Chapter four

The man rose slowly from the sofa. He crushed the cigarette into the ashtray before walking toward her with measured steps. His expression remained calm, but his sharp eyes missed nothing.

“You’ve been drugged.” But Ava barely heard him.

She only knew that the cool air surrounding him brought a moment of relief. Almost instinctively, she reached for him. Her trembling fingers clutched the front of his bathrobe.

“John….” she whispered.

His frown deepened. His gaze swept over her flushed face before resting on her unfocused eyes.

“Take a proper look at who is standing in front of you.”.He told her.

Ava tried but failed, Instead, she swayed. He caught her before she could fall.

The moment she collapsed against his chest, he felt the unnatural heat radiating from her body. His jaw tightened.

Ava buried her face against his chest, breathing unevenly. The coolness of his skin was the only thing easing the unbearable heat consuming her. Almost desperately, she pressed herself closer, afraid to lose the only relief she could find.

But his muscles stiffened. He gently gripped her shoulders, intending to put some distance between them. “You don’t know what you’re doing.” He said.

But Ava only shook her head.

Her fingers slowly slid up his chest before curling her hands around his neck.

When he remained motionless, she rose onto her toes and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against his bare chest. The warmth of her lips lingered against his skin before she placed another kiss… and another.

His entire body tensed. His breathing grew noticeably heavier, but he neither embraced her nor pushed her away.

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else,” he said quietly.

Ava didn’t answer. Instead, she slowly lifted her face until their eyes met. The desire in her eyes were evident.

Then, before he could stop her, she gently cupped his face and without warning she captured his lips in a daring kiss. Her hands dragged up his chest, feeling the hard planes of muscle beneath his robe.

The burning need surged through her and she deepened the kiss. Her tongue swept against his, demanding and reckless.

She pressed him closer to herself, moving her body against his, rubbing until a groan escaped her mouth. Her hands fisted into his black hair.

The air between them was heavy with desire. He stood there like ice, the silk of his robe hanging loose over all that controlled power.

Her hands were shaking from need. Ava reached her hands into his robe, her fingers brushing the bare skin of his chest first. The contrast made her breath catch. Without a single ounce of hesitatation. Her fingers found the knot at his waist and started to untie the robe.

His jaw ticked. His eyes darkened as he watched every move she made.

However, His hands gently but firmly settled on her shoulders, creating a small distance between them.

The loss of his mouth in hers hit Ava harder and she protested. A soft sound caught in her throat, she was unwilling to let go. She rose on her toes, hands fisting in the front of his robe, and tried to force another kiss. He let out a low breath. That was all the warning she got.

Before she knew it, one arm locked around her waist and the world tilted. He threw her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.

Ava gasped, then giggled like a child. The sound was giddy but she was not fully aware of her surroundings.

He reached the bed and tossed her back on it. The mattress dipped beneath her, and her hair spilled around her like ink.

However Ava was still burning with desire, She got up in one fluid motion, and suddenly unzipped her dress, it fell to her floor, leaving her in just her pants.

His brow raised slightly as he took in her full figure. The curve of her waist, the smooth but flushed skin. His lips twitched. Just then Ava jumped on him and pressed another kiss to his lips. This time her kisses were frantic and desperate.

His hands slowly came up, and caressed her shoulders. Down the line of her arms. Down to her hands, which were gripping him like she’d drown without him.

Then his grip became firm, He caught both her wrists in one of his hands and pulled back just enough to look at her. His eyes were dark and unreadable.

Without breaking eye contact, he reached out and whisked a necktie from the table beside them.

He looped it around both her wrists, knotting it twice. And then he guided her down, raising her bound hands and securing them to the bedpost above her.

He straightened himself, while he stood there for a long moment, watching the woman struggle against the silk tie.

“You don’t get to be in control”. He murmured and covered her with a blanket.

Ava struggled against the silk tie, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes as she begged him to untie her.

He didn’t move.

His expression remained unreadable. The cigarette between his fingers burned slowly until only ash remained.

Only after her pleas faded into uneven breathing and exhaustion finally claimed her did he quietly walk to the couch, lay down, and close his eyes.

Ava woke up the next morning and was startled to find herself naked, her hands still tied to the bedpost with a necktie. Her heart sank.

Fragments of the previous night slowly resurfaced in her mind. The hotel bar… the chase through the hallway… and then… the man in the black bathrobe.

Then came flashes of herself clinging to him, kissing him, and throwing herself at him without shame. Color drained from her face.

“What have I done?” she whispered, horror filling her eyes.

Just then, the sound of running water came from the bathroom. He was still inside.

Panic immediately set in. Ava couldn’t bring herself to face him. She quickly untied the loosened necktie from her wrists, climbed out of bed, and hurriedly put on her dress before quietly slipping out of the room.

The sound of running water ceased. Moments later, he stepped out of the bathroom and glanced toward the bed. It was empty. His gaze fell on the untied necktie lying on the mattress.

He walked to the table, picked up his phone, and made a call. “A woman stayed in my room last night. Find out who she is.”

He ended the call, walked to the closet, and got dressed.

A few moments later, a young man in a black suit walked into the hotel room with a file in his hands. “Boss, this is the information you requested.”

He accepted the file without a word and flipped it open. A photograph of Ava wearing a smile stared back at him.

Ava Richmond, age,Twenty-three. Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Top graduating student. His eyes scanned the pages before his expression turned cold.

The subordinate hesitated for a moment before speaking. “The Lyons are at it again.”

He let out a faint scoff as he closed the file.

“Deceiving a woman with love…” His lips curled into a cold smile. “A typical Lyon tactic.”

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the file onto the table.

The subordinate looked at him. “With the Richmond Group gone, the Lyons no longer have any real competition.”

He said nothing. He simply picked up his watch and fastened it around his wrist. “Find the girl.”

The subordinate blinked in surprise. “Boss?”

He stood up, adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, and walked toward the door.

The subordinate hurried after him. “You want us to bring her into the picture?”

He stopped briefly at the doorway. He turned slightly, his cold eyes meeting his subordinate’s. “A woman with nothing left has nothing to fear”.

“I understand, Boss.” The subordinate nodded in understanding.

Without another word, he walked out of the room. Outside, a long black luxury sedan was already waiting. He slid into the back seat, and moments later, the car pulled away from the hotel.