask for money, and I had none.
"Ugh! You Idiot!" I screamed. Whatever will I do!
Ring. Ring.
I stood for a heartbeat. Was that room service? Oh damn, they were here for money. Oh damnation! This was my end. Without hesitation, I sprang out of bed, my legs tangled in the sheets, my feet stumbling to find solid ground. I dashed towards the bathroom, my bare feet slapping against the cold floor like a slap in the face. My breath came in short gasps, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. I stayed there for about two minutes but heard no human voice, just the ring.
"I'm toast." Then the ring stopped. It was then I flung open the bathroom door, and... nothing. The silence was deafening. I stood there, frozen, my eyes scanning the empty space as if searching for a ghost. My brain slowly registered the absurdity of my actions, and I turned back into the room, my face flushing with embarrassment.
The ringing started again, relentless and shrill, piercing my eardrums like a dagger. I spotted the bed, and my eyes scanned the tangled mess of sheets and blankets, my mind finally registering the source of the noise. My phone! Where was it?! It was my phone! I recognised the ring tone. Oh shit! I dropped to my knees, my hand reaching out under the bed like a claw to grab it. I yanked it out from under the bed.
It was Keisha. My manager! "Hi, what's up, Keisha?"
"What's up? Are you okay at all?" Keisha's voice rang on the phone like a thunderstorm. She was angry, and I don't know why.
"Hey, chill, what is it?"
"Your movie scene is today; you are there asking me what's it? Really, Alaina!?"
Oh my goodness! I had forgotten! In the midst of all these miseries in my life, I had forgotten I had a friend who wouldn't do absolutely anything humanly possible for me. Yes, I wasn't chosen for the audition, but Keisha promised I would get to act in a scene in the movie, but I didn't just believe she would help me that much. And here was it, here was it!
"Keisha, darling… I'm sorry, I –" Shut up, Alaina! I was about to say I forgot, but I kept shut; instead, I said, "I found Hannah in bed with Nicole."
If Keisha was shocked, no, she didn't show it. She never liked Nicole to start with. "Thank God the trash in your life is gone; now get here quickly. By 3 PM." And then she hung up. I wanted to tell her I had no money, nothing at all.
"I'm jinxed." I grabbed my bag and walked straight to the door. As I opened it, I saw a woman there, and my heart stopped.
"Good morning, ma'am." She said nicely, but I couldn't speak. She was here for money, and I didn't have any.
"I am," I was about to say when the woman stretched wands of dollars to me. "Huh?"
"Mister Alista asked me to give you that. He had to run off this morning. He said he couldn't make the transfer to your bank because he's busy."
I didn't listen to her from the beginning, but immediately I saw the money, I paid attention to her. What will you do in this situation? I, as a person, was shocked. So, that 'little' man didn't run away. Nice. This was just nice.
"Thank you, ma'am." I told the woman, trying my best not to scream in happiness as she walked away. I looked at the money and knew this was it. Damn! This was like winning a lottery. Sweet Jesus, thank you!