Love Me Like Before

The flashing lights of Club Velvet made red shadows on Selina's face as she walked through the crowded dance floor. Her head was spinning. The sweet drink she took from James Harrison, the man she was supposed to go out with tonight, tasted weird from the first sip. Now, thirty minutes later, her skin felt like it was on fire.

"Excuse me," she said quietly, pushing past dancing people who gave her dirty looks. Her vision got blurry at the edges, with dark spots in front of her eyes. This wasn't just being drunk. Something was wrong.

Selina held her purse tighter, her shaking hands looking for her phone. The screen was too bright, making her close her eyes as she tried to call Michelle.

The music got quieter as she walked to the hotel hallway. Her heart was beating so loud in her ears, she couldn't even hear the music from the club below. The hallway looked like it was moving and changing before her eyes.

Three rings, then Michelle's voice, sharp and cold.

"What the hell have you done?"

Selina leaned against the wall, her free hand pressed against her burning head. The expensive wallpaper felt cool against her hand.

"Michelle," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Something's wrong with me. I think James put something in my drink."

A mean laugh came from the other end. "Are you seriously playing victim right now? James Harrison just called me. You slapped him? In front of everyone?"

The memory came back to Selina's mind - his hand moving up her leg, his dirty words getting worse and worse, his fingers grabbing her wrist when she tried to move away.

"He wouldn't stop touching me," Selina said, each word hard to say as the hallway started to tilt. "Please, Michelle, I need help. I can't see straight. Everything's burning."

"Do you know what you've done?" Michelle's voice got louder, full of anger. "That connection took me months to make! Do you know how many girls would kill for that chance? And you throw it away because he touched your leg?"

Selina's knees got weak. She slid down the wall, her silk dress bunching up around her legs. "Please," she begged, her throat feeling like sandpaper. "I don't know what he gave me. I feel like I'm dying. Can you come get me?"

"You can't even handle one simple job," Michelle said angrily. "One night playing escort to help your so-called 'best friend' when I needed you most. Now my reputation in Manhattan is ruined because of your small-town morals."

Tears hurt Selina's eyes, making her vision even worse. "Michelle, please, I think I need a hospital."

The call ended with a click.

Selina stared at the screen, watching it swim in front of her eyes. Michelle's betrayal hurt more than the physical pain in her body. Michelle had promised it was just dinner with a business friend, not whatever this was supposed to be.

Using the wall for support, Selina pushed