Heart over Mind

Danielle Wendell opened her eyes, regaining consciousness from a daze.

The room was pitch black.

All she was aware of was a man’s labored breathing and the pain he was inflicting on her.

Danielle pushed against the man with all her strength, but he did not budge.

She also tried to scream, but no sound came out. She could only silently pray for it to end.

When Danielle woke up again, the sun was shining brightly outside the window.

As she opened her eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room, the scene from last night flashed through her mind.

She jolted up from bed, feeling sore all over.

Nevertheless, she climbed out of bed. The moment she saw the red stain on the sheets, her fists clenched.

It was not a dream.

Just then, the door to the bathroom opened.

A man walked out of there.

Once Danielle saw the man’s face, she fell back into bed in terror. ‘Why him of all people?’

The man, draped in a towel, looked at her and said offhandedly, “You’re awake.”

Danielle took a nervous gulp and struggled to stand up. “M-Mr. Burt.”

The man dried his wet hair. “We can talk later, but first, get yourself cleaned up.”

Danielle lowered her gaze. “I’m fine. I-I got to go.”

“Ms. Wendell, don’t you want to talk about last night?”

Danielle blushed. ‘What’s more to talk about last night?’

She did not suppose she had to write a report to claim that she was drunk and had no clue how one thing led to another.

Danielle breathed out and lifted her chin to meet Karl Burt’s gaze. “Mr. Burt, I’m clean. I don’t have any STDs. Besides, I doubt you lost out on anything last night. Can you just pretend nothing happened?”

She may look unapologetic, but her voice betrayed her in the end.

“I know you’re clean. I can attest to that.”

Danielle blushed in embarrassment. Even so, Karl did not have to say that out loud.

“I just wanted to ask what I can do for you. I don’t think you’d want me to send you away with a check.”

Danielle was surprised. “I don’t need anything. My only hope is that you keep this between us, Mr. Burt.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes,” Danielle responded in a serious tone.

Karl raised his brows and narrowed his eyes at the slender woman. In the end, he gave a nod with a blank face.

Danielle gathered her clothes and bag before rushing out of the room.

Karl flashed a bad-boy smile.

He found Danielle to be an interesting woman.

She only had one thing on her mind, and that was to get away from Karl right away.

Karl Burt, the 27-year-old CEO of Crest Empire, was a symbol of power, wealth, and danger in Northtide.

There were rumors that Karl had done away with his competition, his older brothers, by killing one and crippling the other to become the CEO of Crest Empire.

If there was one person Danielle would not get with, it would be Karl.

It was because Crest Empire was the arch-rival of the White Company, which Danielle wanted nothing to do with anymore.

She walked out of the hotel and gave herself a slap across the face.

“You must be mad. You could’ve been with any man in the world, but of all people–”

Danielle shuddered at the thought of what would happen if the Whites found out. However, she shook her head, refusing to imagine the consequences.

It was at that moment that her phone rang.

She pulled it out to see it was from Karl.

Her fingers trembled. It was the first time his number had been displayed on her mobile screen.

Danielle wondered why he could be calling her.

She hesitated to pick up the call but was worried that it would seem like she was hiding something if she did not pick up.

With that thought in mind, she took the call before it could ring out. “Mr. Burt.”

“Since I took your first time, I will grant you one wish. You can ask for anything, except getting me to fall in love with you.”

Danielle was surprised, but she answered sternly, “Mr. Burt, I think you’ve gotten the wrong idea. I’m not that type of woman.”