Bound By Billionaire's Vow

Chapter 2

As the evening progressed, Alice's worst fears were realized. It started with a small fire in the kitchen, caused by a faulty stove. Alice and her team were quick to put it out, but the incident set the tone for the rest of the night.

Next, one of the servers spilt a tray of drinks all over a prominent guest, causing a scene. Then, the sound system malfunctioned, causing the music to cut out mid-song. Alice was doing her best to keep things under control, but she could feel the panic rising inside of her.

As if things couldn't get any worse, Ethan appeared at her side, his face inscrutable. "Is everything okay?" he asked, his tone casual.

Alice bristled at the question. "No, everything is not okay," she snapped. "This is a disaster."

Ethan raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything else. Instead, he began to help Alice and her team, stepping in to fix the sound system and personally delivering drinks to disgruntled guests.

Despite her initial hesitation, Alice couldn't help but feel grateful for Ethan's help. He seemed to know exactly what to do, his calm and collected demeanour a stark contrast to her frazzled state.

As the night wore on, Alice found herself drawn to Ethan, even as she tried to fight it. There was something about him that was intoxicating, a dangerous allure that she couldn't resist.

When the gala finally ended, Alice was exhausted. But as she made her way to the exit, she felt a hand on her arm, pulling her back. She turned to see Ethan standing there, his eyes fixed on her.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice low.

Alice hesitated for a moment but then nodded. They stepped into a quiet corner of the ballroom, away from the throngs of guests.

"What is it?" Alice asked, her heart pounding in her chest.

Ethan took a deep breath. "Alice, there's something I need to tell you," he said, his gaze intense. "Something important."

Alice felt a sense of foreboding wash over her. "What is it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, then took a step closer to her. "I want you to marry me," he said, his voice firm. "And I want you to do it soon."

Alice felt her jaw drop in shock. She had barely known Ethan for a week, and he was already talking about marriage.

"I know it's sudden," Ethan continued, his gaze never leaving hers. "But I can offer you everything you've ever wanted. Money, security, and a comfortable life. All I ask is that you become my wife."

Alice felt as though the world had tilted on its axis. She had never considered the possibility of marrying someone like Ethan, of becoming a billionaire's wife. But there was something in his eyes that made her want to say yes, something that made her believe that he could give her everything she had ever dreamed of.

But as she opened her mouth to respond, the sound of shattering glass cut through the air. They turned to see a group of angry guests, their faces twisted with rage.

"Get out of here, you rich bastards!" one of them shouted. "You don't belong here!"

Alice and Ethan exchanged a look of panic. They knew they had to leave, and fast. But as they turned to make their escape, they found themselves surrounded by an angry mob, their way blocked.

For a moment, Alice thought that they were done for. But then, out of nowhere, a group of security guards appeared, pushing their way through the crowd.

The guards escorted Alice and Ethan out of the ballroom, through a side door and into a waiting car. Alice's heart was pounding in her chest as she glanced out the window, watching as the angry mob receded into the distance.

Ethan was beside her, his hand on her arm. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Alice nodded, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery. "I'm fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a long moment, they rode in silence. Alice couldn't shake the feeling that everything was moving too fast, that she had made a mistake by getting involved with someone like Ethan.

But as she turned to look at him, she saw a look of determination on his face. "I'm sorry about that," he said, his voice firm. "But I want you to know that I'm serious about us. About our future together."

Alice felt a flicker of hope in her chest. Maybe she had been too quick to judge Ethan, too quick to dismiss the possibility of a life with him.

As they pulled up to her apartment building, Ethan turned to her. "Think about what I said," he said, his voice soft. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Alice nodded, feeling a sense of anticipation building inside of her. As she stepped out of the car, she knew that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even imagine.

Over the next few weeks, Alice and Ethan spent more and more time together. They went on lavish dates to fancy restaurants and attended glamorous events where they were photographed by paparazzi.

Alice felt like she was living in a fairy tale. She had never experienced anything like this before, and she found herself swept up in the excitement of it all.

But as time passed, Alice began to notice little things about Ethan that she didn't like. He was controlling and possessive, always wanting to know where she was and who she was with. He would become angry if she didn't answer his calls or texts immediately.

Alice tried to talk to Ethan about her concerns, but he always brushed them off, telling her that he just cared about her so much and didn't want to lose her.

Despite her misgivings, Alice found herself becoming more and more emotionally invested in Ethan. She couldn't deny that she was in love with him, even if he had flaws.

One day, while they were out shopping together, Ethan surprised Alice with a stunning diamond ring. "Will you marry me?" he asked, dropping down on one knee.

Alice was stunned. She had never thought about marriage before, but the idea of spending the rest of her life with Ethan was both thrilling and terrifying.

As she looked down at him, she realized that she couldn't imagine her life without him. "Yes," she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

Ethan slid the ring onto her finger and stood up, pulling Alice into a passionate kiss. At that moment, Alice felt like everything was perfect. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She just hoped that she was wrong.