Love Me in the Dark

1. A Favor

KREW

Present day…

MY HEART jumped wildly.

My phone kept ringing. Whoever the fuck was calling me at this hour, this better be a matter of life and

death.

I was in the middle of dreaming of a beautiful brunette. Now, the hot as fuck big blue eyes angel had

vanished into the abyss. Groaning, I blindly grabbed my phone from the nightstand. And my clock

showed only four in the fucking morning.

I answered and pressed the phone against my ear with a groan, “Krystyn, I—” I wanted to curse her

badly, but my parents taught me good manners. “I hate you right now. Can it wait until six?”

“I missed you too.” Her angelic voice sounded energetic at this time. She worked hard, but knowing

that she was not an early riser, my stomach formed a knot.

“What is it, Krys?” I was already sitting on the bed, rubbing my eye, and trying to gather my thoughts.

“I need a favor, and please, don’t hate me.”

Thank fuck, it was only a favor. The last time I received a call at this time. Shit. Memory lane was not

always fun to visit. “How could I, sis? As long as no murder involved.”

“Thank you. I love you. You know that, right?” I imagined her checking her painted fingernails, thinking

about what color she planned to change into next.

“Wait.” I raised my finger as if she was here in front of me and blinked my heavy eyelids. “What kind of

favor?”

“I need a guest room in your house.”

Now I was fully awake. I laughed out loud. “What happened to the mansion and your damn penthouse,

Krystyn? Are you broke that you can’t afford to rent a hotel room?”

“That’s the thing. That room is not for me.” I could even feel her grinning sheepishly at me or maybe

biting her nail.

I groaned. Why did I feel that I was not going to like this favor? I was a private person. Despite my

family owned a billion-dollar company, I chose to work in the board room than to stand beside my big

brother—the CEO of Selik Enterprises.

“Then no. I don’t entertain and welcome strangers at my house, you know that. Get him or her a suit in

the hotel. Put the bill in my name.”

“Please? When was the last time I asked a favor from you?”

I rolled my eyes. “Last week. Have you forgotten what you did to your date? You ghosted him.”

“That was different. And he was a douche.”

“Krystyn.” Now I was annoyed.

“Fine. I’ll call Kai.” Of course, she would, and Kai would still call me because I was a good brother and

never said no to my sister.

“God, I want to dye your hair right now.” I drew a deep breath, releasing it through my nose.

“Not my hair, Stasi. Are you gonna help me or not?”

Was she giving me a choice? “Fine. Whatever.” I scratched my head in irritation.

“Great. I know I can count on you.”

“Who is this person, anyway? Why do you have to let him stay in my fu— house, Krystyn? What kind of

trouble you two have gotten into?”

“I’m not in trouble, big bear. Jeez. She’s a friend of mine.”

“She? A friend? Then why should I help her? Shouldn’t it suppose to be you offering her a place to

stay? What’s her deal?”

“Nothing you can’t handle. And she’s hot, by the way.”

“I’m not asking you if she’s hot. And I’m not looking for someone to warm my bed.”

“You need to loosen up, blow off some steam, and blow someone’s brain.”

“Jesus, can you be a little more serious?”

“This is what Kai and I are talking about. That place has changed you.”

“Forget about me for a while. Are you sure you can trust your friend that she won’t sell my story to the

media?”

“My god, Krew. The world doesn’t revolve around you. always revolve around you. She needs a place

where the last thing someone will look for her. The only place I could think of is in the lion’s den. Isn’t it

the purpose of your place, brother?” She was right. My house was completely off the grid, but

something didn’t add up.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Thank you, Krew. Love love. Bye.”

***

An hour later, I had no choice but to pick up my sister’s so-called friend from the airport. She didn’t

even give me the name and said her friend knew me already. Of course, it was not a surprise. Her

friends knew us, but why did she have to keep it a surprise? And it made me anxious.

I texted Krystyn as soon as I arrived at the airport, and the domestic flight just arrived. Knowing that I

was in the middle of nowhere, there was only one flight departed from New York this afternoon.

Fifteen minutes later, still no sign of her friend. I started to think that Krystyn was pranking me. I was

pissed when she did not reply to my message. If she wasn’t my sister, she should consider this her last

favor.

I entered the small airport lounge and looked around for a familiar face, but it was almost empty except

for the staff. “What the fuck?”

I checked my phone and dialed Krystyn. It went to her voicemail. “Damn it.” I knew she intended to turn

it off, knowing that I would blow a fuse when I met this mysterious woman. Besides, I knew all her

friends from old to new—being Selik’s close friends came at a price, and that involved background

checking. Her friend had no exemption.

I huffed and walked outside, shaking my head in annoyance. My anger started boiling up. My sister

played me out. What was this secrecy all about anyway?

When I reached my car, I jerked slightly to the soft and low voice behind me. That voice seemed

familiar, yet it sounded strange as if I had not heard it for a long time. I wasn’t sure why.

I turned and held back a gasp upon seeing the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on, and only a

meter away from me. Her eyes were the color of the hottest flame—Prussian. Fuck me now.

I stopped my eyes from widening into circles as soon as I recognized the woman standing in front of

me. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

How could I ever forget her?