A Billionaire’s Obssesion

New York – Downtown

The sky was heavy with clouds, and rain poured down onto the slick sidewalks, reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights.

Cars sped past, and pedestrians rushed for shelter from the growing storm.

In a narrow, dark alleyway, a shadow struggled to move, a slender figure lay on the ground, breathing heavily.

Blood mixed with the rain, forming a small pool beneath her.

Isabella Carter had no idea how she had ended up like this.

The last thing she remembered was leaving the bar where she worked, only to be confronted by three men waiting for her at the back exit.

She never expected the night to end in punches, kicks, and the cold barrel of a gun pressed against her skin.

“You used to be a good girl, Isabella. Why are you trying to run now?” one of them sneered, his voice as cold as ice, before delivering a brutal kick to her stomach.

She gasped, her lungs emptying of air, her body unable to fight back.

She tried to get up but couldn’t, her body refused to obey her.

She shut her eyes, trying to hold back tears of pain, when she suddenly heard approaching footsteps.

Leonard Blackwood hadn’t planned on stopping here, but what he saw wasn’t something he could ignore.

Two men towered over a woman lying on the ground, her face battered, her clothes torn in places.

He observed the scene with his usual detached coldness, but he wasn’t an idiot, he knew when to step in.

Letting out a slow breath, he walked forward with calm, deliberate steps, his confidence lethal.

“I think you’re done here.”

One of the men turned to him, clearly not recognizing who he was.

But the moment their eyes met, something shifted.

There was something terrifyingly composed about Leonard, something that said he wasn’t a man to be threatened.

“This ain’t your business, rich boy,” the thug scoffed.

Leonard didn’t reply. Instead, his fist shot out, landing a devastating punch that sent the man sprawling to the ground.

The second attacker lunged at him, but Leonard was faster, his knee slammed into the man’s stomach before shoving him violently against the brick wall, making him groan in pain.

“Son of a bitch!” the first man yelled, clutching his bleeding nose.

Leonard simply gave him a sharp, warning glare.

“Take your trash and leave.”

The men exchanged looks before deciding not to push their luck.

They scrambled away, leaving Isabella behind.

Leonard looked down at the woman. He didn’t know who she was, but when she opened her eyes slightly, he saw the pain in them.

“Are you alright?”

She didn’t answer. She only stared at him for a few seconds before losing consciousness.

Leonard exhaled and, without hesitation, bent down and scooped her up in his arms.

Leonard Blackwood’s Penthouse – Downtown New York

Isabella woke up to the sensation of warmth. She was lying on a massive bed, wrapped in silk sheets, surrounded by an unfamiliar yet luxurious room.

“Where am I?” she murmured.

“You’re in my place,” a deep voice responded.

She turned her head quickly to see Leonard sitting near the window, a glass of whiskey in his hand.

She didn’t know how to react. The memories of what had happened rushed back, and though she felt gratitude, she also felt exposed.

“I didn’t ask you to save me.”

Leonard raised an amused eyebrow, taking a sip of his drink.

“No, but I don’t recall you being in a position to refuse.”

Her face burned with frustration, but she said nothing.

Leonard stood up and approached her slowly, his cold gaze locked onto hers.

“What were you doing in that place?” he asked, his tone calm but demanding.

“That’s none of your business,” she shot back.

She didn’t expect him to step even closer, until his face was only inches from hers.

“If it wasn’t my business, you’d be dead or worse right now.”

Her heart skipped a beat, not from fear, but from something else.

His voice, his presence, his intense eyes, they made her feel something unfamiliar.

His fingers gently tilted her chin upward, forcing her to look directly into his eyes.

“I don’t help people for free.”

Her eyes widened. She understood what he meant. But she didn’t move away.

She knew she was playing with fire, but she wasn’t innocent either.

She stared at him for a long moment before whispering,

“So, what do you want in return for saving me?”

Leonard smirked, then pushed her back gently, making her lie down on the bed as he hovered over her, his gaze dark and unreadable.

“Let me show you.”

She didn’t resist. Instead, she felt an unfamiliar desire growing inside her.

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep kiss, one that wasn’t gentle or hesitant. It was possessive, demanding.

The kiss turned into something deeper, his hands tracing her skin, making her shiver beneath his touch.

His fingers moved slowly, exploring, igniting a heat within her that she couldn’t ignore.

“Are you afraid?” he whispered against her ear.

She met his eyes, her breath unsteady, her body aching for more.

“No,” she whispered back.

He didn’t give her time to say anything else.