Hotel Paradise stood gleaming against the night sky, its luxurious ambiance reflected in the glittering chandeliers and elegantly dressed guests attending the grand business party. Alex Blackwood, the renowned business tycoon, mingled effortlessly with the elite, his charm captivating everyone. Yet, midway through the evening, a sudden wave of dizziness hit him.
"Daniel," Alex called, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need to head to my room. I'm not feeling well."
Daniel Blackwood, his younger brother, immediately turned, concern etched on his face. "What happened, brother? Do you need a doctor? I'll come with you."
Alex shook his head. "It's nothing, Daniel. Just a headache. We can't both leave the party; we're the hosts. You stay and take care of our guests. I'll see you in the morning."
With that, Alex made his way to Room 1001, the most luxurious suite in the hotel. As he closed the door behind him, he felt his body burning, a sure sign that he had been drugged. He knew his enemies were always lurking, waiting for an opportunity to strike. He needed to hold on until his best friend and family doctor, Simon, arrived.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Expecting Simon, Alex stumbled to open the door. To his surprise, a young girl in a staff uniform stood there, her eyes wide with concern.
"What are you doing here? Go back, I don't need any service right now. I just need some peace and rest," Alex snapped, his irritation fueled by the drug coursing through his veins. Sophia was taken aback by his harsh tone. It was the first time someone had spoken to her so rudely. As she turned to leave, a loud thud made her spin around. Alex had collapsed on the floor.
She rushed to his side. "Mr. Blackwood, you're burning up. Please, let me help you to the bed."
Alex, too weak to protest, allowed her to assist him. Her touch felt familiar, but his drugged state clouded his recognition. "Sir, please try to stand up. I'll help you."
With great difficulty, Sophia managed to get Alex to the bed. His fevered mind suddenly filled with an urge to kiss her, but he fought it, warning her instead. "You need to leave. It's dangerous for you to stay here."
Sophia frowned. "How could it be dangerous for me to stay?" "I've been drugged by someone," Alex admitted. "If you stay, you're responsible for whatever happens."
Sophia's heart raced. She couldn't abandon him, not after seeing his condition. "Mr. Blackwood, I can't leave you like this. My job is at stake, and I can't bear the thought of something happening to you because I left."
"You silly girl," Alex muttered. "Leave now."
But Sophia was determined. As she contemplated her dilemma, Alex's hand suddenly gripped her waist, pulling her towards him. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Alex's breath was ragged, his pupils dilated. He felt an overwhelming pull towards Sophia, a connection he couldn't explain. His hand slid from her waist to the small of her back, drawing her closer. Sophia's breath hitched as she felt the intensity of his gaze, the heat radiating from his body.
Then, without warning, Alex's lips crashed onto hers. The kiss was fierce and demanding, fueled by the haze of the drug and a buried sense of familiarity. Sophia's initial reaction was to push him away, but his hold on her was firm, unyielding. The force of the kiss left her no room to think, only to feel.
Sophia's hands pressed against his chest, but the resistance quickly melted as she found herself responding to his fervent kisses. The world outside the room disappeared, leaving only the two of them in a whirlwind of unexpected passion. Alex's lips moved with a desperate hunger, and Sophia, lost in the moment, allowed herself to be swept away by the intensity of his need.
His hands roamed her back, pulling her even closer, and Sophia's fingers tangled in his hair, her body pressing against his. The kiss deepened, their breaths mingling as they both succumbed to the magnetic pull between them. Sophia had never experienced anything like this; it was as if her body had a mind of its own, responding to Alex's every touch.
Just as the kiss reached its peak, a loud bang on the door shattered the moment. Daniel and Simon burst in, their eyes widening in shock at the sight before them. Sophia, blushing furiously, pushed Alex away and stammered an apology.
"Mr. Blackwood is drugged. Please, take care of him," she managed to say before fleeing the room, not daring to look at Daniel or Simon.
Daniel stood frozen, staring after her. He recognised her in the first glance, She is Sophia, his childhood friend, who vanished from their life 7 years ago without any information.
As Alex regained some control, Simon administered the necessary medication and he drifted into a deep, medicinally induced sleep, his body finally finding the peace it so desperately needed, Daniel Blackwood's mind was anything but at rest. Standing by the bedside, Daniel watched his brother's chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm, his expression a mix of concern and barely restrained anger.
He turned to Simon, their family doctor and Alex's closest confidant. "You know as well as I do that brother never lets his guard down at events like this. He always takes his anti-drug pill before any business gathering, knowing full well the risks involved. So why didn't it work this time?"
Simon, busy checking Alex's vitals, paused for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "I've been wondering the same thing. The anti-drug pill should have neutralized most toxins. For it to fail, either the drug used was something extraordinarily potent, or..." He trailed off, not wanting to voice the more disturbing possibility.
"Or what, Simon?" Daniel pressed, his voice low but intense.
Simon met Daniel's eyes, his own filled with unease. "Or someone tampered with the pill. If it was switched or rendered ineffective, then whoever is behind this knew Alex's routine far too well."
A cold fury settled in Daniel's chest. The idea that someone so close to them could orchestrate such a betrayal was almost too much to bear. He clenched his fists, his mind racing through the possibilities. Who had access to Alex's personal effects? Who would dare to betray them?
Turning away from Simon, Daniel pulled out his phone and swiftly dialed a number. "Liam," he said, his voice tight with controlled anger, "I need you to find out who's behind this. Check everyone who had access to Alex tonight and in the days leading up to the event. Start with the hotel staff and then move on to our own people. I want answers, and I want them fast."
Liam, Daniel's most loyal and trusted manager, responded immediately. "Consider it done, Mr. Blackwood. I'll have a full report on your desk by morning."
As Daniel ended the call, the weight of the situation pressed down on him. Someone had gone to great lengths to harm Alex, and it was clear this was no random act. The precision with which it had been executed suggested a deep-seated vendetta, one that involved someone with intimate knowledge of their routines and security measures.
He glanced back at Alex, lying helpless on the bed. The sight of his powerful brother, who was always in control, now vulnerable and drugged, only fueled Daniel's resolve. Whoever was behind this would pay dearly.
Simon finished his examination and turned to Daniel. "He'll sleep for a while now. The drug was strong, but I've countered it. His fever should break by morning, and he'll be back on his feet soon."
Daniel nodded, but his thoughts were already elsewhere. "We need to tighten security around Alex. Whoever did this might try again. And if the pill was tampered with, we need to find out how deep this goes."
Simon agreed, "I'll look into the pharmaceutical angle, see if there's any chance the pill could have been compromised before Alex even took it. But Daniel, be careful. If someone is close enough to pull this off, they won't hesitate to try something more direct next time."
Daniel's jaw tightened. "Let them try. They'll regret the day they ever thought to cross us."
As the night deepened, Daniel remained by Alex's side, his mind a storm of thoughts. Sophia's sudden reappearance only added to the complexity of the situation. She had been gone for seven years, and now, of all times, she returned—coincidence, or something more?
He couldn't shake the image of her from his mind, her shocked face as she fled the room after Alex's sudden kiss. She hadn't recognized Alex in his drugged state, but Daniel had recognized her instantly. The question that haunted him now was why she was back and how she fit into this web of intrigue.