In a luxurious Las Vegas hotel, a young woman named Sandra finds herself immersed in a world of intrigue and all-consuming passion. On her first day as a maid, she is faced with an explosive situation: the mysterious and charismatic Ethan, the owner of the establishment, suspects her of being a spy sent by his rivals. But the real storm begins when her cousin's boyfriend tries to rape her. In an act of bravery, Ethan intervenes, revealing a protective and dominant side she never imagined. He takes her into his secret world, promising her that he will never let anyone hurt her. Sandra finds herself trapped between fear and desire, aware that she has become a key piece in Ethan's dangerous game. As she begins to develop feelings for this man who possesses her body and soul, she discovers that the leader of the alpha pack has his own demons. His magnetic charm and power are irresistible, but he warns her that getting too close could have devastating consequences. Passionate nights under the bright lights of Vegas become a mix of love and danger. Sandra finds herself torn between her desire for freedom and Ethan's obsession with her. Her life takes an unexpected turn when rivalries between clans intensify, jeopardizing everything she's come to love. In this game of hearts and secrets that can cost dearly, Sandra must choose between following her heart or breaking free from the invisible chains that surround her.
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
"Stop! I beg you, not that! » A woman's voice came through the deserted corridor, high-pitched, almost suffocating. Sandra stopped dead in her tracks, her heart beating wildly. She had just come out of the employee locker room, her outfit impeccable, ready to start her first day of work. But this cry froze her in place.
She strained her ears, trying to find out where the noise was coming from. A half-open door further away. A muffled whisper, hurried footsteps. Sandra hesitated, her instincts telling her to turn around. She was just a new recruit, a maid among many others. Not his problem, right? But the tremor in that voice kept him from ignoring the call.
She tiptoed closer and leaned over just enough to see through the crack. A woman in a black suit, probably a receptionist, stood facing a man whose face was unfamiliar to her, but whose imposing stature betrayed authority. The man's tone was low, sharp as a blade.
"You know what will happen if you don't obey, right? I don't need to repeat. »
The woman nodded frantically, unable to speak. Sandra didn't understand everything, but the palpable unease shook her. She wanted to leave, to move away before being noticed, but a heavy hand rested on her shoulder.
"Are we getting lost already? »
Sandra jumped, out of breath, and turned around to find herself face to face with a blond man, his affable smile failing to mask the coldness in his eyes. He wore the crisp uniform of a manager, and his badge read "Frank."
"I... I was just looking for room service," she stammered, trying to maintain composure despite her shaking legs.
Frank raised an eyebrow. "Room service? Of course. But spying on other people's affairs isn't going to impress anyone here. »
Sandra opened her mouth to defend herself, but he didn't give her time.
"Come on, come on. I'll show you where to start. »
He grabbed her elbow, firmly enough to remind her that she had no choice. As he guided her, he added in a low voice: "One piece of advice, Sandra: here, we do what we're told and keep our heads down. You would do well to remember that. »
The first hours of his service took place in a mixture of tension and confusion. She had imagined that working in a five-star hotel would be intimidating, but not so intimidating that she would constantly feel threatened. Yet every glance we met, every whisper in the corridors seemed laden with innuendo.
When she entered to clean her first room, Sandra tried to concentrate on her task. The silence was oppressive, and the slightest noise from the corridor made her jump. She replayed the scene from earlier over and over in her head, wondering who this man was and why the receptionist seemed so terrified.
As she was vacuuming, a familiar voice sounded outside.
"I tell you this is going to end badly. Ethan won't tolerate another misstep. »
Sandra turned off the machine, her heart beating faster. She approached the door and listened. Two employees were talking, probably out of sight, believing they were alone.
"And you think it's his fault? He does what he can to keep investors calm, but with the enemies he has..."
"Do you think he'll last long? Rumors about Coleman's men are flying. They won't let go. And if someone from the inside betrays..."
The voices quickly faded away, leaving Sandra perplexed. She had no idea who this "Ethan" was, but his name seemed to fill the air with a palpable tension.
She returned to her work, but her curiosity refused to subside. Why did everything seem so heavy here? The hotel was magnificent, a work of art of luxury and perfection, but behind the facade, something was wrong.
Later that afternoon, Sandra was making the bed in a sumptuous suite when a noise in the foyer startled her. She looked up to see a man enter, without knocking, as if he owned the space.
He was tall, with neatly styled brown hair and a presence that would have been enough to silence an entire room. He didn't wear a badge, but Sandra didn't need a clue to know who he was: Ethan.
He stopped short when he saw her, his dark gaze scanning her with an almost unsettling intensity.
" Who are you ? » he asked in a low, but authoritative voice.
Sandra felt her face redden. "I'm...Sandra. New maid. I'm just doing my job. »
He crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing as if evaluating each word. "You have a funny way of working, Sandra. Did you meet Frank? »
She nodded, too nervous to speak.
" GOOD. So, a reminder: you are here to do what you are asked. Nothing more. Nothing less. »
She nodded again, unable to look away from him. He gave off a magnetic aura, but also a coldness that made you uncomfortable.
Ethan approached, placing a hand on the door frame. "You've heard rumors about me before, I bet. »
Sandra shook her head. "No, sir. »
He gave a mirthless smile. " GOOD. Keep that in mind. Rumors are weapons here. And I control the weapons. »
Then he turned on his heel and walked out, leaving Sandra frozen in place.
When her shift finally ended, she returned to the locker room, exhausted. Ethan's words still echoed in his mind, as did those of the employees in the hallway. The thought of leaving this place crossed her mind, but something inside her refused to leave.
She wanted to understand.
What was happening here went beyond ordinary professional rivalries. And although the fear was everywhere, a part of her couldn't help but wonder what Ethan was hiding behind this facade of power.
As she was leaving to go home, a figure caught her attention. The man from this morning, the one who had threatened the receptionist, was standing at the entrance to the parking lot, talking on the phone.
"Yes, it's confirmed. We have a new recruit. Sandra, I think. Do you think it could be useful? »
Sandra's blood ran cold. That was his name. They were talking about her.
She backed away slowly, her heart pounding, before fading into the shadows and leaving the area without a sound.
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