CINDY'S POV

After using the bathroom, I ran back into the hallway but couldn't find Aria. I couldn't see her where she was supposed to be sitting so I immediately began to search around, hoping she didn't go far. I also used her picture on my phone to ask people if they had seen her but no one knows where she has gone. 

I ran to the security room to check for the CCTV, but then I don't understand why I couldn't find Aria anywhere on the cameras. Confused, I stepped out and dialed Larry's number. I could have called her family but they're far away and calling them might escalate things so I called Larry instead. The call connected and my tears began falling hard as soon as I heard Larry's voice. 

Hello, Cindy? He called. 

Larry, I think Aria is in trouble, I said to him. 

He asked me what happened and I narrated how we came for a party at the HD hotel and she was a little drunk. We were already on our way leaving but I asked her to wait for me while I used the bathroom and now she's gone, I don't know where else to look for her.

Wait for me, I'm coming now, he said before hanging up.

Some minutes later I saw Larry running into the hotel, panting and sweating. 

Where's the security room? he asked me. 

It's this way, I answered as I led him towards the security room. And just like before, we navigated through the cameras but there was no sign of Aria coming out of the party ground. 

The cameras have been hacked, Larry said. 

How? I asked him, surprised. 

All your footage after leaving Aria in the hallway are intact but the footage of you two coming out of the party ground, and Aria's footage after that were all deleted which means Aria is the target, he explained. 

So what do we do now? I asked him

We need to find her as soon as possible, he said

ARIA'S POV

I stretched myself as I woke up but then my body felt so awful. I opened my eyes only to find myself in an unfamiliar environment. I sat up immediately and the blanket covering me slipped off my body revealing my nakedness. I was shocked, terrified and aggrieved as realization dawned on me about what had happened. I looked around but found no one except the pieces of my clothes on the floor and a new cloth on the bed beside me. I tried to remember something but the last thing I could remember was looking for Cindy and then bumping into someone….. 

I came down from the bed dragging myself while enduring the pain on my lower region as I put on the new clothes. Before leaving the room I checked through the window and found out that I'm still at the HD hotel. 

Luckily for me, there weren't many people around and soon I was able to find my way home. On getting to my apartment someone flew out of it and pounced on me. Leaving the already terrified me shaken to the core. On realizing it was my friend Cindy, I began to recover. She looked more terrible than me with dark circles and red puffy eyes which indicates that she has been crying for a long time. 

After finding out about what happened to me she began with her endless apologies but I know it wasn't her fault. I have always been an optimistic person, so even though I don't know who took advantage of me, I'm still not going to let it pull me down.

LARRY'S POV

Aria and I had been close friends from university. Although I'm her senior, we share a very good relationship that so many people envy. The only problem is that our feelings aren't mutual. After realizing that she could be in trouble, I immediately pulled up my troops in search of her but who would have thought that this search won't be ending until the next morning when Cindy called to tell me that Aria has come home. When I got to her apartment, she had just gotten out of the shower. 

She looked fine but I'm sure that something was wrong. She said she couldn't remember anything else aside from waking up in the hotel room. I took the address of the hotel room and left after making sure that everything was ok. I understand that the two girls were hiding something from me but I just can't let it slide so after leaving I checked the CCTV cameras of the hotel again and yet again there was nothing. I even hired an expert to recover the deleted footage but he couldn't. I know Aria wasn't lying, it's just that the mastermind is really something else and I don't even want to think about what could have happened in that hotel room

ALEXANDER'S POV

I'm just coming to the company directly from the hotel where I had spent the night. I had thought about waiting for the girl to wake up but it seems like she wouldn't be waking anytime soon. I did so much to her, so she really needs that rest. That's why I left her behind but that doesn't mean that I will be copping out although it's also her fault.

I was in a meeting with some business partners yesterday when I realized that my wine had been tempered with. I left the meeting immediately with the hope of escaping the dangers lurking around since I don't know who wants to drug me. I was already on the escape route when a girl heavily bumped into me. I realized she was going to fall so I held her up there by embracing her. Her body on mine felt like magic. The drug is already taking effect and it was difficult not to have a reaction but before I knew it, she was already snoring on my shoulder. That's when I noticed that she was reeking of alcohol. I decided to drop her in one of the hotel rooms but that was a mistake because when I dropped her on the bed she had refused to let go and was even squirming, messing up her clothes in the process and revealing things I could no longer resist and that was it for me. It's her fault but I won't shirk my responsibility.

A knock sounded on my door

Come in, I answered.

The door opened and Peter , my assistant, walked in.

Boss, there's already an update from last night, he said.

Who did it? I asked.

It's Miss James, he answered.

That silly woman? I thought it was a worthy opponent. Anything else? I asked him.

Here's the girl's information, he said as he handed over a document to me. I took it from him and flip through it

Name: Aria Benson

Age: 21

Nationality: Canada/Nigeria

School: Software Engineering First Class Graduate of Harvard University

Career: Web developer and Programming staff of HD Companies.

I looked up at Peter

She works here? I asked.

Yes boss, he replied.

************

I woke up early in the morning feeling mentally and physically drained. It's been two weeks and I have lost count of how many times I've woken up from a wet dream. Even with a woman in my arms, I will still find myself in the dream doing all sorts of things with the same person I'm trying to forget, it's really exhausting. I have never been a womanizer but this girl is driving me insane. The thought of me feeling this way because of a woman is even more crazy. I don't know what she did to me but whatever it is, I refuse to be the only one suffering from it.

ARIA'S POV

I work at the HD Company so after the incident at the hotel I called my department leader to ask for a sick leave. It hasn't been up to a year since I started working after graduating and I have never asked for a leave but Mrs Betty has always been a very strict woman. I just hope that she won't make a fuss about my request. When I called her, I was surprised because she accepted my request immediately without any question and even offered me an extra day. Her instant agreement was so suspicious that I refused to stay for two days. So I was back to work the following day.

A few weeks later, It was nearly closing time and I was in my cubicle organizing things when Mrs Betty came to me

Aria, what are you doing? She asked

I'm trying to organize some things here, I replied.

Ok, can you come with me for a while? She asked.

Alright, I answered and followed her to her office.

Aria, the president wants to see you, she said as we got to her office. You have to accompany him to a meeting. He needs someone from the software department to be a part of the meeting, she added.

I was surprised, president? Meeting? I have never met the president in person so I became nervous.

When I got to the presidential floor, I met Peter , our president's personal assistant.

He directed me to the president's office and I knocked before going in. As expected, our president, Mr Rowland, is even more breathtaking when close. I was admiring him and forgot to greet until he looked up at me, startling me.

Good evening sir, I greeted.

Sit, he replied.

I sat down and soon he parked up what he was doing and stood up.

Let's go, he said to me and I followed him out.

We took the presidential elevator down and Peter drove us to the designated place for the meeting which turned out to be a restaurant.

Make sure to take down all the necessary details, Mr Rowland said to me as we reached the restaurant.

Yes sir, I answered

A private room has been reserved for the meeting with two men already waiting for us. One was a middle aged man, as we exchanged pleasantries he introduced himself as Mr Owen, president of Sanchez Company. As the meeting progressed he kept on directing questions to me and I answered with ease but his gestures kept making me uncomfortable. I'm not a kid and I understand his gestures very well but I don't understand why he would be doing this in an important meeting like this.

ALEXANDER'S POV

As soon as we started exchanging pleasantries with the Sanchez Company, I already knew that I wouldn't like this meeting. The zoo man had shaked hands with Aria and refused to let go of her hand for a whole two minutes. If it were possible for him he would have asked me to give them some space. And then during the meeting, he almost turned Aria into the main speaker. She was only meant to contribute little or no ideas into the project but this man kept drifting back to her every now and then. She handled his questions well, making me admire her. She is really up to the task and soon, being in my bed will be added to her achievement.

I summarized the meeting and we ordered a meal which was delivered in no time. And now, Mr Owen is at it again picking out food for Aria. At this point I have become visibly annoyed drinking one glass of wine after the other. When I heard him asking her to have more wine I dropped my cutleries letting it make a little bit of noise as I stood up

I think it's time for me to take my leave, I said to them.

I bet the man was visibly shaken but this is the least I could do for him for now.

Aria equally stood up immediately and we left the room. Peter was already waiting for us and soon we're on our way home.

Aria'S POV

After escaping the clutches of that shameless man, thankfully I'm finally going home. I was sitting on one side of the car and Mr Rowland on the other side leaving enough space between us. I was looking outside the window when I heard Peter calling

“Boss! Boss! Boss!’” but there was no response so I turned to see what was happening. Mr Rowland was resting back on the chair but I was surprised to see his head falling from one side to the other. I looked at Peter from the rear view mirror and he was also looking at me.

Is he asleep? I asked Peter.

I think he's drunk, he replied.

I remembered that he drank a lot of wine earlier so it's understandable if he's drunk. But his head looks very uncomfortable so I tried adjusting it for him but then, he fell on my shoulder??

I looked at Peter bewildered.

Miss Benson, I don't think I would be able to take care of him alone, can you please help me? Let's send him home first then I can drop you off, he asked.

Helplessly, I accepted and we drove to Mr Rowland's house. It was of course one of the best in town, highly luxurious, suitable for a man of his caliber.

As we parked in the compound, his butler came out as I was helping Mr Rowland out of the car. I thought he would take Mr Rowland from me but instead he carried Mr Rowland's suitcase and told us to come in. I guided the wobbling Mr Rowland into the house holding his waist and hanging one of his arms on my shoulders. The butler went on to direct me to his bedroom and eventually we got there.

Panting, I dropped him on the bed but he didn't let go which made me fall with him onto the bed.

I'm already this much exhausted so I lay still with my eyes closed trying to catch my breath. Suddenly I noticed someone hovering over me, I opened my eyes immediately only to behold a pair of sea blue eyes staring into me. Startled, I quickly sat up trying to free myself from him forgetting that he's drunk but he held me down and began to trace my face with his thumb. He traced it down to my neck, shoulder and chest. He brought his face closer to mine and I was lost looking into his eyes. He turned to my neck and began to sniff, showering it with hot breath.

Don't go, he whispered into my ear causing me to shiver and bringing me back to reality. I wriggled myself for freedom but he wouldn't budge. I looked up and found him staring at me like a lost hungry puppy. Then suddenly I remembered, he is drunk! No wonder. I laughed at his expression and began to pat his hair and face. This guy is really handsome and worthy of my crush. He ran his fingers on my waist which made me imagine things. Suddenly an idea came to my mind. Since he's drunk he would probably forget everything the next morning right? So even if I give in to his attempts I can still leave before he wakes up