Escape

I was panicking, pacing the balcony as my heart hammered against my ribs. My hands shook as I bit my nails, sweat beading on my forehead. When I looked over the edge again, he was still there - Teddy, lying motionless with dark blood pooling around him.

I fumbled through my purse but I didn’t have a phone anymore. Frantic, I stumbled back into the party, scanning the crowded room for my Master.

I pushed past people, one of my heels slipping off, but I kept going. Then I spotted him - tall and commanding, his perfect dark blue suit highlighting his broad shoulders as he talked with a group of wealthy guests. I rushed over and grabbed his arm, pulling him away.

He yanked free, his sculpted features twisting into a snarl. “What is the meaning of this?”

His dark eyes swept over me coldly. Even angry, he was striking - high cheekbones casting shadows on his defined jawline, straight nose and full lips set in displeasure.

“Why do you look harried? And where’s your other shoe?”

“Can you... Can you come with me, please?” My voice broke, barely a whisper.

He grabbed my arm, his grip firm as he dragged me away from the crowd. “Yo’re an embarrassment,” he hissed in my ear. “What part of ‘shut up and be pretty’ didn’t you understand?”

I swallowed hard, hating the harsh displeasure in his voice. My heart raced faster and the room spun. What would he do when he found out? Would he report me? He had been displeased ever since he spent so much money on me. Maybe he’d use this to get rid of me.

We reached the balcony and I froze.

“Well, what is it?”

I could only point, my finger trembling. He released my arm and I cradled it against my chest, sweat sliding down my neck. He strode to the balcony edge and looked down.

The words tumbled out of me. “I didn’t mean to do it. He just... He fell over and I... I didn:t mean to do it. Please believe me. I—’

“Enough!” His voice was low but dangerous. I snapped my mouth shut as he stalked toward me.

“What were you doing alone with a man?”

“What?”

“You heard me.” His lips curled in that way that made me want to shrink into nothing. “Did you fuck him?”

“What? I don't—”

He grabbed my neck and slammed me against the wall, forcing my legs apart with his knee. His eyes were dangerous, the darkness in them absolute. He pried my mouth open, shoving a finger inside.

“I leave you alone for one second and you're seeing another man. Did you suck his cock, pet? Let him fuck you from behind?”

I shook my head frantically, confused. I couldn’t speak with his finger pressing down on my tongue.

“What did he do to you?”

He slid his finger out but kept his hand on my neck, firm but not choking. I kept shaking my head.

“Nothing. He came and... and touched me.”

“How?” He pressed closer.

“Just my arm. I didn’t... He wanted... I didn’t give it to him, please.”

“Then why were you here with him?”

“I wasn’t. I came here alone and he approached me. You have to believe me.”

His eyes narrowed to slits.

“I’m a virgin. I’ve never been with a man before.”

“Never?” He asked surprised . “You had a boyfriend.”

The mention of Jake pierced my heart, reminding me of what I’d done.

“We... We were waiting for marriage.”

He studied me for a long moment, his gaze searching, before releasing me. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

“What?” My heart pounded.

He walked back to the balcony and looked down at the body again. “You did the right thing, pet. He shouldn’t covet what’s mine.”

He returned to me and flicked the choker bearing his initials - E.C. A constant reminder of ownership.

“I…” I whispered. “What should we do?”

He sighed as if I was particularly dim. “What else? We bury the evidence.” He stepped away, pulled out his phone, and made a call.

His voice was controlled and commanding. I felt myself calming - he’d fix this.

“Thank you,” I said. “I didn’t know what to do.”

“Of course you didn’t. What can you do?”

He ended the call and approached me again, tipping my chin up with one finger.

“You look guilty. Fix your face. Find your shoe and stand up straight. By the time you come to meet me, you must be composed, do you hear?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Go.”

I shuffled past him, feeling his eyes on me as I left. After finding my shoe, I ducked into the bathroom to clean up. When I looked in the mirror, I saw Teddy’s face staring back. I jumped back with a yelp, startling some women who just entered. I forced a plastic smile and hurried out.

In the hall, I spotted my Master holding court with a group of men in expensive tailored suits. Following his orders, I straightened my spine and pasted on a sweet smile as I approached.

I slipped my arm through his, but he didn’t acknowledge me. Their conversation about business ventures and acquisitions bored me, and I couldn’t help darting glances around the room, looking for any sign that things had been handled.

“Stop looking guilty,” my Master whispered in my ear. “You don’t listen very well, do you?”

“Sorry, sorry. I just—”

“Shut up and be pretty,” he cut me off before returning to his conversation.

Later, a commotion rippled through the party. Security guards in black and white rushed through the crowd, faces grim. My heart clenched, but I stayed glued to my Master’s side.

A woman in diamonds approached us. “Can you imagine? The hotel security team found Mr. Gideon dead.”

She addressed only my Master, as if I was invisible. That’s how it had been all night, except for when Teddy noticed me. And now he was dead.

“Are you sure? He was just here, wasn’t he?” My Master’s face revealed nothing.

A short man joined us. “Actually, I haven’t seen him in a while. I didn’t think anything of it.”

“To think Teddy is dead, just like that,” the woman said, pursing her lips. “You never know, do you?”

“Yes,” my Master’s voice was dry. “You never know.”

I struggled to keep my expression neutral as the party guests dissected Teddy’s death.

“Who’ll inherit the business now?” someone mused.

“It shouldn’t be any of his airhead siblings. Teddy might’ve had his vices but he wasn’t a terrible businessman.”

“The real terrible one is Mr. Chamberlain here,” a man laughed, and everyone joined in.

The conversation shifted from Teddy to his business empire. His body wasn’t even cold and they were already carving up his wealth. My stomach turned.

When the police arrived, my heart nearly stopped.

“Give nothing away, you hear me?” my Master ordered. I nodded quickly.

The detectives gathered everyone in a separate room. Detective Cornell, a man in his thirties with sandy brown hair, started questioning people.

“What’s your name?” he asked my Master.

“Mr. Chamberlain.”

“And you are?” He turned to me.

My Master answered before I could. “My escort for the night. A plus one.”

Detective Cornell checked his list. “She’s not on the guest list.”

“Plus ones rarely are. She’s irrelevant.”

The detective’s eyes raked over me. “I’ll decide if she’s irrelevant or not. Miss, where were you between 9 and 10 PM?”

“With my Mas- with Mr. Chamberlain.”

“The whole time?”

“Yes.”

“Did you know Teddy Gideon?”

“No, sir.”

“Never met him before?”

“No, sir”

“Never spoke to him?”

“No, sir.”

Detective Cornell studied me for a long moment before dismissing us.

In the car, my Master crossed his arms. “Don’t disturb me. I’m tired.” He closed his eyes while I sat rigid with anxiety.

When Oliver pulled into a gas station, police sirens wailed past and my heart nearly stopped. I chewed my nails, staring out the window.

My Master was asleep. Oliver was occupied. If I was going to escape, it had to be then. I could hide, then leave the state tomorrow. Maybe even the country. I didn’t have access to my money, but I’d figure something out. Europe, maybe. Anywhere but here.

I slipped off my shoes and eased out of the car. Crouching low, I circled around and sprinted from the gas station. My feet pounded against the pavement as I ran, constantly looking over my shoulder. When I reached the road, I waved desperately at passing cars.

A white car drove past, then slowed and reversed. Relief flooded through me until the back door opened.

My Master stepped out, his movements fluid and predatory. His handsome face was calm but his eyes burned with fury. My blood turned to ice as he spoke:

“Hello, pet.”

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