Chapter 1 A night that change everything

Chapter 1

ISLA'S POV

The sound of car horns blaring along with the consistent pinging sound of the elevator were enough to stir me awake. "Ugh, I feel like shit!" I turn over on the bed only for my hand to collide with the warm, thick and smooth skin of another person in bed. I open my eyes in shock. "Who dared to sleep in my bed!" I sit up immediately. Using the sheets to cover up. Then memories of the previous day flood my mind. This wasn't my bed and it definitely wasn't a place I was familiar with. It was an exquisite suite in a seven star hotel in central city. "Shit! Dad is going to deal with me if he finds out." I looked at the person on the bed. A handsome man. His face was definitely what Ford called my type. 'Rich snob playboy' "How did it come to this, Isla?" I whispered. Cursing myself internally for my temper and sheer stupidity. Hissing at myself for the very mature argument I had with my father. Dad had been very angry yesterday when I had returned from his supposed blind date with the Mafia leader's son. "You rejected him?" His voice was eerily calm. I squared my shoulders, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "I won't marry someone I don't love." His fingers drummed against the desk. "Love? You speak of love as if it has a place in this world. You were raised to rule, not to dream." "I'm not a pawn," I said, my voice sharp. His eyes darkened. "You are my daughter, Isla. And you will obey me." "Obey you at the cost of my happiness?" I scowled. The slap came so fast I barely registered the sting. My head snapped to the side, but I didn't flinch. I had been hit before. Pain was nothing new. "You have disgraced me," he growled. "No one rejects the Mafia and walks away unscathed." "Unscathed? So I'm meant to sacrifice myself to avoid a mafia territory struggle?" I frowned. Dad was the leader to one of the strongest gangs in the world. It was surprising that he'd be a bit afraid of another man. "Isla!" He yelled. "I'm disappointed in you, Father." I said with clenched fists behind my back. "You don't understand!" The truth is that I didn't want to understand as I left the house. The city was a stark contrast to the quiet and controlled world I once knew. There were neon lights blinking, music booming from every corner, and carefree laughter filling the air. It was raw, alive, and a little overwhelming. Drawn to the energy, I stepped into a vibrant nightclub. People tossed back drinks like they were nothing. I had never tasted alcohol before. My father forbade it, claiming it made people reckless. Maybe that was exactly what I needed. Ignoring the pulsing dance floor, I approached the bar and took a sip of the first amber drink I found. The burn was immediate, searing my throat and chest. I coughed, stunned but then wanted more. As I reached for another, a striking bartender smirked at me and poured a second glass. The burn softened this time. I was halfway through my third drink when a man, far too refined for the setting, sat beside me. He was captivating. "Slow down, or you'll be a mess before your friends show up," he warned. "I don't have friends," I muttered, pushing my hair from my face. "You look like this isn't your scene. Is this your first time?" "I belong here," I shot back. "More than anyone else in this place." That amused him. "What's your name?" "Isla." "Evans," he replied. There was something about him. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the way he truly saw me-not as a girl, but as a woman. He handed me another drink, his gaze never leaving mine. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" "No," I admitted. He smiled. "I like that you're honest." Then he leaned in. "Let's go somewhere quiet." I didn't resist as he led me out. One car ride later, we were in a stunningly large hotel. Luxury radiated from every surface. The alcohol made everything feel intense-his touch set my body ablaze. His kisses consumed me. When he finally entered me, a sharp pain cut through, making me gasp. He stopped. "Isla?" I can't imagine him stopping halfway just because he discovered that he was sleeping with a virgin. "Don't stop," I whispered, blinking back tears. Using my legs to grip him tight so he didn't pull away. "You're a good girl," he murmured. Exhaustion enveloped me after. It had been my first time so I never got the appeal. Until we went on-again and again. I finally understood what it meant to lose myself in the moment. My body ached but I loved it. The alarm on the stranger's phone went off and he stirred. "Shit!" He groaned. He wasn't wrong at all. This morning felt like that exact word. Just the way my head was feeling at the moment. Quickly gathering my things, I enter the bathroom to change into my own clothes that had been littered on the floor. Leaving the bathroom, I found my handsome stranger fully dressed. Clad in a navy blue suit. He looked really good. "Oh, you're out of the bathroom. I thought you were going to sleep in there." He said nonchalantly. It hadn't been the alcohol. His voice was attractive. "Uh, yeah." I grunted a replied. "Here, take care of yourself." He threw a wad of cash at me. It landed on the bed. "I'm clean without any disease but I don't want any unexpected bastards of mine roaming around the world." "Are you talking to me?" I was getting pissed. "I didn't dig any other hole last night, as I recall." He shrugged. I didn't think, I went in for a punch. He dodged. My subsequent punches and kicks only met air. He was skillful in dodging. "I am not a whore!" I said before a slap landed. "We'll see about that." He laughed before leaving. The money still staring at me from the bed. "I'll get back at you for this insult." I whispered in rage. I'll kill him when next I see him. I promise. "Oh sweetheart, you won't be getting back at anybody." He smirked.

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