Back to the present.

Drake stood looking at the gorgeous woman in front of him. She was looking back with concern. Suddenly all he wanted to do was make that concern abate. "Darling, it's nothing to worry about. Why don't we get you dressed and comfortable?" He stood and began rummaging through his closet for a robe.

Vanessa, meanwhile, seemed suspicious. "Nothing to worry about? I'm naked in your room and I don't know how I got here. I don't know who you are and I don't know-" She paused. "I don't even know who I am! I think you owe me an explanation."

Drake tried to think of an explanation that would relieve her worries. He found a terrycloth robe that ought to fit her and handed it over. He decided to try to reset things. "Here you are, you can put this on. I'm going to go get you a glass of water, and I'll explain everything when I return."

She frowned and took the robe. As she put it on, she examined her body. "Wow, these tits are amazing."

Jonathan left her to go into the kitchen and try to devise a plan. He couldn't leave her alone, obviously. He also didn't want to get a random person to guard her. He could use his manipulation to ensure their compliance, but he didn't want to take any chances. He decided to take her out and test her ability.

He walked back into the bedroom, where Vanessa was examining herself in the mirror. She turned and let out the cutest squeak of surprise when she saw him. "Where did you come from?"

He handed her the glass of water. "I brought you the water you asked for." She took it quizzically but gratefully sipped it. "Thank you. I'm sorry, I think I've forgotten your name."

He smiled. "That's ok. My name is Jonathan, and you're Vanessa. You're having problems with your memory right now." He turned to rummage through his drawers for clothes that might fit her.

"Vanessa? That doesn't sound like me. You say I have memory problems? How did that happen?"

He turned with a pair of jeans and a tank top that a one-night stand had left at his place. Hopefully they would fit her. "It's a long story, and to be honest, you won't remember. Do you even remember my name?"

To his surprise, she did. "Jonathan, I think. That still doesn't explain how I got here. Why are you getting out clothes?"

Drake had a theory. It seemed like the less distracted she was, the longer she could hold on to memories. He needed a way to test this theory. In the meantime, he handed her the clothes. "They're for you. I hope they fit."

She looked puzzled. "Why wouldn't they? Are they not mine?"

Instead of answering, he asked her a question. "Do you still remember my name?"

She thought hard. "I think so. It's... John? Jeff? It started with a J." She sighed. "I lost it. I don't even remember you telling me your name."

"What's the earliest thing you do remember?"

"Um... you looking through those drawers to get me clothes." She glanced down. "I guess I need them. Are we going out?"

He nodded. An idea struck him to test his theory. He went to his desk and pulled a pack of playing cards out of the top drawer. Turning back to Vanessa, he saw that she had put the clothes down and was curiously looking over the room. She turned to him with puzzlement. "Where are we?"

He sat on the bed and motioned for her to sit next to him. "We're in my bedroom, and we're going to try something." He pulled a card out of the deck. It was the nine of hearts. He held it up and asked, "Vanessa, what's on this card?"

"The nine of hearts. What are we trying?" She looked slightly concerned. He started a stopwatch on his phone and put the card face down on the bed. "Nothing, dear. Just hold on."

At ten seconds, he asked her what the card was. She answered correctly. He did the same at thirty seconds and she still knew. At sixty seconds, her response was different. "Um, I'm not sure. Is it the nine of hearts?"

"Yes, Vanessa, it is. Why aren't you sure?" He leaned forward, his curiosity piqued.

"Well, I don't think I've actually seen what's under it. But I remember just a few seconds ago you asked me and I seemed to think it was the nine of hearts." She seemed a little nervous, but that quickly abated.

Interesting. She still had enough of her wits about her to reason things like this out. That could be useful going forward. Meanwhile, he had one last test in mind. He opened his phone and set an alarm for thirty seconds. He set it to maximum volume and placed it behind her.

Meanwhile, she was looking around the room curiously. "Where are we? And who are you?"

If he wasn't so deeply in love, he realized this would be very irritating to him. As it was, he found it endearing. "I'm a friend, and I want to test something." He held up another card - the jack of spades. "Can you tell me what this card is?" She told him.

He watched the timer on the phone, and when it was at 3 seconds he put the card face down on the bed. Immediately afterward it blared, startling Vanessa. She jumped and spun around. "What the hell is that?"

He quickly picked up the phone and silenced it, then returned to the card. "Vanessa," he said, "can you tell me what card this is?"

She was still breathing fast from the surprise. She looked at him with frustration. "How the hell would I know?"