The Underestimated Tycoon

Chapter 1

It was around 6:32 a.m. in the morning, and the sun had barely risen in the horizon when Aria Whitman woke in the bed of a rundown motel room. Her head felt as though it was split into two with a heavy blow, and a boatload of pain wracked her entire body.

“What happened?” Aria muttered in a soft voice, totally confused at the situation she found herself in.

It didn’t take her long for her to find out what happened.

She had lost her virginity!

Just as Aria was stuck in the reality of the situation, Ethan, awoken by her loud voice, sat up on the bed, his toned body a beautiful sight to behold.

"You were such a demon in bed last night." 

Aria’s sight landed on the long, hard bulge in his nether regions, and a red blush appeared on her cheeks.

SLAP!

“What the hell?!” Ethan, not expecting the slap at all, exclaimed in a bewildered voice.

“You! Who are you? And how did we get here?!” Aria asked furiously, her beautiful hazel eyes boiling with anger.

“Are you serious right now? I mean, you were the one who pounced on me last night! You could barely keep your hands and lips off me!” Ethan responded.

Aria’s face heated up from both anger and embarrassment at Ethan’s words.

She would never do something like that, especially with someone she didn’t know.

“You! You must have done something heinous to me!” Aria accused, tears welling in the corner of her eyes as she spoke.

“Don’t accuse me of something like that. I don’t need to force anyone into bed. Moreover, you’re the one who came to me.”

“If you don’t believe me, go ahead. Check the CCTV footage at the hotel’s entrance. It’ll show you who dragged who up here.” Ethan retorted calmly, but there was a sharp edge to his voice.

Aria instantly wanted to reply, but a sharp pain shot through her head, and at once the memories of what happened yesterday came back to her in full force.

It happened that Marcus Langford of the rival Langford family had invited her to a party on campus. He claimed that he wanted to get to know her better and also ease the tension between their two rival families.

She instantly accepted, trusting Marcus’s words. However, it appeared that she had been too naïve. Marcus had intended to deceive her from the start, and the minute she accepted a drink from him, she realised that she had been drugged.

She had tried to make her escape by excusing herself to the bathroom. However, on the way there, the effects of the drug acted up. It was when she was in such a vulnerable state that she encountered Ethan Blackwell.

He was quite handsome, with a lean yet toned body, packing muscles in all the right places. She couldn’t hold herself back and pounced on him. One thing led to the other, and that was how they found themselves here.

As the memories filled her mind, Aria felt her cheeks heat up both in embarrassment and shame at her actions. She was furious at herself for trusting that son of a bitch, Marcus Langford, but there was nothing she could do now. The deed had been done.

“I see you’re starting to remember,” Ethan said, watching her with an unreadable expression.

“Shut up!” Aria responded, tears of anger streaming down her eyes.

“I have to go.” Aria muttered, attempting to swing her legs over the side of the bed. Sadly, her body betrayed her, weak and sore from the effects of the drugs and the events of the night before.

Ethan remained silent and watched as Aria struggled to pick up her clothes and underwear littered in the room.

Just as Aria was about to leave the room, Ethan’s voice rang out.

“I’ll take responsibility for this.”

Aria froze, turning slowly to face him.

“Responsibility? And how exactly will you do that?” Aria asked, a mocking smile on her face.

“I will be your boyfriend.” Ethan said firmly, his tone resolute.

However, Aria was having none of it.

“In your wildest dreams.” Aria sneered.

She, Aria Whitman, was a renowned beauty at the prestigious Tussauds University, and her family, the Whitmans, held a dominant position in the local wine business. Given her family's wealth, it was no news she was surrounded by numerous wealthy suitors.

Why then would she settle for Ethan?

“Do you even know who I am?” Aria asked coldly.

“I don’t know. I just transferred to Tussauds University. Still, I promise you that I will try my best to make you happy.” Ethan replied.

“You? You can’t even afford to take care of yourself, let alone me. I’m not like you. I come from a wealthy family. I don’t need someone who can barely pay for his own meals.” Aria scoffed. Nonetheless, Ethan’s response was calm yet firm.

“Why don’t you give me a chance?”

“And why should I? I am not running a charity now, am I?”

“I am a daughter of the Whitman family. Do you really think I will stoop so low to date someone of your status?” Aria scoffed, glaring at Ethan.

“But I can take care of you as much as you want. I’m not who you think I am. If you agree to be my girlfriend, you can have any amount of money you need.” Ethan said confidently.