Chapter 2 Drugged Up

Chapter 2 Drugged Up

In a lavish office adorned with Parisian furniture, the tense atmosphere was palpable. The rhythmic tapping of fingers against an expensive leather chair mirrored the frustration of the man seated there. William was on the verge of exploding. Waking up fully clothed in his luxurious suite the next morning was humiliating enough, but realizing a woman had drugged him — was an indignity he had never experienced. He didn't even know when it happened.

"You couldn't catch her?" William's voice was bitter, his words laced with barely contained fury. The idea that he, of all people, had been outsmarted and humiliated left him seething.

"Sorry, sir. She ran too fast. We couldn't keep up," Charlie, one of his bodyguards, replied firmly, though there was a hint of unease in his tone.

"You're telling me two men couldn't catch one woman?" William's voice rose slightly, his disbelief evident.

"Sir," interrupted another guard, his entrance causing both Charlie and his companion to stiffen, knowing this might escalate further. They braced themselves, anticipating William's wrath—and potentially a cut in their pay.

"What is it?" William snapped.

"Mr. Sofph is here to see you. He's waiting in the lounge," Rick informed his boss. William sighed heavily, attempting to regain composure, before waving them off.

"You're both useless. Get out of my sight," he barked before striding out of the office.

Making his way to the lounge, William's long strides brought him to a plush sofa where his cousin, Antonio, was already seated. Despite his attempt at maintaining a neutral expression, Antonio could immediately sense his cousin's simmering anger.

"You don't look too pleased," Antonio commented in English, his casual tone juxtaposing William's tension.

"Just a minor issue. Why are you here two days early? Is something wrong?" William replied, his tone easing into politeness.

"Not at all," Antonio said, sipping his coffee. "I wrapped up work earlier than expected and thought I'd spend a few days relaxing here in Vegas."

It wasn't Antonio's first visit to the city, but it was rare for him to take time off. His normally packed schedule left little room for leisure.

"I've heard this city has some renowned casinos. Care to show me around?" Antonio teased. The mention of casinos immediately reminded William of the previous night's debacle, and he couldn't help but grumble.

"There's a lot to see, but honestly, I'm not in the mood. Thinking about it just makes me furious."

Antonio raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What happened? Did someone break your heart, or was it something else?"

"Break my heart? No. I found someone intriguing, but I didn't get what I wanted," William admitted, his voice laced with bitterness.

"What do you mean?" Antonio pressed, his calm demeanor betraying his curiosity.

"Well, last night…" William began recounting his encounter, from meeting the woman to waking up the next morning fully clothed and alone in his suite. Despite his years of experience, he couldn't pinpoint when she had managed to drug him.

"You? Are you serious?" Antonio chuckled. The idea of a notorious playboy like William being outwitted by a woman was undeniably amusing.

"It's not funny," William said, his tone turning serious. "She ruined my reputation. Do you have any idea what this does to me?"

"Who is this woman?" Antonio asked, his interest piqued. For someone as smooth as William to fall victim to a woman, she had to be extraordinary.

"You don't need to know," William replied curtly, though his deflection only heightened Antonio's curiosity. Anyone capable of putting William in his place deserved a closer look.

"Is that so?" Antonio said with a smile. "Well, I guess this will bother you for a while if you don't see her again."

William scowled. "It already does."

After returning home from her day job, Rose headed to her room to change. She slipped into a tight red dress that accentuated her curves and applied light makeup. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she managed to make a faint smile, though her expression betrayed her worries. Her family's financial situation was a heavy burden, and the rent wasn't going to pay itself. Grabbing her purse, she sighed and left the room.

Hearing footsteps descending the stairs, Sofphia looked up to see Rose dressed for work. Her face immediately darkened with disapproval.

"Where are you going this time?" Sofphia demanded.

"To work," Rose replied simply, moving past her aunt.

"Quit! That place has nothing good to offer," Sofphia said sharply.

"Aunt, you know my office salary isn't enough to cover the rent and our other expenses. What I'm doing might not be ideal, but it's the only way," Rose said. For her, the casino wasn't a choice—it was a necessity.

"It's too dangerous. I don't want you involved in that world," Sofphia said, her voice tinged with concern. Rose appreciated her aunt's worry, but she couldn't bear to see the woman who raised her struggle to make ends meet.

"I must go, Aunt. I'll see you later," Rose said, cutting the conversation short and leaving the house without looking back. Closing the door, she took a deep breath and began walking. The wealthy patrons of the casino probably didn't care about anything beyond their pleasures, but for Rose, the job meant survival.