Bounded By Blood and Billionaires

The rain fell that night, Arielle Beaumont was erased from a life that was always hers. The rain fell over the iron gates of the Beaumont estate. Arielle Beaumont stood barefoot on the marble floor, holding a single suitcase that held everything she was allowed to keep. Which wasn’t much. Her stepmother, Juliana Beaumont, stood by the doorway, draped in a silk robe, a glass of red wine in one hand, and had a smirk on her face… Untouched by the storm. Juliana Beaumont looked at Arielle. There was no sorrow in her eyes, nor was there any hesitation. Only disgust. “You only have 10 minutes to leave this house,” Juliana said in a sharp voice. “Leave now, or I will have the security guards remove you from the premises,” Serena Beaumont added. Arielle cried out. Juliana said, “Your signatures are on the files that show that money was stolen from the company. You wanted to kill your father to take over the company. The board members have reviewed the documents, and the company lawyer has as well. Don't insult my intelligence by pretending to be innocent”. “I was set up. Why would I want to steal money from the company that was already promised to me?” Arielle whispered. “You know me, Mom. You raised me." Juliana’s mouth curved into something that was not a smile. “I raised a disappointment.” The words hit harder than any slap could. Behind Juliana was her new boyfriend, Victor Langford, who leaned casually against the doorframe, watching the whole situation, and was filled with satisfaction. He had been part of their lives for a year after the death of Arielle’s father…. He was too charming and too ambitious. His main goal was to take over Beaumont Holdings. Arielle tightened her fingers around the handle of the suitcase as tears rolled down her face. “Mom… please. You know I wasn’t involved in my father's death, HE IS MY FATHER!” “The company your father promised you, your shares?” Juliana said with a razor-sharp tone. “They’ve been frozen pending investigation. For legal reasons, I've temporarily transferred them into my control”. Arielle’s breath stuttered. “Mom…. You can’t do that. That’s the only thing I have left of my father, my inheritance”. Juliana stepped closer, lowering her head and whispering into Arielle’s ear. “I just did”. Serena added, “I always knew you were the problem in this family. Maybe when you leave, there will be peace,” then she laughed. Victor finally spoke. “You ungrateful brat, be grateful we’re not pressing criminal charges. Consider exile…mercy.” Something inside Arielle shattered. She had lost her father. She had lost her home. She had lost her inheritance. Now she was losing her future. The gates opened automatically. The security guards waited. Arielle walked in the rain without another word, and she could hear the laughs of her mom, her sister, and Victor. She had just buried her father. No one stopped her as she walked out into the storm. The city blurred through rain and tears… she couldn’t recognize where she was anymore. Arielle somehow found herself at a bar she couldn’t name. She was trying to forget what happened to her. She kept on drinking and drinking. She was already on her fourth or maybe fifth glass of whiskey. As the words her mother said still replayed in her head, sharp as a blade. You’re no longer a part of this family. You are and always will be a disappointment. Erased from her family. Just like that. Now she stood in front of the Blackthrone Hotel, trying to get a place to stay. She checked her wallet and laughed, “Right,” then she murmured. “Not for people like me anymore”. She turned– —and collided with someone. The effect made her lose balance, as she was about to hit the ground, strong fingers closed around her waist, saving her from hitting the ground. The touch was steady. Controlled. “Careful” The voice was deep, smooth, and like a stern command Arielle looked up. And for a moment, everything that troubled her—the rain, family betrayal, whiskey, the stolen inheritance, her father’s death, the hollow ache in her chest… disappeared for a moment. He was tall. Neatly dressed in a dark overcoat that looked and felt very expensive. Dark brown hair swept back, sharp cheekbones, His eyes looked darker than the night behind him. “Careful, you are going to hurt yourself”, he said “I think I’m past careful,” Arielle said softly. His hands were still around her waist “You're drunk,” he said She tilted her head. “That obvious?” He felt her sway and tightened his hold, his hands finding the curve of her hips to ground her. His hands moved around the curve of her hips, enough to remind her of how close they were. The city lights blurred behind him. She stepped closer to him. “I don't know your name,” she said. “You don't need to,” he said. Her pulse quickened. His hand tightened slightly at her waist. “This would be a mistake," he said quietly. “Then why aren’t you letting go?” Silence. “Are you always this cold?” She whispered. “Yes”. “Good” That caught him unaware. “I don't want gentle tonight,” Arielle admitted. “I don't want careful, I just want.. Something that doesn't feel like I'm disappearing.” His thumb brushed just beneath her lower lip, smearing rain or maybe a tear. “You won't disappear,” he said. And then he kissed her. She tried to gasp for air against his mouth, while her fingers held onto his coat. Arielle kissed him back with all the anger, hurt, and reckless need that was inside of her. When he broke the kiss, they were both breathing harder. “Last chance,” he murmured. “To do what?” Arielle asked. “To walk away”. She looked directly into his eyes, and a sudden urge to grab this man for herself came over her. “I have nothing left to lose”, she said. He took her hand as he led her toward the hotel door. He led Arielle to a VIP suite as he walked around as if he owned the place. “Still sure?” he asked. “Yes,” Arielle breathed. It seemed like there was no time for hesitation. Arielle wanted to forget her pain, even if it was for a second. She wanted to feel free. The night was slow with hands exploring each other with care, mouth moving as if they were tracing promises neither of them would speak about loudly. That morning, Arielle woke up with a sharp headache. She quickly recalled the situation she was in… She quickly put her clothes on, grabbed a pen and paper, and wrote: “I'm so sorry, please forget everything that happened”. She grabbed her suitcase and ran out of the room, leaving the stranger alone in a big VIP room. About four years later, Arielle still dreams and thinks about everything that happened that night… from the betrayal she felt from her family to the steamy one-night stand she had with a stranger. Arielle now woke in a small bedroom with peeling paint and a small fan, instead of the big mansion and luxurious room she had always lived in. It took her a minute to remember where she was. Uncle Thomas’s house. He was the only one she considered her family, the only person who did not turn his back on her. The time was around 6:00 am. Arielle had another early shift at the cafe she worked at. To her, it was another day of forcing a smile and pretending she was at peace. “Morning, sunshine,” Uncle Thomas said gently as she entered the kitchen. He was already making breakfast for her. “Uncle, you're up early again. You don't have to always stress yourself over me,” Arielle murmured. He slowly studied her face. “Nightmares?” Arielle hesitated before she nodded. He slid a small envelope across the table. “What is this?” she asked. “Your tuition receipt. Scholarship covered the rest”. Her throat tightened. “Uncle Thomas, I-” “You are not a burden,” he said quietly. “You are my family.” She ran towards him and hugged Uncle Thomas. For a moment, she believed she was safe. She had no idea that her past was going to find her again. The Valmont Tower pierced the skyline like a blade. Arielle stared up as she walked out of the delivery van, holding two trays of coffee and pastries. Her fellow cafe worker begged her to take the delivery. “Big clients and they tip well,” he had said. Arielle entered the lobby of the tower. Arielle entered the elevator to ride to the executive floor, and the journey felt endless. As she stepped out of the elevator, she collided hard into someone's chest. The hot coffee splashed. “Oh my God- I’m so so sorry!” Arielle gasped. The man looked down at his ruined suit. His eyes were dark and cold. He softly asked, “Do you have any idea how much this suit costs?” “I will pay for it. I swear. I am so sorry. I will work overtime-” “Enough,” He shouted as he cut her off. She looked up and froze because she recognized that face. Lucien Valmont. CEO of the Valmont Empire. One of the richest men in the country. In a split second, she thought to herself that she had seen him somewhere before, but she could not remember where. “I should have you fired,” he continued as his gaze sharpened. A second man appeared behind him. “Relax, cousin,” he said softly. “Its just fabric”. That was Rafeal Valmont, the vice president of the Valmont Empire Golden brown eyes. Warm smile He was everything Lucien wasn’t. He took the tray away from Arielle’s trembling hand and set it aside. “Are you hurt?” “No,” she said as she felt nervous and embarrassed. Their fingers brushed. Something electric snapped between them. Lucien quickly noticed as his jaw tightened. “Name?” Lucien demanded. “Arielle” He paused. Then his eyes darkened. “Beaumont,” he said quietly. Her blood went cold. Across the city, an anonymous figure watched everything that had just happened in the Valmount Tower from his office. A sleek black file lay open on his table. Inside the file where: Photographs of Arielle at the cafe. Records of her enrollment. Her address. He picked up his phone. “Find out which Valomount cousin she just interacted with,” he said. Then he smiled. “Also prepare the blackmail package.”