The Billionaire's Pawn

Let's get married!

Elena emerged from the bathroom, a white towel wrapped around her body and head, her eyes cast downward. She shuffled to the mirror, her gaze drawn to the hickeys on her shoulders and neck - a harsh reminder of the previous night's encounter with the stranger.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she couldn't believe she had lost her dignity so recklessly. How could she have been so stupid?

The memories of her father fawning over another woman at her mother's memorial service still lingered a fresh wound. And now, she had to confront the emotional trauma of losing her virginity to a stranger. The thought of it was suffocating. She didn't even know the man who had taken it from her.

Breaking free from her thoughts, Elena walked to her mini closet, her eyes scanning the limited options. As a summa c*m laude graduate, she had expected more from life. But her father had never supported her dreams of working for a big company. And she had made it clear she didn't need their support anyway. So, she had settled for a job as a sales attendant at a supermarket, a far cry from her aspirations.

As she slipped into her tight-fitting jeans and white top, her phone suddenly beeped from the bed, breaking the silence. She smoothed out her dress before picking up the phone, her curiosity piqued.

The message from her Boss flashed on the screen: "Your presence is needed in the supermarket. Come over right now." Elena's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Why the urgency? She still had 30 minutes before her shift started.

Shrugging off the question, she headed downstairs, where her family was having breakfast. August's eyes flickered towards her, but as soon as they met hers, he quickly looked away, focusing on his meal. Elena ignored them, used to their indifference. She hurried out of the house, not bothering to grab breakfast. They wouldn't even notice.

As she arrived at the supermarket, Elena's jaw dropped in surprise. A sleek, luxurious car (a Mercedes Benz S-Class) was parked right in front of the store. The sight was jarring, like a diamond in a dumpster. What was a high-end car doing in their humble supermarket parking lot? Elena's curiosity was now in overdrive.

She pushed open the supermarket doors, and the familiar hum of fluorescent lights and chatter enveloped her. But something was off. Her Boss, Mrs. Thompson, was pacing back and forth near the customer service desk, her face etched with panic.

Elena quickened her pace, concern etched on her face. "Mrs. Thompson, is everything okay?" she asked, approaching her Boss.

But instead of a warm response, Mrs. Thompson glared at her, her eyes flashing with anger. "Did you get yourself into trouble?" she fired, her voice low and menacing.

Elena's confusion deepened. "What are you talking about, Mrs. Thompson?" she started to ask, but her Boss cut her off.

"He's in there waiting for you," Mrs. Thompson spat, jerking her head towards the office. "I don't mind getting rid of you if I have to save my business."

With that, Mrs. Thompson stormed off, leaving Elena reeling. Who was this mysterious "he" waiting for her? And what trouble had she supposedly gotten herself into?

She took a deep breath before entering the office, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead. Inside, a man stood with his back to her, engrossed in a sheet of paper.

"Hello," she called out, her voice firm. His back was turned to her so she couldn't get a glimpse of his face.

He swiveled around, and Elena's eyes widened in shock. It was him - the stranger from last night. Her anger flared, and her professional mask slipped, replaced by a scowl. How dare he show up here, after she'd made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him?

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice low and even. "Haven't you humiliated me enough?"

Dominic raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Elena's anger boiled over.

"Do you want me to spell it out for you?" she spat, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Last night was a mistake! I don't need your money or anything else from you, so just leave me alone!"

She turned to storm out, but his voice stopped her.

"The moment you step out of this office, consider your job and this supermarket gone," Dominic said, his tone cold and menacing.

Elena spun back around, her glare locked on his face. But instead of backing down, he chuckled and took a step closer to her.

"You don't want that?" he asked, his eyebrows arching up. "Then let's get married." His eyes gleamed with a devilish intensity as he taunted her.

Elena's eyes narrowed, her blood running cold. "You're insane," she spat through gritted teeth, her voice venomous. There was no way she'd accept his offer. No way! She couldn't believe the audacity of this stranger, who'd taken her virginity and now thought he could dictate her life.

"I can see you've gone crazy," she continued, her voice mocking. "Do you need my help rushing you to the psychiatric hospital? I'm sure they need an additional patient." She sneered, her eyes blazing with contempt. How could a sane person utter such words?

Dominic ignored her jabs, his expression unwavering. "Is that a yes?" he asked, his voice calm and collected.

Elena scoffed, stepping closer to him, her gaze locked on his. "There's no way I'm going to accept such a ridiculous offer. No way!" She glared, her voice firm.

"No way?" His voice was icy, his gaze pinning her like a deer in headlights.

"NO WAY!" she shot back, her eyes blazing fiercely. Was this man out of his mind? They'd had a one-night stand, and now he thought he could hunt her down.

"Then, get ready to face the consequences," he sneered, a sly grin spreading across his face.

"Do whatever you want, I don't care!" With that, she stormed out of the office, leaving Dominic chuckling to himself.

As she walked out of the supermarket, Elena was met with a bizarre sight. Mrs. Thompson, her Boss, was on her knees, pleading ferociously to no one in particular. "Don't do this, please! I'll do anything!" she begged, her eyes wild with fear.

Before she could even move, Dominic appeared behind her, his arms crossed against his chest like a barrier. His gaze was fixed on Mrs. Thompson, who was still pleading on her knees, her eyes wild with fear. His voice was demanding, his words dropping like a bombshell.

"This whole thing lies in your hands," he said, his tone cold and calculating. "Marry me, or you lose your job. Not only that, this supermarket will go down the drain too."

Elena's lips trembled as she muttered, "Is that a threat?" Her courage had vanished into thin air, replaced by a creeping sense of dread. She couldn't afford to lose this job - it was her only means of survival. And she couldn't bear the thought of betraying Mrs. Thompson, who had taken her in when her f

amily had deserted her.

His response was chilling. "It's a warning.”