Chapter 6: Waking up in a strange place

After Travis left, Alex went to his mini office and summoned Earl to discuss some business matters.

"Has that old dog been dealt with?" he asked after wrapping up their discussion.

"He was sent to prison immediately by Manager Dunne," Earl answered.

"Terminate all transactions between us and make sure he rots in prison," Alex instructed sternly. "Also, investigate that woman’s background. I want immediate results."

"Yes, Mr. Harris," Earl bowed before leaving the office.

Alex leaned back in his presidential chair, swirling it slowly as he pondered. His phone pinged, interrupting his thoughts. It was a message from his grandmother, scolding him once again for skipping dinner. He glanced at the text but ignored it.

Closing his eyes, he thought about how to put an end to her endless nagging. The little threat she had posed lingered in his mind. Even though he already owned most of the company’s shares, there was nothing wrong with being a bit more greedy. He wanted her 15% stake. If he acquired it, he would own 65%, making it easier to crush the disgusting parasites lurking in their household.

But his grandmother had set a condition. He had to get married within three months, or the shares would go to his father. Over his dead body.

Letting out a deep sigh to release his irritation, he was about to stand when his phone pinged again. This time, it was a message from Earl, notifying him that the woman’s complete profile had been forwarded to his computer.

Earl was truly the best assistant he could ever have.

"Good," Alex replied shortly.

He immediately turned on his computer and opened the file Earl had sent. He studied the woman's profile meticulously, analyzing every detail for anything suspicious.

But there was nothing unusual. In fact, her record was clean. She was simply a hardworking woman.

Leaning back again, he slowly swirled his chair, deep in thought.

"Everett Carson," he murmured, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

Something was brewing in his mind.

Eve was awakened by sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Blinking groggily, she became aware of the soreness in her body. As her senses returned, her eyes widened in alarm.

This wasn’t her room.

The space was luxurious, Western-style, with elegant and classy interior design. Panic surged through her as she sat up in bed, realizing she was dressed in a silky slip dress.

How did she get here?

She forced herself to recall the events of the previous day. The chaos came rushing back. Dalton had drugged her with an aphrodisiac. But after that? Nothing. She remembered nothing.

Frantically, she checked herself for any signs of harm. Fortunately, everything seemed normal. She didn’t feel any discomfort, which meant she hadn't been violated.

Her first instinct was to escape. She rushed to the door and twisted the knob. It wasn’t locked. She stepped into a massive hallway, her bare feet silent against the floor.

Where were the stairs?

Wandering for a while, she eventually stumbled into an grandiose living room facing a grand terrace. The walls were made entirely of glass, offering a breathtaking view of the outside. The ceiling’s architecture and lighting complemented each other beautifully, while the marble floor gleamed like a mirror, reflecting the grandeur above.

She had never seen anything like this in her life.

"Where is this place?" she whispered.

Still unable to find the stairs, she spotted an elevator instead. As she approached, the doors suddenly slid open, revealing a middle-aged man with graying hair, dressed in a white vest.

She stiffened, alarmed by the sudden appearance of a stranger in this already strange place. But the man simply smiled warmly and greeted her.

"Good morning, Miss. I was about to check on you. Glad to see you're awake," he said enthusiastically.

Her nerves eased slightly.

"Who are you? And where am I?" she demanded.

"I'm Butler Clark, the housekeeper of this estate. You have nothing to worry about, Miss. You're in a safe place. Breakfast is served. Shall we?" He gestured toward the elevator like a true gentleman.

She hesitated but ultimately stepped inside, hoping she might find an opportunity to escape once she was downstairs.

The elevator stopped at an even grander living room. Modern, luxurious, with a stunning view of a fountain outside. Behind the lavish space, she finally spotted a staircase leading to the second floor. Everything about this place radiated elegance, from the grand staircase to the intricate details of the décor.

There was no doubt. The owner of this house was obscenely wealthy.

But how did she end up here?

She remained silent as she followed the butler into a wide dining hall. It was larger than her entire home, with a grand chandelier radiating a warm glow over a long dining table.

However, the man sitting at the head of the table didn’t give off a warm, homely feeling. Instead, his icy, piercing gaze sent shivers down her spine.

He sat upright, exuding the aura of a mighty emperor. Handsome and perfect, yes, but yesterday, he had been nothing but arrogant and rude to her. And now, he had the audacity to kidnap her?

Anger surged through her, but she forced herself to remain calm.

"So, you’re the one behind this," she snapped. "What is this all about? How dare you kidnap me after being so rude yesterday?"

Butler Clark and Earl, who were present, were visibly stunned by her outburst. But they remained silent, silently praying their boss wouldn’t explode in fury.

"If you think you can get away with this, dream on!" she declared, crossing her arms over her chest.

Unbeknownst to her, the v-cut slip dress she wore accentuated her curves, exposing her perfect cleavage.

Alex’s eyes darkened.

Dropping his fork and knife with a loud clang, he called out sternly, "Butler Clark!"

"Yes, Young Master?" Clark hurried to his side.

"Get her changed upstairs," he commanded coldly. "And get her some shoes."

Understanding the implication, the butler nodded.

"Yes, Young Master."

Clark gently coaxed Eve back upstairs with two maids.

Alex turned to Earl. "Is the document prepared?"

"It is, Sir."

Minutes later, Butler Clark returned, looking troubled.

"Young Master, she refuses to cooperate. She's making a fuss, insisting she wants to go home. What should we do?" he asked hesitantly.

"You bunch of incompetents!" Alex growled before storming upstairs. Earl and Clark followed, sensing the tension rising.

As they reached the door, muffled voices could be heard from inside.

Alex pushed the door open, only to be met with Eve’s fury.

"Let me out, or I’ll call the police and have you arrested for kidnapping! How dare you? You have no right to keep me here, you bastard!" she screamed, pounding his chest.

"Young Miss, Young Master didn’t kidnap you. In fact..."

Clark attempted to explain but fell silent at Alex’s thunderous voice.

"Everyone. Get. Out."

The dangerous edge in his tone sent everyone scrambling from the room.

He was beyond fed up.

"A bastard, huh?" he scoffed darkly, stepping closer with a glint of menace in his eyes.

Eve instinctively retreated, her back hitting the bed. She was trapped.

Before she could react, Alex seized her wrists and pushed her onto the mattress.

She shrieked as her body landed lightly on the soft surface.

Within seconds, he was on top of her, their position dangerously intimate. He pinned her hands above her head, immobilizing her completely.

She screamed, twisted, and cursed him at the top of her lungs, but he didn’t budge.

Her flushed face, disheveled hair, and heaving chest only fueled the dark fire in his eyes.

"You animal! Pervert! Get off me!" she yelled, struggling.

"Shouting is useless. Save your voice for later," he murmured with a smirk, his face lowering toward hers.

Her panic escalated. "W-What are you going to do?"

He smirked cruelly. "Show you what this animal can do."

But as he grasped her chin, he suddenly froze.

Tears welled in her eyes.

A strange jolt shot through his heart.

"Please… just let me go. I swear I won’t tell anyone. I’ll disappear from your life forever," she pleaded, her voice trembling.

Her cleverness surprised him.

"I’ll only let you go after I get what I want from you," he declared.

Stepping back, he grabbed a dress from the wardrobe and threw it at her.

"If you want to go home, wear that and fix yourself. I’ll be waiting in my office. Don’t test my patience."

And with that, he walked out.