Chicago's city lights flickered on at dusk, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets below.
At the luxurious Harborview Hotel, people mingled by the bar near the beach, glasses clinking and conversations flowing. Riley Blake found a quiet corner and checked a text message on her phone: 411.
She had been in the entertainment industry for three years, signed with the well-known Chicago-based company StarVision. As an up-and-coming actress, she unexpectedly made headlines yesterday due to a scandal involving explicit photos.
She had no choice but to seek help from her manager, Sam Anderson. Riley couldn't understand why Sam chose such a busy place. It made keeping a low profile difficult.
Frowning, she adjusted her cap, stood up slowly, and kept her head down as she walked towards the elevator to reach the fourth floor.
The corridor was a stark contrast to the lively bar outside, enveloped in profound quietness. The warm lighting made her feel slightly dizzy as she followed the numbers on the doors to the correct room.
"There it is!" she thought as she spotted the slightly open door with the number 412, right next to hers. A sudden voice echoed from the corridor. Startled, Riley quickly slipped into what she thought was room 411 and shut the door.
Inside was pitch black. Riley was perplexed; why hadn't Sam switched on the light?
"Sam?" she called out softly.
She groped her way forward, only two steps in, when she stumbled on the edge of the bed and fell face-first into someone.
In the darkness, Jackson opened his eyes in an instantly. With swift action, he tightened his firm grip around her throat. His voice was low and hoarse, "Who are you? Get out!"
Riley shuddered, a chill sweat breaking out over her body. This voice was clearly not Sam's!
"You... let go of me," Riley pleaded, her face flushed red. She struggled against Jackson in a frenzy, but the warmth of his touch startled her. Desperately, she reached for his hands, causing his eyes to widen in the darkness as he immediately released his grip around her throat.
"I’m sorry," Riley blurted out. "I think I'm in the wrong room. I... I'll leave immediately!"
Regaining her breath, Riley sensed an instinctive danger emanating from Jackson before her.
Her voice trembled with panic as she attempted to turn and leave, but Jackson firmly gripped her wrist before she could take a single step. In the darkness, he drew her closer as he captured her lips.
"Mm…"
Riley's mind exploded with a loud buzz! Panicked, she pushed against Jackson, trying to break free.
Who was this man, and why was he in Sam's room?!
Before she could gather her thoughts, darkness overtook her, and she lost consciousness, overwhelmed by the rush of feelings.
The next morning, Riley lay on the bed with half of her face buried in the pillow. Her thick, curly eyelashes framed her delicate features. Her face, petite and beautiful, appeared somewhat pale, with faint red marks on her neck barely visible.
Riley woke abruptly, a soft "Ah..." slipping from her lips. She adjusted her position, feeling disoriented and uneasy. Memories of the previous night rushed back, causing her cheeks to flush and her eyes to widen in realization.
Yesterday was not a dream. She had fainted in a stranger's room before... "Oh..." Riley blushed, her heart racing with a mixture of shock and disbelief as memories of the night flooded her mind.
Riley's mood sank instantly.
At that moment, the door swung open, and a friendly-looking woman walked in.
"Good morning, my name is Sophie," she greeted warmly, placing a bag on the bed. "Miss Blake, when you're ready, please change your clothes. Then, I'll escort you to meet Mr. Thorne."
Mr. Thorne?
Riley subconsciously covered herself, turning her head to follow Sophie's gaze, only to see her rumpled clothes tossed haphazardly by the bedside. The sight filled her with a mix of embarrassment and shame.
She dressed as quickly as possible before stepping out of the room to follow Sophie.
With her mind consumed by memories of the previous night, she was eager to confront Mr. Thorne about what had happened.
As she emerged from her room, Riley was startled by the crowd gathered at the door. "Miss Sophie, could we interview you?" one reporter called out.
"Excuse me, Miss, are you Mr. Thorne's lover?" another asked, their cameras pointed in her direction.
Not far away, a group of reporters blocked her path, their cameras focused on her. Riley could hear someone probing into her background amid the commotion. She was taken aback; as a minor celebrity, she wasn't accustomed to such scrutiny.
Listening intently, Riley caught snippets of conversation that confirmed they were all there because of Jackson from the previous night.
Suddenly, a reporter lunged forward, causing Riley to step back in panic. She quickly followed Sophie and her bodyguard, who escorted her to the ultra-VIP lounge - a quiet and secluded area reserved for the wealthy and privileged.
Riley wondered if Jackson from last night was present here. Recalling his firm but gentle grip on her wrist, she clenched her lips, took a deep breath, and entered the room.
Inside, a man in a black suit sat on a couch in the luxurious suite, his long legs crossed as he spoke on the phone. Riley couldn't help but notice his clean, slender hands. Despite his cold demeanor, there was something intriguing about his refined appearance that captivated her.
Lost in her thoughts, Riley was snapped back to reality by Sophie's voice at her side. "Mr. Thorne, I've brought Miss Blake."
