FLASH MARRIAGE TO MR ZACHARY

One damn mistake, they said, could change your life, and mine had turned everything upside down.

The chill in the room made my skin prickle as I groaned and reached for the duvet to cover myself. My hand, however, landed on a warm body. I jolted upright, immediately noticing my clothes scattered on the floor and realizing I was completely naked. I pulled the duvet around me and my eyes fell on a man sleeping peacefully on the bed.

"What the hell?" I whispered, shock and confusion mixing in my voice. "Shit, shit." The moment I muttered the words, my head pounded, and fragments of the previous night flooded back. I remembered following my friends-Emma, Tonia, and Mara to a nightclub for our usual ladies' night. I recalled taking shots and drinking heavily, but I had no memory of ending up in a stranger's bed.

I frantically searched the room for my cell phone, finally finding it under the bed. I unlocked it, only to be met with a barrage of messages and notifications. They all seemed to suggest that I was engaged to Ivan Carlos.

Ivan Carlos. The name was absurd. He was a top celebrity in Canada, a public figure no one had actually seen up close, except those in his inner circle. Why would I be associated with him?

Emma's name appeared on the screen, and I dialed it, my anxiety rising as I waited for her to answer.

"Vera, where are you?" Emma's voice was laced with concern. "Your mom's been calling me, and all I could tell her was that you were with me."

I rubbed my forehead, trying to soothe the throbbing pain. "How should I know? I woke up in a stranger's bed."

There was a pause, and then Emma's voice came back, hesitant. "Vera, I'm so sorry. I still can't believe it either."

"What... what are you talking about?" My voice trembled as I awaited her explanation, but before she could elaborate, someone snatched the phone from my hand. I turned to find myself face-to-face with a shirtless Ivan Carlos.

"Your call is disturbing my early morning sleep," he grumbled, tossing the phone onto the bed and heading towards the bathroom.

I stood there, frozen in disbelief. I had not only slept in Ivan Carlos's bed but was now confronting him directly. As reality set in, the possibility that something had happened between us became more apparent.

I scrambled to gather my clothes from the floor, dressing quickly and grabbing my phone. Without looking back, I hurried out the door.

Outside, I took a deep breath, attempting to calm my nerves as I navigated down a lavishly decorated spiral staircase. The gold and black decor made it look like something straight out of a real estate showcase.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs and neared the exit, a voice stopped me. "Mrs Carlos, where are you going so early in the morning?" A woman in a white and black uniform approached me, and I looked around, expecting to see someone else she might be referring to. But it turned out she was talking to me.

"No, my name is Veronica," I corrected her sharply.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but since you're engaged to my boss, I'll have to address you as Mrs. Carlos," she said, her tone firm but respectful.

I was tempted to ask her which engagement she was talking about, but I didn't have time. I needed to get out of there and head home before my mom started freaking out.

My phone kept vibrating with messages piling up as I made my way to the huge black gate. As I approached it, two men appeared out of nowhere and hurried to meet me.

"Mrs. Carlos, your ride is here. Please follow us," one of them said politely.

"My ride? You've got to be kidding," I scoffed. "Is this some sort of joke?"