The Ruby Shackle: Bound To The Billionaire

The sunroom was blindingly bright.

Audie stood on a ladder, wiping the floor-to-ceiling glass. Her arm ached, but the rhythmic motion was grounding. Through the glass, she could see the manicured gardens. Basil was out there, walking Duchess. He was limping.

"Audie, come down from there."

Corine sat at the wrought-iron table, sipping tea from bone china. She looked benevolent today.

Audie climbed down. She missed the last step and stumbled.

"Careful," Corine chided gently. She placed a slip of paper on the table. "For the dress. And for your... trouble last night."

Audie picked it up. A check for five hundred dollars.

She widened her eyes. She looked at Corine and shook her head, pushing the check back across the table.

"Nonsense. A girl needs to look presentable. I can't have you walking around smelling like fast food," Corine insisted, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Basil has been under a lot of pressure with the asset freeze. If he takes it out on you, just know it's the illness talking."

Audie gave a small, reluctant nod, leaving the check on the table.

The glass door slid open.

Basil walked in. Duchess strained at the leash, barking ferociously at Audie.

Audie shrieked and ducked behind Corine's chair.

"Control that beast, Basil!" Corine snapped.

Basil shortened the leash. He looked pale, sweat beading on his forehead despite the chill morning air. His eyes landed on the check on the table.

"What is that?"

"Compensation," Corine said. "For the dress you ruined."

Basil walked over. He snatched the check from the table.

"Basil!" Corine gasped.

He ripped the check in half. Then into quarters. He let the confetti rain down onto the pristine tile.

"Deans don't give handouts to beggars," he sneered.

Audie whimpered, covering her face with her hands.

"She needs clothes, Basil," Corine said, her voice tight.

"Then I will buy them," Basil said. He stared at Audie, his gaze burning through her fingers. "I decide what she wears. I decide what she owns. She doesn't take money from anyone else. Is that clear?"

"You're being irrational," Corine said, reaching for the bell to summon the nurse. "You need your morning dose."

Basil leaned in close to Audie, under the pretense of intimidating her.

"Library. Tonight," he murmured. The sound was barely a breath. "Come collect what you're owed."

He straightened up and stormed out, dragging the growling dog with him.

Audie fled to the kitchen. Her heart was pounding, but not from fear.

She found a corner near the pantry where the cameras had a blind spot. She wiped her dry eyes.

Basil wasn't being irrational. He was cutting off her supply lines. He wanted her dependent solely on him.

She looked up at the corner of the ceiling. A new camera blinking red.

He was watching. Everywhere.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. A text from an unknown number. Arthur.

Hey. I know last night was weird. But the fair is in town this weekend. Maybe we could try again? No BBQ sauce this time. :)

Audie's thumb hovered over the delete button. Basil had warned her.

She deleted the message.