The Billionaire's Will

"You smell like baby shampoo," Dominic growled, his voice vibrating with a dangerous, earth-shattering realization. "And you smell like my blood."

The words suspended in the heavy air that existed between us were a curse of death upon the spot that caused my blood to run chilly.

My heart beat was bitterly against my ribs as an imprisoned bird. All my instincts had shouted to flee, to run out of the heavy mahogany doors and never see her again. He knew. Or his Alpha instincts at any rate were assembling the unattainable puzzle. The smell of a wolf pup was different, yet the smell of a pup of his blood? It was an admission, irresistible signature to an Alpha.

I do not know what you are talking about; I lied, and my voice was so steady with such terror in my throat. Both of my hands were against his rock-hard chest, I was desperately trying to loosen his grip. "Let me go, Dominic."

He didn't budge an inch. His huge hands clenched upon my hips, his thumbs rubbing against the crevice of the waist with the material of my coat. It was like the fire of illicit, forbidden heat dashing me down to the depths in a spike. His tawny eyes turned black, and churned with a storm of passion, anger, and a jealous lust that sucked the air straight out of my lungs.

"Dominic!" The shrieky, terrified voice of Camille broke the tense enclosure we were in. Her heels were clicking like marbles on the marble, and her face was a hideously ugly mask of jealousy as she marched forward. She touched him, making a hold on Dominic by his forearm. "What are you doing? Let go of her! Everyone is staring!"

There was a snarl of low menacingness in the breast of Dominic. He didn't even look at Camille. He just twitched his arm, and shrugged violently at her, as though she were a general nuisance. The utter denial caused Camille to gasp in disbelief and her face turned crimson with perfect humiliation.

Do not lie to me, Sophie, I said to him, and he still gazed at me, his eyes so fixed to mine that they were blazing. The civilized millionaire was now totally missing; and presently I was in the presence of one of the highest hunting-crows that had just sniffed a scent he had been sniffing seven years. "Who have you been around? What are you hiding?"

He made a step towards it, which was to draw me out of the foyer altogether and question me until I fractured.

"Mr. Steele."

A commanding, parched voice divided the heavy suspense. Mr. The head of the Steele family elite legal team was called Sterling and he stood at the entrance of the grand study. He took off his wire rimmed glasses, and in his hands he was carrying a huge leather folder.

Time, gentlemen, it is time, Mr. Sterling said to the silent assembly. Would the immediate family mind joining me in the study? It is now time to read the will and testament of Richard Steele, which he made as his last will.

The jaw of Dominic tightened so much that one of the muscles in his cheek twitched with anger. As he looked down at me, three agonizing seconds passed, and he promised to me, wordless as he was: This is not the end. Not even close.

He gradually, deliberately disengaged my hips. His abrupt loss of his blistering heat gave me a shiver, but I quickly hid it, throwing back my chin, and drawing my coat. I did not wait until he could lead the way. I swiveled and walked straight to the study where I felt his burning eyes follow me with every step.

The research was like smelling of old leather, costly scotch, and the faint lingering smell of my step dad. In the extreme end of the room was a huge oak desk. Mr. Sterling sat behind it, and opened the leather folder.

I was standing close to the back wall keeping distance. Vivian sat at once on the luxurious armchair of the front row, and crossed her legs, her eyes flashing with undisguised and greedy expectation. Camille stood rigidly by the side, and gave me glares of poison, and Dominic occupied the room standing against the heavy book shelf, his hands folded over his broad chest. He didn't look at the lawyer. He was still watching me.

Richard Steele was a very complex man, and this was something Mr. Sterling started to say when there was nothing in the room to break the silence of his voice. And the last will of his is a sign of his intentions to... right the previous mistakes.

Vivian made a waving motion of a manicured hand. Yes, yes, Richard was fine. Bringing to the distribution of assets, Sterling. The property, the liquidated accounts, the allowance of my widow.

Mr. Sterling was looking at my mother, absolutely unimpressed, over his glasses. Throat clearing and looking down at the document.

To my wife, Vivian, read Sterling, reading what Richard had said. fifty thousand dollars as severance once only. Thou hast wasteful consumed my purse on thy vices. Thou hast no more to give thee.'

There was a deathly quiet in the room.

Vivian flushed all over pale. Her jaw went slack. "What? That... that is impossible! Fifty thousand? That will not even suffice my seasonal wardrobe! I am his widow!"

The paperwork is unquestionable, Mrs. Steele--iron work," Sterling retorted. "I advise you to let me finish."

Camille smiled in victory, and was evidently delighted that Vivian had been excised. Her superior look had disappeared, however, as soon as Sterling turned the page.

The rest of my fortune, as the Steele Corporation, the pack lands, and all the liquid billions, shall be each of them divided into half. To my son, Dominic Steele, fifty per cent. And half to my half-step daughter, Sophie Hart.

The room erupted.

"Absolutely not!" Camille screamed and her mask was broken.

Vivian leaped out of her chair, her eyes insane. You giving half the empire to this ungrateful little tramp?

My own heart stopped. Half the empire? Billions of dollars? Why would Richard do that? I did not want his money, I just wanted to go away and save Ethan.

"Silence!" The Alpha command of Dominic broke into the room like a whip. Vivian and Camille immediately put their mouths together and trembled. Dominic examined Mr. Sterling, with his narrow silver eyes. Read the contingency, Sterling. My father never offered anything free of charge.

A shrewd fellow, Mr. Steele; I have to say so, you see," the lawyer shook his head. This contains an enormous contingency clause. To bequeath their shares either Dominic or Sophie must satisfy one thing and that thing in a certain way.

Sterling took a deep breath.

Domicic Steele and Sophie Hart have to spend in one place, under one roof, on the main Steele estate, six months in total. One side cannot pass one night without staying in the premise. You have to share the corporate transitions and the estate.

My stomach plummeted. Live here? With him? For six months?

"And if we refuse?" I coughed out and the panic finally bled into my voice.

Sterling turned straight to me. In case of either inheritance, or even the dissolution of the cohabitation, all of the Steele wealth, every dime, title, and corporate asset, will at once be sold and given to an offshore charity. Dominic loses his empire. Sophie loses her share. And Camille and Vivian will be left completely penniless.

"No!" Vivian jumped and grabbed the chest with her hand like she was shot. "Sophie, you have to do this! You owe me!"

I wasn't listening to her. My head was whirling sickeningly. In case I remained I was in a house with an Alpha who was mean and was already after my secrets. However, in the event of my departure, Vivian would have no means of livelihood and she would certainly follow me and Ethan to drain whatever I had constructed. She would ruin my life.

I was trapped.

I was raising my eyes gradually, challenged by the tightness in my throat.

Dominic was not looking at the lawyer across the room. He was not gazing at Camille who at this moment was crying with rage.

He was staring directly at me.

An ugly dark smirk of utter terror spread across his handsome face. He unwound his arms and moved slowly my way, the savage killer in his heart nearly purring with delight. He had me in a cage and the key was thrown away.

He bended down until his lips were inches to my ear and his scent curled round me like a heavy chain that can hardly be broken.

Six months, little bird," Dominic whispered, and then his hot breath gave me a violent shiver. More than enough time to me to know just whose baby shampoo you have on your skin.