I Owe You One Novels & Stories

I blinked, stared in confusion with my mouth wide open. “Wh–what was that for?” “That hundred dollar bill is for your performance last night, it wasn't bad but it wasn't good enough. Consider this a bonus because I feel like it but you should consider improving before you start charging people.” He let out sarcastically. I bit my lower lip in anger. He only thought I was worth a hundred dollars?! How disrespectful. My fist clenched, my teeth sank deep into my lips. I was about to lose my temper but I remembered just how badly I needed my job so I forced another smile, lowered to pick the extra hundred dollar bill and smiled.

The kind of crack that lets light in. "You didn't buy me," Elijah said. "You bought my debt. There's a difference." "Is there?" "Yes." Elijah moved closer—just an inch, just enough that their foreheads were almost touching. He could feel Alexander's breath on his lips, warm and slightly uneven. "You gave me a choice. You gave me an out. You could have owned me, and you didn't. That matters." "It was a contract." "Contracts can be broken. You could have called in the debt at any time. You didn't."

People do reckless things when they're desperate. "Rachel, I won't rush you on the three hundred thousand, but you need to write me an IOU." She blinked, then laughed. "Us? An IOU? Come on, that's so formal." "Three hundred thousand isn't three hundred. Write one. It gives us both peace of mind." Reluctantly, she scrawled a few lines on the paper I handed her and signed it. Date, amount, repayment deadline—one year. She took a copy. I kept the original.

It wasn't until then that Ethan finally allowed Rosalie to leave the house. I followed Rosalie, who was in a disheartened state, back to the Talbot residence. Roxanne cried so much that her eyes were swollen. Roxanne was used to being dependent her entire life. Now with a huge debt on her shoulders, she was completely at sea. Her eyes lit up when she saw Rosalie. She walked up to Rosalie and held her hands. "Rosalie, we've lost everything! Everything! Your dad left us such a huge debt too. What should we do, Rosalie?"

Was this payback? Before he could stop himself, the words slipped out. “Is this because I didn’t go with your narrative pitch yesterday?” Ava blinked, startled. Then slowly tilted her head to the side. “Excuse me?” Luke instantly regretted saying it, but the damage was done. He sat back, exhaling. “I just meant—never mind. Forget I said that.” “No.” Her voice was soft but steady. “You think I’m shooting down your idea because I’m being petty?”

“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Judith. You owe me one million dollars. Please pay me back.” Over the years, Mark borrowed a total of one million dollars from me. As I resented him for making me sign the contract, I made him sign an IOU every time he took money. Of course, Mark thought he never had to repay me. He kept taking money from me without returning a single cent. Now, as the only beneficiary to his estate, Judith had to pay me back that one million. To prove that Mark did owe me a million, I showed her the photos of the IOUs.

I will love you and only you for as long as I live. I give my heart to you, only you. And no matter what happens, I will never take it back. I don't want you to be uncertain about our future or be insecure. You are the only one I want to kiss, the only one I want to make love to, the only one I want to bear my children and the only one I want to be beside me until the end of my life.

I lay my head back on the rug, a new wave of sleep finding its way to me. That was interrupted by yet another call. Dagger. This time I picked. "I sent your money," I said, with so much pride. "You sent 4000." He did not sound pleased. "You still owe me 4000, and I want it by the end of today." My brows furrowed. "What?" I fired. That didn't sound right. "Dagger, I collected 4k worth of wraps, you are mistaken..." "And for how long? Don't you know what we call interest?" He spat.

One thing at a time. “Why ten million?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “If you overheard my conversation, you'd know I need only five to cover my debt, plus interest.” “Consider the extra five as repayment for saving my life.” he replied, “You saved my life last night. I owe you a debt of gratitude Miss Johnson, it's only fair that I give you double the amount you need.” I swallowed thickly. Looking him over, his gait still held that composed, commanding authority. It was a grounded certainty.

Mama got you what they owed you. This was only the beginning. Everyone who owed me—I would take it back, piece by piece. And the empire that belonged to me—I would put it at the top of the world. With my own hands. [END]