In the deafening noise of the bar, men and women were wildly moving their bodies on the dance floor. After drinking a glass of whiskey, Daniel felt a strange warmth coursing through his body.
Under the flickering lights, he saw a woman approaching him. Suddenly, his scalp tingled, and he realized he had been tricked. He had always been a good drinker.
The drink must have been spiked. To protect his innocence and to avoid marrying Avery Perez at all costs, he quickly slipped out through the side door of the bar before the drug could fully take effect.
Stepping outside, the chilly March air hit him, bringing a much-needed clarity. The aphrodisiac was starting to take effect, making him feel as if he were on fire. Avery was ruthless, daring to drug him to force a marriage. Over his dead body would he let her succeed. Spotting the Royal Dynasty Hotel nearby, he walked in without a second thought.
Daniel swore he was no saint, but he would rather die than marry Avery. Even if he were burning with desire, he wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole.
As the elevator slowly ascended, Daniel felt like a trapped lion. The potent drug was wreaking havoc in his body, and he kicked the elevator walls in frustration. He pulled out his phone to call Celeb to arrange for a woman, but damn it, the battery was dead. Just his luck!
With a ding, the elevator arrived. Summoning his last ounce of strength, Daniel staggered towards the guest rooms, his legs feeling like jelly. Damn Avery to hell, he thought, mentally dismembering her in his mind.
Evelyn took off her uniform and handed over her shift to her colleagues. She wasn't a regular employee at this hotel but was covering for her best friend Sarah, who had a family emergency.
Checking the time, she knew she had to hurry home or face her father's wrath.
As she walked out of the staff room, she saw a man collapsed on the floor. Frowning, she couldn't just walk away, whether as a hotel employee or a decent human being.
"Sir, are you okay? Should I call an ambulance?" Evelyn struggled to turn the man over and was momentarily stunned.
His features were strikingly handsome, like a perfect blend of strength and beauty. His thick eyebrows, high nose bridge, and well-defined lips were complemented by a tailored suit that exuded elegance.
Snapping out of her daze, Evelyn noticed his flushed face and the fine beads of sweat on his forehead. She patted his cheek, which was burning hot. "Hey, sir, are you okay?" Deciding she had done enough, she was about to call an ambulance and leave. She really couldn't afford to waste any more time.
As she dialed, a large hand grabbed hers, holding both her hand and the phone. The warmth from his palm made her heart skip a beat. It was the first time she had been this close to a man. She shook off his hand, slightly annoyed. "Hey, are you dying or what? I really have to go."
Thinking of her father's stern face, Evelyn knew she couldn't linger any longer.
"Don't go, help me into the room first," Daniel managed to utter, his voice strained. If it weren't for the presence of a woman, perhaps staying in the cold water would have extinguished the raging desire burning within him.
Evelyn shot him a look of utter disdain. Did he think being handsome made him special? For all she knew, apart from his good looks, there might be nothing else worthwhile about him. His head could be filled with nothing but nonsense.
While mentally berating him, she rummaged through his pockets for the room key. She probably had no idea what kind of reaction her touch could provoke in a man under the influence of a potent drug.
After a moment of searching, Evelyn finally found the key. Damn it, this jerk. The door was right here, yet he was wasting her time by lying here like a dead weight.
She opened the door, raised an eyebrow, and then kicked the man lying on the ground with her foot. "Hey, your room is right here. I've opened the door for you. Now, get yourself inside." With that, she tossed the key back at him and glanced at her watch. Thanks to this jerk, she was going to miss the subway and would probably have to take a taxi home.
"Help me to the bathroom," Daniel grabbed the woman who was about to leave, his voice low and hoarse. Evelyn sighed, then said with a mix of frustration and resignation, "Fine, consider it my good deed for the day. How can you be so heavy? Get up already."