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Prologue
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2022-09-02 17:57:41The sirens blared at full capacity as the cop cars sped down Walker Street.
Deputy Halden pressed his right foot onto the gas pedal harder, and the car’s engine revved violently. These were the cases that broke even the hardest men down, and he knew that this one would be no different. He sighed as his partner placed a hand on his shoulder, they had to stay as calm as possible, and Halden knew it. He stopped the car once they reached the address the dispatcher had given them. This was it, and there was no going back. With one hand on his gun and the other on his walkie talkie, he advanced towards the beaten down door. A man was being dragged out in cuffs, and hurtling crude words towards the officers restraining him, and Halden had to suck in a deep breath to keep from losing his cool. Officers were lining the streets, and residents were clamoring out of their houses to see what was going on in their quiet neighborhood. Halden told a few of them to remain on their own property and to await further instructions. As he ducked under the neon yellow tape, he saw that a little boy was being carried out and his heart stopped. He couldn’t have been more than ten years of age.The boy’s black hair had been caked in dried blood, as well as fresh blood. Fickle strands matted to his bruised forehead, and his ankle was disfigured in a way that made him sick to his stomach.What made matters worse, was the glimpse he had of the child’s back. The rage that he had tried so desperately to push down, resurfaced at full force, and he swallowed harshly before turning to face the officer carrying him.“Take him to the ambulance, get his ankle checked out, and report back to me. Understood?” He barked the order, and made his way inside of the home. The atmosphere was somber as he entered the completely destroyed living room to see a smaller woman in handcuffs arguing with the police officer in front of her. Her hair matched that of the little boy. Deputy Halden’s blood ran cold when he heard the woman defending the man that was dragged out in cuffs, instead of her own child.She looked as if she were strung out on some drug, and the scratching at her arms only confirmed his theory further. He couldn’t stand to be near them any longer and made his way to the basement. The smell of blood, and other bodily fluids coated his nostrils, and to his horror, the basement was worse than the living room, far worse.Related chapters
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 1: Seattle and Sewing
2022: Alice There were very few things on my mind as I rushed around the apartment, getting ready for my day. One of them being that I was out of coffee, and about to be out of my mind. My chartreuse blouse was disheveled and untucked from my tailored navy shorts, and my blonde hair wouldn’t take the curls my iron so desperately tried to create. This day truly could not get worse, but I had to maintain a calm exterior, or I would wake Kansas. Hell hath no fury like a Kansas scorned, and I would do my damndest not to be the one to agitate that woman. With my keys and my sleek, black Givenchy purse in hand, I flung the door open and raced down the flights of stairs I took twice a day. Elevators weren’t my style, they made my heart race with panic, and stairs were the only way that I would get any exercise anyway. There was no use in driving in Seattle, and the boutique I owned was only a few blocks away. I looked at my apple watch and noticed that I would be a few minutes late. Mumb
Last Updated : 2022-09-02The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 2: Managing Mitchell
A few days went by, and the weather just got colder and colder here in Seattle as November came to a grueling end. I was working on getting our fall collection out on the floor when I heard the bell at the front door ding. Reece was on her lunch break, and I saw that it was actually Ford Mitchell in the flesh. His midnight hair swept across his forehead, and sweat glistened on his perfect features. I only tilted my head in confusion until I remembered my conversation from a few days back with Mr. Grumpy Lawyer. A small smile formed on my face, and I thought he would be the same man that I had handed the company to. The meetings were actually quite enjoyable as we worked on the price and the negotiations. He seemed like a well fit man for the company, and he ran his other businesses with precision. My assumptions were made to be wrong, however, because as soon as he saw me, a scowl made its way onto his lips. “You.” He roared, stomping up to the register. Shock covered my face as I
Last Updated : 2022-09-02The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 3: Cellphones and Contracts
The hours ticked by with more moaning and groaning from the tall, brooding man, and the clock read 6:30pm meaning we had only a half hour of this arrangement left. Customers had trickled in and out of the store, which kept me busy at the register for the most part. I had chatted with a few regulars and even held conversations with some new customers who promised to visit again. Most had just asked who the new employee was. I was continuously afraid that he would be mean to them and chase them out of the store, but to my surprise, when he wasn’t glaring at me or folding clothes, he was actually smiling and helping out the customers. I didn’t know what to make of it, honestly, but I wasn’t going to complain. He was actually a good employee when he wanted to be, and even had some insight for some of the young girls trying to decide on what dress they should choose to purchase. The store was currently empty and I had allowed Mr. Mitchell to take a thirty minute break, which he had just
Last Updated : 2022-09-02The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 4: Memories in Mitchell's Building
The morning sun was peeking through my pale pink curtains, and as usual I cursed myself for having that be my favorite color. Though they tied the room together nicely with the theme, a chic modern contemporary with whites, pinks and golds, they hardly allowed the sun to be shaded correctly. My shop was always closed on Friday through Sunday, Reece had another job on the weekends, and I wouldn’t do that to her. Heather, my other employee, only worked nights, and it wouldn’t make sense to open for such a short amount of time. I wanted to sleep in more, but I knew getting that man his phone as fast as possible would ensure that I would never have to see him again. I wanted to regret selling the company to him, truly, I did, but seeing as how he had made it one of his top companies, and kept it flourishing, I couldn’t say that I did. I constantly googled its progress the first few years and Carroll Publishing’s net worth doubled in the first year after he took over. Clearly he knew what
Last Updated : 2022-09-02The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 5: Criminal Minds and Crying
When I made it to my apartment, I knew that I had just enough time to wallow in the memories of my mother before Kansas sauntered into the apartment, and I would use that time accordingly. I shook off the putrid snowflakes from my body and shrugged my coat off, tossing it onto the rack before kicking my boots off. I made my way to the fridge and grabbed my carton of rocky road ice cream, and a small spoon. Criminal Minds seemed to make its way onto the television screen, and I used it as background noise to conceal the sobs that racked my body. I knew that they would resurface, but I had done my best to keep the memories of her buried in the back of my mind. They were too much to handle even now, years later. Amaryllis Carroll was my rock, my everything, and with her gone, I would always have a hole in my heart. She was a badass when it came to running her business, and she was the most loving when it came to me. She never made me feel like her business was more important than me, un
Last Updated : 2022-09-02The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 6: Drinking and Drunk Men
The wind whistled past our skin as we walked down the streets of Seattle. It bothered Kansas, who sported a smaller coat than mine, but I was okay with it for once. I was determined to drown my sorrows from this morning, and a little wind wasn’t going to deter me from such. When we arrived at the club, Adonis, I saw that the line was exceedingly long, and the bouncer was not having a good time. He was scolding a few underaged girls for having fake IDs, and they didn’t seem to want to budge, until one of the guests in line barked at them to leave. It was amusing to watch, and we made our way to the back of the line. Getting in didn’t take as long as I thought, and I held back a smart remark when the bouncer tried to say my ID was fake. Partly because no one had thought I would ever move back to Seattle, but when he saw that my ID was real with his blacklight, and that I was who I said I was, he let me in with an apology. I only nodded my head and walked past him. Kansas met me inside
Last Updated : 2022-09-02The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 7: Comfort Day and Creepy Messages
Chapter 7 I would say that dancing with Ford Mitchell was less than spectacular, but the truth? He was excellent at dancing, and moving to the beat, and the way he swung me around had my heart beating rapidly. We had found a spot near Kansas and Arlo, and they seemed to be having just as much fun as we were. I was happy for her, truly, and in that moment, I was happy myself. Would I blame the alcohol tomorrow morning? Of course, but I wasn’t going to dwell on that now. Ford seemed to be watching me warily, as if I were a feral animal that may strike at any moment. When he brought me close again, he was hesitant to place his hands on my hips, and when he did, I smiled wider and moved my hips to the new beat that had started moments before. To say he was shocked was an understatement, but the shock was quickly replaced with a smirk, and he too, moved his hips to the beat. The alcohol had definitely taken its turn at the forefront of my mind, and for once I didn’t care. No other drunk
Last Updated : 2022-09-07The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 8: Style and Sushi
I could say that Sunday was boring, and uneventful, and normally it would be, but in reality, it was a whirlwind of adventures. It wasn’t even nine in the morning. I woke up earlier than I wanted at five, and almost forgot a few important papers for my meeting with Illiana.She was a stylish young girl, a foot or two taller than me, and I was almost always starstruck at the eclecticism that showed in her work. She had a certain finesse when it came to her clothing style, and there was never a time that I wasn’t impressed with her work. When I arrived at her studio, she had her collection laid out on her tables, and there wasn’t a stitch out of place. Illiana prided herself on having perfect structure when it came to her clothing. Her color pallet was impeccable, and the story her collection told was sophisticated in nature. A jumpsuit of oranges and reds, scattered with strips of perfectly, yet imperfect tulle lined the sides, a few button up shirts with reds, yellows, and browns ti
Last Updated : 2022-09-09
Latest chapter
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 10: Rain and Rants
Once the lights were fixed in the boutique, I felt a lot better about the atmosphere it created. I was also in a better mood, and even gave Reece the rest of the day off. She was ecstatic, of course, and because it was Thursday, it meant that she would have another long weekend. I, however, was swamped with new customers coming in shortly after by the boatload. It’s not to say that I wasn’t thrilled, I was just overwhelmed. I was currently ringing up one of the last customers of the wave, when the same lawyer from Ford’s company approached my register. I gave him a curt nod, and handed the woman her card and her receipt before addressing him. “Can I help you?” I kept my voice even, and uninterested with my arms crossed over my chest. When I saw that he had reached into his briefcase and pulled out a familiar manila folder, I raised my eyebrow. “Here are your original documents from Mr. Mitchell, I apologize for our previous interaction, please, have a wonderful day Ms. Carroll.” Wel
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 9: Negative Reviews, and Negative Engergy
The next few days passed in a blur, and before I knew it, it was already Wednesday. I was standing at the register, mindlessly going over the inventory on the computer. I didn’t hate Wednesday, but it was the slowest day of the week, and there wasn’t much to do, seeing as how the boutique was absolutely spotless, and Reece had just gone on her break. I had the maintenance guy scheduled to come in tomorrow morning, but the lights were bugging me. They had gotten worse within the past few days, and they were driving me insane. I wanted to turn them off completely, but that would make customers think that we were closed, and as slow as it already was, I wouldn’t deter any potential customers. After a few grueling minutes on the computer, I decided to pull up our Yelp page and see if we had gotten any new reviews. Yelp had been one of the few sites that had helped with the growing traffic in our shop, and I liked to scan the reviews to see if I needed to make any improvements. However,
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 8: Style and Sushi
I could say that Sunday was boring, and uneventful, and normally it would be, but in reality, it was a whirlwind of adventures. It wasn’t even nine in the morning. I woke up earlier than I wanted at five, and almost forgot a few important papers for my meeting with Illiana.She was a stylish young girl, a foot or two taller than me, and I was almost always starstruck at the eclecticism that showed in her work. She had a certain finesse when it came to her clothing style, and there was never a time that I wasn’t impressed with her work. When I arrived at her studio, she had her collection laid out on her tables, and there wasn’t a stitch out of place. Illiana prided herself on having perfect structure when it came to her clothing. Her color pallet was impeccable, and the story her collection told was sophisticated in nature. A jumpsuit of oranges and reds, scattered with strips of perfectly, yet imperfect tulle lined the sides, a few button up shirts with reds, yellows, and browns ti
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 7: Comfort Day and Creepy Messages
Chapter 7 I would say that dancing with Ford Mitchell was less than spectacular, but the truth? He was excellent at dancing, and moving to the beat, and the way he swung me around had my heart beating rapidly. We had found a spot near Kansas and Arlo, and they seemed to be having just as much fun as we were. I was happy for her, truly, and in that moment, I was happy myself. Would I blame the alcohol tomorrow morning? Of course, but I wasn’t going to dwell on that now. Ford seemed to be watching me warily, as if I were a feral animal that may strike at any moment. When he brought me close again, he was hesitant to place his hands on my hips, and when he did, I smiled wider and moved my hips to the new beat that had started moments before. To say he was shocked was an understatement, but the shock was quickly replaced with a smirk, and he too, moved his hips to the beat. The alcohol had definitely taken its turn at the forefront of my mind, and for once I didn’t care. No other drunk
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 6: Drinking and Drunk Men
The wind whistled past our skin as we walked down the streets of Seattle. It bothered Kansas, who sported a smaller coat than mine, but I was okay with it for once. I was determined to drown my sorrows from this morning, and a little wind wasn’t going to deter me from such. When we arrived at the club, Adonis, I saw that the line was exceedingly long, and the bouncer was not having a good time. He was scolding a few underaged girls for having fake IDs, and they didn’t seem to want to budge, until one of the guests in line barked at them to leave. It was amusing to watch, and we made our way to the back of the line. Getting in didn’t take as long as I thought, and I held back a smart remark when the bouncer tried to say my ID was fake. Partly because no one had thought I would ever move back to Seattle, but when he saw that my ID was real with his blacklight, and that I was who I said I was, he let me in with an apology. I only nodded my head and walked past him. Kansas met me inside
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 5: Criminal Minds and Crying
When I made it to my apartment, I knew that I had just enough time to wallow in the memories of my mother before Kansas sauntered into the apartment, and I would use that time accordingly. I shook off the putrid snowflakes from my body and shrugged my coat off, tossing it onto the rack before kicking my boots off. I made my way to the fridge and grabbed my carton of rocky road ice cream, and a small spoon. Criminal Minds seemed to make its way onto the television screen, and I used it as background noise to conceal the sobs that racked my body. I knew that they would resurface, but I had done my best to keep the memories of her buried in the back of my mind. They were too much to handle even now, years later. Amaryllis Carroll was my rock, my everything, and with her gone, I would always have a hole in my heart. She was a badass when it came to running her business, and she was the most loving when it came to me. She never made me feel like her business was more important than me, un
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 4: Memories in Mitchell's Building
The morning sun was peeking through my pale pink curtains, and as usual I cursed myself for having that be my favorite color. Though they tied the room together nicely with the theme, a chic modern contemporary with whites, pinks and golds, they hardly allowed the sun to be shaded correctly. My shop was always closed on Friday through Sunday, Reece had another job on the weekends, and I wouldn’t do that to her. Heather, my other employee, only worked nights, and it wouldn’t make sense to open for such a short amount of time. I wanted to sleep in more, but I knew getting that man his phone as fast as possible would ensure that I would never have to see him again. I wanted to regret selling the company to him, truly, I did, but seeing as how he had made it one of his top companies, and kept it flourishing, I couldn’t say that I did. I constantly googled its progress the first few years and Carroll Publishing’s net worth doubled in the first year after he took over. Clearly he knew what
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 3: Cellphones and Contracts
The hours ticked by with more moaning and groaning from the tall, brooding man, and the clock read 6:30pm meaning we had only a half hour of this arrangement left. Customers had trickled in and out of the store, which kept me busy at the register for the most part. I had chatted with a few regulars and even held conversations with some new customers who promised to visit again. Most had just asked who the new employee was. I was continuously afraid that he would be mean to them and chase them out of the store, but to my surprise, when he wasn’t glaring at me or folding clothes, he was actually smiling and helping out the customers. I didn’t know what to make of it, honestly, but I wasn’t going to complain. He was actually a good employee when he wanted to be, and even had some insight for some of the young girls trying to decide on what dress they should choose to purchase. The store was currently empty and I had allowed Mr. Mitchell to take a thirty minute break, which he had just
The Billionaire's Wonderland Chapter 2: Managing Mitchell
A few days went by, and the weather just got colder and colder here in Seattle as November came to a grueling end. I was working on getting our fall collection out on the floor when I heard the bell at the front door ding. Reece was on her lunch break, and I saw that it was actually Ford Mitchell in the flesh. His midnight hair swept across his forehead, and sweat glistened on his perfect features. I only tilted my head in confusion until I remembered my conversation from a few days back with Mr. Grumpy Lawyer. A small smile formed on my face, and I thought he would be the same man that I had handed the company to. The meetings were actually quite enjoyable as we worked on the price and the negotiations. He seemed like a well fit man for the company, and he ran his other businesses with precision. My assumptions were made to be wrong, however, because as soon as he saw me, a scowl made its way onto his lips. “You.” He roared, stomping up to the register. Shock covered my face as I
