ONE: MEETING THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

ALEHANDRIA

 “No. No please don’t kill me. Please no. I beg of you!” I heard the anguished cries of those that had been taken in to see the ruthless billionaire before me. From the several rings of gun shots, it was obvious none of their lives were spared.

   I shivered in the flimsy nightdress I had been wearing when his men snatched me from my run down home in the slums. I drew in a long shaky breath, trying to fight my tears, and then it was my turn.

   I felt strong masculine hands grip me and drag me into an inner room. The hands let go of me, and I hit the ground with a bang, hurting my head, but I did not dare cry out.

   I was not supposed to be hear, I had not been the one who borrowed money from the ruthless billionaire, my stepfather had – and then he gambled it all away.

   When Leo Ferraro’s men had come looking for my step father and learnt he died the previous week, they had decided to take me in his place, tying me up and blindfolding me, without even letting me change into clothes that covered me more.

    When my eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room, I realized that the chair I was facing was turned away, facing the fire place, but the voice that spoke was so deep and powerful, it sent shivers down my spine.

   “Alexander Greyson, you seem to overestimate my kindness. You borrowed money from me without any ability to pay back.”

   I shivered as strong arms grabbed me again, they were probably his henchmen. “Should we kill him boss?” ONE of them asked.

   The billionaire did not even bother to answer. His henchmen took his silence for consent, and one of them pulled out their weapon.

   “I am not Alexander!” my voice rang louder than I thought it would, and real fear hit at the pit of my stomach as the chair turned around and I finally found myself face to face with the most ruthless billionaire in the entire country.

   I shut my eyes, believing that my punishment would be worse if I dared to look at him.

    “What joke is this Justin? Why do you bring me a fucking woman in place of Alexander?”

    His voice sent shivers down my spine, and I wondered what he would look like, if only his voice had such powerful effect one me. My heart was beating in mismatched patterns, and I didn’t know any more, if it was out of fear or something more.

    “Alexander is her step father. The man is dead, so we brought his only surviving relative.”

    “All right then,” The billionaire said calmly. “Kill her.”

    “No!” I opened my eyes then, and found myself staring into the most powerful, unusual eyes I had ever seen. They were jet black, the color of charcoal, showing no emotion.

    His eyes were framed by dark lashes, and we’re deeply set in the most handsome face I had ever seen. I felt my heart completely stop beating as I stared, as though hypnotized, at him.

   He was dressed all in black – or maybe it was the lighting that made it look so, but something about his choice of clothing made me understand how cruel he was, how black his heart was. Even though he was sitting down, I could tell he was very tall, and physically powerful. He looked like the kind of man that could snap me in two – if he chose to.

   He raised a single brow, as those jet black eyes ran over my body, lingering at my hips and breasts that were thrust against the thin fabric of my nightwear.

   “Please – please don’t kill me, I beg of you!” I murmured, but the fervor had left my words. I felt languid, like his presence was a drug that made me submit to his every desire. If he insisted I die, I would not be able to fight his decision.

    “So how do I get my money then?” He addressed me for the first time, and my stomach clenched at the effect he had over me.

    “H-how much does – did my stepfather owe you?”

    “Half a million dollars.”

     I sucked in a breath as tears finally flooded my eyes. I could never make enough money to pay up such a huge amount, not even if I worked for a hundred lifetimes. I raised my eyes, to pin his gaze with mine, actually feeling bad for the inconvenience my step father had caused him.

   “I’m so sorry – so – so sorry. My stepfather has never been good at paying back debts, and I know this money must have caused you lots of inconveniences – half a million dollars is a lot, but if you choose not to kill me, I promise I’d do whatever it takes to make it up to you. I know that any service I can render would not be worth the money, but I promise! I would try.”

   A look of surprise flashed before his eyes, and when he spoke next, his voice sounded intrigued.

   “Do you think half a million would in anyway affect my finances little girl? I own a multi billion dollar enterprise, the richest company in the country. Half a million is chicken change.”

   I nodded, not fully understanding what he had just said. I knew he was very rich, because I had heard a lot about him, but I did not know anyone could be that rich.

   I and my stepfather had lived in abject poverty, and our poverty had only gotten worse as his gambling addiction grew. How could I pay back such a huge sum of money in ten life times, let alone understand what it meant to be as rich as The billionaire just explained.

   “Okay,” The billionaire said suddenly. “humor me. What can you do to make up for the money your family owes me?”

  I shook my head, unable to utter a word.

  “Come over here Little mouse.”

  It was a command I could not ignore. I got up on shaky legs, and walked over to meet him. I felt very self conscious in the flimsy nightwear I was wearing that exposed my body. I looked down a bit to see my boobs poking at the fabric. A blush rose up to singe my cheeks at the thought that The billionaire could see it too.

   “I’m here,” I said awkwardly as I got to where he was.

    He turned slightly, and those jet-black eyes raked through my form, before a small smile curved his bottom lip.

   “You can’t even say my name can you?”

   My heart slammed against my chest at his precision. How did he know! I had been calling him ‘The billionaire’ in my mind, saying his name felt too intense, too intimate.

  “Go ahead and say it,” he commanded, his finger catching my chin and forcing me to keep looking at him when I found it too difficult to keep holding his gaze.

   “Leo Ferraro.” I said quietly, blushing very hotly. My heart hammered against my chest, and my eyes pleaded with him to let me step away, being this close to him was just too much.

   He actually laughed. “Good. Now kiss me.”