Page 11 of Chained By Fate (Dark Billionaires: Vegas #1)

Matt’s laughter filled the space, the sound bouncing off the walls and stabbing me right in the pride. It was the kind of laugh that said, Aren’t you adorable when you’re being insolent?

I set my jaw, ready to launch a volley of sarcasm his way, but he leaned forward before I could unleash it. His eyes held a gleam that wasn’t there before—a spark of something that looked suspiciously like respect.

“I meant it, Andy. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders.” A small smile played on his lips. “And that app you’ve been coding? It looks promising.”

My eyes widened a fraction at his words. How did he know about my app?

Matt must have caught my surprise because he chuckled again. “James has an eye for potential. So do I.” His gaze held mine, unwavering. “I could help fund your dream with that app. But…” He let the word hang there, heavy with implication.

My heart raced with a sudden surge of interest, despite the wariness prickling at the back of my mind. If my app took off, it could be my ticket out of this mess—a way to repay the debt to Mr. Maxwell and finally give Mia and me a shot at a better life.

But Matt’s unfinished statement made it clear there were strings attached. I opened my mouth, ready to fire off a snarky retort about not selling my soul. Yet something stopped the words from tumbling out.

Matt watched me, that same self-assured smirk playing on his lips as if he could read the internal struggle raging within me.

“But?” I probed.

“Under one condition.”

“What condition?” I asked cautiously, unable to mask the intrigue in my voice.

Matt’s gaze never wavered as he replied, “I want you.”

The words hung in the air between us. I was about to spout something irritating—maybe about how he already owned half of me thanks to the debt—but something held me back. Instead, I bit my tongue and let silence take over as I processed his proposition.

The rest of the dinner passed in tense quiet. Matt didn’t press further, allowing me to stew in my own churning thoughts.

After dinner, I returned to the penthouse alone.

Matt had work to do, or so he claimed. Billionaires, I mused, must have calendars bursting at the seams with meetings and deals.

The thought of Matt orchestrating his empire from that sleek, glass-walled office of his felt both intimidating and oddly comforting.

It meant he’d be too busy to hover over me like a vulture over roadkill.

Left alone in the opulence of his penthouse, I flopped onto the plush couch and stared at my laptop. It sat there, closed, innocuous—a Pandora’s box of code and dreams. Matt’s offer echoed in my head like a song stuck on repeat. He wanted me as his… boy toy.

The pros and cons played tug-of-war in my mind.

On one hand, accepting Matt’s deal could mean swimming in a pool of resources for my app—a golden ticket out of Debtville and giving Mia the life she deserved.

On the other hand, I’d be surrendering to being someone’s plaything, which reeked of desperation and cologne—probably something expensive and woodsy.

But let’s face it, opportunities for guys like me didn’t exactly rain from the sky unless you counted eviction notices and overdue bills.

With a sigh, I pulled out my new phone and began texting Mia, Finley, Ethan, and of course, Sean, to let them know of my new number. The digital keys felt foreign under my fingers, a stark reminder that this phone came with its own set of shackles.

Hey, guys, it’s Andy. New number! Save it.

Almost immediately, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from Mia. A small smile tugged at my lips as I answered.

“Hey, sis,” I greeted her, my voice light despite the turmoil inside.

“Andy! Where are you? I tried your old number a hundred times!” Mia’s voice was a balm, soothing over all the rough edges inside me.

I leaned back into the couch cushions, letting her familiar cadence wash over me. “New phone,” I said with a chuckle. “Long story, but I’m fine, really,” I assured her. “Just… dealing with some stuff.”

“Stuff? What kind of stuff? Are you in trouble again?” Her tone was equal parts concern and exasperation.

I hesitated for a moment before answering, “It’s complicated.”

Her voice softened. “Andy, you know you can tell me anything.”

“I know,” I replied, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I’m working it out.”

“Working it out how?” There was a pause on the other end before Mia spoke again, her voice filled with cautious optimism. “Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise,” I said, though the words felt heavy on my tongue.

“Apart from that, you’re doing well, right?” she asked.

“Doing well?” I echoed Mia’s question with the finesse of a seasoned actor. “Oh, I’m fantastic, practically tap-dancing on a rainbow over here.”

I could almost see Mia’s brow furrowing in that adorable way she does when she’s calling my bluff. “Really, Andy? Because the last time you said that, you were two seconds away from getting evicted.”

I chuckled, running a hand through my hair. “Evicted is such a strong word. Let’s just say I was encouraged to explore alternative living arrangements .”

Mia snorted, and I could tell she was smiling on the other end. “Right. So what’s your new arrangement ?”

I glanced around the luxurious penthouse that screamed Matt Caine’s name in every opulent detail. “Let’s just say I’ve stumbled into an… unexpected living situation.” I quickly changed the subject before she probed deeper. “Mia, how are you holding up?”

There was a brief silence on the other end, like she was weighing my words. “Work’s been rough. The other staff are treating me like dirt, and my boss? He’s a grade A jerk.”

My grip on the phone tightened. “What do you mean? What’s he doing?”

She sighed, a weary sound that made my blood boil. “He yells at me for every little thing, gives me the worst shifts, and I’m pretty sure he’s docking my tips.”

“That jerk has another thing coming if he thinks he can treat you like that,” I spat out, the protective brother in me roaring to life. “That’s it,” I snapped, anger rising like a tidal wave. “I’m getting you out of that pathetic job of yours. Whatever it takes.”

“Andy.” Mia sighed. “It’s fine. I can handle it. I’ve been through worse, remember?”

“No, Mia. You deserve better than this,” I insisted, feeling a familiar fire ignite within me.

“Andy,” she said again, more firmly this time. “I love you for wanting to protect me, but I’ve got this. You need to focus on sorting out your own mess first.” She was quiet for a moment before her voice softened. “It’s late, and I’ve got an early shift tomorrow. We’ll talk later. I love you.”

“I love you too, Mia,” I said softly.

“Get some sleep, okay?” she said with a smile in her voice.

“Okay,” I said.

The call disconnected with a soft click, leaving me alone with the weight of her words. I stared up at the ceiling, my jaw set in determination.

She deserved the world—white picket fences, puppies, the whole nine yards. A real life, not this endless cycle of scraping by.

I hauled myself off the couch and padded into the bathroom.

After brushing my teeth and taking a quick shower—scrubbing myself clean using Matt’s expensive body gel—I returned.

My gaze fell on the massive bed, crisp sheets beckoning with the promise of expensive thread counts.

Sighing, I collapsed onto the plush mattress and let the scent of money envelop me.

My eyes drifted shut as I replayed Matt’s offer in my mind. “I want you…” Those four words held both a tantalizing promise and a terrifying threat. Could I really let myself be bought? Become some billionaire’s boy toy, a pretty little bauble to dangle on his arm?

A resigned sigh escaped my lips as the answer solidified inside me.

Yes. For Mia, I could do anything. Selling my soul to the devil never looked so appealing.

With that grim acceptance settling over me like a shroud, sleep finally claimed me.