CHAPTER 1

"Thank you for coming to my engagement party, Arthur." Regan walked to the balcony to greet his best friend, Arthur, a man who looked cold without a hint of a smile.

"No problem; congratulations on your engagement." Arthur, who was currently standing on the balcony holding a glass of champagne,

He didn't like attending events like this. Arthur didn't like crowds that were only filled with fake people, but he couldn't refuse the invitation of his best friend, Regan, his business partner, and one of his best friends.

Among the crowd, Arthur's gaze centered on the woman who had captured his attention. The young woman, wearing a red satin dress, sat at one of the tables with a confused look on her face. Arthur found a point that he thought could relieve boredom, where he was more interested in looking at the woman, even from a distance.

Valerie, on the other hand, was at a loss as to what to look like at their CEO's engagement ceremony. To be honest, it was Valerie's first time attending such a big event; she was just an ordinary employee and not one of the rich people with high titles.

Valerie shifted her gaze, trying to find a view that might, just might, relieve some of her nerves. Her gaze looked up, right above the balcony. Valerie, the man in the black suit and bow tie, had a handsome face with sharp eyes, and damn it, the man was also staring at her. His big posture, like a model even, and his face hypnotized Valerie to keep looking continuously. After realizing this, Valerie again broke eye contact.

Her heart was beating so fast that she felt scared. What if the man was a criminal? Or maybe a hitman like in the novels she often read—it was so scary that, suddenly, there was a tap on Valerie's shoulder, making her body spontaneously surprised that the culprit was Clara, who was also a colleague in the office.

''Gosh, you're this!" Valerie caught her breath.

''What's wrong with you, Valerie?'' Clara sat beside Valerie, looking at her best friend, who was a little strange as if there was an obvious fear there.

''Nothing. Can we go home already, Clara?'' Valerie didn't want to talk about the man she had just seen.

How many minutes ago? Whether the man was still there or not, Valerie was eager to see him again, but she was also afraid.

''Can it wait a few more minutes? We have to say goodbye to Mr. Regan.'' Clara drank the food prepared by the waiter.

''Do you want a drink? I haven't seen you eat anything for a while.

''Yeah, please get me a drink.'' Valerie wanted to slightly moisten her throat, which was already very dry. Clara immediately called out to the waiter, who walked over with a tray of various drinks. Clara hand-picked up a glass of orange juice for Valerie, who never drinks alcohol, and a glass of whiskey for herself.

Clara placed the two glasses on the table, and before Clara could say anything, Valerie had already drunk her glass of champagne. She felt a burning sensation in her throat and a slightly strange taste.

''What is this strange drink?" Valerie said to herself.

''Gosh, Valerie, that's my drink!'' Clara couldn't believe Valerie was drinking whiskey like she was drinking water.

''What is this drink, Clara?" Valerie felt hot in her stomach and a little dizzy now.

"It's Whiskey... Are you okay?" Clara panicked, afraid that Valerie was drunk.

"I'm fine. No need to worry; I need to go to the toilet for a while." Valerie turned bolder and bolder.

"Do you want me to accompany Valerie?"

"It's okay, Clara. I can manage on my own," Valerie said with a small smile before her footsteps left Clara.

As Valerie walked through the crowd, she looked confused as to where the restrooms were in this huge room, and she didn't know who else to ask.

But...

Her body collided with a big, tall man. Valerie didn't dare to raise her head other than to stare at the man's expensive loafers.

"Are you looking for something, Valerie? Valerie raised her head to look at the man who knew her name.

Like magic, Valentine fell in love with his ocean-blue eyes, brownish hair, and beautifully embroidered lips.

"Isn't he the man I saw on the balcony?" Valerie said to herself.

Arthur pulled on Valerie's waist when he saw the waiter who brought the tray almost bump into Valerie's body. Valerie was surprised by what the man in front of her was doing—his body was now so close that Valerie could smell the strong perfume of the expensive suit he was wearing.

Valerie tried to break free from the man's embrace. But Arthur did not want to remove his hands from Valerie's waist; he had never felt the need to have something like this moment. Being close to Valerie made him feel like he had to have her at all costs.

"How about you become mine, Valerie?"

The blue-eyed man's words were difficult for Valerie to understand; her head was getting dizzy.

"What do you mean I don't understand? And please let me go." Valerie fainted in Arthur's arms, making the man panic and lift Valerie's body bride-style.

"Regan, where is your living room?" Arthur walked over to Regan, who was still talking to the company owners.

"What's wrong?" Regan saw her best friend Arthur coming in with the woman Arthur had just asked her name about, who was now in his arms.

"She fainted?"

"Just take her upstairs, where there's an empty guest room." Arthur quickly carried the woman's petite body to Regan's room.

He placed Valerie's body on the bed. Arthur didn't know what to do, but he was certain that Valerie had only fainted because he had checked Valerie's pulse earlier. Arthur just watched Valerie's face sleep peacefully—a beautiful face and lips that were so tempting he wanted to give them a quick peck. But he was not an asshole, taking advantage when she was unconscious.

Arthur covered Valerie's body with a blanket; he didn't want her to get sick just because. Wearing a dress that was made of thin material for Arthur.

''I'm very interested in you, Valerie." Arthur moved the hair that was covering Valerie's face.

***