Bought By The Billionaire

Later, showered, clean and comfortable, we lie together on my bed, drinking wine, discussing everything and nothing in the candlelight.

“Master, there’s something I think I need to tell you about.”

Cocking an eyebrow at me, “Oh? What?”.

“You know Mack Kane?”

“What about him? He lost his job when you spotted that he’d been defrauding the company.”

“Yes, but, I’ve seen him a few times since then. I think he’s following me.”

My Master looks appalled. “What! When was this?”

“Usually when I’m coming home from the office. I keep seeing him and I wonder if he’s trying to find out where I live now. The first time I thought it was just a coincidence, but it’s kept happening. I think I’ve managed to lose him in the crowds each time but….”

He holds up a warding hand. “Say no more Elizabeth. I’ll get right onto it. I think a prohibition order is needed. I have friends with the police. We’ll get it fast-tracked for you.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth. You don’t deserve this.”

“It’s alright, Master. It’s not your fault. I didn’t want to bother you with it but….”

He jabs a finger at me. “This is the kind of thing you do bother me with Elizabeth. If anything else happens, you tell me right away. I mean that. You call me immediately. You have my mobile number, and I’ll tell Francis to make sure that if you call the office, it comes straight through to me if you say it’s important.”

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

He stretches and yawns. “I’m sorry Elizabeth, but I have to go. I have a lot on tomorrow and the following day, so it could be the end of the week before I see you again. But don’t worry about things. I’ll contact the police tomorrow morning. And you keep in touch if you need to. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything were to happen to you. Okay?”

I nod. “Good night, Elizabeth.” And he kisses me, softly, on the lips, his hand caressing my hair.

ready for sleep; a

to the concierge “Sorry, Miss Kimberley. He’s already left the building, about

he’s busy tomorrow, so he probably needs the case. I could message

a text when the door buzzes. Ah! He’s realized that

go to

in my face and a man bursts in.

to be frightened, only to react. My attacker is not a large man, but he is still stronger and more powerful than I am. Gasping and choking, I cannot fight him off. I am trying, with

is yelling. “You think you could do that and get away with it? You think you’re so fucking clever don’t

beginning to blur. I cannot breathe. The hot blackness of unconsciousness circles in on

screaming.

start to collapse under me. I have no air, and

the Hell do

is pulled loose from me, his hands releasing their hold on my throat, and I collapse to the floor, gagging for

am going to be

by the doorway. Suddenly Mack breaks free and dashes out of the door. Through blurry vision I see my Master hesitate, clearly wanting to follow, but not

the adrenaline has had time to kick in, and I am shaking, trembling, sucking in huge lungfuls of air, sobs racking my frame. My Master, cradles

Elizabeth. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left you. Oh, God.

and shaking. “I’m alright, really,

How can you be alright? You were attacked. He was trying to kill you.” He sits me, on the floor, back against the wall, one hand flat on my

an ambulance. And the Police. Right now. And

the final words, before stabbing the connection

him. I have not been seriously hurt, only shaken, and Mack will soon be arrested and locked up. My Master knows people and Mack will not get

alright. Truly, he hasn’t hurt

heartbeat to slow down, and hoping that my aching throat is not

in his embrace, kissing my forehead, rocking me in a kind of circular motion that suggests

wail of sirens and blue light flashes up through the windows, into

disoriented, staring up

not my