Bearing The Tycoon's Heir

Alyssa's heart sank as the door swung open. She'd been worrying about this moment all day.

Her stepfather's heavy footsteps sounded down the hallway, making her stomach twist with anxiety.

She rushed to finish dinner, her hands shaking as she stirred the pot. The smell of burnt food filled the air, mixing with the sweat dripping down her face. She knew she was in trouble.

"Where's my dinner?" her stepfather barked, his voice dripping with anger. "You lazy girl, you're always late!"

Alyssa's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm sorry, sir. I had extra work at the office......." Her voice trembled.

Before she could explain herself, she felt something hit her on the head!

This man just threw a pan at her!

She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. But her heart raced, and her mind spun with fear.

"I'm sorry," tears streamed down her cheeks. "I was asked to redo all the floor mopping and toilet scrubbing this evening!" She was literally on her knees.

"I don't care what you were doing you whore! I allowed you to work only if you wouldn't stop your duties in the house!" He yelled. His chest rose and fell quickly.

Alyssa's voice trembled as she apologized, "I'm sorry. I had to redo the floor mopping and toilet scrubbing tonight. Alyssa was the only cleaner who cleans the boss office. That was not the only place but other higher up.

Her stepfather's face darkened, his eyes blazing with anger. "I don't care about your excuses," he growled. "You're supposed to prioritize this household. You're as useless as your mother."

This was it. This was the result of her mother marrying a reckless man.

The only reason Alyssa was out there cleaning office floors instead of going to college was because her mother chose to marry that god forsaken man!

Now she's in the hospital, dying and her only daughter is forced to live with her mistakes.

The only reason she was still here was because her mother was hospitalized and even though she was also as toxic as her stepfather, Alyssa felt leaving her to die in the hospital was unfair. So she decided to work her life out until she is able to pay for her surgery, especially because her stepfather was not willing to help. She swore to do everything to make her mom better.

But then, with the way things were going, she had no choice but to wonder if it would all be worth it.

Alyssa looked at her step-sister, Angela who was calmly seated in the living room, enjoying the show.

She was glad she didn't add fuel to the fire as she does normally. She sighed, then dragged her feet to the kitchen, still in her cleaning uniform, and continued at where she stopped.

"Alyssa, hurry up, turn off the stove!" her stepfather barked, his tone was surprisingly calm.

She turned off the stove, her curiosity piqued,"What's going on?" She wondered. Wasn't he the one who looked as if he would die of hunger at any moment?

"The hospital called. Your mom is awake and wants to see us," he said, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Alyssa's heart skipped a beat. Tears of relief welled up in her eyes. She quickly got dressed, her mind racing with questions.

As they drove to the hospital, Alyssa's anxiety grew. Why was her stepfather being so cooperative? Something didn't feel right. He was angry and now it was as if he wasn't the one who was boiling out of anger earlier. Tsk, tsk, this man was even more dangerous than a pregnant woman.

Upon arrival, Alyssa rushed to her mother's bedside. "Mom!" she exclaimed, she wrapped her arms around her mom. Her mother's pale face and sunken eyes shocked Alyssa. "I'm glad you're awake," she said, trying to process the sudden change.

"Sweetie, I don't have much time," her mother said, her voice weak but urgent. "The doctor says I need surgery ASAP."

Alyssa's grip on her mother's hand tightened. "Don't worry, Mom. We'll make it happen."

Her mother pulled out some papers from the side table. "Alyssa, I need you to sign these."

Alyssa's brow furrowed. "What are they?"

"A fund for the poor," her mother explained. "They'll help with my medical expenses." She said with a calm voice.

Alyssa hesitated, unsure. "Who gave you these papers, Mom?"

Her mother's eyes evaded hers. "Just sign them, sweetie. Please."

Alyssa's unease grew. Something wasn't right. She stared at her mother with doubt.

"The doctors." She answered, knowing fully she wouldn't sign without a clear understanding.

Alyssa hesitated, her pen hovering over the papers. Her mother's urgent tone and reassuring smile had eased her doubts, but a nagging voice whispered warnings.

"Trust me, sweetie," her mother said, her eyes locked on Alyssa's. "This will save us. Sign it, and we'll be okay."

Alyssa's instincts screamed caution, but she pushed aside her fears. She signed the papers, the scratch of the pen echoing in her mind.

Her mother's smile widened, relief etched on her face. "Tell them they can come in now."

Two tall, imposing men entered the hospital room, their presence suffocating. "Let's go," one growled, grasping Alyssa's arm.

She pulled back in alarm,"What's going on?"

Her mother's expression turned cold and distant. "You should discuss the details with them. They're handling the funds." She said and looked away. She was somewhat feeling guilty but she needed the money and that was the only way. She is her only daughter, it will cost nothing to make such a small sacrifice.

Alyssa's unease increased as the men led her out of the hospital and into a waiting car. One produced a gun, its muzzle pressed against her stomach.

"Make a sound, and we'll shoot," he snarled.

Alyssa's breath caught, fear paralyzing her. She opened the papers, her heart sinking. An agreement between her and a sex worker company.

The truth hit her like a tidal wave: her mother had sold her for one million dollars.

Tears streamed down Alyssa's face as the car sped away, her world shattered by her mother's betrayal.

Alyssa's stomach churned as the car stopped in front of an abandoned building. The neon sign creaked in the wind, reading "Midnight Delights." Naked women danced on stage, their bodies swaying to the loud music. But Alyssa saw more than met the eye.– the empty eyes, the forced smiles, the desperate attempts to escape.

"Move!" Marty growled, yanking her out of the car like an animal.

Alyssa stumbled into the office, where two men waited. The one in charge, a burly man with a scar above his left eyebrow, scanned her from head to toe.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" His voice dripped with malice. As she caressed her cheek.

Alyssa's skin crawled. She fought the urge to spit in his face.

"Give it," he barked, snatching the signed papers from her.

"Please, let me go! I was tricked! It's a misunderstanding!" Alyssa begged.

The man ignored her, his eyes glued to the contract. A sly smile spread across his face.

"You're mine now, sweetheart," he sneered. Take her away! He ordered.

Marty dragged her away, pulling her hair.

"Please save me,"Alyssa glanced at the other man, hoping for mercy. But he was engrossed in his phone, his expression unreadable. Yet, something about him seemed familiar.

"Move, bitch!" Marty yanked her hair harder.

Alyssa screamed in pain as they arrived at the dressing room. Girls bustled around, applying makeup and adjusting costumes. None spared her a glance.

"Five minutes to get ready," Marty growled, shoving her to the floor.

As he left, Alyssa noticed a girl watching her from the corner, a fleeting glimmer of empathy in her eyes.

Alyssa sat there in tears, not wanting to move. Her scalp was sore and swollen. Blood dripped from her lips all thanks to how roughly they handled her.

She wanted to stop crying, to stand up, to run or something, but she couldn't.

Alyssa felt the weight of the girls' gazes, their murmurs fueling her anxiety. She scanned the room, searching for an escape.

"Quit staring and focus on your own jobs," a firm voice commanded.

Alyssa's eyes locked onto the speaker – a girl with piercing green eyes and raven-black hair.

The girl approached Alyssa, her expression stern but her voice surprisingly gentle. "Come on, get up. We need to get you ready."

Alyssa hesitated, unsure if she could trust this stranger.

"Don't bother resisting," the girl warned, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Marty will be back in five minutes. And then, you won't only be a stripper, but a stripper covered in blood. You don't want that, do you?"

Alyssa saw a glimmer of kindness in Carl's eye.

"I'm not doing this," Alyssa said firmly, trying to hide the tremble in her voice.

The girl's gaze turned cold. "You don't have a choice. But I can help make it easier."

Alyssa studied the girl's face, searching for hidden motives but she couldn't find any.

"By the way, my name is Carly," the girl said softly.

"I'm Alyssa," Alyssa replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Carly's expression softened. "Let's get you dressed."

Alyssa nodded, still wary.

Carly led her to a cramped dressing room, the air thick with perfume and desperation. She styled Alyssa's hair with swift, gentle strokes.

"Light makeup, just enough to hide the bruises," Carly whispered.

Alyssa's eyes met Carly's in the mirror, a silent understanding passing between them.

The dress Carly handed her was a flimsy, red thing.

"I can't wear this," Alyssa protested. She looked at the dress with disgust. It was too revealing. She has never worn such a dress before.

Carly's gaze turned stern. "You have to. For your own protection."

Alyssa's heart sank. What had she gotten herself into?

Alyssa's eyes scanned the low lit lounge, the air thick with expensive cologne and forced laughter. Well-dressed men sipped wine, exchanging hollow jokes. The girls walked in flexing their curves and giggling for no reason.

Music played and they all started dancing seductively.

Carly was by the pole, showing her amazing pole dancing skills.

She stood there and didn't want to join but Carly convinced her to join. Memories of secret dance sessions in her small apartment flooded back – the joy, the freedom. But this wasn't her living room; it was a brothel.

Marty's grip on her hair brought her back to reality. "Dance, bitch! These men didn't pay to stare at them," he growled, yanking her backward. Pain stabbed through her scalp causing her to cry out..

Alyssa's eyes flashed in anger. She was about to retaliate when Carly rushed to her side.

"You can do this," she whispered, guiding Alyssa to the dance floor.

At first, Alyssa's movements felt stiff, but Carl's dance was mesmerizing . She let go, losing herself in the music. Her hips swayed and her arms extended.

Just when she was feeling comfortable enough to dance freely, she stopped abruptly. The feeling of someone staring at her consumed her.

She looked around the room and her eyes fell on a piercing gaze locked onto hers – hazel eyes, icy and unyielding. The same eyes from the office, belonging to Ryan Cooper, her former employer. She suddenly recalled. He was the man she had asked him earlier for help when she was first brought here. Her former boss.

Alyssa's dance slowed, her mind reeling. Why was he here? What did he want?

Marty's rough grasp interrupted her thoughts. "Time to go," he snarled, dragging her away. Why was this man treating her like a slave?

In the hallway, Marty's brutality resurfaced. Slaps rained down on Alyssa's face until a commanding voice stopped him. The stupid girl is always distracted. What does she think this place is? How dare she stare at a VIP customer when her job is to dance? He decided to teach her a lesson she will never forget

"Stop! Ryan Cooper wants to see her," the boss intervened.

Alyssa's heart sank. What did Cooper want from her?

She followed him to the office and saw Ryan sitting idly on the chair.

"Someone roamed a bit too far from home." Ryan said when she got to where he was standing.

"Leave us Marty." Ryan commanded and Marty left immediately.

"What do you want?" Alyssa gulped.

"I think I should be the one asking the questions not you miss." He said.

"You seem uncomfortable in this new place," he added.

"I was forced to be here! I don't want anything to do with them." She explained.

The man stared at her intensely, as if trying to read her mind.

"Next time, you should quit being stupid and read a contract before signing it. It'll save you alot."

"I didn't know..." Alyssa tried to speak.

"You look stupid, and annoying, begging when you literally sold yourself to them."

"I had no idea! My mom manipulated me!" She was breaking down as she explained.

"Save the sob story for someone else. I'm not interested." Ryan yawned.

"What do you want?" Alyssa asked.

"Well, I figured it'd be rude to leave my employee here to rot as a stripper." Ryan smirked.

"How did he recognize me?" Alyssa wondered.

"Oh. I know every soul that works for me," Ryan said as if reading her mind.

She stared at him in surprise.

"Anyway, I'm buying you out," he said.

"Oh my god! Thank you!" She almost hugged him in joy.

"Don't celebrate already. I'm doing it for my own selfish interest and not for you." He said, making her smile disappear.

"Come," he said, leading her out of the building to where his car was parked.

His lawyer was standing there with a bunch of papers.

Alyssa felt her heart drop at the sight of another set of papers.

"You have two options, to sign these and abide by the contract, or to quietly walk back and dance with the other girls." Ryan said, handing her the papers.

What does his own contract entail?

She wondered.

If there's anything that Alyssa knows, it's that all these rich business tycoons were all the same. Greedy people exploiting the weak.

The only difference between Ryan and the brothel owners is that he gave her the chance to read the papers.

But then, he knew she had no other choice than to pick his contract.

"Marriage Contract." was boldly written on the front page.

Alyssa scanned through it as quickly as she could. She didn't care how bad it would be, she just wanted to be away from Marty and all that.

"Why do you need a fake wife?" Alyssa asked the multi billionaire. He was wealthy as fuck! A business tycoon, young, handsome. He could get a real wife anytime, anywhere. Why did he pay so much money to buy her out of the brothel when he could get a wife for free?

He shrugged, yawning. "Just sign or don't. Your choice."

"No, I need to know," Alyssa pressed. "You're young, handsome, and rich. You could get a real wife anytime."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Look, if you're not going to sign, just give it back and go back to pole dancing. You're good at it." He said, trying to collect the papers from her.

"No!" She said, then signed the papers immediately.

"There! Signed!" She said, handing him the pen and paper. She signed quickly in case he changed his mind.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He also signed the papers.

They entered the car and slowly exited the brothel.

"I don't want any commitments. So, no strings attached." He was staring at his phone while he spoke, it took her a moment to realize he was speaking to her.

"Right. Noted." She answered. Glad that she was out of that hell hole.

"If you need anything at all, kindly come to me. From now on, you are known as Alyssa Cooper. You'll have to attend meetings and events when necessary. I'll get someone to teach you the basics. No one, and I mean no one can know that this marriage is fake. If you tell a soul, then you'll be back to the brothel."

"I understand." Alyssa said.

"Again Alyssa, You cannot catch feelings. Else, the contract would be terminated. I hate mixing pleasure with business."

"I wasn't planning to catch feelings. Trust me." she huffed.

"Don't be too sure Alyssa." He said.

She knew he was talking about his good looks and charms. But Alyssa had no intention of falling for a man like him. Pretty on the outside but a monster within. That's exactly what her step father was. Her mom fell for the looks and looked where it brought them.

Alyssa's gaze drifted to Ryan Cooper, her new "husband." She had never paid much attention to his reputation, but whispers of his ruthlessness and heartlessness had reached her ears. A man who takes pleasure in brothels, watching women being abused was not the type for her.

"I am sure Mr Cooper." She said,

"I'm your husband," Ryan said, his voice low and smooth. "You can call me Ryan."

"Okay, Ryan."

"Ryan's eyes seemed to gleam with satisfaction as he continued, "I didn't choose you randomly, Alyssa. I paid a handsome sum for your...freedom because I need someone tied to me. Someone who understands the value of loyalty and obligation."

Her fingers went numb at his words.

Hell, there's no way she would fall for a man like this.

Alyssa appeared calm, but inside, she was furious. She felt trapped, stuck with a man who treated her like an object, not a person.

The rest of the ride was silent until they got home.

Alyssa gasped when the gates opened leading to his mansion.

The mansion's exterior was a masterful blend of elegance and grandeur, with cream-colored stone walls, grand columns, and intricately carved wooden doors. Expansive windows sparkled in the sunlight, while a sweeping driveway flanked by lush greenery and ornate fountains led to the entrance. The slate and copper roof shone majestically, its elegant turrets adding sophistication.

"You live here?" She gasped, most believing her eyes.

The building was so big. So tall.

She couldn't wait to check the inside.

When they went in, she didn't hold back.

Inside the mansion, elegance surrounded her. The grand foyer featured a sweeping staircase and crystal chandelier. Polished marble floors led to spacious rooms with plush furniture and rich textiles.

The living room had velvet sofas and floor-to-ceiling windows. The dining room sparkled with crystal glassware and fine china. A cozy library beckoned with leather-bound books.

Upstairs, plush carpets led to lavish bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and walk-in closets. Soft hues and plush linens created serene havens.

She froze as she continued to scrutinize the house. She never dreamed of living in such a mansion.

Ryan realized Alyssa had stopped walking, he turned to see what was going on only to see the stupid girl shocked.

"Is everything alright?" He walked to her and asked but there was no answer. Alyssa was still mesmerized.

" Hey, lady," he clapped his hands and he was able to grab her attention.

" Er..m I'm...sorry.." she was embarrassed.

"Follow me," he shook his head.

What a fool.

As Ryan guided her to the sanctuary of her room, Alyssa's fatigue dissipated. The bed's opulent softness enveloped her like a warm embrace, melting her tension. "This is heaven," she breathed, surrendering to its comfort

The once horrific and dramatic long night ended with a good night's sleep.

It was bliss.

......

The following morning Alyssa woke up feeling energetic. As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her gaze fell on the elegant clock on the nightstand. It was 7:00 AM.

She walked downstairs and saw Ryan at the table, savoring his breakfast with a calm and measured pace.

Ryan's gaze remained fixed on his breakfast plate as he spoke in a cold, detached tone, "Sit down."

Alyssa obeyed, feeling a shiver run down her spine.

"Listen carefully," he began, his voice firm but emotionless. "There are rules you must follow. You cannot leave this estate without a valid reason and a driver. Avoid public gatherings and petty establishments. And under no circumstances are you to disclose any details of our marriage."

As he spoke, workers bustled upstairs, transforming Alyssa's room into a luxurious sanctuary. Her closet was filled with exquisite dresses, designer shoes, elegant bags, and every accessory she could desire – things she had only dreamed of owning.

His rules left Alyssa feeling confined, despite the lavish surroundings.

She showered and got dressed as Ryan commanded.

She was in the dining hall with him, having breakfast when a dramatic voice interrupted the silence between them.

"Ryan! This has to be a joke!" A voice yelled from the entrance.

"Mother, welcome." Ryan greeted me.

"Join us," he offered but she didn't look like she was in the mood.

"Do I look like I'm here to eat?" She fired.

Alyssa stared at the drama in silence.

"You got married and told me through a text message? How dare you!" She was losing her temper, but her son didn't seem to take it as a big deal.

"Alyssa and I wanted it low-key." He explained.

"And who is this Alyssa that I have never heard of?" She turned to Alyssa.

"Good morning Mrs Cooper." Alyssa said with a smile. She didn't know what else to say or do.

"I don't approve of this." Mrs Cooper said with a frown. "Who are you? Where are you from?" She asked.

"Uhm, Alyssa Smith. That's my name." Alyssa was nervous all of a sudden.

"Mother, I need to go to the office. Can we discuss this some other time?" Ryan asked, standing up.

Mrs Cooper looked between her son and his new wife.

"Okay." She agreed. She stared at the lady once more then turned on her heels and left the house. She was sure she hadn't heard this name before, which family does she belong to? She wondered.

"Alyssa Smith," she repeated the name until she got to her car.

"Alyssa Smith." She said to her P.A who was waiting patiently for her. "Do a background check on Alyssa Smith. there's something fishy about her."

"Yes ma'am." He replied.

"I want to know her parents, where she lives, where she works. what she does and every other necessary detail. I need to get to the bottom of this." She said,

"I'm on it ma'am."