Her Price, His Obsession (Erotic Billionaire/Dark Romance)

"Sir, you'll be paying extra for cumming in my mouth. You don't get the normal price. I didn't fucking ask you to unload there," Bella said coldly.

"Whether you have the extra money or not is your problem, not mine. It's either that...or I break your head into tiny pieces."

She knew how pathetic it sounded. She knew how low this was. But she was already at the edge, with bills due by morning and no other option in sight.

The drunk man staggered as he zipped up his pants, his eyes roaming over her with lazy lust. He reached out and spanked her ass.

"So you won't let me fuck your fat ass, huh?" he slurred.

Bella slapped him hard, disgust curling in her stomach at how low she'd sunk to deal with men like him.

"You should be grateful I didn't spit your sour sperm on your face or bite off that useless little cock," she snapped. "A tool that can't even satisfy my ass. Don't piss me off, fool. Give me forty dollars."

He rubbed his cheek and smirked. "Cheap slut."

Bella rolled her eyes. She was immune to insults...she'd heard them all. She held out her hand as the man counted a few bills and dropped them into her palm.

She glared at him, wet her finger with her tongue, and counted again.

"What's this?" she snapped. "There's only thirty dollars here."

"I'll give you forty," he said, smirking, "if you let me fuck you."

Bella clenched her fist in anger. She dropped the money onto the table and grabbed the man by the collar, her palms folding as she raised her hand, ready to punch the life out of him.

The door swung open suddenly

"You slut!" a woman screamed. "What are you doing with my husband?"

She rushed toward Bella, who ducked and snatched the money. Some of it spilled to the floor as she bolted for the door, running into the night and glancing back every few steps to make sure the woman wasn't following.

This was her daily routine in this trashy neighborhood.

Since she turned eighteen, Bella had been surviving by selling her body. Now, at twenty-three, she was still at it...hell, she had lost count of how many cocks she'd serviced: big, small, medium, wrinkled, veiny, fat, long.

She took another turn, heading toward her shabby apartment, if it could even be called that and not a dump instead.

She opened the stupid lock easily, and walked in , sighing at the state of the whole place.

Peeling paint flaked from the walls. There was no electricity...just a short, almost finished candle she lit whenever she returned. An old bedsheet lay on the floor, serving as a bed. A single-burner stove sat crookedly in the corner and cheap grocery bags crowded what passed for a counter. The lock on the door was unreliable, though it hardly mattered; there was nothing of value to steal anyway.

Bella sank onto the patched-up bedsheet, counting the day's earnings.

"Thirty-five dollars total?" she groaned in frustration.

"If I add it to what I already have, it should at least cover the train to Manhattan... rent, and a meal."

She smiled a bit in anticipation for her new job.

"It would help me earn more... and I would even cut back on selling my body."

She slapped her arm to scratch at the mosquito bites and wrapped the thin blanket around herself, closing her eyes.

Somehow, tomorrow had to be better.

******

That same night, at an orphanage across the city, where the wealthy often gathered for public charity.

Lucian stood before the press, cameras flashing repeatedly.

"Sir, you did an amazing job," a reporter said. "The children loved the gifts. We hope to see more initiatives like this."

Lucian smiled, practiced and effortlessly.

"It's an honor to be here," he said smoothly. "I, too, have a daughter, and I love her. How could I not love our hopes for the future?"

Murmurs of approval spread through the crowd.

"I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to the mothers," he continued, voice warm, measured. "The women who work tirelessly to raise these children."

He nodded gently as the nanny stepped onto the stage, carrying his daughter.

Applause erupted. Cameras clicked faster. Flashes lit the room as Lucian accepted the child into his arms, holding her just long enough for the photographs.

Soon after, the conference ended, guests dispersed into the night, satisfied.

The hall emptied, one by one, until the lights dimmed and the doors closed.

And Lucian went home.

**********

(RODRIGUEZ MANSION)

The man the public admired did not exist inside his home.

He sat on his chair in the living room, his brow tightening with exhaustion as the little one he considered a torment filled the room with relentless wailing.

The baby's cry shredded the quiet of the mansion, each wail proceeded to get louder each time she opened her mouth.

Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose, his stare hard as it settled on the four-month-old.

Children were liabilities...always had been. Yet somehow, this one managed to creep into his life.

He had never wanted a child. The woman who had given birth to her was long gone...a useless prostitute who had died during delivery.

The child had been dropped at his door by his Personal Assistant, DNA-confirmed as his. If she had not been his child, he would have disposed of her long ago. And he hated the idea of his blood living in an orphanage.

He looked at the child again, losing control.

"Take that insect out of my sight!" he barked at the nanny who flinched at the tone.

She was new, she didn't know this was how the 'high paying work' with a non disclosure contract would be, and it was already getting unbearable on her very first day.

"But, Sir... she... she's very difficult to handle. She needs her mother or at least carry her, since she is your child..." the second nanny of the year stammered.

"I pay you well for this. Would you rather die instead? and never tell me what i should do, i am only letting it slide because the girl will cry to death if i fired you this instant" His voice was cold, sharp, and filled with fury.

Fear struck the nanny instantly. She scrambled to quiet the crying girl, hurrying her out of the room.

Lucian's dark eyes followed them with simmering anger.

His phone rang, cutting through his rage.

He picked it up, already knowing the news waiting on the other end.

"Sir, the owner of Neurons Pharmaceutical has signed over the company to us. Congratulations," the voice on the line announced.

Lucian ended the call, his dark eyes staring into nothing as a wicked smirk curved his lips.

This was who he was...he took over any company he wanted. Profit was all that mattered; everything else, including people, were disposable.

*****

Back at the sloppy shit Bella dared to call home , she was dressing for her first real job as a cleaner at the massive restaurant-Aurum.

She tied her black hair into a tight ponytail and applied a bit of Vaseline onto her plump lips. Holding up a small mirror, she studied her reflection and smiled. Poverty might have been her constant companion, but her beauty was hers alone, and she took pride in it, despite the tiny pimples and rashes on her face.

She tugged at her ripped jeans, forcing them over her hips. They were tight, a little too snug for her curvy figure, but she had no money for new clothes. So she had to manage what she had and hopefully she would buy some with her pay, since it was a daily one.

She picked up her tiny bag, slung it over her shoulder, and stepped out into the day.

********

(THE AURUM RESTAURANT)

Bella watched as wealthy people streamed into the restaurant, rolling her eyes as she wiped up the water a careless lady had spilled on the floor.

"She didn't even apologize," she muttered, shaking her head. "Rich people... they think they're gods."

"Hey! You, a table, needs cleaning!" the head maid called out.

Bella nodded and hurried over. She began wiping the stains from the table, keeping her movements efficient.

Her eyes drifted to a young woman holding a baby-a very cute girl-while across from her sat a man with dark hair and sunglasses, absorbed in his phone.

Bella scowled. What a useless father... can't even focus on his own family. Rich people and neglect go hand in hand, she thought, finishing the cleaning with quiet contempt.

She didn't notice the man at another table, watching her intently, biting his lip. With a deliberate motion, he knocked over a glass of juice, drawing her attention.

Bella turned at the sound. Being the closest cleaner, she quickly moved to his table and began wiping up the spilled juice.

"How much for a night?" he whispered.

"Huh? Excuse me, sir?" she asked, genuinely not hearing him at first.

"I said, how much to taste this...plump..." he repeated and slid his hand over her ass, and Bella reflexively slapped him hard across the face.

The manager rushed over the moment he saw the commotion. Every eye in the restaurant was now on the scene.

"Sir, this man tried to touch me indecently," Bella reported firmly.

The manager barely glanced at her. Instead, he turned to the man. "We're very sorry, sir. She's new, and this will be her last time here. I assure you," he said, dismissing Bella as if nothing had happened, while the man shot her a glare.

She widened her mouth in disbelief. "I just said he..."

"Keep quiet and leave. You're fired," the manager snapped flatly.

Bella's heart clenched, she literally just got the job, she already thought of how to manage her life with it, this cannot happen.

"No," she whispered. "Please don't fire me. What he did was wrong. You can't just..."

"Get out, you incompetent fool!" the manager roared, hurling a full glass of wine at her face.

Bella didn't flinch. She simply stared at him, briefly imagining how easy it would be to break his jaw. Then she sighed. It wasn't worth being labeled a madwoman in a restaurant full of rich people who would never take her side.

Blinking back the tears that threatened to fall, she turned and fled the restaurant, shame and anger burning in her chest.

It was nighttime when Bella arrived at her dump.

Her heart dropped the moment she pushed the door open.

The place was turned upside down.

"What is this... who did this?" she asked rhetorically.

She had been fired, and now even the miserable place she called home had been raided by thieves.

Her mind flew to the little money she had kept.

She rushed to the spot where she had hidden it, her hands already trembling even before she got there.

She found nothing, not even a penny.

Her chest tightened.

She checked again, fingers digging into the corner, moving things aside, hoping she was wrong. But there was still nothing. The money she had saved for rent was gone.

Then she looked toward the pot.

It was empty.

Even the little food she had kept for herself was gone too.

Bella's knees gave out. She dropped to the floor, her body shaking violently as the tears she had been holding back finally broke free.

A scream tore out of her chest, as she cried like something inside her had snapped.

"I hate this place... I hate this life," she sobbed. "I am exhausted, Father. I am exhausted, Mother. Why did you have to leave me? Your daughter is in pain. I am a woman with no livelihood."

Her laughter came out broken, soaked in tears.

"The rich have it easy."

For a moment, her mind drifted back to the man she had turned down earlier.

"Maybe I should have gone with him," she whispered bitterly. "A night for money doesn't sound so bad anymore. Maybe it's time I go extreme-because if I keep living like this, I might starve to death.

She scoffed weakly.

Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, the way she always did, Bella forced herself to stand and walked into the bathroom.

She turned on the water and stepped under it, letting it run over her skin as if it could wash away everything she was feeling.

The water was a little itchy against her skin, but she had no choice.

She endured it in silence, then shut it off and returned to her room. Bella lay down on her makeshift bed, staring up at the ceiling, her mind circling the few options she had left.

Nothing good came to her.

Then, slowly, an idea formed.

"I'll go back to Manhattan. I won't give up," she murmured.

She pulled out the money she had left and counted it carefully.

"This should be enough... enough for the train that'll take me there tomorrow," she told herself. "I can sleep on the streets if I have to. Beg for jobs. If I'm asked how much for a night, I'll take whatever I can. I don't care anymore."

She nodded in finality, but her heart refused to settle.

Her eyes drifted toward the door, fear creeping in-the fear that someone might break in while she slept.

Suddenly restless, Bella got up and rushed to the door, dragging her heavy water gallons across the floor and placing them against it. She checked the lock twice, then a third time, just to be sure.

Only then did she return to her bed.

Despite the fear still coiled tight in her chest, exhaustion claimed her, and she drifted into sleep.

********

(HOTEL)

In the blue light of the hotel room, Lucian's naked body loomed, his face hidden behind a black mask as he fucked a stripper's pussy mercilessly.

He had the woman pinned against the wall, thrusting into her with relentless force. Her weak attempts to move with him faltered; she wasn't bouncing as he demanded.

"Take that cock like the bitch you are. Bounce on that dick," Lucian growled, slapping her ass hard. The sharp impact drew a scream of pain from her lips.

"ohh...shit, fuck ahhh"

He took a slow drag from the cigarette dangling between his fingers, then exhaled a cloud of smoke directly into her face. She choked, coughing violently as the harsh fumes burned her lungs.

"T-that's enough, sir," she stammered, her voice trembling. Fear overshadowed any trace of enjoyment...she was genuinely terrified.

But Lucian didn't care. To him, she was nothing more than an object for his pleasure, a rag to be used at his whim. She had no right to dictate when he was done.

He dropped the cigarette to the floor, crushing it under his heel, then effortlessly lifted her and carried her to the bed.

Throwing her down, he resumed his brutal pace, pounding into her raw. His hands clamped around her throat, squeezing just enough to make her eyes roll back in a mix of fear and reluctant pleasure.

"Pathetic slut," he sneered, his voice laced with disdain. "I was told you were the best at this. Why are you so fucking dull?"

He didn't slow down, driving into her mercilessly until tears streamed down her cheeks.

As his release built, he pulled out abruptly-he wasn't repeating past mistakes. With a low groan, he spilled his thick, milky load across her stomach and onto her pink nipples, rubbing the tip of his cock to ride out the final spasms.

Satisfied, he climbed off the bed, lit another cigarette, and took a long, satisfied drag before exhaling slowly. Opening his cupboard, he pulled out thick bundles of cash and tossed them onto her battered body.

She weakly pushed herself up, heading toward the bathroom.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" His voice cut through the air, cold and dangerous, laced with the haze of smoke.

"I... I need to clean up," she whispered.

"In my room, sluts don't get to bathe." He said it casually, as if it were the most ordinary rule. "Get dressed and leave. Let my cum dry on your skin. Let everyone know you were fucked by a billionaire."

Disgust flashed across her face, but his menacing aura left no room for defiance. She obeyed, pulling on her clothes with trembling hands and limping out of the room.

Lucian picked up the phone and called room service to clean up the mess, then headed to the shower.

*******

It was morning, and Bella was already dressed, ready to leave, when she heard a knock on the door.

The knock turned into loud, aggressive bangs.

"Bella, open this door right now!"

Her heart skipped. It was the stupid landlord.

"Fuck. The money... How do I explain?"

"I said open the door, Bella. You are leaving. I've had enough of your rubbish." he banged the door harder.

Before she could react, the lock gave way, and the landlord stepped inside. He scowled in anger, his big belly peeking out, his face as shrewd as he was.

"Good morning, Mr. Andrew," she greeted, swallowing hard.

"Save your greetings, bitch," he snapped. "Pay up. I've given you enough grace."

"The price is too high for this place," Bella shot back angrily, which only worsened things. "It's unfair to collect that much for this... this dump."

"What should it be then? A five-star resort?" he mocked. "Oh, I see, you don't have the money. Then pay with your body. I've heard stories of how slutty you are, roaming the streets sucking cocks for cash. Give me more than that, and you'll never worry about rent again."

Disgust churned in Bella's stomach. It was true, she did what she had to survive... but this time, losing the dump felt better than giving him that.

"I will never give you that pleasure," she said coldly. "You hear me? I will leave this place. You can have it. I may be hopeless , a common slut , but I won't do what I don't want to do. You won't get that satisfaction from me. Just give me until tomorrow, and I'll be gone."

The man laughed. "Then give me some money if you want to stay today and leave tomorrow or lose the fucking ego."

Bella stared at him, then fished out the little money left in her bag and handed it to him. "I promise. Tomorrow morning, I'll leave."

The landlord smirked as he took the money, his hand grazing hers. She jerked away immediately.

"You better not be here by ten a.m. tomorrow," he warned, dragging his eyes over her body. "Or I'll do worse."

He slammed the door behind him.

Bella left immediately after, determined to get her hands on anything or anyone that could help her survive.

******

It was afternoon. Bella was exhausted. Every place she tried had turned her away...even as a waiter, they said they had enough staff. She glanced at a nearby park and noticed children laughing and playing, obviously with wealthy parents.

She entered the park and sat on a bench, dropping her "Help me, I need a job" poster beside her. She watched the kids, letting their laughter, their innocence, their complete cluelessness about the world, bring her a small measure of peace. She closed her eyes, trying to breathe, trying to forget her own troubles, but sleep pulled her under before she could fight it.

In a far corner, Lucian's nanny pushed a stroller. She thought maybe if the baby saw other children, she would calm down. It worked, the baby quieted as other kids played peek-a-boo with her.

Suddenly, the nanny's phone rang.

"Are you serious?... Okay, I'm coming!" she exclaimed.

Without looking back, she rushed off, hailed a taxi, and left the child behind.

When Bella opened her eyes again, it was getting dark. A loud wail had woke her, and despite everything, she felt thankful...otherwise, she might have slept straight into the night. She realized she had accomplished nothing, yet she had slept like a fool.

"But wait... if every other child is gone, whose baby is crying?" she whispered, fear creeping in.

She stood, a little uneasy.

Could it be a ghost? she wondered. Impossible, she told herself, trying to reason. Looking at the sky, she guessed it was around six, what ghost would come out by this time?.

The cries grew louder, insistent. Bella's heart thudded as she spotted a stroller, and a man approaching it. He didn't look like the child's father... something felt wrong.

She grabbed a wooden baseball bat from the corner and stepped closer, ready to defend the child.

"Is that your child?" she asked, making the man turn, startled.

"Yes... she is my child," he said, scooping the girl up. But the baby continued to cry.

"You're lying," Bella said. "If she were yours, she wouldn't be crying like that."

The man's eyes flashed with anger. Before she could do anything, he pushed her to the ground and ran off with the child.

Bella rose quickly, running after him like a fierce mother hen protecting her chick.

"Stop!" she screamed.

Suddenly, a police siren wailed nearby.

The man dropped the child and fled, terrified of getting caught.

Bella caught up immediately and scooped up the crying girl, her eyes stinging with pain.

"Stupid man... you could've killed her," she muttered looking in the direction he had ran to.

"Shhh... shhh, it's okay," she tried to calm her down but it was failing, the baby was too scared.

Bella stared closely at the girl now, her eyes widened in recognition

"She's the baby I saw at the restaurant..."

Bella walked around in search of her parents, but they were nowhere in sight.

The crying was hurting her heart, she couldn't just leave the child there. Her apartment too wasn't fit for a baby, and the train ride would take over an hour-but she had no choice. She had to get her home.

Her plans for sleeping on the streets were now postponed; survival had a new, urgent priority.

******

(BELLA'S APARTMENT)

Bella opened the door and pushed the stroller inside, then scooped the baby into her arms. The crying was so intense that Bella feared she might lose her breath or even pass out.

"Shh... shh, baby, don't cry. I'll find your parents," she whispered, rocking her gently.

The baby tugged at her clothes, instinctively reaching for her breast.

Bella felt a pang of guilt, she couldn't give the child what she needed. There was nothing; her body was dry.

She placed the baby on a pillow and shuffled to the corner of the apartment she called her kitchen. The milk she had was meant for adults, but the baby was hungry. Bella had no choice...it was all she could offer.

She warmed the milk and poured a little onto a small plate, then grabbed a tiny spoon from her sugar container to feed the baby.

Cradling the child, Bella sat down and tried to offer a small spoonful to her mouth...but the baby refused, tugging insistently at Bella's chest. Her cries were sharp and frantic, veins standing out on her forehead as she screamed.

Frustration welled up within her. Tomorrow, she would have nowhere to live, and the baby's persistent crying only made her feel worse.

Bella thought hard, biting her lip as a wild, desperate idea formed. It felt insane, but she couldn't let the baby starve.

Even if it didn't satisfy her, at least it would stop the crying.

She placed the child on the pillow and rushed to the shower. There was no way she could do this with a dirty, sweaty body.

Once she was done, she didn't put on a top. Cradling the baby in her arms, she sat down and carefully scooped some milk, letting it drip onto her breast.

The baby latched on instantly. Relief washed over Bella as the crying finally stopped. She carefully continued to offer the milk until the baby's movements slowed, signaling she had fallen asleep.

Gently, Bella placed her back in the stroller, it was more comfortable that way.

She took a moment to search through the stroller, hoping to find something that could help her locate the baby's parents.

She picked up a rattle and caught a glimpse of a name engraved on it.

"Rodriguez," she murmured.

Anger surged through her. "So the man in shades... and they actually left this girl here like some forgotten piece of trash?" she fumed. But she paused, thinking.

Then a sly thought crossed her mind. In a way... this could work to my advantage.

All she knew was wealth, and this could be her chance. This baby might be a blessing...a way out of poverty. Bella smiled as she looked down at the child's soft, sleeping face, feeling as if she had just hit the jackpot.

*****

(RODRIGUEZ MANSION)

The nanny knelt on the floor, shivering.

"Where is the baby I gave you to take care of?" he asked, calm and unbothered.

"Sir... I... I'm sorry. I... I forgot..." she stammered.

He narrowed his eyes, his calmness making it worse. "You forgot a child? Are you mad? Do you realize what would happen if the press found out I lost my daughter in the most ridiculous way possible?"

He turned to his bodyguards.

"Find the child and bring her back," he said coldly. Then he pointed at the nanny. "Make sure she's silenced. I don't want my reputation touched."

"Yes, sir."

"No,no, please!" the nanny sobbed, crawling toward him. "I won't say anything! I swear! Please, I'll find your daughter. Please don't hurt me, I beg you!"

She clutched at Lucian's legs. Irritated, he kicked her away without a second glance.

The guards stepped in. One pressed a cloth over her mouth. Her struggles weakened within seconds, and she went limp. They lifted her and dragged her out of the room.

He lit a cigarette and poured himself a drink, taking a slow sip as he puffed smoke. His dark eyes stared at nothing, anger coiling tight inside him.

"My rivals could have taken the child. That idiot has ruined my hardwork."

In a sudden motion, he threw the glass to the floor. It shattered with a sharp crash.

An aged maid, who had served the family for decades, watched him warily and let out a soft sigh.

"Food is ready, Lucian," she said with a small, cautious smile.

He glanced at her and nodded, returning his focus to the smoke curling from his cigarette.

*****

Bella left early in the morning, before the landlord could show up. She didn't take anything from the dump she called an apartment, she had all her hopes pinned on the baby's parents.

The taxi stopped in front of a huge company. The driver pulled the stroller from the car boot.

Bella took in the sight. Rodriguez was boldly written at the top.

"Wow... it's huge," she muttered.

She looked down at the baby in her arms. "Your parents are rich... I'm sure they can spare some change for me."

Carefully, she placed the baby in the stroller and started moving toward the entrance.

"Hey, bitch! You forgot to pay!" the driver shouted.

The insult was unnecessary, random, and infuriating.

Bella clenched her jaw but forced herself to stay calm. She turned and tossed the money to the floor, ignoring him as she kept moving.

The man lunged, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her backward.

"Ow! Let go of my hair!" she yelped, elbowing him, but he didn't release her.

"Who are you to disrespect me?" he growled, tugging harder. "First, you didn't pay. Now you throw my money on the floor."

The road was empty. No one was in sight to help. Tears streaked Bella's face, and her scalp burned from his grip.

"I only did to you what you deserved, scumbag! Let my hair go!" she muttered through gritted teeth.

Bella struggled against him, but the baby's cries pierced the air, growing louder with each second.

Suddenly, a car approached and screeched to a halt.

The man finally released her and shoved her aside.

Bella stared at the car, hoping...praying it belonged to the baby's parents so she could get this over with.

The car door opened. The man stepped out, his gaze locking instantly on the crying child in the stroller. His face hardened.

Without a word, he pulled out his phone and dialed.

"Hello... police?"

Bella's eyes widened.

"I found my daughter... but I want the child traffickers behind bars."

In a sudden motion, he threw the glass to the floor. It shattered with a sharp crash.

An aged maid, who had served the family for decades, watched him warily and let out a soft sigh.

"Food is ready, Lucian," she said with a small, cautious smile.

He glanced at her and nodded, returning his focus to the smoke curling from his cigarette.

*****

Bella left early in the morning, before the landlord could show up. She didn't take anything from the dump she called an apartment, she had all her hopes pinned on the baby's parents.

The taxi stopped in front of a huge company. The driver pulled the stroller from the car boot.

Bella took in the sight. Rodriguez was boldly written at the top.

"Wow... it's huge," she muttered.

She looked down at the baby in her arms. "Your parents are rich... I'm sure they can spare some change for me."

Carefully, she placed the baby in the stroller and started moving toward the entrance.

"Hey, bitch! You forgot to pay!" the driver shouted.

The insult was unnecessary, random, and infuriating.

Bella clenched her jaw but forced herself to stay calm. She turned and tossed the money to the floor, ignoring him as she kept moving.

The man lunged, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her backward.

"Ow! Let go of my hair!" she yelped, elbowing him, but he didn't release her.

"Who are you to disrespect me?" he growled, tugging harder. "First, you didn't pay. Now you throw my money on the floor."

The road was empty. No one was in sight to help. Tears streaked Bella's face, and her scalp burned from his grip.

"I only did to you what you deserved, scumbag! Let my hair go!" she muttered through gritted teeth.

Bella struggled against him, but the baby's cries pierced the air, growing louder with each second.

Suddenly, a car approached and screeched to a halt.

The man finally released her and shoved her aside.

Bella stared at the car, hoping...praying it belonged to the baby's parents so she could get this over with.

The car door opened. The man stepped out, his gaze locking instantly on the crying child in the stroller. His face hardened.

Without a word, he pulled out his phone and dialed.

"Hello... police?"

Bella's eyes widened.

"I found my daughter... but I want the child traffickers behind bars."