Chapter 1

Chapter 1 The Party and The Plunge

It wasn't a wedding night, nor was it making love with a husband. Citra’s fate crumbled after her body was no longer pure. That crimson stain became definitive proof of her lost innocence.

"Oh... stop! Sshh... it hurts so much!" she groaned faintly in her unconscious state. Her eyes were tightly closed, yet the pain pierced deeply to her very core.

That night turned out to be the last night of her purity. The lingering ache in her body tore her feelings to pieces. Especially after she woke to find her bare body lying on a strange bed, her dreams instantly shattered into a thousand fragments.

Citra Larisya Bagaskara—a beautiful, gentle girl who never caused trouble. Even though she was the only daughter of the owner of the largest hotel in the capital, there wasn't a single trace of arrogance in her.

That afternoon, at her father’s hotel, Citra hosted a year-end party for Class XII Science from Marta Foundation School.

It was a lively garden party attended by half of her female classmates. Every now and then, the group of girls burst into loud laughter, ignoring the gazes of the people around them.

Beautiful, melodious tunes accompanied the lovely atmosphere. An abundant spread of Western dishes was served directly by the head waiter of the venue.

"Hey, Cit! Come on, let’s take a photo together!" Kirana called out, waving her hand amidst the bustling noise.

The plump, blonde girl was one of Citra’s most trusted friends throughout school. The deep bond between the two cousins often made other friends envious. Though Kirana realized she wasn't as fortunate as Citra, she was never jealous and was more than happy to stay on good terms with her own cousin.

Happy smiles radiated from everyone's faces, and certainly from Citra’s as well.

"Have fun, guys!" Citra raised her cup for a toast.

Afterward, they struck a few poses to capture memories. Dressed in white according to the dress code, they looked remarkably elegant.

"Hey, how about we continue the party at the downtown Starbucks tonight? That’d be so much fun!" suggested one of the friends.

"Let’s go! There’ll definitely be plenty of handsome guys there!" Kirana chimed in instantly.

"Sigh... is boys the only thing on your mind?" another friend teased.

"What do you think, Cit? Wanna join?" Kirana asked again with pleading eyes.

Citra’s smile widened, and she nodded in gentle surrender, unable to refuse.

"I’m in. As long as I’m with you guys, I’m happy." Citra blinked softly with a gentle smile.

Refreshing drinks accompanied by rich, sweet desserts made the party complete. What woman doesn't love being treated to chocolate treats? The dessert spread was themed entirely around chocolate.

Citra understood very well that most women have a sweet tooth. Research had shown that women who love sweet flavors tend to be friendlier, more cheerful, and more optimistic compared to those who prefer other tastes. That was why Citra chose a chocolate theme for the desserts. She hoped all her friends would enjoy her choice, even if not every woman shared the exact same taste.

Elsewhere, a handsome man with a commanding aura walked tall and full of authority across the hotel lobby.

Daniel, a man with an upright posture, drew the eyes of the women around him. Broad-shouldered with a clear complexion, his buzz cut highlighted his fresh yet authoritative presence as a Manager at Medina Cloth Company.

Daniel had deliberately chosen a hotel under Katon Bagaskara's management because it was famous for its captivating spot destinations. As a top-tier five-star hotel, it was quite popular on social media and featured on prominent online travel platforms. That caught Daniel's attention, prompting him to select it as his meeting venue once again.

His exhausted body felt relieved as he stepped out of his hotel room, intending to find a good spot for lunch after a tiring day of work.

"Where can I find good food around here?" Daniel asked a man in a blue uniform at the corner of the lobby.

"Sir, it just so happens that one of our hotel amenities is a restaurant famous for its grilled fish and various seafood dishes, such as lobster, crab, shrimp, and more. It's located right on the left side of our lobby, right over there, Sir," replied a petite room service staff member clad in a blue uniform. He was almost half Daniel's size.

"Ah, great! So I don't need to leave the hotel for lunch," Daniel replied, raising his left eyebrow slightly as he thrust both hands deeper into his trousers' pockets.

The broad-chested man ignored the stares directed at him and kept walking toward the restaurant adjacent to Citra’s small party.

Before he knew it, after sitting at the corner table for a few minutes, his wandering eyes kept drifting toward a beautiful woman in a white dress with loose hair and a headband. He was captivated by her sweet smile.

Resting his chin on his hand, Daniel seemed unwilling to miss a single second of the smile radiating from Citra's face.

Citra’s simple demeanor charmed Daniel, leaving him unable to tear his eyes away. Wearing a black suit, he sat comfortably with his legs crossed, calmly sipping the cappuccino latte from his cup, seemingly untouched by the surrounding noise.

For nearly three hours, he sat in the same spot just to watch the small party unfolding nearby.

Citra's graceful charm blinded Daniel's focus. His eyes were fixed entirely on the one woman who stirred his masculine desires so intensely.

"Waiter!" Daniel raised his hand. He kept ordering refreshing drinks to keep him company, having lost count of how many glasses he had already finished.

Daniel drained glass after glass to the very last drop, lost in pleasant daydreams about his good luck that day.

"Would you like to order food, Sir?" Exhausted from serving drinks, the waiter casually handed him a thick menu featuring a long list of dishes.

"Ah, no, I'm full," Daniel dismissed him, his eyes still fixed on Citra and her smile.

However, just a second after he finished speaking with the waiter, his view blurred. The girls were gone, as if swallowed by thin air.

Huh? Where did they go? Where is she? he thought anxiously, his eyes searching wildly.

The well-proportioned man looked completely flustered. He left the table, throwing down several blue banknotes to cover the drinks he had consumed.

A few minutes later, he left for a work engagement.

It proved to be an unproductive meeting. He delivered a presentation in front of the clients in utter disarray. His public speaking was visibly disorganized; although his body was in the conference room, his mind was wandering elsewhere, consumed by memories of someone he had just seen.

During a brief pause in the meeting, his eyes turned stiff and blank, staring toward the window on the second floor.

"Sir? Mr. Daniel?" his secretary asked, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Oh... yes? What is it?" His eyes widened.

"Sir, perhaps we should postpone today's meeting? You don't seem well and look unprepared."

"What?"

"We can reschedule for tomorrow, Sir. I will arrange it for you," the secretary explained, stepping in to cover up her boss's lapse in front of the clients.

Daniel nodded, adjusted his black suit jacket, and stood up from his chair.

"Take over the meeting. I'm leaving first," Daniel whispered to his secretary, offering a tight, forced smile to the guests in front of him.

Daniel departed swiftly with measured strides. His composure looked convincing, but his thoughts were far away.

I regret not getting the chance to introduce myself to her. If I ever get another opportunity to meet her again, I desperately want to make her mine, his heart thundered.