Fearless Billionaire

them. If necessary, she would drag Chloe out of that relationship, kicking and screaming, before sitting back and watching as godmother as her friend signed a life sentence with Satan. Frantically, she grabbed her bag, ready to go to Chloe's house. Ellie considered calling her, but needed to confront her in person. She had no doubt that Chloe didn't know about the videos and would probably be horrified when she saw them. Chloe Colter had been her best friend since elementary school. Ellie knew that the terrified screams of pain and agony in the video weren't some kind of perverted sex game.

Chloe had been traumatized, terrified and begging James to stop. But the son of a bitch hadn't stopped. What kind of sick little game was he playing? And how had Chloe gotten involved? Why hadn't she just walked away from him? After all, she was a Colter and didn't need any man. Chloe was rich and educated enough to run her own life. Plus, she had four older brothers who would have beaten James up if they'd realized what he'd done to her. And then there was the more important question: Why hadn't Chloe turned him over to the police? There had to be an explanation, but Ellie couldn't find it in her rush to get out of the office. The sound of someone picking at the lock on the office's front door, which was locked, caused Ellie to panic. She held the notebook to her chest and ran out from behind the desk. Her heart was racing when the door started to open. She didn't look to see who she was. There were few people with the key and she was one of them. Even if it was the cleaning crew, she didn't intend to risk it to find out. The only thing she could think of was running out the back door, getting to her car, and going straight to Chloe. - Ellie! Hearing James scream from the reception area tripled her heart rate. She ran to the back exit. I just need to get to my car. I just need to find Chloe. Ellie heard James' heavy footsteps in the hallway behind her, but she kept running. Her breathing was hazy with panic as she opened the back door and ran out the metal door without hesitation. Hating herself for wearing high heels that morning, she kept running as fast as she could, hugging her notebook as if her life depended on it. I need to get to Chloe. I need to get to Chloe. Please just let me get to her house. She was almost at the old economy car - which she had long ago nicknamed the Blue Turtle because, despite being slow, she kept moving - when James' body collided with hers. They both fell to the ground, but unfortunately, his body pinned her against the cold concrete. - Skirt. From above. From. Me." Ellie's voice was a breathless hiss as she struggled to get him off of her. - Is there a reason you're running away with my notebook, Miss? Winters? asked James as he put his arm around her neck. - I'm going to work from home tonight. - It was a lame excuse, but it was the only thing Ellie could think of. Chloe had always said she was a terrible liar. No matter what she claimed, she doubted James would believe it, as she had been running from him. And the only thing he had asked was to find and print a document. - You saw the videos - he accused in a threatening tone. - I was going directly after Chloe. She's a nosy bitch. I asked you to do something on the computer and you had to see things that shouldn't be seen by anyone. Not now. You will ruin everything. I'm glad I came back when I realized you wouldn't mind your own business. You shouldn't leave things you don't want seen on a computer that can be accessed by anyone, you idiot. Ellie was addicted to crime shows and it was obvious that James was sloppy or psychotic enough not to think about the possibility of her seeing the videos first. Feeling his arm tighten around her neck, she was almost sure it was the second option. - Why are you trying to hurt Chloe? - Ellie gave up pretending to try to get answers. - She would never do something like that to you. She loves You. - The fact that Chloe even liked a monster like James made Ellie feel sick. The idiot didn't even deserve to be in the same room as Chloe. "Of course she loves me," James grumbled. - We're going to get married and no one is going to stop me. I will finally get what I deserve. Ellie wished he would get what she really owed: handcuffs and a very uncomfortable cell for the rest of his life. It was obvious that James felt he was entitled to Chloe's share of the Colter family fortune, almost unimaginable wealth. "You deserve to be in jail," Ellie said with difficulty because of how little air she could take in. - Shut the fuck up! Let's get up. I have a gun and if you make even a sound, I will kill you," he warned in a dangerous tone. There was no doubt in Ellie's mind that James would carry out his threat. After seeing how he treated Chloe, she had no doubt that he was capable of just about anything. He forced her to her feet and it wasn't long before she saw the glint of steel in the dim light of the empty parking lot. He actually had a gun and was prepared to use it. She considered shouting as loudly as possible, but doubted it would do anything other than silence her for good. The office was a lonely building at the end of a dead-end street. It was already dark and it was cold. The possibility of anyone listening to her was very small. She decided that if she didn't want to end up dead, she needed to wait until she managed to escape. What happened next ruined her plan. - I told Chloe you weren't worth anything. You are worthless to her. Your family is poor, you are poor. I only hired her to shut Chloe up! - James exclaimed dangerously, right before punching her in the face. Pain exploded in Ellie's head as she received the blow. Dazed from the brutal punch, she was unable to resist as James took her to his car on the other side of the parking lot. When James slammed her against the car, she finally spoke, wondering desperately if he was going to kill her, even though she didn't scream. "James, you don't want to do this. And Chloe? And your career? Stop this now and I won't say anything. Let me just go home. - She started lying to convince him to let her leave. - Do you think I'm stupid enough to believe that? asked James in a voice that was getting increasingly shrill, a crazy voice that was starting to make Ellie very

logged off and turned off her laptop, knowing that she needed to talk to Chloe as soon as possible. I need to talk to her. She cannot marry him. Why the hell is she still engaged to him? The idiot should be in jail! Shit! Ellie was furious with herself for not pushing harder to find out why Chloe looked so different since she'd returned to Rocky Springs. She had assumed her friend was just distracted and adjusting to her being home again after being away for so long to train as an equine veterinarian. Or maybe she was stressed about her marriage to James.

Getting married and planning a wedding was stressful, right? Especially when Chloe was still trying to establish her career. There's a lot more to this story that I don't understand. I need to talk to Chloe, find out why she's hiding the fact that James is an abuser. A feeling of fierce protection made Ellie's stomach tighten. She remembered all the times Chloe had jumped to her defense in their twenty-plus years of friendship. How many times had Chloe offered to help her out of poverty when they were children? Ellie had lost count. Just as she couldn't remember how many times Chloe's family had fed her when her mother had to work. Or that she had given her new shoes or clothes, with Chloe claiming they didn't fit her and that she wanted Ellie to have them. There were so many sweet things Chloe and her mom did for me over the years. Suppressing a sob of sadness, Ellie was determined to make sure her best friend didn't end up married to the devil himself. Chloe deserved the most amazing husband possible. Why? Why is Chloe covering up what James is doing to her? Ellie didn't have the answers, but she intended to find them. If necessary, she would drag Chloe out of that relationship, kicking and screaming, before sitting back and watching as godmother as her friend signed a life sentence with Satan. Frantically, she grabbed her bag, ready to go to Chloe's house. Ellie considered calling her, but needed to confront her in person. She had no doubt that Chloe didn't know about the videos and would probably be horrified when she saw them. Chloe Colter had been her best friend since elementary school. Ellie knew that the terrified screams of pain and agony in the video weren't some kind of perverted sex game. Chloe had been traumatized, terrified and begging James to stop. But the son of a bitch hadn't stopped. What kind of sick little game was he playing? And how had Chloe gotten involved? Why hadn't she just walked away from him? After all, she was a Colter and didn't need any man. Chloe was rich and educated enough to run her own life. Plus, she had four older brothers who would have beaten James up if they'd realized what he'd done to her. And then there was the more important question: Why hadn't Chloe turned him over to the police? There had to be an explanation, but Ellie couldn't find it in her rush to get out of the office. The sound of someone picking at the lock on the office's front door, which was locked, caused Ellie to panic. She held the notebook to her chest and ran out from behind the desk. Her heart was racing when the door started to open. She didn't look to see who she was. There were few people with the key and she was one of them. Even if it was the cleaning crew, she didn't intend to risk it to find out. The only thing she could think of was running out the back door, getting to her car, and going straight to Chloe. - Ellie! Hearing James scream from the reception area tripled her heart rate. She ran to the back exit. I just need to get to my car. I just need to find Chloe. Ellie heard James' heavy footsteps in the hallway behind her, but she kept running. Her breathing was hazy with panic as she opened the back door and ran out the metal door without hesitation. Hating herself for wearing high heels that morning, she kept running as fast as she could, hugging her notebook as if her life depended on it. I need to get to Chloe. I need to get to Chloe. Please just let me get to her house. She was almost at the old economy car - which she had long ago nicknamed the Blue Turtle because, despite being slow, she kept moving - when James' body collided with hers. They both fell to the ground, but unfortunately, his body pinned her against the cold concrete. - Skirt. From above. From. Me." Ellie's voice was a breathless hiss as she struggled to get him off of her. - Is there a reason you're running away with my notebook, Miss? Winters? asked James as he put his arm around her neck. - I'm going to work from home tonight. - It was a lame excuse, but it was the only thing Ellie could think of. Chloe had always said she was a terrible liar. No matter what she claimed, she doubted James would believe it, as she had been running from him. And the only thing he had asked was to find and print a document. - You saw the videos - he accused in a threatening tone. - I was going directly after Chloe. She's a nosy bitch. I asked you to do something on the computer and you had to see things that shouldn't be seen by anyone. Not now. You will ruin everything. I'm glad I came back when I realized you wouldn't mind your own business. You shouldn't leave things you don't want seen on a computer that can be accessed by anyone, you idiot. Ellie was addicted to crime shows and it was obvious that James was sloppy or psychotic enough not to think about the possibility of her seeing the videos first. Feeling his arm tighten around her neck, she was almost sure it was the second option. - Why are you trying to hurt Chloe? - Ellie gave up pretending to try to get answers. - She would never do something like that to you. She loves You. - The fact that Chloe even liked a monster like James made Ellie feel sick. The idiot didn't even deserve to be in the same room as Chloe. "Of course she loves me," James grumbled. - We're going to get married and no one is going to stop me. I will finally get what I deserve. Ellie wished he would get what she really owed: handcuffs and a very uncomfortable cell for the rest of his life. It was obvious that James felt he was entitled to Chloe's share of the Colter family fortune, almost unimaginable wealth. "You deserve to be in jail," Ellie said with difficulty because of how little air she could take in. - Shut the fuck up! Let's get up. I have a gun and if you make even a sound, I will kill you," he warned in a dangerous tone. There was no doubt in Ellie's mind that James would carry out his threat. After seeing how he treated Chloe, she had no doubt that he was capable of just about anything. He forced her to her feet and it wasn't long before she saw the glint of steel in the dim light of the empty parking lot. He actually had a gun and was prepared to use it. She considered shouting as loudly as possible, but doubted it would do anything other

your career? Stop this now and I won't say anything. Let me just go home. - She started lying to convince him to let her leave. - Do you think I'm stupid enough to believe that? asked James in a voice that was getting increasingly shrill, a crazy voice that was starting to make Ellie very scared. He's going to kill me. Ellie recognized the loss of sanity in his voice. He snatched the computer and bag from her hands and threw them into the back seat of the car. Then he pushed her toward the trunk. The minute she heard the lock open, Ellie began fighting for her life.

She was done trying to reason with James. She was done begging to let her go. She fought with everything she had, trying to claw at his eyes and kicking to try and hit him in the groin. However, he was stronger. She finally started screaming, knowing that if he managed to get her into the trunk of the car, she would be a dead woman. "Shut the fuck up," he growled menacingly, grabbing her long blond ponytail and pulling it so hard that Ellie's eyes filled with tears. She didn't stop struggling, even when he picked her up and tried to throw her into the confined space. Screw it, I'm not going to make it easy for him. Her butt hit the hard surface of the trunk, but she threw her arms out, trying to stop him from closing the lid, which would confine her to a makeshift coffin. He will never let me live. - Nooooo! Somebody help me! Please! - Ellie continued to scream, no longer caring about James' warnings, but no one came to rescue her. One last violent punch to her head silenced her, leaving her world dark. With Ellie unconscious and unable to continue fighting, James closed the trunk and got into the car, driving off into the night with her limp body confined to the darkness. The Present... -Where the hell is she? - Zane Colter muttered furiously as he drove the Bentley SUV down yet another steep dirt road that would lead to yet another cabin in the desolate mountains. How many days had he been searching? One day he had changed into another, but Zane had been so focused on his mission that he hadn't bothered to do much other than stay hydrated. He was happy to have purchased the new SUV just a month earlier. It was snowing heavily at that altitude and he had driven at very daring speeds on the slippery mountain roads. He knew he was driving too fast for the increasingly worsening weather conditions. The problem was that he was getting desperate. He knew which area Ellie was in because of the soil samples she had taken from an old pair of James's shoes and the tire treads on the truck in his garage. After finding a small piece of a rare flower in the idiot's house, he had the idea of ​​obtaining those soil samples, an intuition that proved successful after intense analysis, highlighting the only areas where that type of flower grew and the soil what I needed for that. The dirt he had collected had confirmed his suspicions. He doubted James would drive that older truck anywhere but in the mountains. The shoes were old and worn, and a shallow son of a bitch like James wouldn't wear them except in muddy areas where he wouldn't be seen. After gathering the dirt and flower, Zane had a pretty good idea of ​​the area where Ellie would be hiding. But a search of the cabins and surrounding properties turned up nothing belonging to James. So Zane had to assume it was a place that wasn't in his real name. - Where the fuck did he hide it? Holy shit! - he growled as he slammed his hand on the steering wheel, feeling frustrated and knowing he was running out of time. Chances were he would recover a dead body rather than rescue Ellie. Nor. Think. He dismissed the possibility that Ellie was dead and continued driving toward a small cabin a little way up the barely-there dirt road that led up. Wiping sweat from his forehead with his hand and running his fingers through his hair in irritation, he nimbly mastered the car as he slid across the ice and snow with one hand until he was once again heading up the road. Soon I will have to face reality. I checked just about every cabin and house in this area with no fucking luck. Zane had no idea how long it had been since he last slept. He had been doing research on the soil he had found and then worked on marking areas to investigate. He was exhausted, but a clock kept ticking in his head. If James had kept Ellie alive, she probably wouldn't have food or water left. James was dead and incapacitated before he committed suicide. She had been alone for too long. I can't stop looking. I promised Chloe she wouldn't give up. I won't stop until I find her. He nodded absently, knowing it was a good excuse to be looking. But his fierce persistence wasn't just because Ellie was his sister's best friend. Instinct nudged him over and over again. He knew Ellie well enough to know that if he could have escaped, she would have. Some people claimed that Ellie was quiet, but he had seen how bossy she could be when they were children. As a teenager, she hadn't changed. She had never had a problem expressing her opinions. Not with him. Honestly, he had never cared about her extreme desire for organization. In fact, he had liked it, as he wasn't exactly organized in his personal life. Never been. When it came to his work as a scientist, he was meticulous, but everything else outside the laboratory was chaos. He had always been fascinated by the way Ellie managed to handle so many things at once and in a very organized way. She had always been like this, even as a teenager. Zane could admit to himself that he had liked Ellie at school. But the fact that she was best friends with Chloe, her little sister, had left Ellie completely out of the question for anything other than friendship once they were adults. When she was at school, she had been too young, too close to his family. Not to mention the fact that he had been so socially awkward back then that he would never have had the courage to ask her out, even if she hadn't been too young. But he had also liked her as a friend and still had feelings for her, despite meeting her very shortly after finishing school. He had left for college and never returned to Rocky Springs to live there full time. He growled as he stopped in front of the cabin he had been looking for. - Shit! It looks like a seasonal place. Although the cabin was in decent condition, it wasn't something a doctor would buy. It was tiny and looked more like a hunting or fishing cabin. The snow was against the door and it looked like no one had been there since the first time it snowed. The white flakes floated and fell in epic quantities as he got out of the car, not bothering to lock it. Now, no one would go to that isolated cabin in the middle of a blizzard. He trudged through the snow and kicked at the white layer that had accumulated at the front door. When he turned the handle to enter, he discovered that it was locked. Angry and determined not to stop looking under a single rock, he banged his shoulder on the door until the lock gave way. Then he opened it. - Ellie! he shouted, even though the place was so small there was probably no need to shout. He walked around the cabin, which had a living area on one side and a small kitchen on the opposite side. He