Bound to the Ruthless Billionaire Episode 14
1355 Words
By Rhemita Stories
Episode 14 – “The Morning After the Storm”
The early sunlight slipped through the tall glass windows of the Knight mansion, spilling gold across the marble floors. Everything was calm — except Elena’s heart.
She hadn’t slept a wink.
All night, her mind replayed what happened at the gala — Andrian’s nearness, his breath brushing her lips, the way his eyes softened for just a second before he pulled away. It wasn’t supposed to matter. She hated him, didn’t she?
Then why did her chest tighten when she remembered the warmth of his hand on her waist?
“Ugh, stop thinking about him,” she muttered under her breath, tossing the pillow aside.
She sat up, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The girl staring back wasn’t the same scared, naïve woman who walked into this mansion weeks ago. This version had fire in her eyes — but also confusion she couldn’t explain.
---
Downstairs, Andrian was already dressed for work. His perfectly pressed suit and calm composure masked the sleepless night he’d endured too.
Roan, standing by the breakfast table with his usual smirk, noticed the dark circles under Andrian’s eyes. “Rough night, boss? Or was it Mrs. Knight who kept you awake?”
Andrian’s cold glare shot him silent for a full two seconds.
“Careful, Roan,” Andrian said flatly. “Your mouth keeps running faster than your paycheck.”
Roan raised both hands in mock surrender. “Noted, sir. But I have to admit—people are still talking about last night. You and Elena definitely owned the gala.”
Andrian ignored him, adjusting his cufflinks. “Where’s Elena?”
Roan grinned. “In her room. Or should I say your wife’s private quarters?”
“Don’t start,” Andrian warned, picking up his coffee.
“Too late,” Roan said with a grin. “She looked stunning last night. Even I almost fell in love. And the way you looked at her—”
Andrian’s eyes snapped up sharply. “Finish that sentence, and you’ll be unemployed before lunch.”
Roan chuckled. “Relax, boss. I’m just saying… for a man who claims he doesn’t care, you sure have a funny way of proving it.”
Andrian said nothing, but the faint twitch in his jaw betrayed his irritation. Or was it guilt?
---
A knock echoed through the dining hall.
Elena appeared at the door, wearing a soft cream dress that hugged her waist just right — simple yet elegant. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and her face was bare, glowing naturally in the morning light.
Andrian froze for a second, not that he’d ever admit it.
“Good morning,” she said quietly, her eyes avoiding his.
“Morning,” he replied, his tone calm, unreadable.
Roan, sensing the tension, cleared his throat dramatically. “I’ll, uh, go check the car engine. Even though it’s working perfectly fine.” He slipped out, leaving the two in thick silence.
Elena took a seat across the table. She wasn’t hungry, but pretending to eat gave her something to focus on besides his intense gaze.
Andrian sipped his coffee, watching her. “You didn’t sleep.”
Her fork froze midair. “Neither did you.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Observant this morning, aren’t we?”
“I could say the same,” she replied, her voice firm but her fingers trembling slightly.
Silence stretched between them again — not hostile, but heavy with something unnamed.
Finally, Elena spoke. “I’d like to talk about… working.”
Andrian set his cup down slowly. “Working?”
“Yes,” she said. “I can’t keep sitting in this mansion like a caged bird. I need to do something. Earn my own money.”
His expression darkened. “You don’t need to work, Elena. I provide everything.”
“That’s not the point!” she snapped, her voice cracking slightly. “You don’t own me, Andrian. You may control this house, but not my life.”
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping the floor. “You signed a contract that says otherwise.”
Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “That contract doesn’t give you the right to decide who I am!”
For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he took a step closer — slow, deliberate.
“Do you think I’m doing this because I enjoy controlling you?” His voice was low, dangerous, but raw. “You have no idea what kind of people would use you just to get to me. I’m protecting you.”
“Protecting or imprisoning?” she shot back.
He clenched his fists. “Both, if that’s what it takes.”
Elena’s breath hitched. His eyes weren’t cold now — they were burning, intense, almost desperate.
“Andrian…” she whispered.
He took another step, close enough that she could smell his cologne. “You think I don’t see the way Roan looks at you? Or the way you try to avoid me, even when your eyes keep searching for mine?”
Her lips parted, shocked. “That’s not—”
“Don’t lie to me, Elena,” he cut her off. “You hate me, but you feel me. Every damn time I’m near, you react. So tell me…” His voice dropped to a whisper. “…who are you really fighting? Me or yourself?”
Her throat tightened. She wanted to scream, to deny it — but the truth burned in her silence.
Andrian reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch lingered, gentle yet possessive. “I can’t let you go,” he murmured. “Not yet.”
Then, as quickly as he had approached, he turned and walked away — leaving her trembling in the echo of his words.
---
Later that day, Maya came to visit.
Elena tried to act normal, but her best friend wasn’t fooled.
“You look like someone who just got kissed by chaos,” Maya teased.
Elena sighed, sitting on the couch. “He’s impossible, Maya. He drives me insane.”
Maya grinned. “And yet, you can’t stop talking about him.”
“I’m talking about how annoying he is!”
“Uh-huh,” Maya said, unconvinced. “Honey, denial looks cute on you, but it’s getting old.”
Elena threw a pillow at her. “You’re impossible too.”
Maya laughed, then her tone softened. “Elena… maybe he’s not as cold as you think. Maybe he’s just… broken.”
Elena looked away. “Then he shouldn’t take it out on me.”
But deep down, she wondered — was Maya right?
---
That evening, Andrian stood by his office window, staring at the city lights. Roan entered quietly, holding a stack of files.
“She wants to work,” Roan said simply.
“I know,” Andrian replied.
“So what’s the plan?”
Andrian exhaled deeply. “She can’t work in public. But if she wants to do something… I’ll create something for her.”
Roan blinked. “You’re kidding.”
Andrian shot him a sharp look. “Do I look like I joke?”
Roan grinned. “No, but it’s cute watching you pretend not to care.”
“Get out,” Andrian said, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
As Roan left, Andrian looked down at his phone — a message from his mother flashing on the screen:
> You’re getting too soft, Andrian. Remember why you married her.
He turned off the screen, jaw tightening.
“Maybe I am,” he muttered, looking out at the night. “But I don’t care.”
---
Meanwhile, Elena stood on the balcony, the wind brushing her hair. Her thoughts tangled between fear and longing.
He confuses me.
He hurts me.
And yet… why do I feel safe around him?
Her chest ached with emotions she didn’t understand. Somewhere inside, she knew the walls between them were starting to crack.
And neither of them was ready for what would come next.
---
To be continued...
- Writer
