CHAPTER ONE: SAD BIRTHDAY.

It’s Sienna’s 19th birthday, and she doesn’t expect much. She spends most of the day on campus attending lectures, then rushes through a shift at the nightclub where she works as a waitress. But today feels different, as if the universe is finally cutting her a break.

After clocking out, her phone rings. It’s her best friend, Mia Carter, insisting that she come over.

"I’ve got a surprise for you, birthday girl!" Mia teases.

Mia’s vibrant presence always chases away Sienna’s darkest moods. Her chestnut-brown hair falls in effortless waves, framing bright green eyes that sparkle like emeralds. Living together in their cozy downtown apartment, they’ve forged an unbreakable bond over late-night laughs, inside jokes, and endless shifts at KAYOL, where they juggle trays and dreams as waitresses while Sienna continues her studies.

Sienna smiles, already imagining what Mia has up her sleeve.

As she pushes open the door to their apartment, the sweet scent of frosting reaches her before she even sees the cake—lavish, multi-tiered, and unnecessarily large for two people.

“Happy birthday!” Mia cheers, jumping out from behind the kitchen counter.

“You didn’t have to do all this,” Sienna laughs, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Oh please, you only turn nineteen once. Besides, this cake is worth every penny,” Mia grins. “I even managed to grab some candles at the last minute. Make a wish, quick!”

Sienna closes her eyes, her mind drifting to the scholarship she’s been hoping for. It’s all she ever wanted—a way out of the financial mess that has plagued her life since her father kicked her and her mother out. She’s worked so hard to get this far, balancing school and late nights at the club, but it always feels like walking a tightrope.

Blowing out the candles, she opens her eyes, feeling lighter, as though things are finally falling into place.

“I hope that wish comes true,” Mia says, hugging her tightly.

As Sienna pulls away, her phone buzzes in her pocket. She glances at the screen—a notification from the university’s scholarship office. Her heart skips a beat. She opens it, blinking several times as she reads:

"Congratulations, Sienna Davis! Your academic performance has earned you a full scholarship."

“Holy crap!” she gasps. “I got the scholarship!”

Mia’s eyes widen in excitement. “No way! Sienna, that’s amazing!” She jumps up and pulls Sienna into another hug. “This is the best news ever! We have to celebrate properly. No more cheap wine; we’re going out!”

But as they bask in the moment, another notification interrupts. Sienna frowns at her phone. A message from her boss at the club reads:

"Mr. Noah King has requested your presence. No questions asked. Get yourself to his office or wherever he is."

Cold dread creeps up Sienna’s spine. That name strikes a chord. She’s been trying so hard to avoid having anything to do with him. But when Arden, her boss, sends a command, she can’t refuse.

Mia notices her change in expression. “What’s wrong?”

Sienna shakes her head, trying to shake off the feeling. “It’s nothing. I just... I have to meet someone,” she says quickly.

Mia frowns. “But we're supposed to be celebrating. It's your day.”

"I'm sorry, Mia. I can’t today. Let’s do a raincheck. This is... unavoidable."

"Who’s this?" Mia presses.

Sienna hesitates. “Just someone from campus."

"Okay,” Mia says softly, though her concern is clear. "At least have a bite of your cake."

"Sure." Sienna hastily cuts a small piece and shoves it into her mouth before rushing out the door. Mia stands by the window, smiling, proud of Sienna’s scholarship. But her smile falters when she sees Sienna climb into an expensive car. Her heart sinks; she knows who’s picking her up.

******

Sienna sits on the sofa in Noah King’s high-rise office, growing increasingly uncomfortable as the minutes tick by.

The cold air of Noah King’s office and the sterile leather beneath her remind her how out of place she feels. She stares at the glossy floors, the joy of this morning feeling like it belongs to someone else. This place doesn’t feel the same as it did before. Now, it’s dreadful instead of comforting.

Shifting uncomfortably, her heart races in her chest. It’s not the first time she’s been summoned here, and despite all her best attempts to avoid his calls, today she has failed. Each time feels worse, like sinking deeper into quicksand. And today, on her birthday, it feels like something is closing in around her, suffocating.

Her phone buzzes again—a congratulatory message from the university. "Full scholarship." She should be celebrating, but instead, she’s waiting for a man who has made it clear that her life, her choices, aren’t hers anymore.

Noah King...

Just hearing his name sends a shiver down her spine. Everyone in the city knows who he is—billionaire, ruthless, feared. But for her, he’s something worse. He’s her captor, her nightmare wrapped in the guise of a savior.

He isn’t just any billionaire—he’s the billionaire. Tall, imposing, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes that seem to see right through her. He has it all: money, power, and a presence that makes people feel small in his shadow.

The door to his office is slightly open, enough for her to see his assistant moving about, but not enough for her to catch a glimpse of Noah. He looks ridiculously handsome, as usual. She’s been told he is still in a meeting. Of course. Making her wait is part of the game, a reminder of his control. She exhales, glancing nervously at the clock, willing herself to stay calm.

Her phone buzzes again, snapping her out of her thoughts. It’s Mia, as expected. She hesitates before answering.

“Where are you?” Mia’s voice sharpens, laced with concern.

“I’m at Noah’s office,” Sienna admits, her voice low. She doesn’t want to lie to her. Not today.

“You’re with him on your birthday?” Mia sounds shocked. “You told me you were meeting someone from class!”

“I know, I just... I couldn’t tell you the truth earlier.” Sienna sighs. “I had no choice, Mia. He asked to meet, and you know what happens if I say no.”

“You’re kidding, right? On your birthday?” Mia’s tone is filled with anger. “I saw you getting into a Bugatti earlier. Was that him?”

Sienna presses her lips together, unsure how to explain. “It wasn’t him directly... it was one of his guys. Mia, I didn’t have a choice.”

“You always say that,” Mia snaps. “You didn’t have a choice when he gave you money, you didn’t have a choice when he dragged you into his world... when are you going to realize that there’s always a choice, Sienna?”

Sienna’s heart sinks. Mia doesn’t understand, can’t understand. Saying no to Noah isn’t an option. He owns too much—her job, her safety, maybe even her future if she’s not careful. “I’m stuck, Mia. You know what happens if I don’t go through with it.”

"And what's this $100,000 check? Did he give that to you? Because no one else has this kind of money. What do you need this much for?"

"How did you find that?"