A STRANGER'S TOUCH

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 incence.

A surge of unease mixed with anger coursed through him— his opponent was more prepared than he thought .Arousal incence 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 ound 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

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