Within The Billionaire's Walls

“Shhh……keep it down,” a thick male voice whispers in the dark. “Okay…but don't hurt me please…..” a tremulous female voice cries out from the other end of the dark basement. “I don't know what it is you want from me, but don't hurt me please…..” “Goddamn it! You know what I want, you b***h!” The male voice yells, this time coming close to the lady in ripped jean pants and a sleeveless blouse. She appears to be in the twilight of her twenties. Her short blonde hair casts a faint glow, illuminating the shadows of the dark basement just enough to reveal its hidden corners. Her face, pale and bruised, bears the marks of the previous night's horrors, a silent testament to the haunting ordeal she had endured. “Then let's end everything,” the male voice continues. His eyes are red, eyelids droopy, showcasing a drunken face. He scoffs multiple times, allowing his brown dentition to be in full display. He slowly and steadily moves in a straight track towards the lady. He pulls out a dagger with a glittery blade, grips it by the hilt, adjusting his finger to ensure control. He flips it in the air as he moves toward her, faster this time. “I beg you please……don't kill me!” She cries out more intensely, moving backwards along her path for safety. With a swift, controlled motion, he narrows the distance between them. He grabs her by the neck, lifting her so that she hangs in the air, leaving almost fifty centimeters between her feet and the ground. Her feet kick uselessly in the air, both of her hands flailing in his face as she fights to breathe. “Ah!” Alyssa Jones let out a startled Yelp and quickly sprang to sit upright on the bed. “f**k! Not again Alyssa!” Robert sprang upright from the other end of the bed, waving his hands in the air so they moved sharply as he yelled. “It's high time you saw a therapist, or don't you think so?” “Uhm……” Alyssa muttered, with her face pale and pathetic. “Look Alyssa, you can't continue to disrupt my sleep at every chance you get,” he interrupted her calmly. Robert Hills, the heir apparent to the Hills Empire, a real estate titan that sprawled its influence across Los Angeles, was a fixture in the city's gossip columns - a playboy whose escapades filled the tabloids, a philanthropist whose donations made headlines, and a menace whose reckless stunts often seemed as limitless as his wealth. His name was woven into the fabric of LA nightlife, its boardrooms, and its darker corners, each reputation as much a part of him as the sharp suit he wore. His sudden wedding to Alyssa Jones sent a shockwave through Los Angeles, leaving the city buzzing with disbelief. No one had seen it coming - not with Robert's notorious reputation as a playboy, nor with the media's constant coverage of his flings and high-profile affairs. Alyssa, a woman no one recognized or had seen him with before, seemed like a complete mystery, the kind of unexpected twist that left even the most seasoned Hollywood insiders scratching their heads. It was the kind of headline that had everyone asking: who is she? Unknown to the masses, the wedding was nothing more than a carefully orchestrated contract-signing event - a move to formalize a million-dollar deal between Alyssa's foster family and the Hills Empire. Behind the glittering facade of white gowns and champagne toasts, the union was a strategic alliance, not the romantic affair the tabloids had painted it to be. For Robert, it was business first. The marriage was merely the final step in securing an agreement that would benefit both families - though no one in LA was privy to that little detail, at least not yet. Robert got up from the bed, seized one of the pillows, and stalked out into the hallway, the door slamming behind him. Alyssa, though still restless from the remnants of her nightmare, was no stranger to this routine. Everytime the darkness of dreams overtook her, he would spend the rest of the night in another room. Alyssa glanced at the clock on the bedside table - 8:27 a.m. The soft buzz of her phone pulled her attention, and the screen lit up with a name she knew too well. “Good morning, Alyssa!” The voice on the other end was full of energy, as if nothing had happened. “I'm so sorry I couldn't make it to dinner last night. Girl, you wouldn't believe what happened to me!” It was Claire, Alyssa's best friend, whose voice always seemed to come with a hint of chaos and excitement. They'd planned a quiet dinner at Alyssa's place, but once again, Claire had bailed. It didn't bother Alyssa as much as it once had. She was used to Claire's unpredictable life. She couldn't help but smile at her friend's unshakable enthusiasm. “What happened?” Alyssa asked, sitting up in bed, already bracing herself for whatever wild tale was coming next. Alyssa and Claire had been friends for as long as they could remember. Through the years, their bond had grown deeper. To Alyssa, Claire wasn't just her best friend, but her soul sister. The kind of person who knew her inside out, sometimes better than she knew herself. They balanced each other in ways no one else could - Claire, the whirlwind who brought chaos and color into Alyssa's quieter, more thoughtful world. Despite the unpredictability that often came with Claire, Alyssa wouldn't have it any other way. “Let me guess, you had another one-night stand with some random guy…..” Alyssa chuckled, biting hard on her lower lip. “Alright, alright, you know me too much,” Claire smiled brightly. There was so much euphoria in her tone. With her forefingers lingering around her lips, she whispered softly. “He's big down there too. Girl, I think I'm gonna keep this one. Like for real. Dude drips with hotness!” “Oh my goodness! Girl, you're gonna make me wet already! I can't remember the last time I had so much pleasure….” Alyssa sighed, frustrated. She found herself drifting back to the memory of the first time she and Robert shared a night together. It felt like the best night of her life, not just for the intimacy, but for the tenderness that marked it. It was the first time he ever spoke to her with such softness. His strong, steady hands had reached for her from behind just as she was about to slip into sleep. Startled, she turned quickly to face him, and in that moment, he cupped her neck, pulling her into a kiss that was both urgent and tender, his eyes closed as though savoring the warmth of the connection. Not until the next morning, he acted like nothing had happened. As a matter of fact, he was so cold. She felt a cold chill down her spine, as he got up from bed without uttering a word. She disgusted him, she thought. She felt used and worthless. Her reminiscences were quickly interrupted as the doorknob turned and the door opened. It was Robert.