CHAPTER TWO

“Apologize to her,” the stranger said, snapping me back to reality as he help me up from the ground.

The older man scoffed, lowering his hand to his side. “Why should I? This clumsy girl—”

“—was assaulted by you,” the stranger cut in, his piercing gray eyes freezing the man in place. “And I happened to see everything.”

“What?! That’s nonsense!” the man protested, his voice faltering. “Why would I even touch someone like her? You must definitely be mistaken…Sir Lorenzo.”

Lorenzo? My breath hitched. Could he be… the same Lorenzo? Lorenzo Airlines, Lorenzo Construction, Lorenzo Empire? No, it couldn’t be. The owner of the Lorenzo Empire had passed away recently. And this man seemed far too young to be his son or was he his grandson? And moreover, the Lorenzo family has no heir.

I shook my head, trying to shake the thought. Then again, I remembered that I’d met someone with the Saltzmanta name a while back, and we weren’t family. Perhaps it was just a coincidence.

“Am I mistaken?” Sir Lorenzo asked, his voice icy. “Then perhaps we should call the police to review the CCTV footage. I’d be more than happy to assist with that.”

The older man’s face turned pale and his bravado crumbled as he heard that. I could see some people agreeing with what Sir Lorenzo has suggested and seeing that, the older man said, “I-I didn’t mean to—”

“Then apologize to her. Right now.” Sir Lorenzo said.

The older man's eyes roamed the room first before turning to me, his face twisted into a mask of forced constriction. “I’m sorry,” he rushed his words in a low tone that one could barely hear but that was still more than enough as I really want this to end quickly.

“It’s alright sir. And I… I’m very sorry about your ruined shirt. Can I—”

“There’s no need for that,” Sir Lorenzo interjected, his cold glare still fixed on the older man. “I’m sure Mr. Florentine isn’t petty enough to demand compensation for an accident that happened because of him. Or is he?”

The older man’s face flushed, clearly humiliated. “No, It’s fine,” he mumbled, his words clipped. “There’s no need to worry about it.”

“Thank God.” I silently exhaled. At least I wouldn’t have to pay for this shirt which probably cost more than I could earn in a year.

Lorenzo gave the man one final glare before turning to me. “Are you alright?” he asked and I felt my tongue tighten for a moment, my cheeks heating up. The way he stood right in front of me, exuding quiet confidence and fury on my behalf, made my heart skip a beat.

“Y-Yes,” I finally managed. “Thank you so much sir.”

He nodded, but when his eyes shifted to my wounded hand, I saw something like concern flickering across his face.

"Let's get that treated first," he said, and then grabbed my wrist, gently leading me away from the ballroom.

“But…” I tried to protest, but he didn’t listen. His warm yet firm grip enveloped my hand as he guided me out of the ballroom. All eyes followed us and the whispers kept growing louder with each step we took.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Maria giving me a sly wink and I could not help but shake my head as I was already imagining the ridiculous scenarios she must have been cooking up in her mind.

As Sir Lorenzo led me out of the ballroom, a strange thought crossed my mind— right now I really felt like Cinderella being whisked away by her Prince Charming. Yes, I know it sounded crazy, but at that moment… it really felt real.

He led me into one of the hotel rooms and pulled out his phone, making a brief call, instructing someone to bring a first-aid kit. As we waited, silence filled the room. It wasn't an awkward one, but not entirely comfortable either but there was just a certain tension in the air, and I found myself fanning my face with my hand as I grew hotter and hotter, despite the air conditioning humming softly in the background.

Maybe it was because it felt a little strange to be alone in a hotel room with a stranger. I wasn’t entirely sure.

When I glanced up, I saw a faint smile playing on his lips, as if he could read every thought running through my head. My cheeks burned hotter with embarrassment, and I quickly looked away.It wasn’t long before a knock sounded at the door and I quickly moved to stand, but he held up a hand.

“No, I’ll get it,” he said and I sank back onto the edge of the bed, fiddling with my fingers as I watched him open the door.

Stealing glances at the person who knocked on the door, I saw a man dressed in a black suit and from the way he addressed sir Lorenzo and their short conversation, I guessed he might be his assistant or something. The man handed him a first-aid box before leaving. Sir Lorenzo closed the door and began walking back toward me.

He knelt right in front of me and set the first-aid box on the floor. Opening it, he pulled out some gauze and cotton wool, his movements calm and deliberate. And the sight of him so close to me…sent my heart into a frenzy.

“This might sting a little,” he said softly and I nodded, biting down on my lower lip as I braced myself for the pain.

Seeing him helping me out made my heart flutter more and my cheek turned red. But then a sharp pain jolted me back to reality, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft, pained groan.

“Sorry,” he muttered, apologizing as if the pain were his fault despite the fact that he was only trying to help.

He's just so perfect, so flawless and I couldn't explain the continuous pull I felt toward this stranger. His presence seemed to call to me in a way that felt foreign. I’ve never felt this way around other men—not even all my ex-boyfriend. And when his hand accidentally brushed mine, a spark shot through me, making my pulse race. This sensation was the exact opposite of the revulsion I felt earlier when that disgusting man tried to harass me. This one was different...pleasant and almost magnetic.

He slowly lifted his gaze from my hand, and our eyes locked. My breath caught as I took in his facial features until my eyes landed on his lips and I gulped down as if I was thirsty or something. I felt my heart pounding as if it might leap out of my chest and I was sure he could even hear the sound of my heart beating very fast. At that moment, the world seemed to pause, leaving just the two of us in charge and everywhere began to get more hotter as his face slowly inched closer to mine.

Was he... was he about to kiss me?

His eyes searched mine, as though asking for permission, and slowly shut my eyes, ready to give in to him. As I felt him moving closer, my fingers clutched the bedsheet tightly, the fabric digging into my palm. I was anxious…and excited at the same time, my emotions were a chaotic swirl of anticipation and hesitation.

I could already feel his lips hovering just inches from mine, his warm breath fanning against my skin, and then, like a bucket of cold water, Ethan's words came crashing in and his spell broke. I suddenly snapped my eyes open and jerked back from him.

"I... I'm very sorry. I don’t think I can do this!" I stammered, my voice trembling as I scrambled off the bed, putting as much distance between us as the small room allowed.

“No, it’s alright,” he said gently, rising to his feet.

“And…thanks for this,” I said, gesturing to my hand which he had applied gauze on, although he had not finished treating it.

“Would you mind if I finish that first?” he asked, but I shook my head as I felt like my body might betray me again.

“No…no, it's fine. I'll handle it myself.”

I decided to leave, and I began to walk away, turning toward the door with my mind in turmoil, definitely screaming for something else. Shaking it all away, I grabbed the doorknob and was ready to pull the door open but then…something I couldn’t quite name swirled in and this made me stop. My hand hovered over the doorknob as I wrestled with the feelings bubbling inside me. I really couldn't come up with a decision or choose what I wanted right now.

Part of me wanted to leave, while the other part was saying the opposite. It took a while before I made the decision; I might be conservative, but I wasn't an angel or a saint.

And then, like a dam breaking, what I really wanted hit me. This feeling in me right now was nothing but of lust and…desire and I realized that I wanted him more than anything. I craved him just like he craved me.

Fuck Ethan and fuck high libido.

Letting go of the doorknob, I spun around, facing the stranger again and then rushed toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck. Without hesitation, our lips collided, and the world melted away. His arms wrapped around me as he lifted me effortlessly from the ground, my legs instinctively winding around his waist. We nibbled on each other's lips as if our lives depended on it and his hands gripped my hips, pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss.

I couldn’t hold back any longer, and I couldn’t keep lying to myself: I wanted him, completely and undeniably.

After a few minutes, he lifted me down to my feet, his lips reluctantly breaking away from mine. We both gasped for air with our forehead resting on each other and our breaths were erratic as if we’d just finished a marathon. Then he moved away from me and placed his hands on my shoulders, firm yet gentle, guiding me to turn around. Turning my back to him, I gasped as he suddenly pulled me back closer to him again. My back now pressed against his broad chest.

I shivered and my breath became raging as I felt his soft lips on my neck. His breath was hot against my skin, and the moment his teeth grazed me, followed by the warm flick of his tongue, a shudder rippled through me. I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped my lip. It was raw and untamed as he traced his path upward to my ear. His tongue teased the sensitive spot just behind it, and I let out a shaking breath that I didn’t even realize I’d been holding. My hands clenched the fabric of my skirt, desperate for something to anchor me.

This feeling… this intoxicating sensation… It was unlike anything I’d ever known or felt before.

Then, his teeth found my earlobe, and I froze. The intensity of his touch sent shockwaves through me, the ache building within my core. All this felt like a torture to me. Like he wanted me to beg him desperately to take me…tell him that I want him now and I think he’s succeeding.

Then I felt his hand sliding up my chest, pausing at the first button of my shirt. Slowly, he began to unbutton them, one by one. Each click of the fabric parting away sent nothing but a jolt of anticipation through me and by the time he reached the final button, I was gasping, lightheaded from the sheer tension.

Then the shirt pulled off my shoulders, falling to the ground. Standing with my bra and skirt, his hands moved to the zipper at the back of my skirt and I felt the slow descent of his touch downward, the cool air hitting my exposed skin as the fabric loosened. When the zipper reached its end, the skirt slid on its own, cascaded down my body like water, pooling at my feet.