I made a mistake by coming in here and he crossed a line. But that was just my mind's opinion and my body didn't care.
It was burning with desire. ~ Alyssa Walsh

Chapter I.

"I can't believe they fired Calum," Alyssa sighed, the weight of injustice heavy on her shoulders.

It had been two days since Calum's dismissal following his run-in with the notorious Fabrizio Mancini, an enigmatic Italian businessman occupying a suite in their hotel.

While other girls whispered about Mancini's rugged charm and indulged in fantasies of seduction, Alyssa harbored no such illusions. Whenever word spread of his presence, she made it her mission to steer clear, avoiding any encounter with him like the plague.

"It's just not fair," she lamented to her friend Gwen, who poured them both a drink from the room's minibar, a forbidden indulgence they allowed themselves in the absence of guests. "Life can be so unjust sometimes."

Gwen shrugged in agreement, clinking their glasses together. "Cheers to that."

As Alyssa downed her martini, Gwen playfully tossed a pillow at her, eliciting a playful scowl from Alyssa. Despite her occasional antics, Gwen was a steadfast companion in the mundane routines of their job.

Once she disappeared into the bathroom, Alyssa set about the task of cleaning the remaining rooms on their list, determined to maintain a semblance of professionalism amidst the chaos of her thoughts.

When she finished her work in the room, Alyssa moved on to the next on their list: Room 206.

Unlocking the door and stepping inside, Alyssa froze at the sight before her. A man stood before her, clad only in a towel, his muscular form causing her heart to race and her cheeks to flush with heat. Her gaze lingered on his sculpted physique, unable to tear her eyes away.

When he turned to face her, revealing chiseled abs and a tantalizing V-line, Alyssa felt a surge of desire course through her veins. "Um, I'm sorry," she stammered. "It was supposed to be empty. I must have the wrong room," she attempted to explain her presence, though the words felt inadequate in the face of his arresting presence.

She wanted to retreat, but his hand shot out, gripping her wrist with an unexpected strength, holding her in place. The intensity in his dark eyes sent shivers down her spine as he spoke in a low, husky voice.

"No," he whispered, his breath hot against her skin. "You will not go."

Alyssa's breath caught in her throat as his thumb traced over her jawline, sending a rush of heat through her body. Despite her instinct to resist, she found herself unable to pull away, trapped in the mesmerizing hold of his gaze.

"It's... it's assault," she protested weakly, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and desire. "I'll have you thrown out of the hotel."

But Fabrizio's lips curved into a wicked smile, infuriatingly confident in the face of her threat. "It's only an assault if one of the parties is not participating willingly," he countered smoothly, his words sending a thrill of uncertainty through Alyssa's mind.

With a final, lingering touch, he released her, leaving her breathless and disoriented as she stumbled backward out of the room. Her heart raced with a tumult of conflicting emotions - anger, desire, and a gnawing curiosity that refused to be ignored.

She vowed to avoid him at all costs, convinced that he was nothing more than a dangerous temptation.

Pulling out her phone with trembling fingers, she dialed Gwen's number.

"Gwen, hey, which room are we working in?" Alyssa's voice trembled with urgency as she leaned against the wall, trying to steady her racing heart.

Gwen's voice came through the line, a welcome anchor in the storm of Alyssa's thoughts. "We're in Room 216. Everything okay?"

Alyssa let out a shaky breath, relieved to have a familiar voice to guide her back to reality. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just got turned around for a moment. I'll be there soon."

Returning to the safety of their assigned room, Alyssa found Gwen waiting with a mixture of concern and curiosity etched on her features. Without waiting for Alyssa to speak, Gwen's raised eyebrow spoke volumes, silently questioning the events that had transpired.

"I'd rather not say," Alyssa muttered preemptively, anticipating Gwen's unspoken inquiry. Brushing off the unspoken curiosity, she focused instead on the task at hand, determined to regain her composure. But despite her best efforts to push him from her mind, Alyssa couldn't shake the feeling that her encounter with the mysterious man in Room 206 was far from over.

As they finished their tasks and prepared for a lunch break, Alyssa found herself unable to resist the urge to confide in her friend.

"I need to find myself a boyfriend," she declared, her voice tinged with determination. "It's the only way to keep my mind off... distractions."

Gwen's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of a night out. "Then we're going clubbing," she announced eagerly, already planning their evening of revelry.

But before they could indulge in their lunch break, Alyssa had one more task to attend to. Making her way to the lobby, she sought out Madison, a friend who worked at the reception desk.

"Hey, Maddy," she greeted her friend with a hug, her mind still buzzing with thoughts of the man from Room 206. "I have a favor to ask," she whispered, leaning in close to convey the urgency of her request.

"Hey there! What's on your mind?" Madison asked, her curiosity piqued.

Alyssa hesitated before finally voicing her request. "Can you find out who's staying in Room 206?"

Maddy's response sent a shockwave through Alyssa's system. "No need for that. It's Fabrizio Mancini."

And with those words, Alyssa's world tilted on its axis, leaving her reeling with a newfound sense of intrigue and uncertainty.

But one thing was certain: the game had only just begun, and she was about to become a pawn in a dangerous game of desire and deception.