Page 4 of Chained By Fate (Dark Billionaires: Vegas #1)

Three

ANDY

W alking behind Matt along the hotel corridor, I felt like a Chihuahua trailing after a Great Dane.

He was impossibly big, his broad shoulders cutting an imposing figure against the polished marble walls.

No guards flanked us; Matt didn’t need them.

One look at him, and it was clear he could tackle me in an instant if I so much as thought about running.

Just moments before, he had barked orders for his men to take care of Sean .

The words reverberated in my head like a bad echo.

I tried not to imagine what that meant—didn’t want to picture Sean’s body found somewhere in the street or splashed across the news later.

It was an open secret that Matt handled his problems with ruthless efficiency.

Billionaire or not, he had more in common with a mafia boss than a business tycoon.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and we stepped inside.

Standing next to him in that confined space was almost suffocating.

His presence seemed to fill the entire elevator, leaving me feeling small and insignificant.

Every time he moved, his muscles rippled under his tailored suit like some kind of predatory beast.

My body reacted against my will—a fluttering in my chest, a knot tightening in my stomach. Damn it. This wasn’t the time for confusing feelings.

When the doors opened again, I followed him out into what could only be described as a palace disguised as an office building.

Moments later, we entered a sleek office with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city below.

Las Vegas sprawled out like a glittering sea of lights and possibilities, stretching all the way to the horizon.

The office itself screamed luxury—mahogany furniture polished to perfection, abstract art pieces on the walls that probably cost more than my entire life savings combined, and plush carpets that seemed to whisper beneath our feet.

Matt motioned toward an opulent leather chair facing his desk. “Sit,” he commanded.

I obeyed, sinking into the chair’s embrace. It felt like being swallowed by comfort and intimidation all at once.

Matt lowered himself into his chair like a king settling onto his throne, and I couldn’t help but feel like a pauper in the presence of royalty.

He commanded the space effortlessly, his every movement exuding an aura of power and control.

He leaned back, his eyes boring into me with a dangerous glint that made my skin prickle.

Meanwhile, I sat rigid as a statue, my heart pounding against my rib cage like it wanted to escape this suffocating situation.

I swallowed hard, attempting to match his stare. The silence stretched on, thick and heavy, until I couldn’t bear it any longer. My mouth felt dry, words sticking to the back of my throat.

“Nice office,” I finally managed, my voice laced with sarcasm. “Did you rob a museum or just buy it outright?”

A chuckle escaped Matt’s lips, a low rumble that filled the room. “You’re braver than you look.”

“I have my moments.”

More silence, and those eyes of his. Damn, couldn’t he look somewhere else? I swore he was boring a hole into me.

“So, is this the part where you make me an offer I can’t refuse?” I asked.

He smirked. “Something like that.” His eyes glinted with amusement, as if he found my bravado entertaining.

Leaning back in his chair, he steepled his fingers together. “James has asked me to… look after you until this debt is settled.”

I swallowed hard, understanding the implication behind those words. Look after was just a polite way of saying I was his prisoner, to ensure I didn’t flee.

“Look after me?” I repeated, a bitter laugh escaping. “That’s rich. What are you planning? House arrest?”

“You could call it that.” His gaze remained unwavering.

I leaned forward, gripping the armrests of the chair. “Listen, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll do whatever it takes to pay back every cent.”

Matt waved a dismissive hand. “That’s none of my concern. My job is to keep an eye on you until the debt is resolved.”

Desperation clawed at my insides. “Maybe I could work for you?” I suggested, grasping at straws. “Cut me a deal, and I can help pay it off that way.”

One dark brow arched upward as he regarded me with undisguised interest. “Work for me?” A slow smile curved his lips. “You mean, with that body of yours?” He chuckled again, this time with a darker edge. “I don’t mind the idea; I like what I see. And just so you know, I always topped.”

Heat flushed through me—not the good kind—and I clenched my fists. “That’s not what I meant!”

“Oh?” He leaned in closer, eyes gleaming with mischief and menace.

“I want to work for you,” I said firmly. “As one of your men.”

His laughter echoed off the walls, cold and dismissive. “I have enough capable men. Don’t need a puppy like you around causing trouble.”

“I won’t cause trouble,” I shot back.

Matt’s smirk widened, and I could see the amusement dancing in his eyes.

“You won’t cause trouble? I disagree. Your behavior earlier left much to be desired as an employee, and your looks…

” He paused, letting his gaze travel over me, letting the implication hang in the air.

“Let’s just say you’ll have men coming after you left and right. ”

Heat crept up my neck as I fought the urge to squirm under his scrutinizing gaze. “I’m not like that,” I shot back, unable to keep the defensive edge out of my voice. “I was just… scared and angry earlier. I’m sorry I caused a ruckus.”

Matt waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t need your apology. I need you to pay for the damages.”

I blinked, taken aback. “Damages?”

With a casual air, he leaned back in his chair, rattling off the destruction Sean and I had left in our wake with infuriating precision. “Let’s see… twenty broken wineglasses, three overturned tables, one ruined roulette wheel, not to mention the disturbance to my other guests…”

As the tally grew, I felt my mouth go dry. How did he keep track of every little detail?

“Are you always this detailed when it comes to business?” I couldn’t help but ask with a touch of wry amusement.

One side of Matt’s mouth quirked up in a half smile. “Always.”

I swallowed hard, my earlier bravado dissipating. “Look, I have no money,” I admitted quietly. “Whatever little savings I had, Sean has probably already gambled it away.”

Matt nodded, unsurprised. “That’s right. Sean lost around a hundred grand tonight alone.”

A hundred thousand dollars? My head spun at the sheer amount. “Where is that money even coming from?”

“The casino has… loans available for our bigger players,” Matt replied smoothly.

A knot of dread formed in my gut as realization dawned. “And that loan… is it under my name?”

Matt’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “It is.”

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. How could the casino allow someone to borrow that kind of money under a different person’s name? Unless…

“It’s just business,” Matt said, as if reading my mind. “I don’t care whose name the loan is under.”

Swallowing hard, I tried to maintain my composure under Matt’s piercing gaze. “What do you intend to do with Sean?”

“You don’t need to worry about Sean. I’d be more concerned about your own ass if I were you.”

That was both a relief and not. Sure, Sean had royally screwed me over, but he was still my friend. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

Desperation clawed at me. “Look, I can work here at the hotel to pay off the debt,” I blurted out. “Give me a job, any job, and I’ll work day and night until it’s all paid back.”

A laugh escaped Matt, rich and full of amusement. “Do you have any idea how long it would take you to pay off a hundred grand with a hotel job?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered, glaring at him. “A couple of years?”

“Try a couple of decades.” He paused, eyes glinting with something darker. “But lucky for you, this particular loan is under my direct jurisdiction. So, I’m willing to cut you a deal.”

Interest piqued despite myself, I asked warily, “What kind of deal?”

Matt’s gaze raked over me in a way that made me feel stripped bare. “I need… a new boy toy to keep me company.”

My stomach churned at his words. The thought of being some kind of plaything made bile rise in my throat. “You’re kidding,” I spat out.

“Think it over,” Matt said casually, as if discussing the weather.

“No,” I shot back immediately. “I don’t do that.”

“That’s unfortunate.” He sighed, as if disappointed but unsurprised. “But I’ll give you a week to reconsider.” His eyes gleamed with wicked promise.

A week? Like hell I’d need that long.

“Just remember,” he added nonchalantly, “there’s a thirty percent interest rate monthly on that loan.”

Thirty percent? My breath caught in my throat as I realized the debt was only going to keep growing exponentially.

I wanted to strangle Sean for getting us into this mess.

Five years of friendship, through thick and thin, and this was how he repaid me—by gambling away money we didn’t have and leaving me at the mercy of a sadistic billionaire.

The scrape of Matt’s chair against the floor jolted me from my thoughts. He stood, towering over me imperiously. “Follow me.”

Unease coiled in my belly. “Where are we going?”

A sardonic smile played on his lips. “To your new home.”

Your new home echoed in my ears like a bad joke on loop as I trailed behind him out of his office.

Home? More like my new hell. I envisioned a damp, windowless basement, complete with rats and rusty chains—perfect for Matt’s twisted sense of hospitality.

Or maybe a grimy cell with iron bars and a stench that clung to your skin, a place where the light never touched.

I braced myself for the worst as we strode down the opulent hallways of the hotel, my heart pounding with each step. Moments later, Matt swiped a keycard and pushed open a door, revealing…

A penthouse that looked like it belonged in the pages of an interior design magazine. This wasn’t some dank dungeon; it was a luxurious suite that screamed opulence from every corner.

My jaw went slack as I took in the open floor plan flowing seamlessly from a grand kitchen equipped with state-of-the-art appliances to a plush living area adorned with leather sofas and abstract art.

The master bedroom sat beyond, its king-sized bed looking inviting enough to melt into.

And the veranda—God, the veranda—offered a panoramic view of Las Vegas that made the city’s glittering lights look like diamonds strewn across black velvet.

“You’ll be staying here,” Matt said as if he were offering me a Ritz-Carlton suite for the weekend.

“You’re kidding me?” The disbelief dripped from my voice. There had to be some catch; places like this weren’t handed out without strings attached.

A wry smile played on his lips. “Make yourself at home.” His tone made it clear there was an implicit warning behind those words—don’t do anything stupid like trying to run.

With that, he turned and left me alone in the lavish penthouse. I stood frozen for a long moment, half expecting this all to be some cruel prank. When no one jumped out yelling gotcha! , I finally allowed myself to move.

In a daze, I wandered through the space, running my fingers along the buttery soft leather of the couch. The floors were warm beneath my feet, and the air carried a faint hint of citrus, like someone had just cleaned.

I made my way to the bedroom and couldn’t stop the low whistle that escaped my lips. The bed was covered in plush bedding and a mountain of pillows. Through another set of doors, I found myself in the biggest closet I’d ever seen, the racks overflowing with designer suits and casual wear.

Realization struck me like a bucket of ice water. This wasn’t just some empty penthouse—it was Matt’s actual place. My skin prickled with discomfort at the thought of living in such close quarters with that intimidating man.

“Like hell I’m staying here,” I muttered under my breath.

Squaring my shoulders, I marched right back out the front door, letting it slam shut behind me. I didn’t care what Matt’s instructions had been. I’d find my own place to lay low. Anything was better than being that bastard’s captive houseguest.