Chapter 163: The Surveillance

Hannah received a WhatsApp message in response shortly after sending hers. Reading the reply, she closed her eyes slowly, then tossed her phone onto the bed with a heavy heart. As a woman herself, she truly didn’t want to resort to this, but circumstances left her with no other choice.

Meanwhile, the man who had replied to her message was seated on the bed in a five-star hotel suite, his phone in hand, staring intently at the woman tied to the chair before him. The woman wasn’t a stranger—it was Caroline.

“Hannah instructed us to use the strongest dose,” the man muttered, casually twirling a strand of Caroline’s disheveled hair between his fingers.

“Damn! That’s going to be wild!” one of the thugs nearby exclaimed with an eager grin.

“No woman has ever handled that stuff before,” another chimed in.

“Honestly, it’s been a while since we’ve had this much fun, Zachary.”

At that, the group of men standing nearby chuckled darkly, their anticipation palpable.

“You idiots don’t get it, do you?” Zachary shot a sharp glare at the group. “This stuff isn’t cheap. Besides, we don’t waste it on just anyone.”

“True enough,” one of the men agreed, nodding. “To be honest, though, this woman doesn’t look like she’s worth it.”

“Yeah, how about we save the dose and use the money for something better.”

The others murmured their agreement, but Zachary’s expression darkened. He delivered a swift kick to one of the thugs, sending him stumbling backward. “Hannah gave the order! You lot only think about stuffing your faces or wasting time on whoring and gambling. Get this done right, or I’ll deal with you myself.”

“Take her to the other suite. Don’t wake her up, and make sure to do her makeup properly. Remember, not a single mistake. If anyone suspects she didn’t go willingly, I’ll make you all regret it.”

“Don’t worry, Zachary. You know Alfred’s skills. He’ll make sure everything looks perfect.”

One of the men chuckled ingratiatingly, motioning for another to untie Caroline. Together, they carefully carried her to an adjoining suite.

When Caroline was brought back an hour later, her appearance had undergone a striking transformation. Her lips were painted a sultry crimson, and she wore a fitted black dress with a daring deep V-neckline. Over it, she had a crisp, button-up blouse, exuding a tantalizingly restrained allure. The hint of black lace underneath teased at what lay hidden.

“Zachary, we went with your favorite style—mature and office-chic,” one of the thugs said. “Oh, and the dose was administered about half an hour ago. In five minutes, tops, it’ll kick in.”

With that, they dragged Caroline to the bed and unceremoniously laid her down.

“Didn’t expect her to look this enticing once dressed up. Now, wake her up,” said Zachary.

Zachary’s gaze lingered on her, his lips curling into a wicked grin. He reached out to caress her thigh casually.

“Yes, Zachary.”

In unison, the two men nodded, moving to slap Caroline lightly on the face until she stirred.

The last thing Caroline remembered was sitting at the bar of the Eclipse Nightclub the night before, nursing her drink. She had faint recollections of a man approaching her and making conversation. She’d taken another sip, and then—nothing. Darkness.

“Where am I, and who are you?”

Now, groggy and disoriented, she opened her eyes, finding herself in an unfamiliar hotel room surrounded by strangers. The realization sent a jolt of panic through her as she scrambled backward toward the headboard.

“Who are we? Oh, just the ones who are going to take real good care of you tonight.”

When the thugs saw Caroline’s reaction, they became even more excited.

“What…where are my clothes? What have you done to me?”

Caroline’s voice rose in a frantic pitch as she curled up defensively, like a frightened deer caught in headlights.

Zachary’s eyes narrowed, a spark of intrigue flickering in his gaze. He motioned dismissively toward the others. “You lot—out. Now.”

The thugs exchanged knowing smirks and let out a few whistles as they sauntered out of the room, leaving Zachary alone with Caroline.

Zachary unlocked his phone and tapped into the surveillance feed he had set up in the room. Satisfied everything was recording as planned, he spoke in a calm yet condescending tone. “Young lady, you should be thanking me. I saved you from a man last night. Your clothes? I had the housekeeping staff change them for you.”

“Or do you think I’ve done something to you? Well, you should know better than anyone whether I have. Just take a moment to feel your body—you’ll have your answer.”

Caroline had no mirror in front of her and was unaware of the makeup that had been applied to her face. All she could see was the unfamiliar outfit she now wore. She frowned, trying to recall the events of the previous night. There was a man who approached her at the nightclub. After that, everything became a blur.

Her heart wavered with doubt. She wasn’t entirely convinced of Zachary’s story, but her body didn’t seem to lie. She had never slept with a man before, and if something had happened, surely, she’d feel it.

Tentatively, she focused on how her body felt. There was no lingering discomfort or pain, but an unexpected heat began to rise within her. Her throat felt parched. Instinctively, she swallowed hard and licked her lips, trying to ease the sensation.

“Oh, by the way,” Zachary continued. “I think I saw a scratch on your arm last night. Who knows if the staff remembered to treat it when they changed your clothes? Let me check.”

Years of experience told Zachary exactly what was happening. The drug was beginning to take effect. He reached out, feigning concern, and grabbed Caroline’s arm to inspect it.

“I…Ah!” Caroline gasped.