All Chapters of Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The Carter Art Gallery's walls reeked of failure and old paint. Standing in the center of the empty room, Leila Carter clutched the eviction notice so firmly that it crumpled in her fist. The large windows let in sunlight, which left golden striations on the worn wooden floors. This gallery used to be the center of New York's affluent art scene, with its invaluable treasures and the subdued murmur of appreciation. All that remained was a dead, hollow shell. The legacy of her father was reduced to a last-minute deadline.Despite the pressure of reality, she forced herself to breathe. Before the gallery was seized and put up for auction to the highest bidder, she had precisely two weeks. And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it unless she miraculously summoned two million dollars. Leila felt sick to her stomach. She had tried everything. She had pleaded for loans from banks. Rejected. She had made contact with investors. Indifferent. She had looked into every possible

It was the most alienating feeling Leila Carter had ever experienced. As she stood in the opulent lobby of Adrian Blackwell's apartment, she gripped her suitcase handle tightly. The room, like the man who owned it, was frigid, incredibly smooth, and completely cold. A stunning view of the shimmering skyline of New York was provided by the floor-to-ceiling windows that ran the length of the open-concept living area. A sterile glow was cast over the black leather furnishings, glass coffee tables, and sharp steel accents by the city lights reflecting off the immaculately polished marble floors. Everything was carefully set out, too flawless, too managed.It was like entering a billionaire's fortress-- chilly, efficient, and completely soulless She detested it. Adrian drooled from next to her, his voice tinged with laughter, "You're staring." "Are you impressed?" Leila turned to him and exhaled slowly. Here, he appeared relaxed. He did, of course. She was now simply another tool in

Leila pressed the button for the lobby as the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. She needed air—space away from Adrian, away from his arrogance, away from the way he believed he could control every part of her life—because the penthouse felt like a gilded jail. A deep, unamused voice pierced the air before she could even enjoy the triumph of daring him. "Are you going somewhere?" Her heart leaped. Adrian was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and a chilly, disapproving expression on his face when she turned around.Leila did not flinch. "I had no idea that I needed permission." The elevator doors closed behind Adrian as he entered. Smoothly, he pressed another button and stated, "You don't." Mid-floor, the elevator stopped. She gasped. She scowled. "Are you serious?" Adrian's head tilted, his face unreadable. "Now is the time if you have anything to say about last night." Leila's arms were folded. "All right. Let's discuss how you chose to hide the fact

She stood in front of the full-length mirror, the black evening gown sculpting her body like a second skin, liquid silk pooling at her feet. The dim light caught the shimmer of the fabric, casting fleeting shadows that danced across her curves. Her bare shoulders gleamed like polished ivory, the delicate slope of her collarbone accentuated by the gown’s plunging neckline.Her gaze met her own in the mirror—dark, unreadable, yet smoldering with something dangerous, something irresistible. She tilted her head slightly, running her fingers down the smooth fabric that clung to her waist, tracing the shape of a woman, a shape just enough to make a statement.She wasn't sure whether she wanted to make that statement. Her reflection gazed back at her, poised, elegant, and polished. But within? She was stormy. For the first time as a couple, she and Adrian will be in the spotlight tonight. A lie wrapped in diamonds and silk.She inhaled sharply as she reached for the diamond bracelet lying

The tension from the gala followed them inside like an unwanted guest as the penthouse doors closed behind them. As they walked inside the grand space, Leila turned to face Adrian, her heart pounding. "You don't get to make decisions for me," she spat out, her voice still tinged with the heat of their earlier argument. "Not like this." With a sharp sigh, Adrian loosened the cuffs of his spotless white dress shirt. "Leila, this has nothing to do with making decisions for you. It is about survival. You don't understand how deep this is.“Then explain it to me!” she stated, taking a step forward. "Because I am not some business deal you can negotiate into compliance, and all I see right now is a man who is used to getting his way around anything."What she said caused his eyes to darken, and a slow, menacing smirk formed at the corner of his lips. "You believe that this is about winning?" his voice dropped lower. "The intention is to keep you alive." Leila's irritation was clear as