"Natalie, just one night with the man inside, and someone will take care of your mother's medical bills,"
the words hung heavy in the air.
Natalie Teeger, standing outside the Presidential Suite, bit her lip until it hurt.
She was a maid in the employ of the Cullen family, and due to her uncanny resemblance to the Cullen's daughter, Alice, she was often the target of Alice's cruel games. Never in her wildest dreams had Natalie imagined that Alice would ask her to sleep with a man.
The image of her mother, frail and sick in the hospital, flashed in her mind, and Natalie found herself nodding. "Okay, I'll do it."
With a trembling hand, Natalie pushed open the door. The room was dim, the air heavy with the scent of alcohol, and the faint sound of a man's labored breathing echoed in the silence.
She stumbled her way to the bedside, and before she could utter a word, she was yanked down. Natalie tumbled onto the bed, a burning body pressing down on her. "Don't..." she started to say, but was cut off by the man's husky voice.
"I'll take responsibility," he murmured, his hot kisses landing on her cheek.
Remembering Alice's instructions, Natalie closed her eyes, holding back the tears and the humiliation.
As the night wore on, Natalie slowly sat up, hastily dressing and stuffing her belongings into her bag. In her hurry, she didn't notice the sparkling diamond pendant that she accidentally packed away.
She bit her lip, casting a final glance at the man still sound asleep on the bed. His blanket had slipped, revealing a muscular torso and an exceedingly handsome face.
Fearful of overstaying her welcome, Natalie made a hasty exit. At the end of the hallway, the impeccably dressed Alice awaited her.
"Ms. Cullen, the money you promised me..." Natalie began, nervously clutching her shirt.
Alice glanced at her disdainfully, her gaze falling on Natalie's bare neck, the marks there only fueling her disgust.
It should have been her night, if only she hadn't already lost her chastity.
Natalie was so lucky!
Alice pulled a bank card from her purse and tossed it to Natalie, her voice cold and threatening. "Keep quiet about tonight. If anyone else learns of this, I'll never let you off!"
Natalie nodded silently, the marks on her body aching. Even if she didn't speak, she didn't want anyone else to know.
With a satisfied smirk, Alice brushed past Natalie and eagerly entered the room...
In the early morning, Adrian Howard stirred awake. As he sat up, the woman beside him stirred. He glanced over.
Alice rubbed her eyes and quickly wrapped herself in the blanket, looking at the man before her with a mix of shyness and panic.
"How could this happen?" Adrian asked, his tone apologetic. "I'm sorry about last night. I've arranged for a driver to take you home. I'll take responsibility for what happened."
Alice blushed and lowered her head, intimidated by Adrian's indifference. "Okay."
With that, she shed her shyness, flicked off the covers, and began to dress. Adrian caught a glimpse of a scar on her back, a conspicuous mark that looked like a burn.
He quickly looked away. After Alice left, he pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant. "Find out everything about last night!"
Someone knew his hotel and had spiked his drink. He would not let them off easily!
But as he prepared to leave after his shower, he realized his diamond pendant was missing.
The pendant, a round diamond with the subtle crest of the Howard family etched into it, was a keepsake from his mother.
Could he have lost it to the girl from earlier?