Blackmailed Into The Ruthless Tycoon's Bed

n the heavy oak door of

first. It is a suffocating, empty silence. She drops her keys onto the marble con

e fur greets her before s

Adaline c

er Prada loafers. The leather shoes hit the hardwood floo

rganic cat food. She drops the bag onto the Persian rug. It tips over. Tins

ashmere throw blanket draped over the velv

th

. A cold knot forms in

feet slap against the cold tiles. She yanks

g of dry kibble is gone. The litter box in the c

t in her stomach twists in

rberry trench coat and pulls out her iPhone. Her fingers are tr

ontacts. She presses the name of the housekeeper ba

beep feels like a needle sc

the line

Gable's voice is hesi

oes not ask how the housekeeper is doing. In the world of the New York elite,

ry, Miss. Your fa

ils dig into the soft flesh of her palms, leaving deep cres

s family like he runs his corporate acquisit

he housekeeper wi

ist and presses the number sav

s on the

e opens. Her voice bounces off the pristine white

chuckle comes thr

ce is smooth, arrogant, and entirely unbothered by her panic. "Play

"You mean my responsibility to be sold off to the highest bidder?

reen pauses, letting the silence stretch to maximize her anxiety. "He h

drains from

r spine hits the edge of the granite kitchen is

s. The fight drains out of her, rep

tating terms like a CEO closing a hostile takeover. "A man name

in disgust. Her stomach

usive. He never appears in society magazines, and no one knows what he actually looks like, only that his corporate ruthlessness is leg

begins to pace the length of the kitchen. "I am not doing this

he shelter I chose is quite overcrowded. They euthanize unclaimed

from her lungs. She stops pacing.

ar escapes and tracks down her cheek, hot and

n says, completely ignoring her tears. In his wor

ne goe

arm back and hurls the iPhone across the room. It hits the leath

mind flashes with images of Monty-the scrawny, terrified orange tabby she rescued from the

reathe. The panic attack is a ph

filled eyes lock onto the glowin

s across the Persian rug. Her knees burn against the fabri

een is blank. It feels like

er hand. A new text mes

s a

Her heart stops beat

cage. His ears are flattened against his head. His e

gut. Fresh tears spill over her eyelashes and splash onto

astes the metallic tang of copper blood. She forces hers

contact card h

she takes burns with the hot sting of humiliation. This is not a surrender; it is a temporary ceasefire. She swear

e 'Add Cont

is no status. There is no bio. The profile picture is

concentrated hatred burns in

huddering breath. S

end Request' button. It feels like pr

flashes: Re

energy is completely depleted. She stares at the

s to the empty room, her