Struggling college student Elena Carter works at a luxury hotel to pay for her seriously ill brother's expensive treatment. When the hotel is rocked by a visit from Adrian Moretti, a powerful and enigmatic mobster, Elena doesn't expect to cross his path. But an unexpected incident puts her directly under his gaze. After accidentally breaking a rare and expensive object in Adrian's suite, she finds herself faced with an ultimatum: pay off an unpayable debt or accept a strange proposition. Adrian offers her a disconcerting choice: sign a contract to become his "fiancée" while he calms suspicions about his business. In exchange, he promises to erase the debt and take care of her brother. But in accepting, Elena enters a world of shadows and danger where she discovers that Adrian is being hunted not only by his enemies, but also by a past that haunts him. Why does he need her? What is behind this contract that seems to bind their lives far beyond the public facade? Between loyalty, secrets and irresistible attraction, Elena will have to navigate a game she does not control, all while protecting her own heart.
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
The clinking of glasses, bursts of hushed laughter and the constant murmur of social conversations filled the reception room of the Royale Hotel, an emblematic place in the city, popular with the elites. Elena quickly adjusted her black and white uniform in front of a full-length mirror hidden in a staff hallway. His hands were shaking slightly. She had been urgently called to fill a staff shortage at this prestigious event, and the idea of rubbing shoulders with the world's elite still intimidated her a little.
The look of his manager, a nervous man with a bald head, did nothing to ease his tension.
- Elena, he said dryly, tonight you are assigned to the luxury suites. Don't make waves, okay? Tonight's customers are... special people.
She nodded, without asking questions, although the strangeness of her remark aroused her curiosity. She hadn't yet understood why the entire hotel seemed in turmoil. The entire staff was on alert, as if the arrival of a deity or a monster would soon disrupt their routine.
A few minutes later, as she walked down the main hallway to the elevators, a shiver ran down her spine. The rotating glass doors of the main entrance opened, and a wave of silence fell over the assembly. The conversations died away abruptly, leaving only the echoes of footsteps echoing on the polished marble floor.
Adrian Moretti had just entered.
The man was surrounded by men in black suits, their massive build and piercing gaze immediately betraying their function: close security. But it was Adrian himself who hogged all the attention. Tall, his black hair impeccably combed back, he advanced with calculated elegance, a slight, enigmatic smile at the corner of his lips. His steel-gray eyes seemed to peer into every corner of the room, and his tailored suit highlighted an athletic figure that exuded both power and danger.
Elena, petrified, felt her breath catch in her throat. She only knew this man by reputation, but his physical presence surpassed anything she could have imagined. He embodied an almost supernatural authority, an aura that seemed to demand respect and submission.
- Move forward, Elena, a colleague whispered, nudging her lightly.
She pulled herself together and hurried towards the elevator, praying not to meet his eyes. But a tiny, irrepressible part of her couldn't help but want to know more about this man.
Once she reached the suite floor, she set about her task, checking that every detail in the rooms was perfect. She tried to concentrate, but a strange tension in the air made her nervous. Suddenly, she heard voices coming from the next suite.
- Mr. Moretti, your instructions have been transmitted, said a deep, almost robotic voice.
- Perfect, replied a deeper, hoarse voice, imbued with calculated coldness. Make sure no one enters here without my explicit permission.
Elena recognized this voice immediately. Adrian.
She looked away from the closed door, her heart pounding. Why could a simple voice provoke such a reaction in her? She tried to calm her thoughts and returned to her work.
But while she was carrying a tray of appetizers to Adrian's suite, an incident occurred. His hand slipped slightly, unbalancing the tray, and one of the plates hit something placed on a piece of furniture near the door. The sound of shattering glass echoed like an alarm in the silence of the hallway.
Elena, horrified, rushed to pick up the pieces. She realized with horror that it was a finely crafted crystal sculpture that must have been worth a small fortune.
The door to the suite opened suddenly, and Adrian appeared in the doorway, frowning.
- What's going on here? he asked in an icy voice.
Elena looked up at him, unable to speak. Her throat tightened under the weight of his piercing gaze.
- I...I'm sorry, sir. It was an accident, she finally stammered, her voice trembling.
Adrian slowly crouched down to pick up a crystal fragment, examining it under the light before settling his gaze on her.
- Do you know what that represents? he whispered, his tone strangely calm, almost dangerous.
She shook her head, tears threatening to spill out.
- A unique work, he said, straightening up, specially commissioned for a collector.
Elena felt an immense weight fall on her shoulders. She knew she could never repay such an item.
- I'll... I'll pay, she stammered.
Adrian looked at her, his expression unreadable.
- Pay ? he repeated with a sarcastic smile. And how do you plan to do that, miss...?
- Carter, she whispered. Elena Carter.
- Miss Carter, he continued, the irony in his voice becoming more pronounced. You work in this hotel. I doubt your salary covers even a fraction of the value of this piece.
Elena lowered her head, ashamed.
- However...
The word hung in the air, and she looked up, surprised. Adrian watched him carefully, as if weighing his options.
- Perhaps there is another solution, he murmured, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Elena felt her heart speed up. She didn't know why, but something in his eyes made her uneasy, as if she were a pawn in a game she didn't yet understand.
- Join me in my suite, he said finally, in a tone that left no room for discussion. We will discuss the terms of your... compensation.
She hesitated, but the authoritarian look he gave her left her little choice. She nodded shyly and followed him inside.
The suite was sumptuous, a mix of elegance and ostentatious luxury. Adrian pointed to an armchair near a large picture window overlooking the city lights.
- Sit down, he ordered.
Elena obeyed, her sweaty hands resting on her knees. Adrian sat down in front of her, his gaze fixed on her, as if trying to read her thoughts.
- Tell me about it, Elena. What is a young woman like you doing in a place like this?
She hesitated, but eventually answered, her voice still trembling.
- I work here to pay my brother's medical bills. He is seriously ill.
A flash of interest crossed Adrian's eyes.
- A noble sacrifice, he murmured. But that doesn't change your debt.
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs with natural elegance.
- I'll be honest with you, Elena. You can't pay me back. Not with money, at least.
She felt a shiver of apprehension run through her.
- So...what do you want? she asked softly.
Adrian let a silence settle before answering.
- A deal, he finally said. You will work for me.
- To work ? she repeated, incredulous.
He smiled slightly.
- Not as an ordinary employee. You will be... my bride.
She widened her eyes, convinced she was hearing wrong.
- Your what?
- It's simple, he continued, imperturbably. You will play the role of my fiancee for a while. In exchange, I will take over all your debts, including your brother's medical expenses.
Elena opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. Adrian's smile widened slightly, as if savoring her dismay.
- Think about it, Elena. You don't have many options.
She stared at him, her mind whirling between anger, confusion, and fear. Was this man serious? And why her?
But a little voice in her head whispered to her that maybe she didn't really have a choice.
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