Bethany's POV
My mind couldn't help but drift, lingering on a million thoughts as I sat alone in my office.
Why did this happen? Was I so evil in my last life that I deserved this?
No matter how I churned it in my mind, nothing seemed to make sense. I still had no idea why my dad needed a loan and why he did something so risky, using the land and inn as collateral.
My mind kept wandering, trying to understand why he didn't bother to tell me anything before he passed. I felt like I was being haunted by old ghosts that had been locked up for a thousand years.
With the pressure of the loan already too heavy for me, the bank manager's attitude clouded the path of hope I had earlier. And her son wasn't any better.
In Hernandez's eyes, I was nothing but a chess piece.
He knew how desperate I would be to raise the money, so he threw a sweet deal onto the table for me. The terms of the agreement didn't allow me to sell the inn without the bank's permission, and the bank manager would definitely not permit it.
Honestly, it seemed like the best option.
I would sell the inn and land to him using some backdoor channel that the bank wouldn't be able to trace, and he would take care of the loan. I would get to keep my property, but I would lose myself in the process.
Selling myself to a bastard like Hernandez wasn't a nice fairy tale that a young lady would look forward to. He was in a higher position, holding all of the cards with nothing to lose.
If I didn't agree to his terms, he would still get the inn and land. I would lose everything, killing my father's legacy few years after his death.
Sometimes, I imagined letting go.
Leaving everything without looking back, allowing the bank to win. I would be able to start something different with the money I can save in the next six months, maybe move to Phoenix or to an entirely different state.
Unfortunately, I couldn't let go. The inn meant so much to me than just a source of income.
It wasn't the brightest place, or the largest inn in Sedona. We didn't even have any special attractions we could boast of, but I loved it still.
My dad had worked so hard to maintain it, giving all his life to the inn and I. The fact that he had hid the loan from me was a pain that would be hard to get over, but it wouldn't make me hate my father.
All he did was love me. And when my mother died of cancer, he stayed strong for me. There was no way I would let the one thing he loved most after me be taken away. I would fight till the bitter end.
I wouldn't let my father's hard work just be tossed aside like that, squandered by a greedy mother. And there was no way I would sell my dignity to become someone's trophy wife. If my father were alive, it would break his heart to watch me sell myself to keep his prize.
I sulked, letting my mind drift to other matters, like my time in Vegas.
Since my return from Vegas, I'd been having flashbacks on my night there.
Andrew was handsome, daring and incredibly sexy. His aura was also greatly welcoming, and he sought to comfort me before anything else.
Talking to him in the bar wasn't that exciting because of the noise and a thousand smells, but he made sure that every moment with him was full of smiles. He didn't rush things, nor did he force me to do what he wanted.
I remember how flustered he was when I told him to bring me back to his place. I still think it was the alcohol that pushed me to say those words, but I enjoyed every second of that night, knowing fully well that he was in complete control.
I enjoyed the comfort, pleasure and ecstasy as it helped to take my mind off my issues. I was able to melt into his arms and bed, letting him lead me into my choices for the night.
His deep voice had me on a chokehold, making me succumb to his desires. Each word he said in the room pushed me to the edge, making me want more of him. His requests became my fantasies, his desires became my hopes. I lost control in his arms and I didn't care. With each moment that passed, I wanted him to control every inch of me.
I was completely different when I was with him, experiencing a sensation I had never known. My soul felt naked before him, and I wasn't even trying to hide anymore. His essence made me want to surrender to him and that's why I bolted before he woke up.
I was scared that if I stayed any longer, I would sink too deep, drowning myself in his commands. His eyes would command my soul and I wouldn't be able to say no.
Sometimes, I wished we had spent more time together. Unfortunately, I wanted it to remain as it was; something grand, beautiful and amazing that wouldn't be happening again. I never do one-night stands, so keeping this one as a precious memory was more than enough for me.
Besides, I was sure I would never see him again, considering how far Las Vegas was from Sedona.
I picked up my account ledgers, looking over the records for any discrepancies and searching for a possibility of paying back the loan. If I deducted salaries and operational costs for the past three months, I would barely make a profit of twelve thousand dollars.
It sounded good considering the fact that business wasn't booming, but with this pace, it would be impossible to raise even a hundred thousand in six months. Even if I pulled out my savings and my few investments, it still wouldn't be enough.
If only there was a simple way to handle all of this, I wouldn't have to wring my head dry for ideas so early in the day. Taking a deep breath, I gave up for now, heading downstairs to continue with work.