Outside, the lights shone brightly as elegantly dressed women with perfumed clothes and perfect hair gathered upstairs for a lively engagement party. Laughter and the clinking of glasses filled the air as guests enjoyed drinks and games.
But none of it meant anything to Hailey Stewart. The couple hosting the celebration upstairs was her ex-boyfriend and his new fiancée. She had come intending to confront them, but to her bitter surprise, she couldn't even get inside the banquet hall. How ironic.
She stared down at the blue rose in her hand, the one a kind stranger had given her in the bathroom. She thought about tossing it away but hesitated. Somehow, that felt like giving up. With the flower still in hand, she left the hotel, her mood completely soured.
As she approached the elevator, her steps faltered. Something didn't feel right. For a moment, she stood frozen, unsure what to do next.
Just then, a man in black stepped out from the elevator's corner. His eyes landed on the blue rose in her hand, and his expression shifted in surprise.
"Are you Mrs. Belle? Our boss has been waiting for you. Why are you still down here?" the man asked sharply.
Before Hailey could answer, he ushered her into the elevator, showing her the floor they were headed to.
"You've got the wrong person," Hailey protested, pulling back.
"I know you're Ms. Belle. You do realize where that flower came from, don't you? I suggest you stop resisting. You've already taken the payment. It's time to act like a professional," the man replied coolly.
Confusion prickled at Hailey's mind, along with unease. "What are you talking about? Who's Belle? What payment?" she demanded.
But the man's grip was firm as he led her into an opulent presidential suite. Her short dress and small handbag, chosen for sneaking into the banquet hall, now felt like a mistake—she didn't even have her ID to prove she was Hailey, not Belle.
Inside the grand suite, a tall man sat with an air of quiet dominance. His striking features were impossible to ignore, but it was the cold sharpness in his eyes that truly set him apart.
"You took my money and now you want to back out? How does your boss train his people?" Travis Blake's voice cut through the room, low and commanding.
Hailey's initial shock gave way to reluctant amusement as pieces of the situation clicked into place. The innocent girl from before—the one with the blue rose—had set her up. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor.
Her future was likely ruined by tomorrow. Chasing love in secret? Impossible. But right now, sitting across from the most breathtaking man she'd ever seen… maybe tonight didn't have to be a complete loss.
Her eyes traced the way his crisp shirt clung to his broad frame, the hint of muscle beneath, the effortless magnetism in his gaze. Tomorrow, he would marry a dying woman and likely become a widower. But tonight? Tonight, fate had dropped her here.
"Speak," Travis's voice came again, colder now, sharp with irritation.
Hailey wasn't afraid of him. She wasn't Belle. She wasn't his problem.
Lowering her gaze, she smiled faintly and said, "I'm sorry. This is my first time. I don't exactly have much experience."
Hailey lowered her head, a soft smile playing on her lips as her heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the man's sharp gaze fixed on her, and for a moment, it was as if heat swept over her entire body, rattling her composure.
"Come here," his voice was low, rough, and commanding.
Panic fluttered in her chest, but she forced herself to appear calm. She straightened her posture, her lips curling into a deliberately flirtatious smile as she stepped forward. Running a finger along his jawline, she tilted her head and whispered, "Your skin is flawless."
The man let out a dark, humorless laugh. His eyes, sharp as blades, swept over her face. "Innocent look… bold mouth," he muttered under his breath, his tone both mocking and curious.
Before she could retreat, his large hand shot out, capturing her chin with just enough force to make her still. His cold, calculating gaze scanned her features, lingering on every inch of her face as if committing it to memory.
"You think I don't know what game you're playing?" he asked, voice low but dangerous. "Your little act might fool someone else. But not me."
Her heart skipped a beat. His touch wasn't cruel, but it carried the weight of power — a silent warning that she wasn't in control here.
Hailey fought to steady her breathing. She wasn't Belle. She shouldn't even be here. But explaining that now? It could blow everything apart. The smart thing was to play along… for now.
His thumb brushed against her lower lip, the lightest contact, yet enough to make her pulse race. "You took the money. You walked in here. That means you belong to me — for tonight."
The words sent a jolt through her, part fear, part… something else she didn't want to name.
Before she could respond, his expression shifted — for the briefest second, something raw and painful flickered behind his cold eyes.
And then, under his breath, he whispered a name. Not hers.
"Belle…"
Hailey froze. The name sent a chill crawling down her spine. Who was Belle? And if he thought she was her… what exactly had she just walked into?