BOUND BY THE BILLONAIRE’S VOW

I ran. As fast as my legs could carry me through the trenches, cold mud splashed against my feet and soaked through my jeans. I didn’t care. I had to get away. Away from that monster. Away from the nightmare waiting in my house. My name is Sophia and I have always been Daddy’s girl. He was everything to me. But when he fell sick and the hospital bills started piling up, we had no one to turn to except the devil himself. His old boss. Mr. Davis. Ruthless and cold and powerful. My father died before he could pay the man back and now I was the one left behind to carry that debt on my shoulders. I was home that evening when I heard the knock. Two hard knocks. I barely had time to breathe before the door crashed open. Two large men stormed into my tiny one-bedroom apartment and stepped to either side of the room like they’d done this a hundred times before. Then he walked in. Mr. Davis. As smug and terrifying as I remembered him. “Where is your pathetic excuse of a father, young lady?” His voice thundered through the walls and I froze. I felt a jolt of fear shoot through my chest and spread like poison through my veins. “Good day, Mr. Davis…” I started to say but he cut me off. “Save your pathetic little greetings. You mean to tell me your stupid father hasn’t gotten my messages?” You’d know if you didn’t keep interrupting me. “Did you say something?” he asked, his voice sharp like a blade. “No sir. My father passed away a few months ago. I received your message and I’m saving up to repay you…” I said, keeping my voice steady. “Nonsense” he barked. “You can’t even afford a proper meal and you think you can repay a debt? The money your father begged me for to save his life?” He laughed coldly and mockingly. “Unless you plan to pay in other ways…” My heart sank and my mind raced. “Mr. Davis please,” I said quickly. “Just give me time. I’ll pay the money I swear. I don’t want trouble.” He sneered. “I have no interest in that amount anymore unless you have it right now.” “I don’t have it now but…” I began and he didn’t let me finish. “Rico. Bring her back with us. She can ride with the other men. I don’t want her filth near my car.” Then he turned and walked out like I was already nothing more than property. I didn’t hesitate. My hand flew to my back pocket and I grabbed the pepper spray I had kept there ever since my father died. I turned and sprayed it directly in Rico’s face. He let out a scream of pain and cursed wildly and I ran through the back door before the other one could grab me. I didn’t care about the water soaking my shoes or the mud splashing up my legs. I just wanted to run. Run and disappear and never let that man touch me or decide my fate. I knew the money meant nothing to him. He just wanted to see me squirm. He liked watching people suffer. And I would not give him that satisfaction. But I turned a corner too fast and slammed into two men. I stumbled back and fell hard. “Help me please” I cried, looking up at them with shaking hands. But it was them. Rico and another man I didn’t recognize. They were Davis’s men and they had caught up with me. My stomach turned. They grabbed me by my arms and dragged me back to the apartment while I screamed and kicked and begged. People watched from their windows and no one came out. No one dared. Mr. Davis was already inside waiting. He walked up to me slowly and lifted his hand like he was about to slap me and I flinched. He stopped and looked me over with disgust. “I can’t touch your filthy face. You should thank your stars for that. I’d have slapped some sense into your stupid little brain. Pull another stunt like that and it’ll be the last thing you ever do.” Tears spilled from my eyes and I dropped to my knees. “Please. Just let me go. I’ll find a way to pay. I’ll do anything but not this.” He didn’t care. They dragged me out and threw me into a car and sat on either side of me so I wouldn’t try anything else. I curled into myself and tried not to break. * * * It has been two days. Two long days since they took me from my home and brought me here. Mr. Davis didn’t make me a s*x slave like I thought. Thank heavens. He made me a maid instead. A domestic helper. He said I could work off my father’s debt and I didn’t argue. I cleaned, I cooked, I followed orders and I prayed silently for a miracle. The house is big and cold and I miss my father every second. I remember our talks and how he used to laugh and give me advice and tell me stories from work. Even stories about this house. About Mr. Davis. I wonder if he knew how dark it really was. I wish he hadn’t been robbed. I wish he had never gone to that man for help. I wish I didn’t have to be here. ❧ FLASHBACK I was waiting by the door with my heart in my throat. When it finally opened and I saw my father step in holding a small brown bag, I let out a shaky breath. “He gave it to me,” he said with a smile that reached his tired eyes. “Oh Dad” I whispered, hugging him tightly. “We can finally afford your surgery. You’re going to be okay. You’ll live longer.” We held each other and cried quietly in relief. That night I made him his favorite dinner and tucked him into bed early. I freshened up myself and I was just stepping out of the bathroom when I heard the shot. Loud and close. I froze. I wrapped my robe tighter and stepped out carefully and walked to his room. My heart was pounding in my ears. And then I saw him. My father was lying on the bed. His eyes were open and there was hole in his forehead. Blood soaked into the pillow and the bag of cash was gone. FLASHBACK ENDS ❧ “Sophia! The flowers won’t trim themselves” Rose called out playfully from across the garden. I quickly wiped my face and forced a smile. Rose was kind. The only kindness I had left. She was the head staff member and she treated me like a daughter. “Hey pumpkin,” she said softly. “Don’t cry. I know what happened was tragic but you have to move forward. You can’t keep drowning in it.” I nodded and swallowed the lump in my throat and picked up the clippers. But the pain was still sitting quietly in my chest and I didn’t know how much longer I could carry it without breaking. I got back to work but one of Davis’s security guards walked up to us. “Boss wants to see you,” he said. I swallowed. What does the devil want from me now? I hope it wasn’t what I was thinking.