Chapter 5 FOUR

Daniella had initially looked forward to her Hong Kong trip with the anticipation of a relaxing time, but her encounter with Mr. Blue Eyes drastically shifted her plans. She had devised a cunning scheme to make Marcus Madrigal useful to her.

She was confident that his flirtatious nature would make him amenable to her proposal. She firmly believed that everyone had a price, and she was willing to do whatever it took to have him at her disposal.

"Hmmm, Marcus suits you. You look like a gladiator from a bygone era, and I love your soulful blue eyes," she declared boldly, dismissing the conventional reservations a well-bred woman would have.

Marcus wasn't taken aback by her bluntness; if anything, he would have been surprised if she'd chosen to put on a façade. "You're refreshingly direct and honest... I like it," he responded, though her distinct manner of speaking did raise his concerns.

"I know. So, I'm assuming we're friends now," she said after they shook hands. "If you ever need a friend during your stay in HK, don't hesitate to call me." She handed him her business card with a sweet smile. Daniella thought she caught a subtle reaction when he received the card but decided to ignore it.

Marcus was taken aback by her demeanor. This woman was not only blunt but carried a tinge of arrogance as well. Did she look down on him? The way she handed him her business card made her appear overly superior.

"I don't need a friend, Dani. But I'm always open to a woman joining me in my bed," he retorted, noticing the anger glinting in Daniella's eyes.

She was clearly furious, and he regretted disclosing his identity to his client. To set things right, he decided to maintain his distance. She knew he wasn't a saint, but she didn't care. She only needed his body and the contribution he could make to her endeavor.

"I see. Well, see you around then," she said.

Inside the elevator, she refused to make eye contact with him and remained silent. She was genuinely offended by his recent remark about not needing a friend but always welcoming a woman into his bed. She felt a strong urge to set things straight to salvage her pride.

"What floor?" she dared to ask, curious to know why he'd forgotten to press his floor number.

"Nineteen," he replied.

Did she hear him correctly? Daniella gripped the handrail, feeling as if she might collapse with joy. Another idea sprang to mind when she noticed his concerned expression.

"Oh no," she pressed her forehead and gripped the handrail even tighter, gradually collapsing into his strong arms. She couldn't help but congratulate herself on her acting skills.

"Dani, are you alright?" Marcus came to her aid, catching her before she fell to the floor.

When she didn't respond, he had no choice but to carry her to her room. Once outside her hotel room, Marcus searched her purse for the card key. Daniella couldn't help but wonder how Marcus knew her exact room number before he found the card key.

Could he be a close neighbor or the occupant of the room next to hers? She decided to put off asking such questions for later; the most important thing was that her plan had succeeded quite well.

Marcus laid her on the bed and massaged her fingers while applying firm pressure to the sensitive area between her thumb and index finger, a technique he'd learned to help someone regain consciousness.

She winced as he continued to press and massage the sensitive area between her fingers. To avoid further discomfort, she decided to regain consciousness and stirred in bed.

"Finally, you're awake. How are you feeling?" Marcus asked.

"I'm fine, thank you," she replied.

"Good. I'll be going now," Marcus said, standing up and walking toward the door.

He was leaving just like that? He had no intention of making any advances or even touching her? Daniella felt disappointed; her plan had some flaws. She got out of bed and approached him before he could open the door.

"I didn't get to thank you," she said, blocking his exit.

"It's alright. By the way, I didn't know you were such a good actress," Marcus said. He wasn't that naive; he had recognized her act in the elevator. He could even admit he'd enjoyed the performance for a while.

Daniella's eyes widened when Marcus complimented her acting skills. So he had known all along but had chosen to remain silent. She contemplated her next move. Plan A had failed, and she was certain she wouldn't get another opportunity to be this close to him.

She observed his hands closely, and before he could open the door, she moved quickly and struck him with a bottle of wine, hitting him hard. Marcus fell, and Daniella stifled a scream.

She bent over him and placed a finger under his nose to check if he was still breathing. What she had done was risky and could have been fatal. After confirming that he was still breathing, she struggled to drag his muscular body onto her bed. Little by little, she made progress and eventually found items she could use to immobilize him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered her apology into his ear. She then rummaged through her luggage, searching for objects to secure him.

She was grateful when she found the shrink wrap she'd purchased as a precaution at the airport. Some travelers used shrink wrap to secure their luggage, as there had been reports of tampering with luggage.

Though it may have seemed unusual, it was a practical safeguard. Daniella proceeded to wrap Marcus in shrink wrap from his shoulders down to his toes, capturing the comical sight with her camera multiple times. She discontinued taking pictures when she realized she was squandering her precious time on frivolous matters.