Wrong Room, Right Man

After settling her needs, Isabella stumbled back in the direction she had come. The hotel’s hallways twisted and turned endlessly, every corner looking the same.

She searched for a while before finally finding a room that seemed familiar.

However—

The moment she pushed the door open, she froze.

The room was full of strangers.

It was far larger and far more lavish than the one the cast and crew had been in. Wealth practically radiated from every corner—it glittered, overwhelming and excessive.

“Sorry, I’ve got the wrong room…”

She had just turned to leave when a fat, greasy hand suddenly clamped around her wrist.

A wave of alcohol hit her face as the man leaned closer.

“Oh my… where did this little lamb come from?” he chuckled. “Since you’re here, it must be fate. Stay and have a drink with us.”

The man looked to be in his forties or fifties, bloated and flushed. His gaze crawled over her body without restraint, slow and deliberate, finally settling where it shouldn’t.

Isabella’s first instinct was to flip him over her shoulder.

But her eyes swept across the room—

—and paused.

Familiar faces.

Not just familiar.

Recognizable.

Men who appeared in financial magazines. Men whose names controlled entire industries.

Half of the top ten richest people in the country were sitting right there.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

Violence was no longer an option.

Not here. Not now.

Great.

Of all times to get lost—

—and she just had to be drunk.

“Come, come…” the man tugged harder, already pulling her inward. “Don’t be shy.”

His hand lingered where it shouldn’t.

Isabella’s expression cooled.

She twisted her wrist sharply and freed herself, forcing out a polite smile.

“My apologies, sir. I really did enter the wrong room. My friends are waiting for me.”

The man’s face darkened instantly.

“You cheap slut,” he snapped. “You came here on purpose. Stop pretending!”

Isabella cursed inwardly.

So this was one of the so-called elite.

She recognized him now—Williams Edinburgh. Chairman of Crown Real Estate. Rank: tenth on the rich list. Reputation: disgusting.

As expected.

He reached for her again.

This time, with more force.

He was already dragging her toward the couch when—

A hand landed on her shoulder.

Cold.

Steady.

Familiar.

Before she could react, she was pulled back—

—and the next second, she was pressed into a firm embrace.

“C-CEO Sterling…”

Williams froze mid-motion.

His arrogance vanished almost instantly, replaced by stiff flattery.

“If you’ve taken a liking to her, then please—go ahead!”

The room fell into a strange silence.

No one understood what was happening.

Alexander didn’t spare them a glance.

His gaze was lowered—focused only on the girl in his arms.

“What happened?”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

“Alex…”

She caught herself immediately.

“…Mr Sterling,” she corrected, slightly unsteady. “I walked into the wrong room…”

The lighting was dim. She hadn’t even realized he was there.

Among all the heavy bodies and loud laughter—

he felt out of place.

Like something clean in a room that wasn’t.

“Which room?” he asked. “I’ll take you back.”

No extra words.

No explanation.

He simply turned and led her out.

Behind them, the room remained silent.

He had been resting with his eyes closed earlier.

The laughter hadn’t interested him.

None of it had.

Until he heard her voice.

And saw a man’s hand on her.

For a moment—

something dark rose sharply in his chest.

Quick. Violent.

It passed just as quickly.

By the time he stepped forward, his expression was already composed.

Once outside, Isabella finally exhaled.

“Alex… thank you. Again…”

If words hadn’t worked, she would have used force.

She didn’t like that thought.

More than that—

she didn’t like how often he appeared when things went wrong.

“You walked into the wrong room,” he said.

A pause.

“Next time, pay attention.”

Isabella laughed lightly, brushing it off.

“It still feels good to have someone back me up.”

He looked at her—

quietly.

Something lingered there for a second longer than usual.

Then it passed.

“I’m fine now,” she said, smiling. “I can go back on my own.”

He didn’t move.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” she waved him off, already stepping back. “You should go back in.”

He had accepted that invitation earlier only because he knew her crew would be here.

He also knew exactly which room they were in.

So when he saw her walking in the opposite direction—

he sighed.

And followed.

“Where are you going?” he asked, catching up easily. “What’s your room number?”

“801.”

He glanced ahead.

“…Not this way.”

Then, after a brief pause—

“You lose your sense of direction when you drink.”

She didn’t argue.

He guided her quietly until they reached the door.

“Go in,” he said. “And don’t wander off again.”

A beat.

“If you need to go out, take someone with you.”

Another beat.

“…Jason is fine too.”

Isabella almost laughed.

“Alright. Thanks for personally escorting me, Mr Sterling.”

She made a small heart with her fingers.

He didn’t react immediately—

Then a faint smile touched his lips.

“Text me when you’re leaving,” he said. “I’ll take you home.”

When Isabella returned, Jason let out a long breath.

“Why did you take so long? I thought you got kidnapped!”

“Worse,” she said, dropping onto the sofa. “I walked into a lion’s den.”

Jason’s expression changed instantly.

“What?”

“But I got lucky,” she added. “Ran into the boss of all bosses.”

Jason’s jaw tightened.

“…Alex?”

“Bingo.” She snapped her fingers. “Perfect timing too.”

Jason fell silent.

Something about that didn’t sit right.

After the dinner ended, the lively atmosphere gradually settled as people began to leave in small groups.

Chairs scraped softly against the floor. Laughter lingered, mixed with the clinking of glasses and the low hum of conversation winding down.

“Bella, how are you getting home? Do you want me to send you?” Jalen asked as she grabbed her coat.

Isabella waved lightly, her movements already a little sluggish from the alcohol.

“Thank you, Jalen. There’s no need. I have a friend nearby—he’ll take me home.”

Jalen nodded. “Alright. Be careful on the road.”

“Okay!”

On the other side, Phil clapped Jason on the shoulder.

“Jace, what about you? How are you leaving?”

“I’m waiting for my manager,” Jason replied lazily, one arm draped over the back of his chair.

“Good, good,” Phil said with a satisfied smile. “Excellent performance today, both of you. Get some rest.”

One by one, the crew filtered out, their voices fading into the hallway.

Soon, only Isabella and Jason remained near the entrance.

People began leaving one by one.

Eventually, only Isabella and Jason remained outside.

She leaned against a pillar, half-asleep.

Jason glanced at her.

“Just come back with me.”

Then he paused.

“…Wait. Don’t tell me—”

Footsteps approached.

Slow. Measured.

A man in a cream-colored suit walked out under the moonlight.

“Isabella.”

Her eyes fluttered open.

“…Alexander…”

And just like that—

whatever strength she had left disappeared.

She tilted forward.

But she didn’t fall.

She was already caught.

He lifted her easily, one arm beneath her knees

A black Maybach had already pulled up.

The driver opened the door.

Jason snapped.

“Uncle!”

Alexander paused—just slightly.

Jason stepped forward, jaw tight.

“What are your intentions towards Isabella?”

A beat.

Alexander looked down at the girl in his arms.

Then back at him.

“Towards Isabella…?”

“Yes,” Jason pressed. “Don’t you think this is strange?”

Silence stretched.

Then—

“I want her.”

No hesitation.

No explanation.

Just that.

He turned.

And got into the car.

Jason stood there for a second.

Then—

“Fuck!”

Later that night.

Platinum Palace No. 6.

Jason rolled across the bed like a possessed golden retriever.

“Fuck—fuck—fuck—”

“Two hundred and fifty-eight,” Liam said lazily from the sofa. “That’s how many times you’ve said it.”

Jason dragged a hand through his hair.

“I’m an idiot.”

“A complete idiot.”

Liam raised a brow.

“Do you want to get back with Isabella?”

Jason froze.

Then snapped—

“Are you mad?”

But his reaction came too fast.

Too sharp.

Liam didn’t argue.

The phone rang.

Jason ignored it.

Liam picked it up.

“It’s your father.”

Jason stilled.

Something shifted.

He grabbed the phone.

“…What is it?”

A tired sigh came from the other end.

“Come back,” the man said.

A pause.

“The company is about to collapse.”

Jason’s expression changed instantly.

“What do you mean collapse?”