The more clubs I open all around the world, the more the opportunity arises to spend and earn big money, which is what I wanted all along … To grow my business into an empire and outsmart that son of a bitch Davis. One day, I will be richer than he is, and then I’ll buy out all of his businesses and make him pay. I’ll ruin him until he has nothing left to spit on. And then we’ll see who has the last laugh.
But first, it’s time to see how my father’s doing. I haven’t seen him in a month, and he’s been quiet during our phone conversations lately, so I decided to drop by his house tonight.
The only thing he told me was that Davis put so much pressure on him to perform that he wasn’t even allowed to stay home sick. I hate that prick like nobody else, but my father never listened to him when I told him he needed to quit while he still could. Now, Davis holds his paycheck over his head … and he works like a goddamn hostage.
The thought makes my fists clench as I ring the doorbell a couple of times.
No one comes to the door. “Father?” I bang on the wood a couple of times but still no answer. “Father?” He’s always home at this hour. I don’t wanna go straight to my last resort, but it seems I have no choice.
My father gave me a spare key to his apartment a few months back in case I needed to drop by for something like supplies or to help him out sometimes. Guess now’s the time to use it.
I fish the key from my pocket and jam it into the keyhole, twisting it until the door unlocks. I open it wide and call out for my father again.
But as I step inside and take a look around, I freeze, and the key drops from my hand. He’s lying on the floor completely lifeless.
“Father!” I rush toward him and go down to my knees in front of his body, shaking him vigorously. I place my index finger against his neck and check for a pulse. Nothing.
Placing my hands on top of his chest, I immediately start compressions. After countless times, I blow air into his mouth while holding his nose. But nothing I do seems to get him to breathe again.
I don’t know how long I continue or how much time passes before I call an ambulance. Before they tell me that I did my best, but that there is no saving him. He died from a heart attack caused by too much stress. He’d been working so hard lately, and it’d been the death of him.
In the hospital waiting room, my hands feel cold and my heart empty, devoid of any emotion. All I can do is stare into oblivion as I realize my father’s been taken away from me.
Too soon.
Chapter 8
Easton
Present
“No …” She keeps shaking her head.
“You can believe whatever you want, Charlotte, but it’s the truth.”
“I don’t believe it,” she hisses. “You can’t blame that on me.”
“Doesn’t matter what you think or believe. You’re the reason your father worked mine to death. And now I will make you pay … and then your father.” A wicked grin spreads on my lips. “All that matters is that you’re here in my home now, and you will abide by my wishes like a good fucking girl.”
“Fuck. You,” she spits, and she runs toward the doors, banging on them hard. “Let me out! Let me out, please!”
Approaching her from behind, I grab her shoulders when she doesn’t stop and swiftly spin her on her heels and shove her against the doors.
“No one is going to let you out. Do you hear me? No one. No one will listen to you. No one … except me.” Her chest rises with each breath, and beads of sweat glisten on her exposed skin right above her top. “You’re … a vixen. You think you can spin me around your finger, but I won’t dance to your tune.” I tip her chin up with my index finger and force her to look at me. “Not anymore, Charlotte. You’re mine now, and the only one who’s going to dance is you.”
She grinds her teeth. “Over my dead body.”
We face off for a few seconds, staring each other down. I want her to feel intimidated, but I won’t force myself on her. I want her to do it on her own terms so she’ll remember the moment forever.
For now, I back off and let her stomp up the stairs.
“Your room’s on the left!” I yell after her.
But she’s already found it and slammed the door shut.
Such a feisty girl … I’ll definitely have my hands full.
Charlotte
My bedding was velvety black linen. Lined with gold, the walls surround me like a beautiful cage for a trapped princess. The burgundy red drapes match the color of my father’s blood if I ever were to escape. Staring at the windows, I see they’re locked with a key I don’t have access to. I wonder where he keeps it or if I should even go look for it.