Fragrance of a forgotten night

The sight before Alexander tested every ounce of his self-control. Emily swayed unsteadily, her movements sluggish and unfocused, her judgment clearly clouded by whatever had been slipped into her drink. Panic and frustration warred within him. "Emily," he said firmly, guiding her toward the bathroom. "You need to calm down. The doctor is on the way." She barely seemed to hear him. After settling her on the edge of the bathtub, Alexander stepped back and dragged a hand through his hair. Despite the air-conditioned room, a sheen of sweat had formed on his forehead. "Damn it, Mike," he muttered. "Where are you?" Before he could reach for his phone again, movement caught his attention. Emily had followed him. His jaw tightened. She looked vulnerable rather than seductive, her blue eyes glazed with confusion as she struggled to remain upright. Every step she took seemed driven by desperation rather than awareness. "Please..." she whispered. "I don't feel right." Alexander's expression darkened. Whoever had done this to her would pay. When she stumbled, he caught her before she could fall. Her fingers instinctively curled around the front of his shirt, seeking stability. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Alexander could feel the rapid beat of her heart through the small distance between them. He hated how fragile she seemed. Hated even more the thought of what might have happened if he hadn't arrived when he did. "You're safe now," he said quietly. The words seemed to reach her. Emily lifted her gaze to his. Though her eyes were unfocused, a hint of relief flickered within them. Safe. No one had ever made her feel that way before. The room fell silent. Alexander carefully wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and guided her back toward the bed. "You need rest," he said. Emily stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding. Exhaustion quickly overtook her. Within minutes, her breathing had steadied as sleep claimed her once more. Alexander remained seated nearby, his expression cold and unreadable. The doctor would arrive soon. And once Emily recovered, he intended to find out exactly who had done this to her. No one would get away with hurting her. Watching Emily finally fall asleep, Alexander felt a wave of relief wash over him. For the first time since bringing her to the hotel suite, her expression was peaceful. The fear and confusion that had haunted her moments ago had faded, replaced by the innocence of a sleeping angel. He pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat beside her, his gaze lingering on her delicate features. Her soft, round face was exactly as he remembered. Seven years. It had been seven long years since the day she had unknowingly saved his life. Back then, she had disappeared before he could properly thank her. He had searched endlessly, following every lead he could find, only to learn that she had been adopted by another family. It wasn't until recently that he discovered the truth—the family who had taken her in was none other than the powerful Hart family. Since then, he had quietly kept an eye on her from afar. Even his investment in Hart Corporation had been because of her. His jaw tightened as memories of the state he had found her in earlier flashed through his mind. Rage simmered beneath his calm exterior. The sound of the door opening interrupted his thoughts. "The doctor is here, sir," Mike announced respectfully. A few seconds later, Josh hurried into the room. The urgency in Mike's call had led him to believe Alexander had suffered another health crisis or that a major accident had occurred. Instead, he was greeted by the sight of a young woman sleeping peacefully on the bed. Confusion crossed his face. Mike quickly explained the situation. By the time he finished, amusement had replaced Josh's concern. Josh glanced between Alexander and the sleeping woman before raising an eyebrow. "So this is the emergency?" he teased. "For a second, I thought you were dying. Don't tell me those rumors about you are actually true." The icy glare Alexander shot him was enough to make the doctor immediately regret his joke. Josh cleared his throat. "Right. Back to work." After examining Emily, he set up an IV drip and administered medication to help counter the effects of the drug. "She'll be fine," he said. "She just needs rest. Make sure she stays hydrated when she wakes up." After leaving detailed instructions, Josh gathered his equipment and departed. Silence settled over the room once again. Mike cautiously stepped forward. "What should we do about the men involved, Boss?" The atmosphere instantly changed. A dangerous chill filled the room. Alexander's expression darkened, and his eyes turned as cold as winter itself. Mike swallowed hard. He had worked for Alexander for years, but it had been a long time since he had seen him this angry. The murderous aura radiating from him was enough to make anyone tremble. Alexander rose slowly from his seat. "Take me to them." His voice was calm. Too calm. Before leaving, he turned back toward the bed. Emily remained asleep, unaware of the storm about to be unleashed on her behalf. For a brief moment, the coldness in his eyes softened. "My little princess," he murmured quietly. Then he walked out of the room. At the door, he paused and addressed the hotel manager. "When she wakes up, do not tell her who brought her here." "Yes, Mr. Sterling." With that, Alexander left. And somewhere in the city, the men responsible for hurting Emily were about to learn the price of crossing Alexander Sterling.