002

~Katya

After eight long years of living in that glorified prison, I was finally out. I breathed a deep sigh of relief the second my heels hit the tarmac, taking in the cool air as I stepped off the private plane.

My relief vanished when I saw who was waiting for me. I turned to face the guy sent to pick me up instead of my arrogant stepfather.

"Where's Niklaus? Isn't he supposed to be here to pick me up himself?"

"First of all, he had an important meeting to attend to," he replied, taking a step toward me. "Secondly, I'm only telling you this so you don't get on his blacklist, but you'd better call him Sir or Daddy. Nobody dares call him Niklaus."

I rolled my eyes, letting out a loud groan. "And what if I do call him that? Is he gonna beat me up or what?" I sneered, flipping my long hair over my shoulder with a sharp smile.

"Anyway, I'm not gonna let an asshole like you spoil my mood today."

Before he could respond, I hurled my heavy luggage straight at his chest, catching him completely off guard as he stumbled to catch it.

Without looking back, I strutted right past him and climbed into the back of the sleek black Lamborghini waiting on the tarmac.

I settled into the plush leather, crossing my legs and staring out the tinted window as the engine roared to life. Seven years ago, Niklaus Montgomery shipped me off to a strict boarding school overseas like an unwanted trash after my mother vanished into thin air.

He thought he could keep me locked away, hidden from his sight under the excuse of "

protecting me.

Now I am twenty-one. Fully grown, completely done taking his orders, and ready to take back everything that belonged to my family.

We pulled into the private underground bay of Montgomery Enterprises. The massive glass skyscraper loomed overhead like a monument to his absolute power over the city.

"We're here," Julian grunted, yanking the door open. "Take the private elevator to the top floor. He's waiting."

"Gotta love the red-carpet treatment," I muttered, stepping out into the cool subterranean air.

I smoothed down my fitted skirt, adjusted my coat, and walked straight into the private elevator, hitting the button for the penthouse suite on the eighth floor.

Instead of taking me all the way to the top, the elevator gave a sudden, metallic shudder and ground to a complete halt. The digital floor indicator blinked red: 5th Floor.

The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing an empty, dimly lit hallway.

"Useless piece of junk," I grumbled under my breath.

I dumped my heavy bags right beside the elevator doors, figure-ing I'd let Niklaus's staff haul them up later.

I strutted down the quiet corridor, my heels clicking sharply against the polished marble. Halfway down the hall, a door stood slightly ajar, warm light spilling out onto the floor.

Curiosity getting the better of me, I pushed it open and stepped inside. It was a massive, private executive suite, smelling faintly of tobacco. Oh I love the smell, I do smoke, though not often.

I walked around the room, running my fingers along the heavy mahogany furniture and taking in the lavish setup.

Heavy footsteps sounded right behind me.

I spun around, my breath catching in my throat.

Standing in the doorway was a towering, ruggedly handsome older man. He didn't look gentle in the slightest, he had broad shoulders, a sharp, shadowed jawline, and dark, deadly eyes that instantly pinned me where I stood.

He locked the door behind him and looked me up and down with a cool, dangerous intensity.

"Are you the slut for today?" he asked, his voice a low, gravelly rasp.

I opened my mouth to shoot back a furious no, but the words completely died in my throat. My voice hung, paralyzed by the sheer, imposing presence of the man in front of me.

"Then let's get down to business," he said coldly.

Without breaking eye contact, he reached up, unbuckled his heavy luxury watch, and tossed it onto the desk. He unbuttoned his crisp white shirt in three swift motions, stripping it off to reveal a broad, heavily muscled chest covered in faint dark ink and scars.

I could only stare at him, completely dumbfounded, my heart hammering wildly against my ribs.

Back at the boarding school, I had only ever messed around with guys my own age, they were mostly foolish, inexperienced boys who didn't know what they were doing. I had to complete the steps with my fingers after they dropped down in just 4 minutes max into the game.

But standing in front of this mature, dominant stranger, a wave of heat surged straight to my core.

I had always secretly fantasized about being taken by an older, powerful man who knew exactly how to break a woman. And right now, he had no idea I was Niklaus's stepdaughter.