Turning Of the Tide by Diana Sander

Chapter 21

The light streamed through the window, casting its brilliant glow upon Sherri’s eyes, too intense to bear. She winced and squinted. Her head felt as though it were encased in a dense cloud of cotton, causing her great discomfort.

Extending her arms in a languid stretch, she arched her back lazily, emitting a hearty yawn, and opened her eyes, only to be struck with the scene in front of her.

“Oh, shit…” she thought. “Where am I now?”

The surroundings and the furnishings of the room were unfamiliar. It was clearly not her own room.

Her mind reeled in confusion.

“Could it be possible that last night I have been taken away by a strange man, and then…”

Thinking of this, Sherri immediately threw back the covers to inspect the lower half of her body. After ensuring there was nothing wrong and finding her clothes unchanged from the day before, she breathed a sight of relief!

Involuntarily, she instinctively patted her chest.

She attempted to make a sound, but her cheeks were so sore that articulating even a single word proved difficult.

Surveying her surroundings, her gaze collided with an array of vibrant balloons, triggering a fuzzy recollection that played out hazily in her mind. She shook her head and slowly recalled a night of drunken madness. And she even kept blowing balloons all night!

“Oh my, this was not true!” Sherri couldn’t believe it. She yearned to disappear from this world!

While soothing her aching, swollen cheeks, she contemplated her next

move.

Sherri was well aware of her proclivity for drunken madness. To dissuade her from getting drunk outside and being obstreperous at home, Edward had purposely captured her intoxicated state on video as a stern warning

(Zapter 2:

Every time she contemplated indulging, she would watch the playback of

that video first.

Upon viewing it, any desire to drink dissipated, replaced only by an overpowering sense of shame that made her want to crawl into a hole.

and never come out.

Anyway, the most important thing was to get out of here first.

Swiftly rising from the bed, she tidied her attire and prepared to make her stealthy escape. Just as she tiptoed toward the front door, a voice of deep and low magnetism from the living room halted her in her tracks. “Is this how you conduct yourself, Miss Landor? Sneaking away without uttering a word of gratitude?”

she gracefully turned. around, came back to the living room, and said

concealed beneath

thoughts raced. “Damn it, how could I get so drunk that I followed this playboy to

with a mischievous. grin, feigning indifference to her embarrassment. “Well, thank you for taking care of me last night, Mr. Blackwell. I must return to work now. See you next time!” She longed to escape from this embarrassing

that her drunken escapades from the previous

she only wanted to

Sherri made her way toward the door. However, Hackett couldn’t let her go that easily. After all, she had caused

And last night, Miss Landor, you were quite drunk…” Hackett exposed her without hesitation.

10:22

Chapter 21

what she looked like when she got drunk since her brother had described that

Let’s discuss something else. What happened last night was my fault… I crossed the line. I was just indulging in a bit of alcohol. Can we just put it behind

lazily against the door frame, Hackett scrutinized her with his eyes. “Well, Miss Landor, you’re a smart woman. It appears you are well aware of your drunken antics. Very well, let’s first talk about the cost of the 500 balloons I bought for

sharp pain flushed her cheeks, reminding her once again of the foolishness she had

Miss Landor. Sherri was rendered speechless. No wonder her

balloons last night? Could it be that this

it was

you actually blew up 250 balloons in total. Thanks to my big house,

Frank to buy the balloons, but unexpectedly, once Sherri saw the balloons, she would focus on blowing them

250 balloons, but he also had to tie up 250 balloons. His hands were now still a little shaky, and he had to hide his shaking hands

Chapter 21

all night with her,

her lip before saying, “Alright, how much? Cash

text you on WhatsApp? It’ll be easier for

she didn’t want to have any further

and

Hackett didn’t tell her the price. Instead, he said with a smile, “Actually, there’s another way to let me keep

Don’t beat around the bush.” Sherri’s cheeks were so sour that

that what happened last night

refused without hesitation. “No, don’t even think of that. Change the terms, or you

I look like someone who is short on

not even enough for him, the son of the real

million dollars were nothing to them.

to threaten, “I recorded everything that happened last night, Miss Landor. That was really a

like a wolf, but Hackett had got something on her, and she could

Chapter 21

with guilt

contact information, whether she adds you as a friend on WhatsApp or

trust you. What if you deliberately do