BACK TO PRESENT
"So why did you lie to me?" Freya asked after recounting everything she remembered.
"Pardon me, I just enjoy taunting beautiful women." Arnold chuckled as he took a seat on the plush couch.
His smile was radiant and his eyes sparkled, making him even more attractive. It was so contagious that Freya felt drawn in and unconsciously wanted to laugh along with him, but she regained her composure.
"I really don't think there's a comedian in here..." she looked around dramatically. "This isn't funny. You nearly traumatized me. You let me think I was the kind of girl who'd throw herself at you."
Arnold's mouth twitched at the corner — not a smirk this time. Something closer to regret.
"Well, maybe you should at least be grateful. What if you had actually entered a creep's room?" he finally replied.
The way he was looking at her now — serious, steady — made her let out a long, shuddering breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"Why didn't you just kick me out?" she asked in a softer tone.
Arnold shrugged one shoulder.
"You looked like you needed the break."
"Now, can I at least know your name, miss drunken princess?" he added.
"What the hell?" Freya burst into laughter, her serene voice echoing off the walls. "Trust me, I don't drink like that often. It just… happened."
"Right…" Arnold nodded sarcastically.
"Believe me!"
"Never said I didn't." He teased.
Suddenly, his phone rang, and he glanced over at it. Seeing it was his assistant, he picked up the call, his tone shifting to professional mode.
"Are you ready for the meeting, sir?" Henry asked with a firm voice.
"Yes, be here in a jiffy." Arnold commanded.
"Okay, sir. We'll be there to escort you right away." He responded sharply before Arnold hung up the call.
"That reminds me, where's my bag and phone? I need to call my friend." Freya immediately asked after Arnold's call.
"Over there," He pointed at a sleek desk in the corner of the room, and Freya rushed over.
She unlocked her phone. At once, the screen exploded with missed calls and frantic texts.
Laura [10:43 AM]:
WHERE ARE YOU?
Laura [10:45 AM]:
Freya??
Laura [10:47 AM]:
Okay I'm officially panicking. CALL ME.
Laura [10:49 AM]:
I'm downstairs in the lobby!
Freya's stomach dropped.
"Oh shit.. she's here already," she quickly slipped on her heels.
"Bye, Mr Arnold,"
Arnold opened his mouth, like he was about to say something — maybe ask her name, maybe ask for her number — but Freya was already bolting for the door.
The last thing she saw as she rushed out was his eyebrows slightly raised — like he wasn't sure if he should be amused, offended, or just impressed.
She didn't wait to find out.
The elevator doors closed with a soft hiss, and Freya leaned back against the mirrored wall.
God, what a night.
What a disaster.
"I look like I escaped from an expensive hostage situation," she muttered under her breath as she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
When the elevator dinged at the lobby, Freya practically sprinted out and searched the crowd with her eyes.
She spotted Laura immediately — pacing near the hotel café, clutching her phone like a lifeline.
"Laura!" She waved enthusiastically.
Laura's head whipped around.
"Oh my God," Laura gasped, rushing over to hug her. "Freya, what the hell happened?"
"I'm fine… just a little adventurous night,"
"Oh really? Wait, you're wearing a new dress!" She squealed at the discovery.
Freya chuckled, knowing fully well she would be bursting with questions.
"Let's get out of here," Laura said, and they walked to her car. "We've got plenty of gists to catch up."
"I woke up in some billionaire's bed!" Freya exclaimed immediately they pulled out of the parking lot.
Laura's mouth dropped open.
"You WHAT?"
She slapped her palm over her face. "Okay, technically I woke up on his bed. Alone. Clothed. But still!"
Laura leaned in, wide-eyed. "Start from the beginning. Every detail."
She sucked in a breath, trying to piece it all together.
"So I was really drunk. I asked you to book me a room because I didn't trust myself not to Uber into a river or something—"
"You didn't ask though, but okay, continue…" Laura cut in humorously, and they both laughed.
"Shut up, you know my memory is still hazy," Freya said, stabbing a finger at her. "But you booked the wrong room. Or I did. Somehow I ended up in the Presidential Suite. Arnold Connor's suite."
Laura clutched her chest like she'd been shot.
"Are you serious? THE Arnold Connor?"
Freya nodded grimly. "Yep. Walked right in like I owned the place. Collapsed on the bed. Slept like the dead."
Laura was trying — and failing — not to laugh.
A snort escaped her anyway.
"Don't laugh!" Freya hissed. "He thought I was some drunk party crasher!"
"Well, technically, you were," she said, choking on giggles.
Freya buried her face in her hands. "He watched me sleep, Laura. Like I was some kind of stray puppy."
Laura wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.
"So wait... nothing happened? You're okay?"
"Nothing happened, he didn't touch me." Freya said firmly, lifting her head. "Do you know these wealthy men could be psychos?"
"What did you see?" she asked curiously.
"Can you believe he ordered a pile of this insanely expensive outfit just so I can have something to change into?"
"This dress is an exclusive designer… and he got a bunch of it? Wild… he's really an intentional man!"
"What's intentional about that? I didn't even ask him to get it. He's just a bloody ass show off," Freya rolled her eyes.
"Come on… can't you at least focus on the positive side?"
"Well, there's only one side to him and it ain't positive," She scoffed and they both giggled.
Laura looked positively gleeful now.
"So you just... ran away?"
"I panicked!" Freya said. "He was being all smug and charming and smelling like money and sex appeal! I had to flee for my sanity."
Laura shook her head, still grinning.
"Girl, you realize you just fell asleep in a billionaire's bed by accident. Do you know how many women would kill for that chance? Or was he not hot?"
Freya's cheeks flushed slightly. "Yeah, he's definitely attractive… but not my type."
"Sure, sure... You're not interested. That's why you're blushing like a tomato." She teased her.
Freya groaned and dropped her forehead to the table.
"Can we pretend this never happened?"
Laura patted her hair soothingly.
"Absolutely not. I'm making this your birthday story for the rest of your life."