Chapter 3 Chapter 3

ALEXANDER

Charles Montgomery, of all people?

I stopped myself from massaging my temple for the umpteenth time as I watched my sister dance with her new husband. There were several respectable men in our social circle, successful businessmen and accomplished professionals she could have chosen from. But she had to choose Charles, who I knew more than anyone else, was bad news. Everything about Charles screamed 'hidden agenda'.

But what could I do? Isabella was radiant with happiness, and after her first marriage ended so disastrously, I vowed to support whatever choice she made. I had to fly over from Singapore after postponing an important merger, just to attend for a few minutes before heading back.

I glanced at my watch. It had been barely five minutes since I left the wedding reception and I started feeling strange. There was an unfamiliar warmth riding up my neck, and spreading slowly like honey. My throat burned slightly with a sensation I'd never experienced even with the strongest of spirits.

Someone must have slipped something into my drink back here. I especially limited myself to a single glass of champagne for this same reason, but it ended up happening anyway. Why would anyone decide to drug me there? And who could it have been?

I tugged at my tie and pulled it off, coughing to clear my tightening throat.

"Pull over at the nearest hotel," I ordered my chauffeur.

By the time I looked out the window, everything had started turning blurry. I had to focus on keeping my composure until we reached our destination. We got to the hotel and I got to my room, falling into the bed as soon as I went in.

Johnson, my personal assistant, followed shortly with my bag. He watched me roll over to the edge of the bed while fighting to keep my body calm

"Are you alright, sir?"

I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so not in control of my own body. Heat rushed through my veins like fire, making my skin hypersensitive. Even the silk of my shirt felt abrasive against my flesh. My muscles tensed and released of their own accord, craving contact, movement, anything to relieve this maddening sensation.

I was tormented by a serious need to cling to something. Sex. It was all I could think about. It was the only thing I knew could help neutralize whatever it was that was firing through my system. Having to surrender to this drug-induced desire was repugnant to everything I stood for, but my options were quickly diminishing as the effects intensified.

I pressed the bridge of my nose between my thumb and forefinger.

"Get me a girl for tonight. And make it.make it quick."

He understood immediately, rushing out and leaving me alone with the thundering of my pulse and the increasingly urgent demands of my body.

I had asked Johnson to be quick, but I hadn't expected him to send someone over as quickly as three minutes later. What I'd noticed, first of all, was a continuous beeping at my door, which indicated that someone was trying to get in. Within my line of work, I've been exposed to enough danger to know when exactly to get my gun close by.

I scooted over to where Johnson had dropped my things and picked out my gun, staggering towards the door. I stood behind it as the beeps continued, followed by murmurs.

Retreating further behind the door, I uncocked my gun and then opened the door slightly. Waiting.

Whoever was on the other side stumbled in, nearly tripping on her own feet. It was a woman. She reeked of alcohol and I could tell she was drunk, but on instinct, I still pressed the gun to her back just to get a reaction that would either lead my suspicions away or fuel them.

"Please.don't hurt me," she shrieked, shivering.

I couldn't see much, but I could tell the coast was clear. And for all I knew, Johnson must have found her and sent her over. Then that feeling returned, I couldn't hold it anymore. She was saying something to me, but I barely heard anything anymore as I pulled her close and kissed her hard.

I'd expected some passive acceptance since she seemed drunk, or maybe even some reluctance, but what I got instead was pure fire. She kissed me back with an intensity that matched my own desperate need. Her soft hands grabbed my shoulders with surprising strength.

Her body was exquisite. She had soft curves and smooth skin that felt like silk under my palms. But it was her responsiveness that truly captivated me, and the fierceness that came along with it. I remembered how free I felt chuckling against her lips when she mumbled something as she yanked my chain off my neck whilst I grazed her neck with my teeth.

The encounter was nothing like I expected and nothing like any encounter I'd had before. Sex I'd experienced was usually a calculated exchange. Women sought status or wealth and offered their bodies as currency.

Over the years, I'd been with countless women. Yet none of them had ever made me lose control like this. None had ever made me want more after the act was done. She just matched my rhythm perfectly. She anticipated all my moves and challenged my dominance so much that I wanted to play this game again. I was used to seduction but there was none with her. The way she bit my lip, the way her nails raked down my back, there was anger there. It was as if she had nothing to gain and nothing to lose.

Imagine how disappointed I felt not seeing her next to me by morning. I found myself staring at the vacant space on the bed for a while. I always left first. They never left first. This was the first time I'd be the one left behind.

Johnson entered shortly after knocking. He looked around the disheveled room before returning his eyes to me.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get you someone as planned. She called later to cancel."

He looked around the room again. "Seems someone else was here?"

"What do you mean? Didn't you send the girl from yesterday?"

He shook his head slowly. This was when I realized she must have come to my room by mistake. I should have realized it last night too, but my head was just too messed up to start addressing clues.

Later on, Johnson went to check the security footage of the hallway. It seemed like the woman stumbled towards my door around midnight. Her long hair was wild and disheveled so I couldn't see her face. It was so dark last night too, to recall what she looked like.

But I wanted her.

"Find her for me," I sold Johnson.

I had to make her my wife.