Ria; his sweet obsession

Hot! Hot!

Why was she feeling so hot all of a sudden?

Ria blinked rapidly but her eyelids felt too heavy to stay open, there was no way she was drunk- the only thing she drank was the orange juice which Nathan had given her.

He wouldn't... he couldn't have put anything in it. That was impossible. Nathan was her fiancee, he wouldn't hurt her.

She leaned against the cold restroom walls, her breath were getting shallow and a wave of heat surged through her body- her mind in disarray- a thousand thoughts crashing into each other.

She needed to leave before she loose control

Gathering herself, Ria staggered towards the door, her legs gave in before she reached the door, as another wave of heat surged through her body again. She dragged herself up- each step was slow and disoriented.

But just as she reached the entrance of the room, she heard voices speaking in low tones behind the door, which was lightly opened.

"Kelly, you're not supposed to be here. If Ria sees you, she might get suspicious. Our plans could be exposed," Nathan's voice came in low and urgent.

" I just wanted to see you, baby," Kelly whispered, jealousy dripping from her tone. "The thought of you being with her drives me insane. She doesn't even know that you're with her so that she keeps helping out with the company designs. I can't wait to see her face when she finds out I'm the one you really like."

"Yes, sweetheart. I only like you," Nathan replied. "But for now, you have to go. If she catches us, everything could fall apart. Just a little longer-after tonight, I'll break up with her."

"Okay, baby," Kelly purred. "But I want a kiss before I go."

"You naughty girl... come here."

Then came the unmistakable sound of kissing, which seemed forbidden- something not meant to be heard by others.

Ria's breath caught in her throat. She froze.

That was Nathan's voice and Kelly's- her boyfriend and her adopted sister.

Time seemed to stand still as the world stopped.

She took a step back, one hand on the wall to keep herself steady, as her heart pounded wildly in her chest. No! This wasn't happening.

But then Kelly giggled-low and satisfied.

Ria's stomach churned- she felt sick and her skin grew hotter like it was set aflame from the inside. The betrayal was a huge shock to her- nothing could have prepared her for it.

Tears pooled in her eyes, but she blinked them back. She wasn't going to cry, she wasn't going to let those two backstabbers see her vulnerability.

And then, the truth hit her.

Nathan had drugged her- that would explain the heat crawling over her skin and the intense ache for pleasure

A low sarcastic chuckle escaped her lips. She had gone against everyone just to be with Nathan, putting her own life on pause to work for his company, working behind the scenes and letting Nathan take credit for her hard work, all because they were going to get married.

But it was all a facade; Nathan never liked her from the start. He took advantage of the fact that she felt love-starved and kept her by his side while feeding her crumbs of his affection.

She bit her lip as another surge of heat hit her- the effects of the drugs were kicking in. She had better leave before Nathan starts looking for her, whatever they had planned wasn't something good.

Her legs wobbled as she turned to leave, barely able to keep her hands from pulling off her dress as the heat in her body intensified. She had thought Nathan was finally willing to show her off seeing that he'd asked her to come with him to this party as his plus one. Who would have thought it was going to be a nightmare?

But the door swung opened.

Nathan was surprised to see her standing in front of the door, wondering if she'd overhead what he and Kelly were saying.

"Ria, what are you doing here? I thought you were downstairs at the party".

At the same time Kelly came out of the Room, wearing a smug smile on her face, it was as if she didn't care if Ria was suspicious.

"I came to find you, I wanted you to take me back home but I don't think there's a need for that," She said in anger and turned to leave.

Nathan scratched the back of his head worriedly; it seemed like she heard everything but if he let her leave, it would ruin everything he had planned tonight.

"Wait, Ria," Nathan stopped her. "Why are you leaving? Are you not feeling well? Your body is very hot, it seems like you're coming down with the flu," he said as touched her forehead. "Why don't you rest in the room for a while and let me get you drugs".

"You bastard!" Ria hissed, flinging his hands away. "You did this to me and now you're trying to act like you care, don't you dare touch me?

She turned to Kelly, "it wasn't enough that you stole my parents love and made them hate me but you had to come for my man too, just you.... I..." Ria's words trailed off as she fell on the ground

She couldn't bear the intense heat, anymore- every fibre of her body screamed for relief. The feeling was foreign to her but she knew that she needed to be touched- she wanted to be touched.

"Well, seems like this conversation will have to wait till another day," Kelly said with a grin as she hovered over Ria's face. "Bring her Nathan, we need to get her to the room before the party is over.

FLASHBACK

Young Ria, 10 years, ran out of the Hartley estate with excitement eager to meet her mom- Mrs Hartley, who had just returned from a business trip. Behind her mom, a girl about the same age with Ria followed, the little girl stared at Ria with curiosity and a hint of shyness.

"Ria, this is Kelly. Say hi. She'll be living with us from now on," Mrs Hartley said with a warm smile. Young Kelly seemed nervous as she kept her eyes on her feet and played with her hands.

"Hi, Kelly, I'm Ria," Ria said, stretching out here hand for a handshake with a bright smile.

"My name is Kelly," she said in a low voice and timid voice, slowly taking Ria's hand.

"Yay, we are going to be best friends," she exclaimed, happily taking Kelly's hand as they entered inside the house.

The scene shifted to Ria at 18- she was on her knees crying and begging her parents.

"Mom, Dad, you have to believe me. I did not know that the document was important, infact Kelly was the one who gave it to me", she said with tears as she looked at Kelly.

"Is this true, Kelly?" Mr Hartley- Ria's Dad asked turning to her with a stern look.

"Uncle, Aunt, I tried to talk Ria out of burning the document, but she insisted, so I made an extra copy before she got rid of it," Kelly said calmly with a hint of smugness, as she handed the document to Mr Hartley.

Ria was shocked and heartbroken, Kelly had told her that burning the document was the only way to get her parents to listen to her and she also cleared her worries about it being a very important document. It seemed Kelly had planned it all- she wanted to get her into trouble but why? They weren't fighting or anything.

"Oh Kelly, it would have been better if you were our biological child not this foolish girl here," Mrs Hartley went over to Kelly and held her hands, while Kelly dropped her head down smiling shyly.

The scene changed again to when Ria's parents had ordered her to give up Nathan to Kelly.

"Ria, stop causing trouble. Kelly is your sister. Stop coming between her and Nathan," Mrs Hartley said in a firm voice.

Ria was astonished and sad at the same time, she looked at her Dad and saw that he was also in support of Kelly and anger rose in her heart. She was their biological daughter not Kelly, why were they asking her to give up her things to Kelly?

"I'm not going to give up Nathan to her," Ria replied, turning to Kelly with defiance and contempt. "Dream on," she spat. her voice dripping with hate.

"You...y...," Mrs Hartley stuttered holding the back of her neck in pain.

"Mom don't be agitated," Kelly rushed and held her. "If staying with Nathan makes Ria happy, then I don't mind, I only want her to be happy," she said softly, her voice calm and soothing.

Ria boiled with anger, Kelly always compromised for her in front of her parents inorder to make her seem stubborn and unreasonable.

END OF FLASHBACK

A voice pulled Ria out of her thoughts, an unfamiliar voice that sent shivers down her spine Nathan and Kelly had dragged her into this room, they tossed her on the bed and left.

"Who sent you here?" the voice asked angrily

Ria was scared but the heat in her body made her weak and she couldn't make out anything, all she knew was that she needed something, she was thirsty- not for water, she could only utter in low voice - one that only she could hear;

"Help me... "

Alex was angry. Tonight was the company's tenth year anniversary and also his fifth year of being the company's President. He had taken over the company from his father at the age of twenty-three, under his leadership the Williams Group had experience growth even in the international market.

He was known as a ruthless man in the business world in the whole of Central City- one who commands power and respect wherever he goes. And he never hesitates to cut off anyone who tried to play tricks on him or betray him. His words were "Early cut, little loss"

"Whoever planned this would pay dearly," Alex said to himself as he went closer to the bed.

The lights were dim and he couldn't see the face of the person on the bed well but he knew it was a woman, so he reached his hand toward the wall and flipped the switch, bathing the room in sudden light.

And he was taken aback- what greeted him was the face of a goddess- an untainted beauty, her dewy eyes were sparking like diamonds in the light and her face seemed innocent, radiating a vulnerability that made him want to protect her, which only fueled his anger and confusion.

He snapped out of his trance- like state and approached her, his voice cold and menacing, "Whoever sent you hear has clearly underestimated me," he growled, his words dripping with warning. "You better leave or you'll regret it".

Ria's skin prickled with goosebumps as his deep voice washed over her, she latched onto the soothing sound, desperate for comfort but it wasn't enough. She needed substantial comfort that would calm the turmoil brewing inside her.

She shifted on the bed, her skin glistening with sweat even though the air conditioner was on. Her breath hitched as she looked at him, with her eyes wide and dazed, as if she didn't quite understand what was happening to her- only that her body was no longer listening to her.

"it's so hot- I feel like I'm burning up, I just...," her eyes flickered, pleading and confused. "Please make it stop,"

Alex froze, staring at her, something was wrong- deeply wrong- in the way she spoke, the way her body shifted like she couldn't find relief. He reached out and touched her arm. Her skin was burning.

"Damn," he muttered narrowing his eyes. "Who the hell drugged you?."

But the moment his hand met her skin, a part of him down his body stirred. Startled. he snatched his hand like he'd been burned- he wasn't the one drugged, so why was he reacting like this? He stepped back slightly, rubbing his hand over his jaw, trying to shake the fog in his brain.

And that was when he noticed it- a small burner was tucked beside the bed, and a faint wisp of smoke was still curling from it. The scent was faint and could easily be overlooked but he recognized it- Arousal incense.

A surge of unease mixed with anger coursed through him- his opponent was more prepared than he thought .Arousal incense was an aphrodisiac but it was very stronger than the normal type of aphrodisiac and coupled with the irresistible woman on the bed, he was losing his restraint.

He reached out his hand brushing her cheek. Her skin was burning with need. She didn't pull away, in fact, she leaned into his touch and inhaled his smell like a pet who was lost but had found her owner.

"What's your name?" he asked, his voice low and rough with restrained desire, he was clinging to the last thread of his control, his eyes were locked on her.

"Ria" she whispered, her eyes fixed on him "Don't stop"

His restraint snapped.

He pushed her back onto the bed, his mouth finding hers. raw and hungry. He tugged at her gown, slipping it over her head in one swift motion before letting it fall on the floor. His eyes roamed over her body, like he was trying to memorize every inch of her body and then traced the soft curve of her collarbone - he dipped his head to her collarbone, his warm breath pouring over her skin as his tongue swept past it in a slow, teasing lick which made her shiver.

Ria was far beyond teasing- every fiber of her body craved for more. "I need it... now. Please," she whispered, as her hands tangled in his shirt, pulling him close, with voice filled with aching desire- pleading and utterly consumed.

That was all Alex needed to hear. With a low groan, he closed the distance between them in one smooth, desperate motion- with a force filled everything he'd been holding back

Ria cried out suddenly and Alex froze. His breath caught in his throat as he looked down at her eyes wide, he was surprised that he broke her resistance- it never occurred to him that it could be her first time. A jolt of protectiveness and tenderness came over him- she was his and his alone.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice was gentle and filled with desire.

Ria said nothing, she nodded softly and her hands gripped him firmly- wordlessly urging him not to pull away

It was all the permission Alex needed.

The pain dulled and was replaced by a warm, rising wave of sensation that left both of them gasping. Sighs turned to moans, and Ria clutched at him as pleasure bloomed, deep and full overtaking everything.

The last thing Ria remembered was the sound of water running and a warm damp cloth gliding across her skin. Strong hands tucked her in gently and then she let go- sinking into a dreamless sleep

Ria woke up slowly, her body was aching as if she'd been hit by a truck. For a moment, her mind was blank, but the sharp pain between her thighs brought her back to reality.

This wasn't her room. Where was she? She jolt up and her hand brushed against something- it was a person!

Someone was in bed with her. Dread crept over her like frost as she turned her head, inch by inch.

The man lying beside her emitted an irresistible and majestic aura that made people bow their heads when they come close to him, he was not only handsome but his well-defined and his sharp features were similar to that of an Adonis

His chest was bare-smooth, toned, rising and falling in calm, even breaths. He had high cheek bones, and his tousled dark hair made him look like a sleeping sex appeal

How did she end up in bed with this stranger? she wondered. Last night she- then like torn paper in the wind, her memories flooded back; Nathan's smooth smile as he handed her the glass of juice, the heat that flooded her veins, her confrontation with Nathan and Kelly. And then, this room- hands on her skin which made her feel jittery, a low voice behind her ear, unfamiliar yet coaxing; mouth pressing softly against her collarbone- the thrusting of hips.

Tears welled up in her eyes. That was her first time and it had been taken by a stranger.

Nathan had betrayed her. She knew Kelly had issues with her but Nathan.

She looked around for her dress and shoes and her eyes landed on the heap on the floor- last night was pretty intense, no doubt about it. She grabbed the dress; her fingers were trembling as she pulled it over her head. Her bra was gone. One of her heels- broken- lay discarded by the chair but she didn't stop. Anger and Panic churned in her chest; she had to leave the room before the man on the bed woke up.

As she crept towards the door, barely breathing and her hand reached for the handle, it turned with a slight twist and the door opened. She ran out quickly as the door closed behind her with a soft click.

Inside the room, the man on the bed opened his eyes. He had been awake since the time Ria woke up.

Alex blinked once. His movements were slow and deliberate. He reached out for his phone on the nightstand.

"Find out everything about the woman who just left my room- Now."

---

The taxi dropped Ria in front of the Hartley estate. She glanced down at her gown- it wasn't hard to guess what had happened to her, clutching her shoes in her hand, she took a deep breath and walked inside. Her head was down as she walked through the familiar driveway and reached the entrance.

The door opened before she could open it.

Her mom stood at the doorway, with her eyes narrowed in disgust. "Ria," she snapped. "Where have you been all night? Why are you just coming back now?

Behind her, Kelly stood in the hallway, wrapped in her nightwear, she looked like she had just woken up, but her lips were curled up with a cunning smile.

"I..." Ria's voice cracked. "Something happened. I-Nathan-Kelly was there at the party. They drugged me, I didn't-"

"Stop." Her father's voice boomed from the sitting room. "Not another word, Ria, why are you always blaming your sister for the mistake."

Her heart clenched as he appeared in the doorway with his arms crossed. His eyes roamed over her from head to toe like he was assessing her.

"You've brought shame to this family," he continued. "You went out for an important occasion, and you are coming back in this state? Have you no dignity?"

Ria's breath hitched. "It wasn't my fault, I swear. I was drugged. I woke up in a stranger's bed-"

Her mom recoiled. "God, do you hear yourself? A stranger's bed? Have you no respect for our family's reputation?

Kelly stepped forward, her voice was sweet and calm "Maybe we should hear her out. Maybe it's not as bad as it sounds. Ria does... act out sometimes but she would never do anything that would hurt our family's reputation"

Ria turned to her; her eyes filled with anger. "You bitch! you did this to me, and you are trying to play innocent"

Kelly lowered her eyes. "I... I didn't do anything. Nathan said you weren't feeling well. He told me you wanted to go home. When I came back, I was surprised you weren't home yet. So, I called Nathan to see if you were with him, but he said he had called a ride which took you home. So, I don't know why..." she trailed off, it sounded as if she was speaking up for Ria, but she was only leaving room for suspicion.

"You're lying!" Ria said with agitation as her eyes narrowed with disbelief. "You planned this with Nathan; you've always hated me-"

Her mom snapped. "Enough! How dare you accuse your sister of such things?"

"She's not my sister!" Ria screamed. "She's not even your child! I am!" Her parents looked at her, with disappointment written all over their face

Her mom's voice was like ice being poured over her body, "Kelly is more of a daughter to us than you'll ever be."

She took a step back, as if the words had struck her physically. She looked at Kelly, who gave her a small, sarcastic smile- which says "I told you so"

"Do you even know," Ria said hoarsely. "At every party, you introduce Kelly as your biological daughter, you make me feel like I'm the outsider?"

"Because you always act like one," her father said sharply. "You're always angry, ungrateful. Kelly is kind. She understands family. You-you're a disappointment."

Her legs gave out but she steadied herself against the wall.

Nathan. Kelly. Her parents. All of them. They had taken everything from her.

Ria lifted her chin slowly, her eyes glistening with tears, "You don't deserve me," she said. "You never did."

Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving the house she once called home behind her.