Royal Maid’s Awakening - Chapter 7

When Hannah woke, she was in a dimly lit room. She opened her eyes and winced. She realised—slowly—that she was in a big bed. Massive. The furnishings were dark. But even in whatever state she was in, she could tell it was luxurious. Having worked at the palace for the last six years—work! Hannah sat up in the bed and groaned when it felt like her brain was colliding with her skull.

There was movement nearby and then a man loomed over her. A scream got stuck in her throat before she realised who it was and got out a choked, ‘Lukas? What…? Where am I?’

She felt thoroughly confused. Vague slices of memory came back. A yellow dress. Pounding music. Seeing the back of Lukas. Him turning around.

She said, ‘The club… Was I in a club? With you?’

Lukas was sitting on the bed now, holding out a glass of water and a tablet. ‘Take this. It’s a painkiller. And drink. You need lots of water.’

Hannah did as he asked, feeling curiously weak. He put the glass back down and looked at her. She noticed stubble on his jaw. And that he looked disheveled. Clothes rumpled. Shirt untucked.

‘Yes, you were in the club.’

‘But not with you?’

He shook his head. ‘No. You were alone.’

‘What was I doing there?’ But even as she asked and even though her memory wasn’t working, she knew. She’d gone to see him. A wave of mortification surged upwards.

‘Your drink was spiked by two young men. The security guys got them and found the drugs on them. They were arrested.’

Hannah frowned. ‘I think they were trying to buy me a drink, but I said no.’

‘They must have spiked your drink without you noticing.’

Hannah remembered downing it in one go. The fizz down her throat. ‘What happened?’

‘It was quick. You were on the dance floor, but you started acting woozy. I got to you just in time.’

‘And then what?’

‘I brought you straight here and got a doctor to check you over. He said you would sleep it off but to keep an eye in case you vomited in your sleep.’

Hannah wanted to close her eyes and for the ground to swallow her whole. She realised she was wearing a thick, voluminous robe over her dress. He hadn’t undressed her.

She’d obviously gone out on a mission to seduce Lukas and it couldn’t have gone any worse. Maybe it was just as well she didn’t remember. And then she thought of what might have happened if Lukas hadn’t been there. She shuddered slightly and he saw it. He said, ‘Don’t even go there. Nothing happened.’

‘Thanks to you.’

Hannah looked around. ‘Where are we?’

‘My apartment down near the marina.’

Hannah looked at him. ‘You have an apartment?’

He nodded. ‘I bought it years ago. Rented it out.’

Hannah felt ridiculously hurt that she hadn’t known this. There had been a time when she’d known everything there was to know about Lukas Zárate. But that was a long time ago.

She pulled the cover back and said, ‘I should go. You must be busy.’ She didn’t even know what time it was.

He put out a hand. ‘There’s no rush. I’m finished all my meetings.’

Hannah felt queasy. ‘So you’re leaving?’

‘Not straight away. But…yes. At some point.’ He stood up. ‘Why don’t you have a shower? I’ve left some clothes out for you. I got my assistant to organise sending some over from a boutique.’ His mouth quirked. ‘I could do with a shower myself. And I’ll cook something to eat.’

Hannah said a faint, ‘Ok, thank you.’

She got up and still felt a bit woozy, so she took it slowly. She went to the curtains and pulled them back, wincing at the bright sunlight. It was at least early afternoon. She’d remembered that it was Sunday. And that she had a couple of days off. So there was no need to panic.

There was a sliding door, so she opened it and stepped out onto a balcony, taking in the full vista before her. Santanger’s glittering marina, with sleek yachts bobbing on the water, and buzzing cafés and restaurants.

The sky was blue and the breeze was warm and smelled of sea salt and flowers. And Hannah had just humiliated herself spectacularly. All she could do now was try to extricate herself with as much grace as possible.

When she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror a minute later, she groaned again. She had racoon eyes and her hair was halfway down her back. She would need all the help she could get.