Chapter 2 Visiting His Home

Where the hell is Jojo? Viola pondered as her eyes searched the vibrant dance floor. Has Jojo departed without even informing her?   "Are you feeling alright?" Brandon probed with concern in his voice.   Viola managed a nod and replied, "Yes, I am fine. It's just that my friend, Viola, who brought me here, is not where I last saw her."   "It's no trouble. If she is not here, I can drive your home. Where do you reside?"

Viola couldn't help but choke on her drink as she laughed nervously. "You don't need to trouble yourself, Brandon. I will simply call an Uber." To her dismay, Jojo did not answer when she tried to reach her on the phone. If she intentionally left her behind, She would not hesitate to exact revenge when she tracks her down. Viola stood up and retrieved her purse from the table. As she attempted to dismount the stool, her legs became entangled, and she nearly fell until Brandon's steady hand caught hold of her waist. "Easy there," he said with a soft smile. That darn smile of his. She brushed the thought aside as she reminded herself of her Italian boyfriend, Dusty.   With Brandon's assistance, She freed her legs from their tangled state. "Thank you. You've saved me once more," She said with gratitude, gently pulling her hand away from his. "Goodbye, Brandon." She exited the bar and stood outside, welcoming the refreshing breeze. It was just what she needed.   Viola attempted to groom her unruly hair with her hand as she glanced in the direction of where Jojo had parked her car, but it was no longer there. Damn it! Did she abandon me and leave? Possibly with a man? She let out a sigh and retrieved her phone to request an Uber, but none were available. Despite being slightly intoxicated, she was determined to make it to Linn's mansion before the night ended.   Her grandmother's wrath will surely be unleashed once she hears what happened. She could already hear her half-sister, Korra and her younger sister, Anastasia snickering at her expense. Ever since she was told that she would be next in line to succeed her grandma, they have been trying to sabotage her image. This all started eight years ago, before she left for Italy. They were eyeing for the title, but Korra was not a legitimate child according to Avery Linn. She was the result of an affair, while Anna, her little sister, is six years younger.

"Thank you for ruining my life, Jojo!" Viola shouted at the ghosts.   As soon as she felt her stomach start to growl, she ran to a nearby area to throw up. As she looked up, she became aware of how cold it was. She wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the chill, mindlessly walking without any specific path in mind. She was confident that she would eventually find her way back home.   Viola continued walking then she suddenly heard a car honking behind her. She paid it no mind and kept going, but the car persisted, trailing her closely. Frustrated, she came to a stop and let out a heavy sigh. When she turned around, the bright lights of the car shone directly into her eyes.   To her surprise, she recognized the person inside the car. It was Brandon. He rolled down the window and called out to her, "Come on, let me take you home. I can't let you go back alone in this state. Plus, it's freezing cold."

Viola didn't think twice and accepted his offer. The weather was indeed chilly, and she didn't want to risk getting frozen. She got in the car and immediately felt a sense of warmth and comfort. She leaned back and closed her eyes, her arms tightly wrapped around her.   After a short while, she opened her eyes and realized that Brandon was carrying her in his arms as they entered an elevator. Did my grandma rearrange the whole place while I was away? Viola pondered as she looked at her changed surroundings and lost in her own thoughts, she drifted off to sleep once more.

When her eyes reopened, the sound of water being poured into a cup reverberated in her ears. In front of her stood a well-built figure, dressed in a white tee.   Where am I? she wondered, scanning the unfamiliar room. Surely, her grandmother would never allow a boy to spend the night if they weren't married. So, this had to be a dream. It had to be.   "You're awake," the deep voice confirmed her suspicion that a boy was indeed in the room. And this wasn't just a dream.   Startled, Viola sat up and clutched the sheet close to her chest. "What are you doing here?" she asked, perplexed. "Did my grandmother actually let you stay without scolding you?"   "What are you talking about?" He approached her, holding out a cup. "This is lime water. It'll make you feel better."   Her confusion only grew. There were plenty of maids who could bring her lime water. Why did it have to be Brandon? "Wait, are you staying the night here?"

"Yes, Jojo, I am," he replied matter-of-factly.   "Why?"   "Why?" He scoffed. "I'll tell you why. This is my house, Jojo, so of course I'm staying."   Her mouth hung open in disbelief. She couldn't even process it. "Your house? That's not possible."   "You are in my bed, Jojo. Before I could ask you where you live, you dozed off. So, I couldn't take you home," he explained.   "Oh." It suddenly dawned on her why everything looked so different. She reached for her purse and was shocked by the time on her phone. "11:45?" she couldn't possibly go home without a ride. She got out of Brandon's bed and handed him the empty cup. "You have to drive me home right now."   But he grabbed her hand as she tried to exit. "You can't leave tonight. It's late. I promise I'll take you home tomorrow."

Viola shook her head. She has absolutely no intention of staying the night in the same home with a man she just met.    "You can take this room. I will sleep in the other one." Brandon gestured towards the room next door. “The bathroom is just over there." He pointed to the door before heading to the closet. "And here's a fresh shirt for you to wear after you're finished cleaning up." He then let out a deep sigh. "Don't worry, you're safe here."   Viola decided to trust his words and placed her bag on the bed, then headed to the bathroom. As she turned on the shower and stepped under the warm water, she couldn't help but hum in contentment. The warmth of the water and the way it cascaded down her body was soothing.   When she finished, she realized she had forgotten to bring a towel, or the clean cloth Brandon had given her. As she opened the door and peeked out, the lights were suddenly out, enveloping her in complete darkness.   Viola strained her eyes in the darkness. "Brandon? Are you there?" she called out, realizing she was completely naked. She waited for a response, but all she could hear was the sound of her own breathing.   "Calm down, Jojo," Brandon's voice finally broke the silence which made Viola relieved. "This has never happened before. I'll go find some light for you to use."   "I have my phone in my bag, which is on your bed with the clothes you gave me. Could you help me find them?" she asked, feeling slightly embarrassed.   "Of course."   She waited, then she heard his footsteps getting closer and soon she could feel his presence. "Here you go. Can you see me? I couldn't find your bag, but I do have the clothes."   Viola’s hands searched for him in the darkness, finally finding him and retrieving the clothes he offered. But as she was struggling to put them on, her foot slipped on the tiles. Grabbing onto Brandon for support, she accidentally pulled him down with her.   In an instant, the lights came back on, and Viola found herself in Brandon's arms, her naked body pressed against him.