บท 7: PANIC!
Charlotte's confusion deepened as the car wound through unfamiliar streets, and Taylor's silence only heightened her unease.
"Taylor, where are we headed?" She asked, her voice laced with concern and confusion.
Taylor's gaze drifted away, avoiding hers. "Somewhere ma'am"
Charlotte's thoughts flashed back to Natalie's words: "Just go, Charlie. Call me if anything goes wrong." Her hand instinctively went to her chest, her heart racing.
"Is my dress suitable for... wherever we are going?" she asked, adjusting her glasses.
Taylor's responded vaguely,. "No dress code was specified, ma'am."
"This is insane." Charlotte muttered under her breath,
As she struggled to compose herself, Taylor's voice cut through her thoughts. "We've arrived, ma'am."
As the car stopped, Charlotte's gaze fell upon a dazzling billboard written in bold, neon letters "The Aura Nightclub." Her jaw dropped in surprise.
"A club?" she exclaimed, dismay imprinted on her face. Clubs and bars had never been her thing and they were the last place she wanted to be in.
Taylor stepped out of the car, her expression neutral. "We've arrived, ma'am." she repeated, "Fernando will escort you to the Vice President." She bowed slightly.
Charlotte's protest died on her lips as Taylor vanished from sight, replaced by a hulking figure in a tailored suit.
"Follow me, please," Fernando rumbled, his massive frame towering over her. As he ushered her toward the rear entrance, Charlotte's discomfort escalated..
Swallowing hard, she felt a shiver run down her spine. What had she gotten herself into?
*****
Sebastian lounged in the dimly lit room, surrounded by the heavy scents of alcohol and cigarette smoke. Half-drowsy, he poured himself another glass of wine, lost in thought.
His mind was fixated on Charlotte, and his plans for her.
Initially, he'd thought her different from the other girls who played hard to get. But witnessing her gushing admiration for Daniel had changed his opinion.
In his eyes, Charlotte was now just like the others – eager to succumb to his charms.
Sebastian's lips curled into a sly smile as he contemplated his next move.
Get her drunk, lower her defenses, and reveal her true desires.
He would prove his point: that Charlotte, like all the others, was vulnerable to his seductive grasp.
A knock at the door shattered his reverie. "Yes" he called out, downing his drink.
"She's here, sir," the voice outside announced.
A mischievous spread across his face, anticipation coursing through his veins.
The door opened, and Charlotte stepped inside, her breathing uneven. Fear flickered in her eyes as she swept the room. Her gaze settled on Sebastian, lounging on the couch, legs splayed in relaxed abandon.
"Join me, Orchid," he slurred, his voice tinged with alcohol. "No need to be shy."
Charlotte's knuckles whitened around her phone as she sat down, fighting to calm her racing breath.
"Take a sip, relax." Sebastian offered her a glass of wine, his tone soothing.
Charlotte's shaky hands accepted the glass, but as their fingers touched, it slipped from her grasp, shattering on the floor.
Sebastian recoiled, startled. "What the—"
But his shock turned to concern as Charlotte's face contorted in distress. She gasped for air, her chest heaving.
"Help...me," she whispered, collapsing onto the couch.
Sebastian sprang up, bewildered. "What's happening? What do I do?" he exclaimed, rushing to her side.
Charlotte's strained voice was by a hair breadth hearable, "A...Bag..." she squeezed.
But Sebastian didn't catch her words, his anxiety spiraling out of control.
Her gasps grew shallower while her body trembled.
"Hey breathe! What's happening?" Sebastian urged, his hands hovering uncertainly above her.
He spun around to seek help outside , but Charlotte's hands shot out, grasping his with a desperate grip.
Her eyes met with his, filled with fear and pleading. She struggled to breathe, her chest heaving against his hands.
Sebastian's face was pasted in confusion and alarm as he watched Charlotte's futile attempts to draw air. Seconds ticked by, and Charlotte's eyelids fluttered shut. Her body went limp, hands still clinging to Sebastian's.
"Hey Orchid... Orchid... Charlotte!" Sebastian called out, panic set on his face. He swept her into his arms, cradling her against his chest, and hastily left the room.
****
Charlotte's eyelids fluttered open, allowing the room's light to flood in. Her gaze was hazy at first, then sharpened as she locked eyes with Sebastian.
Relief flooded his face, easing the creases. "Thank heaven you're awake," he whispered, his breath escaping in a sigh.
Then he rose to get a glass of water.
The doctor's earlier reassurances of her wellness still hadn't removed his concerns but seeing Charlotte awake quickly did that.
Charlotte's voice, weak but clear, broke the silence. "Where... am I?" She sat up, scanning her surroundings with growing awareness.
Sebastian handed her the glass. "You're at my apartment. Take. Drink."
"Your apartment?" Charlotte echoed, her eyes widening as she took in Sebastian's partially opened form. His chiseled chest and abs momentarily distracted her, but she swiftly pushed the thought aside.
"It was an emergency, Orchid. The doctor said you had a panic attack and needed rest. I brought you here to rest." Sebastian explained, settling beside her on the couch,
Charlotte's irritation flared. "You couldn't take me home?" Her resentment toward him intensified as memories of the club flooded back, "If you hadn't dragged me to that club, I wouldn't have had a panic attack!" she thought, anger simmering beneath her words.
Sebastian sidestepped her question, his eyes probing hers. "Were you scared of me, or is it something else?"
Charlotte sprang up, demanding answers. "Why didn't you take me home?" Her gaze darted around frantically. "My phone... where is it? Natalie must have called."
He produced her phone, holding it out. "No calls, see?"
As Sebastian handed her phone over, Charlotte's gaze skipped past his bare chest, her discomfort growing.
"Oh, for goodness' sake, put some clothes on!"
A cheeky grin spread across Sebastian's face. "Am I distracting you? Should I cover up?"
Charlotte's irritation deepened, her frown deepening. "Mr. Sebastian, please, put some clothes on. I want to go home, now."
As she start to move, Sebastian swiftly stood up, gently grasping her arms.
"Hold on, do you know the time?" he asked, his eyes questioning hers.
"It's already midnight," he continued, his gaze holding a hint of concern.
Charlotte's eyes darted to her phone, confirming Sebastian's words. The screen read 12:04 AM, with no missed calls from Natalie or anyone else.
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