Captive Billionaire: My Beautiful Mistake

Three months into keeping the city's most untouchable man locked in my apartment, my family went broke.

After that I worked doubles to feed us both. No time left to watch him on the cameras. No time to blow up his phone.

Too tired to even make hate anymore.

At first, he loved it. Do yourself a favor, he'd say. "Get sick of me. Let me go."

So I did. I gave him up. I ran.

And he came after me. City after city, he hunted me down.

That cold, perfect face, wrecked with something obsessive.

"You out here keeping some other dog?"

"Throwing me away? Over my dead body."

Chapter 1

I kidnapped the most beautiful, most untouchable man in the city and kept him in my apartment for three months.

Best decision I ever made.

Every single day, we made hate. Not love. Love would've embarrassed us both.

On the rare days I left to shop, I watched him on the cameras the whole time. And I texted him. Constantly. Mercilessly.

"Coco." Soren said it through his teeth. "You can't force someone to love you."

It slid right off me. "Can't force it," I agreed sweetly. "But you can make it. We've been making it for months."

"Here." I held out a box. "Present. Open it."

Under my very encouraging supervision, he opened it.

The second he saw what was inside, that perfect cold face cracked. A vein jumped at his temple.

"Who taught you to buy something like this?" he asked.

I cackled. Full cartoon villain. "Taught? Sweetheart, I don't need lessons to torment you."

"I had it custom made. Just for you."

"And you're going to wear it. Whether you like it or not."

"And then we'll do what we did last time. In front of the mirror, remember."

At the word mirror, his breath went ragged.

I'd gotten to him. Really gotten to him. His throat worked, once, twice.

"Coco." His jaw was tight. "Do you have any shame at all?"

"You think you can do whatever you want because Daddy's rich?"

"You're not scared the Beaumonts go under someday"

I laughed in his face. Big and theatrical.

"My family's been rich since before this country paved a single road."

"The Beaumonts, broke? Try next lifetime."

He still wouldn't move.

I ran out of patience, grabbed the thing, went up on my toes, and reached to put it on him myself.

The landline went off. Loud. Over and over, like it would never stop.

So I set it down. Patted his stupid handsome cheek, hard.

"When I get back," I told him, "this had better be on you."

"Or you know exactly how this goes."

I had no idea that call was about to blow up my entire life.

My dad's voice came screaming out of the receiver like a stuck pig.

"Baby girl! It's bad, it's so bad. We're broke!"

The sky fell.

We were broke. Dad had skipped town.

And without his money behind me, Soren was going to call the cops. Have me arrested.

For kidnapping. I was going to prison for kidnapping.

I let out one short shriek and slid sideways off the couch.

Soren walked out of the bedroom, frowning. "What are you screaming about?"

I shot upright. "Soren. Are you... worried about me?"

Because worry meant feelings.

And feelings meant he wouldn't turn me in.

He scoffed. "I'm worried you'll die."

"You die, I'm the prime suspect."

"And Coco? I will never put that thing on. Not if you killed me first."

"...Oh." I lay back down. Weakly.

Soren went still.

Then something cleared in his face, like he'd just figured me out. "Hm. New tactic. Won't work."

He said something else I didn't catch and went to the kitchen.

Soon the smell of food drifted out.

I drifted toward it like a ghost. Sat down across from him.

His face went blank for a second.

Normally I made him let me eat in his lap.

Today I didn't.

See? He was thrilled. Thrilled stupid.

Being broke made everything taste like cardboard. I didn't even have the energy for my usual filthy one-liners.

Soren had to be loving this. He'd always wished I'd just go mute.

Sure enough, he started chewing with real enthusiasm.

I let out a tiny sigh.

Soren set his fork down. Hard. Cold-faced, he started clearing the dishes.

Now he couldn't even sit through a meal with me.

* * *

Soren watched her push her food around the plate like it had insulted him on her behalf.

The cuff sat cold around his ankle. He could have it off inside a minute. He'd known that the first night, and every night since.

He left it on.

Three months of letting her believe she'd caught something dangerous. The dangerous thing in this apartment wasn't the lock on his leg, and it wasn't him. It was whatever his chest did when her shoulders dropped the way they had tonight.

Whatever she thought she'd dragged home and caged, it wasn't a broke college kid. She just hadn't done the math yet.

And now she didn't have to. She was broke. Her father was gone. One phone call and it was over. Her in a cell. Him out the door, a free man.

He picked his fork back up.

He wasn't going anywhere.

Chapter 2

Like I could let him find out I was broke.

I didn't even have it in me to grope him at the sink anymore. My whole brain was one problem.

How to fake not being broke.

How to keep a grown man captive on a two-hundred-fifty-dollar balance.

Lightning struck my brain. I saw the whole plan at once.

I'd pretend to go out and play every day. Keep up the show, for Soren, that the Beaumont money was still pouring in.

Meanwhile I'd go be a girl about town. Make easy cash. Provide for my man.

God. I was a genius.

Beautiful in theory. Brutal in practice.

Turns out "full-time daughter" is not a rsum. The job market treated me like a punchline.

Exactly one place would take me.

Minimum wage. One day off a week.

I went from city girl to city serf.

Before, no matter what time I left, I'd make Soren give me a kiss at the door.

Now my manager docked my pay for every late minute. I splashed water on my face and bolted. No time for kisses. No time for anything.

Before, even out of the house, I used to bomb Soren with cheesy pickup lines all day long.

Now I couldn't even touch my phone. Ten minutes of break at noon. That was the whole thing.

Not even time to choke down a sandwich.

I never knew six days could stretch so long.

Saturday I came home and went face-first into the couch. I never wanted to work again as long as I lived.

Even with my eyes shut, I was doing the math. What could I sell to buy us a few more weeks.

But my jewelry, my bags, they were all at the old house. And the old house was sealed.

I was deep in it when a pair of cool hands cupped my face.

I jolted.

Eyes open. Soren's face, frost all over it, an inch from mine.

He was undoing his buttons. One. By. One.

My eyes went wider with each one.

Because there it was. The thing he'd sworn he'd die before wearing. The six-figure chain. On him.

The tips of his ears had gone red. His voice stayed hard.

"You've been giving me the cold shoulder all week because I wouldn't put this on. Haven't you."

"So let's get it over with. I'm not in the mood for whatever lovers'-spat game you're running."

I had no clue what he was talking about.

I was just staring at the chain.

"Soren," I stammered. "Do you... really hate wearing that?"

He scoffed. "Obviously, Princess."

"Isn't that your whole thing?"

"Making me do things I don't want to do."

He wasn't wrong.

My favorite thing in the world was watching Soren's brow pinch, his lashes flutter. That furious, mortified look when he had no choice but to do what I said.

But times had changed. I scratched my head, a little sheepish.

"Okay. I'll admit it. I was out of line before."

"If you don't want to wear it, don't. Take it off."

That ridiculously gorgeous face went completely blank.

I stared at the chain, longing, and held out both hands.

"Don't throw it, though. Give it here!"

He went quiet. Then came that knowing little smirk.

"If you want it back to use on me, just say so."

"Spare me the noble act."

I thought about the riding crop. The one time I'd used it.

I choked a little.

Soren had the chain off in one motion and tossed it on the bed.

I scrambled to tuck my six figures safely away.

I looked back up.

He was on the bed. Half-kneeling. All pale skin and quiet, coiled lines, lashes lowered, holding very still.

Oh.

Oh no.

God help me.

Chapter 3

Any other night, I'd have been on him like a starving animal.

Tonight, for the first time in my life, I felt for the guys who'd rather just sleep.

Dead tired, and too proud to admit I had nothing left, I coughed twice.

"Soren. I've been doing some self-reflection. I think you had a point before."

"I should respect you."

"Take tonight. You definitely don't want to do anything with me, right?"

"So let's just lie down and get some real rest!"

Inside, I went limp with relief.

Terrified I'd give myself away, I lay down fast. Didn't even catch the look on his face.

Not that I needed to.

He had to be relieved. Over the moon, even. Every time we made hate, I was the one forcing it.

A second later the blanket lifted.

A scorching body pulled me in against it.

Normally this was my favorite. Making Soren hold me exactly like this every single night.

But I was a workhorse now, and my neck didn't feel like it belonged to me.

Sleeping wrapped up like this was so uncomfortable.

So I tried to wriggle free.

His arm was an iron bar.

"Soren," I said quickly. "Hey. Let go."

"You really hate holding me, don't you. You don't ever have to hold me again."

The arm around me went rigid. Then it let go.

His voice came out cold.

"Gladly."

"Coco. Don't think this little sulk of yours can touch me."

"I want you sick of me. I want you to let me go."

Old me would've shot up and ridden him into the mattress out of pure spite.

But I was so tired.

I was snoring in minutes.

I slept past noon.

When I got up, Soren had already made lunch.

At the table, that gorgeous face was unusually cold.

Genius that I am, I went straight to last night's words.

"I really wasn't mad about the chain," I explained around a mouthful. "That was forever ago."

"I've honestly been trying to respect you lately."

Soren raised his lashes, slow. His eyes were flat black.

"Oh? You've been forcing me for months. Why the sudden urge to respect me?"

Cornered, I started babbling again.

"Uh. A friend told me. Love is respect, you know?"

The corner of his mouth tipped up. "Which friend?"

I winged it. "...A new friend."

Right then my phone chimed. I looked. Marketplace.

Somebody bought my chain!

I dropped my fork so fast I nearly launched out of my seat.

I bolted to the bedroom to wrap it up.

I hummed while I worked. Sell this, pinch every penny, and we'd last another six months easy.

Then I'd quit on the spot. And Soren and I could go back to long, shameless days of the fun stuff.

A voice drifted up behind me. "Wrapping it up so nice. Who's it for?"

I hadn't heard him come in. I jumped.

"Just, just that new friend. He said he really likes the chain, and you don't want it anyway, so I figured I'd give it to him."

God.

A lie I hadn't even drafted, and it came out smooth as butter.

I was so impressed with myself.

Soren's voice gave nothing away. "Huh. Generous of you."

I nodded along. "Right? It's mostly out of respect. I didn't want you to see it and get upset."

A small laugh slipped from his throat. "Very respectful. But, Coco"

Chapter 4

I looked up, confused.

There wasn't a trace of a smile in his eyes.

"If you really respected me, why won't you let me go?"

I'd been immune to his cold little jabs for a long time.

But maybe the job had worn me down.

The thought of it. Me, breaking my back to provide for him. Him, still only wanting out. Still throwing shade.

It stung more than it should have.

And the chain money would only stretch so far. After that, I had no idea.

It slipped out, barely a whisper. "Yeah. Maybe I really will just have to let you go."

Soren's face dropped to ice. "What did you say?"

"Nothing," I said fast. "Nothing."

The next few days, I worked like a machine.

Later and later. Home later every night.

Soren was always asleep by then.

But every morning I woke up somehow back in his arms.

Anyway.

The day of the chain handoff finally came.

I stood at the meeting spot.

Down the block came a polished, cool-eyed guy with pale skin and good bones.

I'm telling you, he was exactly Soren's type. The look, anyway.

I held up the gift box and waved at him, thrilled.

He spotted me and his eyes lit up.

He came toward me with long strides.

The deal was about to close.

Then a hand clamped down on my wrist.

My eyes went wide. No way.

Soren. The man who was supposed to be locked in my apartment. Standing right in front of me.

The air around him pressed low to the ground, the rims of his eyes red, something obsessive bleeding out of him.

"So this is the new friend you went shopping for?"

"Coco. Smile at him one more time. I dare you."

How did Soren even get out of the ankle cuff?

My brain was soup.

But there was no time to think.

I hooked my arm through his and locked it down like a handcuff, hissing under my breath.

"Don't run, don't say a word, or so help meyour sister."

Then I turned and grinned through the buyer's hello.

The buyer's smile cooled a little. "Coco. This your boyfriend?"

Coco's my Marketplace handle. I wanted to nod, but I really couldn't poke the bear right now.

So I forced a laugh. "Nope. This is my brother."

Soren's expression got worse.

I shoved the box at the buyer, desperate to close this out before anything else blew up. "Here."

The buyer took it, about to say something.

Soren cut in out of nowhere. "Picking up other people's used stuff. You're not embarrassed?"

The buyer's face went flat.

"Excuse me? Marketplace is literally for secondhand."

"If you're such a snob about it, why's your sister selling secondhand at all?"

Now I'd done it.

Soren was about to find out I'd sold the chain.

And that this guy was no new friend.

Smart as he was, would he just go ahead and guess my family was broke, and bolt?

I apologized to the buyer, told him my brother was on some psych meds.

While I snuck a glance at Soren's face.

And found him pulling out a smile from nowhere.

He didn't say one more thing to wreck the deal.

After it was done, he even followed me upstairs, good as gold.

So I guessed he hadn't figured out the money was gone.

I kept opening my mouth and closing it, with no idea how to patch up the lie.

Chapter 5

Soren spoke first. A cold little scoff.

"You sold it. Over me not wearing it once."

"Coco, that is a lot of attitude."

"I can't be bothered to play along with these little games of yours."

He sounded grudging. But the tips of his ears were red. Probably the heat.

"Buy another one. I'll wear it. Happy?"

I sucked in a breath.

Thank God he didn't actually want it. Where would I get the money.

Though dropping the cuff key the other day had scared me half to death.

I tucked the key away somewhere safe.

The chain was sold, so I quit my job on the spot.

Slept like the dead for two days straight.

Once I was rested, my mind wandered somewhere filthier. Especially when the first thing I opened my eyes to every morning was Soren's face.

I swallowed, shameless about it.

Pressed my face into the firm line of his chest. Let out a happy little sigh.

A blurred, rough sound came out of him.

"You are unbelievable. It's the crack of dawn"

I climbed on top of him, very pleased with myself.

Then my phone went off. Three familiar chimes.

Marketplace!

The money cleared, had to be.

I grabbed for the phone, opened it, and the sky fell.

Buyer:

[This is a fake, right.]

[I don't want it anymore.]

[Refund me.]

I let out a short scream.

Forgot everything else. Just typed.

[It's real.]

[Bought it at the counter, I have the receipt.]

Buyer: [You didn't mark it final sale, so whatever.]

I lost it. Who buys a thing and flips the second they have it.

I shifted my weight, furious, hammering out my case letter by letter.

Soren's voice came out wrecked.

"Coco. Either finish or get off."

Any other day I'd have lived for that face. Soren never put down a feast for anything.

But right then the buyer called!

I jumped up, livid.

On my way to the living room to take it, I made sure to tell him:

"Don't wait up. Get up and make breakfast."

That gorgeous, faintly flushed face went all the way dark.

"Hilarious. Who said I was waiting?"

"I have zero interest in being with you. None."

In the end the chain got sent back anyway.

Nothing I could do.

So I found another job. A far-flung little subsidiary under the Vane Group.

Lower pay. More misery.

Worst part was my boss. Total creep.

After I called him out, loud, for putting his hands on me, he made my life hell every chance he got.

I was running on empty, body and soul.

But I didn't dare quit. Quit, and the man at home starved right along with me.

One day the old creep jerked me around again, made me leave halfway through my shift to go grab files from home.

And docked my pay for the time, called it personal leave.

It was so hot out. I wanted to grab a cab.

But I ran the numbers.

Bike it home, and I'd save enough for Soren's favorite cut of beef.

So I biked. Halfway there, a delivery scooter clipped me and I went down hard.

Knees torn up. Both palms.

I gritted my teeth the whole way home.

And heard Soren on the phone.

Except I controlled his phone. He could only reach one person. Me.

His voice was ice.

I only caught a few words.

Chapter 6

Cops. Move in. Day after tomorrow.

I went boneless on the floor. That was it. I was done.

And the first thing I felt, before the fear of prison, was wrecked.

So Soren really didn't like me. Not even a little.

He hated me. He wanted me in a cell.

Before I pushed the door open, I made a lot of noise on purpose.

Sure enough, I walked in to find him on the couch, pretending to read. No phone in sight.

He looked over, voice level.

"Home early for once. What's the occas"

"What happened to you?"

He stood, grabbed the first-aid kit fast, started cleaning my cuts. Face cold.

"Took going down like this to make you come home?"

Maybe it was how gentle his hands were.

Like I was something precious.

It lit one last stupid little spark of hope in me.

My voice went small. "Soren. If I let you go right now, could you not turn me in once you're out?"

His hand stilled on the gauze. The answer was merciless. "No."

He looked up, and smiled, slow and unhurried.

"Why? Run into another new friend you liked?"

Mocking me even now.

Every ounce of fight went out of me.

Then I had two days to pack and run.

I wanted to leave right then. But I was too broke to afford the bus to anywhere far.

The quitting paperwork went through fast, but my last check was two days out.

Apparently when you're broke, even running for your life runs on a deadline.

Small mercy in the disaster.

At least Soren told the cops to come the day after tomorrow.

So for the next two days.

I came home like normal.

I was leaving anyway, so I thought about it, and told him:

"My, uh, your sister's been better for ages. No more of those huge medical bills."

"I put her in private school a while back. She's been going this whole time."

Soren said, oh.

Then, like it caught up to him, he turned and leaned in to kiss me.

I froze. Put a hand up to stop him.

Back when I'd first locked him up, he wouldn't kiss me.

So I'd made a threat.

"One kiss, one update on your sister."

"You don't want to lose contact with her, do you, Soren?"

His face then looked about like it did now. Reluctant, always.

A sigh slipped out of me. I muttered it to myself, barely there.

"Congrats. You never have to kiss me again."

Soren's brow pulled together. "What?"

I patched it up like always. "Nothing, nothing."

But this time he wouldn't let it drop.

"A minute ago you asked if I'd skip the cops if you let me go."

"Now you're saying I never have to kiss you again."

"Coco." Soren was gorgeous. The smile he gave me was very dark.

"What exactly are you scheming over there?"

I nearly died on the spot.

If I didn't make it out tomorrow night, it'd be this big dumb mouth's fault.

Cold sweat down my back, I babbled, frantic.

"What? No. Ha."

"Anything I do, I do right out in the open."

"I'm just messing with you. I'll grab another guy and bring him home to scare you, ha, ha, ha"

His face was so bad I didn't dare ha again.

This might've been the first time Soren ever smiled at me this gently.

My sanity meter went into freefall.

He smiled, sweet as anything. "Go ahead. I'll be waiting."

Chapter 7

After that, Soren got chatty.

Here's what that looked like.

He was dabbing antiseptic on my scrapes, gentle, and I sucked in a breath. He smiled.

"Too rough for you? Go kidnap a guy with a softer touch."

That night I asked him to grab me a comic before bed. He grabbed the wrong one, so I got it myself. He smiled.

"Can't tell your comics apart? Next time kidnap a guy who reads them."

Next morning before work I forgot my notebook and asked him to hand it over. He smiled.

"Mad I didn't pre-pack your bag last night? Next time kidnap a guy who"

I drowned the rest of it in a kiss.

When I pulled back, Soren had this rare look on him. Drunk and lost at the same time.

I dropped my eyes. Looked up again. Smiled.

"Bye, Soren!"

He stood there, loose and easy.

Probably because every time I left, he got the place to himself.

I could see it, plain on his face. He was pleased.

"Coco. It's raining tonight. Be careful on that bike. Don't go down again."

He looked away, and the usual flicker of impatience came back.

"Otherwise I'm stuck doing your bandages forever. It's a hassle."

It was past eleven at night when I boarded the ferry.

Before it left, I sent him a text.

[Cuff key's behind the calendar. You're free.]

Soren wrote back in a second. [?]

"You out here keeping some other dog?"

"Throwing me away? You'll have to bury me first."

The calls started exploding across my screen.

It scared me so bad I blocked him, ripped out the SIM, and threw it in the sea.

There was a second card, a work line, that he didn't know about.

The next day I got a string of texts from my old coworkers