Aliya Finch stood in front of her parents staring at them as she brought up her proposition.
This is the only way we can save the company, if i am able to marry Ryan Andres then our company can get funding from them through the marriage alliance. The Andres are at the top in technology and Construction. I already discussed with Ryan Andres and we seem okay to each other, I just wanted to inform you, if all goes well then the wedding happens in three days.
Aliya, darling, you don't have to, this is my responsibility, you shouldn't compromise your happiness and your life for this, Edward Finch, Aliya's father said.
Yes dear, your father is right, we could just sale our properties at most, we will be able to pay off the debt with all our assets.
Dad, mom, it's time you guys faced reality, the company is going bankrupt and our assets might be seized, Dad could go to prison. How could I just sit back and do nothing. Jeremy is still in high school, I can't let all this affect his future. I already made my decision and that's final, you don't have to care about my happiness, I'm happy as long as you all are safe and happy, Aliya said as she held her parent's hand. I have a meeting later on with Ryan, you shouldn't wait up for me, I will be late, she said leaving the Finch residence.
The Finch couple looked at their departing daughter and then at each other with helplessness, their daughter has always been stubborn and her idea was indeed the best solution so far, they couldn't stop her, they just pray that everything works out and they overcome this crisis.
The Velvet Lounge
Aliya sat at the bar area gulping down alcohol aggressively, she was going to be married in three days, her life, her world, her dreams, everything was going to be changed.
She had just finished her meeting with Ryan Andre, the man she was getting married to. Ryan has being interested in her for a while now but not out of love but admiration and respect. They both were like minded individuals, passionate about work and zero belief about love or happily ever afters. When she proposed the deal, Ryan was more than happy to comply, the two came to an agreement of a marriage alliance with Aliya offering forty percent share of the Finch Corporation if they overcame their crisis, though it was a marriage, they both still sought benefits for their respective companies. Everything was finalized so fast and, within three days they would become a legally married couple. Well not that she cared about love and marriages but she never expected to get married so early, she was just twenty four. If it was the sacrifice she need to make to save the company and her family then she would do it over and over again.
Aliya started feeling tipsy from the effect of the alcohol, she has always been a heavy drinker as she always attended business events and dinners where drinks were often taken. Aliya was the face of the Finch Corporation, since she finished her master's degree in Harvard business school, she became the Vice president of the Finch Corporation taking care of the company which she has done exceptionally until the recent crisis.
Aliya felt an abnormal feeling in her body. Oh shit, she has been drugged, she has been careless just now. In a place like The Velvet Lounge, this was a common practice. She had a private meeting with Ryan hence she didn't come with her secretary or bodyguard. She needed to get out of here before anything more happens.
Aliya stood up and staggered away in her eighteen centimeter heels.
At the hallway of The Velvet lounge, two guards were conversing. The lady is supposed to be here by now.
The boss is already getting impatient, what should we do? If we fail to complete this task tonight, we might get killed.
Shut up, let me think of something. They two guards were contemplating when they saw the drunk Aliya staggering and holding unto the wall for support.
The two guards looked at each other. Why don't we just take her to the boss, the boss doesn't know the lady's face, let's just do it.
Aliya was already so weak when the two guards approached her and seized her, she tried to fight back but her attempt were futile, she was so weak, the drug was really potent.
They took her to a suite and tossed her on the bed leaving almost immediately.
The room was dark with only the headlamp on, making it impossible for one to make out the features of the room.
Aliya felt uncomfortable and hot all over, she was already half conscious when the big bad wolf emerged.
Aiden saw the little woman spread on his bed, her face was flushed and she was tugging at her clothes repeatedly as though she wanted to get rid of it. He gulped down hard, he was suprised that he was attracted to her which was uncommon to him, he got closer to her on the bed to see the misery woman who evoked a reaction in him, that was when he saw her face.
It was her, the face that taunted him all this years, he was just back, he hadn't even looked for her and yet she has presented herself to him.
Aiden let out a devilish chuckle.
Perfect. Really perfect. His fingers traced the lines of her face.
Aliya felt a cold ice in her fire world, she held unto the source of the cold pulling it to her and muttering, I need..... I need you.
Aiden was not prepared for the tug and he fell on top of her with his lips brushing hers.