Chapter 1 Such An Expensive Prostitute

With a quiet sigh, Bethany Harper stared down at the shimmering city lights from the vast window, lost in thought.

Just then, her phone buzzed, the screen illuminating with her ex-boyfriend Julian Wells's message. "Don't be such a drama queen. Get back here."

Her face remained impassive, reflected in the window, as she quickly typed her response. "Fuck off!"

She had just hit send when she heard the bathroom door swing open.

Turning around, she saw a man emerge.

He was tall and clad only in a towel slung low around his hips.

His buzz cut and muscular chest were on full display, drips of water trailing down from his strong jaw, adding a rugged charm.

With a smirk and a quick glance her way, he remarked, "I don't mess with my friends' women."

Bethany stepped closer, a daring smile on her lips. "And yet, you still let me in," she countered.

Leland Swanson's gaze, calm and intense, slipped downward, catching on the alluring glimpse of her cleavage exposed by the neckline of her dress.

He remained silent, yet Bethany was convinced that at their core, men were fundamentally alike-few could resist the allure of a beautiful woman approaching them of her own volition.

Furthermore, Leland's reputation as a playboy was practically legendary.

With a bold move, Bethany pulled him close, laying her cards on the table. "You can't possibly tell me you were unaware Julian has been engaged for years while I played the fool to him all this while?"

Leland merely laughed softly, his silence an unspoken admission.

Bethany had devoted five years to Julian, only to be blindsided by the revelation that he had been engaged the whole time, thrusting her unexpectedly into the role of the other woman.

Though not Julian's closest confidant, Leland was privy to the inner workings and secrets of their group, and it was probable the others were too.

Yet there she was, Julian's girlfriend, the last to know her partner for who he truly was!

Driven by a surge of resolve, Bethany rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, her novice attempts at passion aimed to awaken his desire.

The effect took hold right away, his breath hitching and growing faster.

With a crackling burst of thunder, Bethany jolted, her fingers clutching Leland's arms in surprise.

As hefty raindrops battered the window, a sudden flash of lightning threw the room into stark relief, casting dramatic shadows over their intertwined silhouettes.

When morning's light crept in, the storm had already died down.

Once their moment of sex ended, Leland slipped away to the shower, showing no signs of wanting to linger.

For Bethany, he was nothing more than a momentary diversion. She knew well that such fleeting connections were typical among adults.

She quickly got dressed and slipped out of the room without a sound.

Just as she was about to step into the elevator, her phone buzzed with a video call.

It was her younger brother, Shawn Harper. She immediately fixed her hair to appear presentable and answered the call cheerfully. "Hey, Shawn!"

The scene on her screen was alarming. Shawn was pinned down by several burly men, his voice muffled by a gag, while one arm was brutally secured to a chair. A man with tattoos menacingly hovered a heavy club over Shawn's arm, barking, "Time's up, Bethany. Settle your debt, or the kid loses his arm."

Bethany's voice shattered with fear. "No, please! I'll get you the money-just don't hurt him!"

"Alright, you've got thirty minutes to deliver," the man countered, unyielding. "Play any games, and you'll be picking up his corpse instead."

The line went dead.

Bethany's complexion drained of color as dread overwhelmed her. A plan sparked in her mind. She dashed back towards the room, calling out, "Leland!"

Just as she reached the doorway, Leland emerged, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his demeanor cool and detached.

His eyes, sharp and frosty, slid over to her, concealing any trace of his thoughts.

Bethany found herself thinking back to the whispers she'd heard about him. He was the lone heir to the vast Swanson empire, notorious for his rebellious streak and egocentric ways.

A man like that could afford to keep the rest of the world out of reach.

She drew a breath and ventured, "Could you possibly spare me some cash?"

"I hardly think we're close enough for such requests, unless you intend to..."

Leland's words were cut off by Bethany's urgent interruption. "Two hundred thousand, and we forget last night ever occurred," she declared, her voice tinged with desperation.

To Bethany, in the shadow of Shawn's ordeal, pride and dignity held no weight.

Leland remained silent, watching as the color drained from her face.

She wanted to laugh it off as a joke, but her tongue was frozen, words failing her.

Then, breaking the silence, Leland's chuckle was low and disbelieving. "I didn't realize you'd be such an expensive prostitute."

His laughter and words steeped her in a depth of humiliation she had never known.

In that instant, her pride and dignity crumbled to pieces.

Yet, the need for money was dire, and the man before her had deep pockets.