Tamed By The Billionaire: Signed to be his. Bound to crave him.

Rose's POV

"One million dollars." My voice cracked as I stared at the glowing numbers on the cash register screen. My fingers jabbed the buttons harder than necessary, hands shaking. I focused on the faint murmurs of customers and the sound of bacon sizzling in the kitchen, trying to drown out the panic clawing at my chest.

"You've been at this all day, Rose. Take a break." Mia's voice was quiet but firm as she placed a steaming cup of coffee beside me. "You'll collapse before you help anyone at this rate."

"Breaks don't pay bills, Mia." I kept my eyes on the screen.

She sighed, shoulders sagging. "Your mom wouldn't want this for you."

"She wouldn't want to die either," I shot back, the words sharp and bitter. Guilt gnawed at me immediately.

Mia didn't flinch, her brown eyes filled with sympathy. "We'll figure it out. You're not alone in this."

A bitter laugh slipped out before I could stop it. "Unless you have a million dollars stashed away, there's nothing to figure out."

Before she could argue, the café door chimed. The tension shattered as a man stepped in. I pasted on a bright smile, turning toward him. "Welcome to Willow's Café. Table for one or two?"

He barely glanced at me, waving a dismissive hand before sliding into a booth in the far corner. Fine by me-I wasn't in the mood for small talk.

Just as I exhaled, my phone buzzed. The vibration sent a jolt through my body. I grabbed it, heart already racing.

"Miss Rose Bennett?"

The crisp voice on the other end made my stomach drop.

"This is Dr. Ellis from St. Mary's Hospital. Your mother's condition has worsened. We strongly recommend immediate surgery to stabilize her."

The room blurred. I clutched the counter to stay upright. "I-I don't have the money yet."

"I understand, but time is running out. Please consider all your options. Without the procedure..." He hesitated, letting the weight of his words sink in. "We'll do what we can, but the outcome may not be favorable."

Silence crashed over me like a tidal wave. By the time I blinked, the line was already dead.

Mia was beside me in an instant. "What happened?"

"They need to operate. Now." My voice was hoarse.

She squeezed my shoulder. "Then we'll find a way-"

"How, Mia?" My voice cracked as desperation clawed at my throat. "We're talking about one million dollars! I can barely afford her medication, let alone surgery."

My grip tightened on the counter. "I can't lose her. She's all I have."

Mia's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she pulled me into a tight hug. "We'll figure something out. You're stronger than this."

"I'm not strong. I'm trapped." The tears I'd been holding back spilled over. My body trembled under the weight of hopelessness.

Movement in the corner of my eye made me stiffen. The man in the booth had lowered his phone, watching me with an unreadable expression.

His gaze was sharp, assessing, like he was peeling back my layers, studying every crack. A tailored suit clung to his broad frame, screaming wealth. He was handsome-annoyingly so.

Heat crept up my neck. I turned away, hastily wiping my face. When I dared to glance back, he was already gone, the only trace of his presence the soft click of the door.

But his presence lingered, curling in the air like the last note of a haunting melody.

~~~~

The café was eerily silent now. The scent of coffee had faded, replaced by the sharp tang of bleach as I scrubbed the counter. My body ached, but rest wasn't an option-not when my mother lay helpless in a hospital bed.

I stacked the chairs, the metal legs scraping against the tile. The sound echoed in the empty café, mirroring my loneliness.

One million dollars.

The number throbbed in my mind, a cruel mantra. My fist clenched, knuckles turning white. Frustration burned through me, sharp and suffocating.

"I'll sell everything. I'll do whatever it takes," I whispered, the words tasting like defeat. But I knew the truth-everything I owned wouldn't even make a dent in that number.

A sharp creak shattered the stillness. My heart lurched as I spun toward the sound.

Through the café window, a shadow stood against the dim streetlights. My pulse pounded as I squinted, barely making out the silhouette. The moment I recognized him, my breath hitched.

The man from earlier.

He leaned against a sleek black car, arms crossed, gaze locked onto mine. Even in the dim lighting, his presence crackled with something unreadable-an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

His lips curved into a knowing smirk as he rolled up his sleeves, as if he'd already decided something. And I was the last to know.

My mouth opened, ready to demand what his problem was, but before I could speak, he slipped into his car. The engine purred to life, and within seconds, he was gone.

Mia appeared beside me, her brows furrowed. "Who was that?"

"I don't know..." My voice was barely a breath, irritation and exhaustion seeping into my bones.

Mia didn't press further. She just helped me close up, concern flickering in her eyes.

I turned away, my thoughts spinning. The image of the stranger lingered in my mind, but before I could dwell on it, my phone vibrated.

I fumbled for it, expecting a message from the hospital. But when I glanced at the screen, a chill crawled down my spine.

"I can give you what you need, Rose. But everything has a price."

My breath caught.

I spun toward the window, heart hammering.

The street was empty, I reached out to my phone to check the sender's name:

Unknown number.