Scandal

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CHAPTER 1

~Pent House — Dina Lounge~

Seated opposite two men each dressed corporately, Raven slurred as she wriggled something down on a paper and pushed the document away from her before lifting a glass of wine. 

"Cheires to moree!" she beamed, downing the last glass of wine and stood up. "W-what a-arre you waiting for? Join in. Let's sing to our new partnership. Raven has signed the deal…"

"Hehhe, I told you it would knock her brains. Look at her happily signing off herself," one of the men in the penthouse, seated opposite Raven whispered to another. 

The second man narrowed his eyes at Raven. "Good. I almost doubted your manner of executing the plan. Continue as planned. Take her to room 333 and inform the young miss of our progress."

Both men nodded as they stood up, holding one of Raven's arms. "Let's go make memories b*tch."

***********

~Dina Royal Hotel and Suite~

Along the hallway on one of the top floors leading to the rooms, two men are seen staggering out of the elevator. 

"Watch your step, Alpha Storm. I'm not paid to lift you should you fall," the first man muttered as he properly positioned the other man's arm around his shoulder. 

"Urgh~" the man's black hair fell forward, obscuring his eyes from the blinding lights. 

Suddenly a sharp ring broke their movement as the other man reached into his pocket for his phone. 

"Hello, Tyler speaking. Who's this?" His brows creased, his eyes widening. "An accident? My wife… Okay, I'm on my way." 

He tucked his phone in his trouser pocket and took out something else. Handing a key card to the other man, he pointed in the direction. "Go. Room 338."

Without waiting to be sure his instructions were heard, he dashed back towards the elevator, leaving Storm to his predicament. 

A sharp ring echoed through his head, making Storm wince. "Urg, the devil's beard," Storm groaned as he staggered forward. 

"33…" 

Storm's head throbbed with every step, the effects of whatever had been slipped into his drink making it difficult to focus. 

Yet, amidst the haze, a primal instinct stirred within him. His senses, dulled by the drug, honed in on the intoxicating scent permeating the air, drawing him inexorably closer. 

A low growl almost inaudible reverberated through his chest as his eyes changed colour briefly. 

He grunted, trying to locate the room while looking at the number on each door till his feet came to a stop in front of one—with the number 333 written on it. 

Storm raised his eyes to check the number. His eyes blurred as he tried to make sense of it and smiled. "338. Finally, I can rest." 

His hand instinctively reached for the door handle to insert the keycard, but before he could do so, the door swung open. 

Startled, Storm hesitated for a moment before his drugged mind registered the opportunity to find respite. He pushed the keycard into his pocket and closed the door behind him.

His blue eyes widened. The overwhelming scent filled his lungs with a heady mixture of arousal and recognition. 

His wolf stirred inside him, its growls adding to the headache Storm felt. "Hush Silver. Not now."

Instinctively, Storm followed it, his eyes fixing on the source—a lady sprawled upon the bed, her auburn hair cascading like fire against the crisp sheets.

Her gown slipped provocatively, revealing a hint of skin that stirred a hunger within him.

Silver's growled in response, his eyes and mind syncing with the lady. "Mate."

"Hot, quench mmhaahh~" A soft moan escaped her lips further igniting Storm's primal desires. 

His wolf surged beneath his skin, restless and eager, recognizing the scent of his mate even as Storm struggled to comprehend through the fog of drugs.

Driven by an irresistible urge, Storm closed the distance between them, climbing the bed.

Raven stirred when she felt the weight on the bed. She wriggled her thighs as her eyelashes fluttered open to reveal eyes as deep and mysterious as the night sky. 

"Kiss me." Per her command, she placed her hands on his shirt, grabbing his tie as she pulled him down on her. Unable to withstand the urge plus Silver's thirst, Storm eagerly obeyed. 

As Storm's lips met Raven's, the aroma of alcohol lingered in her breath, intoxicating his senses as heat seared throughout his body, igniting his hunger despite his resolve to resist.

His lips were gentle at first, brushing against Raven's with a softness that belied the hunger burning within him. 

But as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer, his restraint snapped, and he devoured her mouth, leaving them breathless.

Raven's lips parted, inviting him in, and Storm's tongue swept in, claiming her mouth as his own.

Her delicate hands found his shirt, deftly undoing buttons that fell away under her touch, exposing his bare skin to her fingertips.

"Aaaamhh~" he moaned, breaking the kiss to meet her gaze. 

Her eyes, a perfect shade of blue, held a mix of shyness and desire as she pleaded softly, "Please… don't stop."

Unable to deny the mutual craving, Storm yielded, pressing his lips to hers once more and allowing his weight to crush her.

She gasped at the intensity, spurring him on. 

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

~Next Day — Ryker Mansion~

The big doors of the mansion opened as Raven hurried through, heading into the living room. As soon as she laid eyes on the older man standing by the fireplace, she rushed there and grabbed her father's hand. 

"Father? I…"

POW!

Shock registered in Raven's mind followed by a sharp ring in her ears from the force of her father's slap. She stumbled, clutching her cheek as she felt her vision blur.

"A scandal?!" 

Raven blinked as her father's voice thundered. "We let you take control of the company and what do I get…a bloody scandal? How dare you dupe the company and disgrace the family name?"

"Dad, I can explai…"

"Don't dad me." He roared, his eyes blazing. "No daughter of mine would ruin the family's company like this. Take a look for yourself and see the nonsense you did," He thrust a silver iPad into her trembling hands. "Just read."

Without looking down Raven knew what it was. 

"I said read!" he bellowed.

She jolted and looked down, her hands shaking as she tried to make sense of it all.

She had woken up with a throbbing headache that morning in a hotel room and found a mark on her neck. Before she could process anything, her father's call came in, demanding her home.

"Raven Ryker, get your ass home now!" 

It wasn't until she checked her phone in the cab on her way home, that she realized what was going on. 

The same headlines she had seen on her phone in Celebrity Gossip, stared back at her.

HEADLINES: 'The first young miss of the Ryker family sold her body to finalize a deal with a partnering company'.

'Ryker Glamour hits a bottom stage in the stock market following a loss in an investment — 300 million dollars gone!'

'Lousy heiress!'

"You decided to ruin the company huh? Answer me!" Her father's voice pulled her from her reverie.

Raven lifted her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "I-It is not what it seems, father. I was set…"

"Set up? Do you think I, Ethan Harrison, am a fool? You lost over three hundred million dollars to some dubious company. And right after, went to sell yourself to some old man for a deal."

"No. I did not. The deal was legit. Scarlet brought…" Raven tried to explain, grasping at straws but she was cut mid-sentence. 

"Do not blame your little sister for your mess. You sold your body, not her. It's your name all over the news, not hers. You are a disgrace to the Ryker name and I declare you unfit to be in charge of the company."

Raven frowned, clenching her fist. "Excuse me?"

Ever since she had woken up, things had been running like she was on a speed train but this, this hit the emergency brakes, halting her frantic mind in an instant. 

"There is no one more suited than I am."

"If being suited means embezzling the company's money and ruining its reputation, then you're joking. You are least suited."

Raven felt a shift within her as her wolf stirred, fueling her anger. "It is mother's company, my inheritance. Mum left me Ryker Glamour. I would not do anything in my life to jeopardize that.."

Her father's eyes narrowed, his frown deepening as he glared at her. "Really now?"

"Yes," Raven snarled. Mother loved R.G. Why would I want to ruin my mother's hard work and…"

"Because you aren't Star Ryker's daughter."