Bought By The Billionaire

Later, showered, clean and comfortable, we lie together on my bed, drinking wine, discussing everything and nothing in the
candlelight.
“Master, there’s something I think I need to tell you about.”
Cocking an eyebrow at me, “Oh? What?”.
“You know Mack Kane?”
“What about him? He lost his job when you spotted that he’d been defrauding the company.”
“Yes, but, I’ve seen him a few times since then. I think he’s following me.”
My Master looks appalled. “What! When was this?”
“Usually when I’m coming home from the office. I keep seeing him and I wonder if he’s trying to find out where I live now. The
first time I thought it was just a coincidence, but it’s kept happening. I think I’ve managed to lose him in the crowds each time
but....”
He holds up a warding hand. “Say no more Elizabeth. I’ll get right onto it. I think a prohibition order is needed. I have friends with
the police. We’ll get it fast-tracked for you.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth. You don’t deserve this.”
“It’s alright, Master. It’s not your fault. I didn’t want to bother you with it but....”
He jabs a finger at me. “This is the kind of thing you do bother me with Elizabeth. If anything else happens, you tell me right
away. I mean that. You call me immediately. You have my mobile number, and I’ll tell Francis to make sure that if you call the
office, it comes straight through to me if you say it’s important.”
“Alright. I’ll do that.”
He stretches and yawns. “I’m sorry Elizabeth, but I have to go. I have a lot on tomorrow and the following day, so it could be the
end of the week before I see you again. But don’t worry about things. I’ll contact the police tomorrow morning. And you keep in
touch if you need to. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything were to happen to you. Okay?”

I nod. “Good night, Elizabeth.” And he kisses me, softly, on the lips, his hand caressing my hair.
My Master quickly dresses and leaves, clicking the door closed behind him. I start making myself ready for sleep; a cup of tea, a
book, soft music, when I see my Master’s briefcase on the couch.
Buzzing down to the concierge “Sorry, Miss Kimberley. He’s already left the building, about five minutes ago.”
Undecided, I hover. Should I call him at this late hour? He said he’s busy tomorrow, so he probably needs the case. I could
message Ross, the driver, to call by and pick it up first thing in the morning....
I am just tapping out a text when the door buzzes. Ah! He’s realized that he left it behind and has returned to collect.
“Coming...” I shout and go to the door to unlock it.
As the lock snaps up, the door crashes open in my face and a man bursts in. Stepping backwards, Mack Kane slams me against
the wall, his hands around my throat.
I have no time to be frightened, only to react. My attacker is not a large man, but he is still stronger and more powerful than I am.
Gasping and choking, I cannot fight him off. I am trying, with both hands, to break his grip on my neck, but the momentum of his
charge through the door has pushed me to the floor, and he has the advantage now of height; his weight bearing down on me.
“You little bitch!” he is yelling. “You think you could do that and get away with it? You think you’re so fucking clever don’t you......”
I cannot break loose. He is strangling me, and my vision is beginning to blur. I cannot breathe. The hot blackness of
unconsciousness circles in on me.
“Bitch!” he is screaming. “Bitch! I’ll teach you!”
My knees start to collapse under me. I have no air, and the darkness is taking me......
“What the Hell do you think you’re doing?”
Abruptly, my attacker is pulled loose from me, his hands releasing their hold on my throat, and I collapse to the floor, gagging for
breath and crying, sobbing....
I think I am going to be sick....

It is my Master. He has returned, and not a moment too soon. As I gasp on the floor, chest heaving, the two men struggle by the
doorway. Suddenly Mack breaks free and dashes out of the door. Through blurry vision I see my Master hesitate, clearly wanting
to follow, but not wanting to leave me. He drops to the floor beside me.
I am still on hands and knees, coughing and crying, tears streaming down my face. Now the adrenaline has had time to kick in,
and I am shaking, trembling, sucking in huge lungfuls of air, sobs racking my frame. My Master, cradles me in his arms, rocking
me.
“Elizabeth. Oh God, Elizabeth. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have left you. Oh, God. I could have lost you. I could have lost you.”
Choking out some words through my tears and shaking. “I’m alright, really, Master. I’m alright.”
“No, you’re not. How can you be alright? You were attacked. He was trying to kill you.” He sits me, on the floor, back against the
wall, one hand flat on my chest, the other caressing my face.
“I’ll only be a moment. Don’t move.” And he dashes to the intercom, dialling the contact for the concierge. “Yes, an ambulance.
And the Police. Right now. And close up the building. Seal all the doors. Don’t let him get out. Don’t argue! NOW!”
He yells the final words, before stabbing the connection closed.
I have to pull myself together. My Master is normally so self-controlled, so magnificent. To see him like this is upsetting beyond
words. I must calm myself, and so calm him. I have not been seriously hurt, only shaken, and Mack will soon be arrested and
locked up. My Master knows people and Mack will not get away with this. I did nothing to him except, accidentally, expose his
fraud.
“Master, please, calm down. I’m alright. Truly, he hasn’t hurt me. It was mainly the shock.”
I draw in deep breaths, forcing myself to relax, willing my hammering heartbeat to slow down, and hoping that my aching throat
is not the sign of anything more serious than bruises.
As my breathing eases, my Master visibly relaxes, but almost engulfs me in his embrace, kissing my forehead, rocking me in a
kind of circular motion that suggests he is comforting himself as much as me.
There is the wail of sirens and blue light flashes up through the windows, into the room. It feels weird, unearthly, and I feel sort of
disconnected, spaced out...... and....
......I wake, in bed, disoriented, staring up at a ceiling.

This is not my bedroom.
Where am I?
After a moment’s hesitation, I sit up.
Ah, this is my Master’s bedroom, and he is sitting close by in a large armchair, writing notes. As I stir, he looks up and smiles.
“Ah, Elizabeth. You’re awake. How do you feel?”
How do I feel? A bit fuzzy still.
“I’m alright. I think. Have I been asleep long?”
“For a while. Don’t worry about it. Coffee perhaps? Something to eat?”
“Mmmm, yes. That would be lovely.”
“I’ll make the coffee and ring down for some food. What would you like?”
“Oh, just something light. Soup perhaps.”
“Coming up.”
Five minutes later my Master returns bearing a tray with coffee pot. “I’ve ordered you some soup. There are a couple of people
out here who need to see you.”
“Oh?”
“There’s a doctor here. He examined you while you slept, and thinks you are basically okay, but he wants to check you over now
while he can talk to you. Also, do you feel up to giving a statement to the Police?”
“Yes, I think so.”
The doctor comes in and asks me a lot of questions; asking me if it hurts when I move my neck? Do I have any tingling in my
fingers? Does my breathing feel normal? He concludes that I am as well as can be expected, and was mainly suffering from
shock.

The police officer who questions me is a woman. She is mostly interested in the details of the attack itself, such as they are and
says that there will be other officers later to inquire as to the details of Mack Kane’s fraud.
There is, of course, very little I can tell her. The whole thing happened so quickly, but I do tell her about Mack having followed me
for some days prior to the event. The whole thing makes me shudder, and I don’t want to think about it anymore. I am glad when
she goes.