From Underdog
Chapter 1
In the luxurious penthouse suite of the Carlton’s Hotel, the soft, golden glow of the lig warmth. Serena Murry’s knuckles turned white as she clutched the bedsheets tightly.
“First time?” a deep, gravelly voice asked, smooth yet edged with a dangerous allure.
wrapped the room in an intimatel
The speaker was a man with dark eyes clouded by desire. Those eyes reflected the image of the young woman before him, her lips caught between her teeth, her breath hitching.
“You don’t have to stop, I’m fine, she replied, her voice trembling just enough to betray her nerves.
Her airy, almost ethereal tone sent a shiver down his spine. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he fought to keep his composure, leaning in closer, a fine sheen of sweat glistening on his brow.
“Stubborn, huh?” he murmured, his lips brushing against her ear his breath hot against her skin.
“Mm. A sound escaped her, a blend of pleasure and discomfort
“Happy now!” he teased, his smirk laced with mischief.
Hearing the mockery in his tone, she wound her arms around his neck and boldly captured his lips, her sudden assertiveness catching him off guard.
She pulled him closer, silently demanding more. The night unfolded like a vivid, unending dream.
Just four hours earlier, Serena had sought this man out with purpose…
It was a rainy evening in the city of Pashew, the streetlights casting a gentle glow through the drizzle. The twilight paired with the rain transformed the city into something almost dreamlike.
Serena stood outside the Rose Garden, staring vacantly at the petals of autumn roses scattered by the rain.
The Rose Garden was a high–end club where Serena had worked as a waitress. However, only moments earlier, she had slapped a customer for groping her. Her manager, furious, had scolded her harshly before firing her on the spot.
From inside the restaurant, the faint strains of La Vie en Rose drifted out, blending with the sound of the rain. Serena stood motionless in the downpour, looking like a stray puppy, her gaze fixed on the rain–soaked roses.
“Mr. Harrington, the Rose Garden has the best girls in town,” a voice filled with laughter floated from nearby.
A sleek Bentley pulled up to the entrance, its license plate a striking series of identical numbers–a subtle display of the owner’s influence and stature. The restaurant staff hurried to greet the car, umbrellas in hand.
“Make sure she’s pure and clean, preferably a college student,” a man’s crisp, magnetic voice commanded as he stepped out
of the car.
Though the rain muted his words, Serena instinctively turned toward him
The Rose Garden’s manager rushed out to greet the guest personally. Anyone accorded such treatment here had to be someone with immense power or wealth
Darren Nash, the man’s assistant, hesitated. “But your wife, Mrs. Harrington- she’s…”
“How about me?” Darren’s words were cut off by a sweet, tentative voice.
Dressed sharply in a tailored black suit, the inan, “Mr. Harrington, paused mid–step
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Chapter 1
On the staircase, his face was still hidden beneath an umbrella, revealing only the sharp line of his jaw.
For a brief moment. Serena felt his intense gaze land on her.
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Her delicate face, framed by damp strands of hair clinging to her skin, held his attention.
Desperation shone in her wide eyes as she spoke, her tone both leading and determined, like someone clutching at a final chance. “I’m pure and clean. Please, I won’t let you down.”
The manager immediately snapped, “You clueless fool! Do you even know who you’re looking at? Get your filthy hands off him!”
Gabriel Harrington tilted his head slightly, allowing part of his face to emerge from the shadows of the umbrella.
His features were striking–deep–set eyes, a high–bridged nose, and thin, perfectly shaped lips. His sharp, refined visage exuded an effortless authority that demanded attention and respect.
In that fleeting moment, Serena’s entire world narrowed to the sight of his face. Her breath caught as a surge of emotions swirled inside her. For the first time in years, her heart raced wildly.
Gabriel’s voice was calm, deep, and deliberate as he issued his instruction to Darren. “Take her to the hotel. Make sure she’s cleaned up.
Darren froze, momentarily unsure if he had heard correctly.
He hesitated until Gabriel’s voice cut through the evening air, colder and sharper than before.
“Still holding on?” he asked, his tone carrying an icy edge, as chilling as the autumn night.
Serena quickly masked her emotions, suppressing the tremor in her hands, and slowly released her grip.
An umbrella opened above her head–it was Darren, holding it with a respectful nod in her direction. “Miss, please come with me,” he said.
Darren escorted Serena to the penthouse suite of the luxurious hotel affiliated with the Rose Garden.
After a hot shower, she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in an oversized bathrobe. Her damp hair clung to her shoulders as she moved toward the floor–to–ceiling windows, gazing out at the glittering city below.
Her thoughts drifted, memories rushing over her like a tidal wave. There had been a time when she was cherished–a beloved daughter shielded by her parent’s love and care.
Seven years ago, her parents had vanished without a trace. Two years ago, her brother had been left comatose after a tragic car accident. Soon after, her uncle’s family had seized her family’s assets, selling everything and disappearing with the
money.
Now, she had nothing–no home, no money, no way to pay for er brother’s mounting medical bills. She had been pushed to the edge, forced to make decisions she never thought possible
The sparkling nights cape of Pashew seemed like an unattainable dream, as distant as the stars in the sky
Once, Serena had believed she could stand by the side of the man she admired as his equal.
But life had ruthlessly reminded her of the vast chasm separating them.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft “beep‘ at the door,
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Chapter 1
The sound of the lock disengaging sent her heart racing.
She listened as footsteps drew closer, then turned toward the entrance.
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Gabriel stood by the decorative cabinet near the door, his tall, commanding appearance radiating poise.
Seeing him brought forth a vivid memory to Serena: a boy standing in a sunny field, the summer breeze tousling his hair.
His youthful vitality in that moment had been unforgettable, seared into her mind like a dream she could never let go.
“Come over.” Gabriel’s voice, cool and commanding, echoed through the suite.
Serena hesitated but obeyed, walking toward him with her head lowered. The dim lighting cast a warm glow over the room, enhancing its intimacy.
Gabriel’s sharp gaze rested on her as he tilted his chin, gesturing her closer. “Closer. Look up.”
Her movements were stiff, but she stepped forward and finally lifted her head. Her heart thudded wildly as her eyes met his piercing gaze.
The woody, cool fragrance that clung to him filled the air, compelling her to take in a soft, involuntary breath.
The top two buttons of his white shirt were undone, revealing the faint contours of his chest beneath the crisp fabric.
Serena’s face burned as heat crept up her cheeks. She felt sweat dampen her palms, the weight of nervousness and self- consciousness pressing heavily on her.
“That’s my bathrobe?” Gabriel asked, his eyes flicking over her figure.
This suite was his domain, its every detail meticulously tailored to his tastes. Even the bathrobe was part of that personal space, reserved exclusively for him.
Though modest, the robe subtly accentuated Serena’s delicate frame, its simple elegance lending her an unexpected charm/
Embarrassed, she stammered, My clothes were soaked. I didn’t have anything else to wear.”
“That’s MY robe, Gabriel replied, his lips curling into a faint, unreadable smile.
He remained still, his silence stretching unbearably long. Serena’s thoughts swirled in a storm of fear. What if he’s upset? What if he dismisses me outright?
But desperation fueled her resolve. She couldn’t afford failure. She needed the money.
Summoning every ounce of courage, she extended her hand, her slender fingers trembling as they clutched his shirt.
She wanted to see how he would react. And Gabriel didn’t push her away.
Serena stepped in closer, her arms encircling Gabriel’s sturdy wast. For the first time, she had heard the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat.
Above her, his voice broke into a mocking laugh. “So, that’s your plan? You’re bold, you know that?”
Serena froze, tilting her head up to meet his cold, piercing gaze
Her long lashes trembled, panic flickering in her eyes
The dim, ambient light in the suite softened the sharpness of hexpression, but his gaze remained intense. Though her body pressed against his, she dared not move a muscle.
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Chapter 1
For Gabriel, it was the first moment he truly saw her. Her delicate face, unspoiled by hardship, struck him. The faint redness in her eyes made her look fragile, stirring an unexpected pang of pity within him.
He hesitated, his arm–poised to push her away–suddenly unmoving.
Even he found the shift strange. A moment earlier, he’d felt irritation toward her; now, holding her softness against him, that feeling dissipated.
His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, and a faint flicker of desire sparked in his eyes. His voice dropped to a husky murmur. “Go on?”
Serena held him tighter, her eyes misting with emotion.
It had been eight long years, and she was finally holding the boy she had never been able to forget.
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