Semua Bab Owned By The Billionaire Devil: Bab 1 - Bab 6

Maisie ~~ “The Gilded Vine, 8:15 p.m. Booth by the fireplace. You’ll hear him call you a family friend this time.” I stared at my phone, and the world narrowed to the glow of the screen. It was a text from an unknown number. The third this month. And overall twenty in two months. My heart began to hammer against my ribs wildly. I flicked my wrist, checking my watch. 8:14 PM. A cold trickle of dread seeped down my spine. I was in The Gilded Vine. I was here for a casual girls' night with my best friend, Chloe, who was currently debating between two cocktails on the menu. "The passionfruit mojito or the elderflower spritz? Maisie, help me out," Chloe said, not looking up. I couldn’t answer. My throat felt dry as I slowly looked around the cozy restaurant; brick walls, soft jazz, the warm light of the fireplace. And there, in the booth directly beside it, was my fiancé. Alistair Grimshaw. He was leaning forward, a confident smile on his handsome face, surrounded by three

Still, his masked face gave nothing away. It was a complete mystery, hiding any reaction he might have had. Before he could decide to give me an answer, I took matters into my own hands. Acting on a wild impulse, I clenched my hand into a fist and grabbed the front of his shirt. I pulled him down toward me and crushed my lips against his in a sudden, desperate kiss.He didn’t resist.For one single moment, he was completely still and passive against me. Then, everything changed. He responded.But this wasn't just a kiss. It felt like a reclamation… like he was taking something back. His mouth moved over mine with a skilled and devastating hunger that instantly stole the breath from my lungs.It was nothing at all like Alistair’s calm, polite, and gentle kisses. This was deep, consuming, and utterly ruthless. One of his hands tangled firmly in my hair, not to cradle my head lovingly, but to hold me exactly in place. His other arm wrapped like a steel band around my waist, pulling me

I was in so much shock that I just stood there, staring Alistair like he was a map to be studied.Mom clicked her tongue. "Maisie, don't just stand there. It's rude." She looked from me to Alistair, her smile apologetic.Alistair just smiled gently back at her. "It's alright," he said in a warm, soothing sound that made my skin crawl. "She must be tired."He was calm. He was polite. He was standing in my living room as if he hadn't been in a hotel bed just a little while ago."Your mom told me about last night," Alistair continued smoothly. "She said you didn't come home and I was worried. So I waited."He took my hands, just as he always did, apologizing softly. " I'm sorry about yesterday alright? I promise, it's not what you think." I quickly pulled away, shocked and confused. His touch felt the same. His scent... The same cologne. Everything felt familiar."Maisie, stop standing there like a statue and offer him something?" My mom’s voice was sharp, a tone she used when I was emb