CHAPTER 2: BOUND TO THE BILLIONAIRE

The journey to Alessandro De Luca's mansion felt like a descent into the depths of her own personal hell for Amelia. The luxury of the car she rode in clashed harshly with the turmoil raging within her. She couldn't shake the feeling of being a lamb led to slaughter, her fate sealed by forces beyond her control.

As the vehicle glided through the gates of the sprawling estate, Amelia's breath caught in her throat. The mansion loomed before her like a fortress, its imposing façade a stark reminder of the power wielded by its owner. She felt like a prisoner being led to her cell, her every instinct screaming at her to run, to escape the clutches of the man who awaited her within those walls.

But escape was impossible. She was bound to Alessandro now, by the chains of obligation and the weight of her own desperation. She had signed away her freedom in exchange for a glimmer of hope, and now she must face the consequences of her choice. As the car came to a stop in front of the mansion's grand entrance, a sense of dread settled over her like a suffocating shroud. The door opened, and a man stepped out, his features obscured by the shadows of the night. "Welcome to your new home, Amelia," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine.

Amelia stepped out of the car, her legs trembling beneath her as she faced the man who held her fate in his hands. Alessandro De Luca, the enigmatic billionaire whose name struck fear into the hearts of men, stood before her like a dark and brooding god. She had expected him to be cruel, to be ruthless in his pursuit of power. But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something unexpected there. Something that made her heart stutter in her chest and her breath catch in her throat. Compassion.

For a fleeting moment, she saw a flicker of something tender in his gaze, a vulnerability that mirrored her own. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by the cold mask of indifference that she had come to expect from him. "Come," he said, gesturing for her to follow him into the mansion. "There is much to discuss. "Amelia trailed after him like a ghost, her footsteps echoing in the cavernous halls of the mansion.

Everywhere she looked, she saw evidence of Alessandro's wealth and power. Priceless works of art adorned the walls, while marble statues stood sentinel in the grand foyer. But for all its grandeur, the mansion felt empty and cold, a reflection of the man who dwelled within its walls. Alessandro led her through a maze of corridors and rooms, his demeanor as aloof as ever.

Finally, they reached a set of ornate double doors, which Alessandro pushed open with a flourish. Beyond lay a sumptuous bedroom, its opulent furnishings a stark contrast to the starkness of the rest of the mansion. "This will be your room," Alessandro said, his voice softening slightly as he turned to face her. "You may rest here tonight. Tomorrow, we will discuss your role in my organization. "With that, he turned on his heel and left her alone in the room, the heavy silence of the mansion closing in around her like a suffocating blanket.

Amelia sank onto the bed, her mind swirling with a thousand questions and fears. But amidst the turmoil, one thought burned brighter than all the rest: She was bound for Alessandro now, body and soul, and there was no escape from the web he had woven around her heart.