Sold to a mafia billionaire

s that looked like they belonged in a museum lined the walls. Maids in black uniforms lined up in two perfect rows, heads bowed. "Mrs. Cole, welcome," the older maid said. She looked kind,

ow. "Maria... Maria picked it," I whispered, suddenly shy. "Is it bad? Should I change?" He walked into the room and closed the door behind him. Click. My heart started beating fast. He walked to me, slow, like a predator. He stopped inches away. I could smell his cologne again, that expensive, dangerous smell. I could feel heat coming from his body. "Red is the color I told my staff to never buy for any woman in this house," he said, staring at my lips. "Why?" "Because it makes me want to break my own rules," he said. He lifted his hand. I flinched, thinking he would touch me. But he just lifted a strand of my wet hair and tucked it behind my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek, and I shivered. "You look... different," he said. "I cleaned up," I said softly. "You were always beautiful, Ava. They just made you believe you weren't." No one had ever called me beautiful. Not like that. Not looking at me like I was something priceless. Tears came to my eyes again. "Mr. Knight, why are you doing this? Why did you bring me here? You said you didn't buy me..." "I didn't," he said. His face turned serious. "But I did something else. Something your stepmother won't like." "What?" He walked to the window, hands in his pockets, looking out at his giant garden where guards with guns patrolled. "I transferred $5 million to your stepmother's account one hour ago." My knees almost gave out. "Five... five million dollars?" "Yes." "Why?" "Because now she thinks she sold you to me. To Alaric Knight. And no one, not even Harrison, dares to take something that belongs to me." Belongs to me. "So... so I belong to you now? Like property?" I asked, voice shaking. He turned around. His eyes were cold again, but there was something else underneath. Possession. Obsession. "No. You belong to yourself. But you are under my protection. You will live here. You will be safe. No one will touch you without your permission. Not even me." He walked back to me. He lifted my chin with one finger, forcing me to look up at him. We were so close I could feel his breath. "But there are rules in my house, Ava Cole. Three rules." "What rules?" I whispered. "Rule one: You never leave this mansion without my