owned by the billionaire

chapter 1

kyle

Driving around the city first thing in the morning isn’t my favorite thing to do… but collecting money is, so why not?

Plans change and people adapt. Oh people will adapt. And the people who won’t will face the consequences as they’ve chosen to.

It is collection day. Finally.

The day has only dawned a while, but my debtors know how it works. They understand it. No questions asked.

I don’t care what you use my money for and I don’t care how you give it back as long as not a single dollar is out of place.

No questions asked–– from both sides. And we’re good.

I don’t pardon.

Forgiveness is a weakness in the world I live in. Just a revenue for some other douchebag to falter… or maybe the same douchebag. Then it happens over and over and then one too many times with one too many people.

I can’t have that… not in my world.

You’ll be seen as weak, and once you’re perceived as weak you become a target. s**t starts to happen until you’re at the bottom of the food chain.

The bottom of the food chain isn’t the best place to be. For anyone. And definitely for me. I’m the food chain. I control it, and that’s only because I have no weakness. Not yet.

It’ll keep being that way.

“Sir, the cars are ready and waiting.” Lucas, my right-hand man says, drawing me out of my reverie.

I can feel the skin of my face warm up from the rays of sunlight hitting through the ceiling-to-floor window. Withdrawing with a step back, I brush off the curtains entangling my suit.

My eyes are still stuck on the horizon, watching as the big fiery orb lazily ascends the sky. My best time of day. But the mornings never look their best on collection days.

I don’t care. I never do.

“Have you made any calls?” I ask, my eyes still focused on the cerulean-tinted lake rippling with the morning waves.

“No sir.” Just as usual, he replies.

Of course, he didn’t make any calls. He isn’t supposed to.

My debtors work with me enough to never forget their deadlines. That’s the point of working with me. If you’ve been ordained worthy, there’s no need to become sloppy or you’ll be cut off.

“Let’s go.”

Luca swerves to the side, giving me space to walk out of the room before joining me in adjacent.

We make our way through the lonely hallway and down the staircase.

“Good day, Mr. Grayson.” My housekeeper, Madeline says as we prance through the lobby.

The entrance door is already hanging open, displaying three SUVs with all my men dressed in matching black suits and sunglasses. Lucas picked the color.

Reaching the waiting vehicles, I jump into the backseat of the already-opened one while Lucas comes in through the passenger seat.

The other men get into their vehicles and instantly, the engines roar to life.

Dean, my driver is in the driver’s seat, and in a single file, we all drive out of the estate following one path. Without care and a good chaperone, one can get missing on the grounds of the estate.

I love my space wide. I grew up in an estate almost as big as this one. My father’s inheritance. Supposed to be mine to inherit but I want nothing to do with blood money.

At least not my father’s. He’s a true monster that man… a fiend. One I didn’t want to become but couldn’t run away from.

Now I’m the devil himself. The only thing I’ve ever known. The only person I know how to be.

My father was a man with achieved goals. He got the job done one way or the other and it mostly included someone getting out of his way. He has more blood on his hands than palmar flexion creases, wielding power like a beast. And oh he had power.

He controlled more power than anyone in the state.

I didn’t want to be like him. I got what I wanted. I became worse than him. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted, as long as it wasn’t the man beating the breathing life out of me.

I never want to be that man. Hence, I won’t do myself a disservice by bringing any child into this world.

Dawn’s tentative light shoots in through the windshield, striking straight into my eyes so that I turn towards the window.

As I lean into the comfort of the back seat, the soft glow of sunlight dances at the edge of my eyelids.

I can’t wait to get the day done and over with. No surprises but who am I kidding? There is always that one person. That one man. The anticipation is thrumming in my veins.

The world outside is still shrouded in the foggy hint of night. With our vehicles gliding through the lonely road, as usual, the city gradually awakens.

Snatching my gaze from the window, I look down at the old watch. The only thing I received from my father. The only thing I accepted was because my mother gave it to him as a gift.

She’s dead now. No thanks to him. If he hadn’t let his greed get the best of him, she’d still be alive.

I return my gaze to the window, watching the world go by in a blur.

“Not much further now,” Lucas announces, his face only slightly in my direction and I respond with a low groan.

Steeling myself for what’s to come, I even my breath and steady my heart rate. Hopefully, just hopefully, no blood will be spilled today.

It’s only a few minutes passed since Lucas announces before we arrive at a tattoo shop. I wait for the vehicle to come to a screeching halt before drawing a deep breath in.

“Sir,” Lucas's voice cuts through the silence, indicating our arrival. He requires a go-ahead before stepping out of the vehicle, so I throw him a small nod.

With that retrospect, Lucas and Dean fling their doors open in unison before mine flies open.

As I step out, a young boy standing in front of the tattoo shop instantly runs in. And in seconds, my debtor shows up.

“Mr. Grayson,” Oliver, my trusted debtor greets, the fear in his eyes evident although we’ve never had bad business.

That’s the power I hold. With only a 6’5 height and a fixed frown, I make men’s legs shiver. Well, I also with a reputation that precedes me.

“Oliver,” I reply simply.

“Please come in,” he gestures towards the entrance with his head slightly bowed.

One hand sleekly slipping into my pocket, I ask; “I’ve come to claim. I hope you have what’s mine?”

“I can never fail you, boss.”

I smile.

Oliver has been my debtor for five years now and has never paid late. He’s good for business and he knows what happens when you pay late.

He’s never experienced it… but he knows.

Everyone knows.

The shop is noisy with the sounds of buzzing machines and chattering. Slowly I walk in with Lucas and the entire room falls silent.

Eyes. Whispers.

I can hear their thoughts. I can read their minds through their curious eyes.

It’s not every time they come across someone of my caliber in their presence. I gently scrutinize the entire place and watch as their eyes tear away from mine as they meet.

“Hey, Austin!” Oliver calls out and a teenager walks into our midst in haste, his head bowed, “Go in and bring the cash.”

Austin doesn’t say a word as he runs off and gets the bag. In minutes he’s back, the silence in the room deafening.

“Looks good,” I comment, eyeing the big bag of money.

Oliver takes a small step forward, “would you like us to count it?” He asks.

Chuckling, I reply; “no Oliver. I trust you. And you trust me.” I scoff.

“Thank you, boss.”

“Thank you, Oliver,” I swirl with one hand still buried in my pocket, “always lovely doing business with you.”

This is how I expect business to be. Always.

There’s always a bargain. And the best part is I give in to the other party’s requests. I show up, and I reconcile your interests.

No one has any reason not to fulfill his contract. But for some reasons… They don’t.

Lucas and I exit the small building and out under the sunlight. The day has dawned crisp and clear.

I take a long drag of breath as Sean tosses the bag into the trunk.

“All set sir.” Lucas’ voice cuts through my thoughts.

Exhaling a heavy breath, I utter; “start the vehicle.”

We’re on our way to the next debtor and I already have a terrible feeling about it. That’s more of a bad omen.

I shouldn’t have feelings.

I just can’t toss out the strong conviction I’ll have someone’s blood on my hands today.

What must be done will be done. No excuses.

We cruise through the awakening city until we arrive at the department store.

“Get your guns!” I announce the instant the vehicle stops.

“Sir?”

“I already have a bad feeling. Get ready to move.”

“Shoot right on decline?” Lucas inquires, the side of his face gesturing towards my direction.

I want to say yes. I do. I already know this debtor has nothing to offer but excuses and apologies. With a debt of five hundred thousand, of course, that’s all he has to offer.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”