My Father Sold Me to a Billionaire

Chapter 4 The Calm Before the Storm

The man recognized Eldon instantly and froze as if someone had just poured ice down his spine. "Mr. Haywood... I..."

"Let her go!" Eldon's voice cracked through the room like thunder.

The disgusting creep scrambled off me in a panic, tripping over his own clothes while he yanked them on. He kept babbling the whole time. "Mr. Haywood, I'm so sorry. I swear I didn't mean it. I had no idea she belonged to you."

"Shut your mouth."

One cold command and the guy's lips snapped closed. He finished dressing in record time and hurried toward the door. When he reached Eldon, his head dropped so low it almost touched his own stomach. "Mr. Haywood... ah..."

Before the word finished leaving his lips, Eldon lifted one leg and drove his foot straight into the man's crotch. I had just pulled my clothes back into place when I saw it happen. My whole body jolted with fear. Rosina ducked completely behind me, shaking.

The man collapsed to the floor, clutching himself and crying out in pure agony. His voice came out broken and terrified. "Mr. Haywood, please, Mr. Haywood, spare me. I'll never do it again. I was wrong. Let me go. I really didn't know she was yours... ah..."

He never got the chance to finish. Eldon brought his foot down again, harder this time.

"I said shut your mouth."

Eldon was the kind of danger that made the air feel heavy. The man on the ground had tears streaming down his face from the pain, but he did not dare make another sound.

Rosina and I clung to each other so tightly that our arms trembled. Every cell in my body felt wired with tension.

Later, two of Eldon's men carried the creep out like he was nothing more than garbage.

When Eldon finally lifted his eyes to me, I was sure the next person being dragged away would be me.

"Who is she?"

His voice dropped so low it sent a chill straight through the room. Rosina's whole body shook against mine the moment she heard it.

"She is my friend. Her father has liver cancer, and the medical bills are killing them. She had nowhere else to turn, so she is staying with me for now..."

"Come here."

He crooked one finger at me. I swallowed the fear climbing up my throat, stood up from the sofa, and started walking. Rosina held my hand in a death grip, terrified I would not come back.

I gave her fingers a soft pat to tell her I would be okay, then stepped right up to Eldon.

The second I got close, his arm snaked around my waist and yanked me hard against his chest. His strong, familiar scent wrapped around me completely, heavy and overwhelming.

His big hand brushed my cheek with surprising tenderness. "Alisson, you can hardly keep yourself safe, yet here you are playing hero for someone else?"

His tone sounded gentle and soft, almost caring, but my stomach twisted into knots. I knew him far too well. The softer he spoke, the more furious he really was underneath.

"Eldon, I..."

Before another word could escape, his fingertip pressed firmly against my lips. "You know how I am. I do not want to hear any excuses."

Then he turned and walked out without another glance.

I knew this quiet was only the pause before the real storm crashed down. I stood there frozen, staring at the empty doorway, already picturing the darkness waiting for me on the other side.

The moment the door clicked shut, Rosina rushed over and threw her arms around me. She kept apologizing through fresh tears, asking over and over if Eldon was going to hurt me badly.

I hugged her back and forced a calm smile. "It is fine. He has always been good to me."

Later that night, I tried to press some money into her hands so she could rent a safe place somewhere else, but she refused to take it.

Still, before she left the next morning, I quietly slipped the cash deep inside her suitcase where she would find it later.

The following evening, just as I expected, Eldon's assistant, Milo Harris, showed up at my door. He told me Eldon wanted me right away and handed me a sleek black box. "He said to wear whatever is inside and come straight to him."

I carried the box to my room and lifted the lid. Inside lay the most revealing piece of lingerie I had ever seen. It was even bolder than anything he had sent before.

The chest area and the bottom were covered by nothing more than thin, sheer panels of fabric. Everything important showed through in teasing glimpses. Just looking at it made my cheeks burn with heat. I could imagine what it would do to any man who saw me in it.