Prisoned by The Billionaire

Emily Madison woke up with a weighty head. She opened her eyes and tried to recognize where she was right now. Emily tried to lift herself. Her head throbbed again, but she managed to sit up against the head of the bed. She tried to recall the incident that made her end up there.

This afternoon Emily had an appointment to meet a client at a coffee shop. Her new client is a young man developing a clothing business and preparing to open his shop. However, in the middle of their conversation, Emily suddenly loses consciousness, which is where she is now.

The girl decided to get out of bed to check things out. Emily walked over to the window and peeked outside. It was all dark. There was no clue about her current whereabouts. Now Emily tries to open the door. As predicted, the door was locked from the outside. Immediately Emily thought, Who locked me here?

Emily's head was full of questions. Finally, she gave up and returned to bed because her head hurt. She almost returned to sleep and saw a food tray on the nightstand beside the bed. However, Emily has no intention of touching it.

Emily was asleep for a long. She was awakened by the sound of the door opening and realized it was now light. A well-built man walked in carrying a tray.

"Are you awake, Miss?" The man came over, took the tray used last night, and replaced it with a new one. "You'd better eat if you don't want to get sick. You haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon."

Emily didn't dare to answer. She just stared at the man timidly.

"If you want to clean up, just use the bathroom. The clean clothes are in the cupboard." The man immediately left Emily again. He closed the door and locked it again from the outside.

***

Finn Harrison heard a knock on his office room.

"Come in," Finn answered without taking his eyes off what he was doing. He is reviewing several cooperation proposals from his business partners. Many companies are interested in collaborating with their subsidiaries which are members of the Harrison Company.

Since his father died three years ago, Finn has continued to lead the Harrison Company. A company engaged in the property sector and is well known as one of the major developers in Indonesia. Finn, who was only 30 years old then, could lead the company inherited from his father, making it even more prominent.

"Do you call me?" The well-built man walked into Finn's room.

Finn removed his glasses, then flatly asked, "Brad, is that girl awake?"

"Since yesterday, Sir," Brad answered quickly.

"Did something happen?" Finn looked a little curious. "Are you able to handle it well?"

"Nothing happened, Sir."

"What do you mean?" Finn frowned.

"That girl has been awake since yesterday morning, but until tonight she didn't try to run away. Didn't throw a tantrum. Didn't cry. She didn't even try to ask why she was there." Brad reported everything to Finn. "However, I was a little worried because she didn't touch the food I brought her. She only drank water."

"Okay! Leave her alone. You can go now. Don't forget to keep an eye on her." Finn nodded as a sign for Brad to leave the room immediately.

Finn picked up the phone. Waited momentarily, then spoke, "Don, please come to my room now."

Finn leaned back as fatigue took over him. He had been sitting at his desk for too long today. There was a knock on his door, and Don walked in.

"Good evening Mr. Finn, is there anything urgent I must do?" Don asked a little worried, it's already late and he wants to go home soon. If Finn gave him a sudden job, he would likely stay in the office tonight.

"Tomorrow morning, please come to my residence." Finn started the conversation. "I want you to meet the girl for a moment."

"What else is it for, Sir? Don was a little confused by Finn's request. "I think my job is done."

"Don't worry. After this, your business with that girl is completely over. I want you to tell her why she was in my house." Finn shoved a folder at the young man who had worked as his office's HRD manager for two years. "You are the right person to explain to the girl how she got to my house and tell her about this agreement."

"Why should I, Sir? Wouldn't it be better for you to explain it in person?" Don didn't want to see that girl again.

"Because he already knows you. Besides, as an HRD person, you must be used to dealing with various types of people," Finn answered lightly.

Don opened the folder Finn had given him and perused it carefully. He was stunned and seemed to be deep in thought. "Mr Finn, I apologize if my question was a little presumptuous. I really can't understand how a good girl like her could get into trouble like this with you?"

Finn smiled briefly, then exhaled. "Maybe she was a good girl, but it's a shame she had bad luck. She was at the wrong time and under the wrong circumstances. This situation is a delicate matter, Don. Sorry to get you into this."

Don nodded. "Tomorrow at seven o'clock, I will be at your house. May I go now, Sir?"

"Go ahead. Thanks in advance, Don." Finn took back the folder he had shown Don and put it away.

Don immediately left the room. His mind was racing again. He remembered the first time Finn had called and asked for his help.

Don had wanted nothing to do with this from the start. The problem he considered too odd. Don couldn't understand why his boss wanted him to pretend to be a clothing entrepreneur looking for a designer to help design a clothing store, especially when he met the girl he had to lie to.

A gentle-faced girl with a reassuring gaze and a friendly smile. Emily Madison, a very young interior designer, is only 23. Don couldn't bear to cheat the girl. This task was very hard for him. He is not a fraud and rarely lies. Moreover, what he had to lie to was a girl as innocent as that.

Emily seems like a nice girl. Don didn't understand how that girl could get into trouble with his boss. He could barely meet the girl's eyes. Her soothing eyes looked so honest and innocent. Don didn't have the heart to frame Emily. However, he can't refuse Finn's request.

***

Emily pensively by the side of the window, her face turned out with a blank look. She had been cooped up in this room for four days, with no one giving her an explanation.

The girl didn't experience any mistreatment at all. One might even say she was well served. Every day, this well-built man would regularly bring food and a change of clothes for Emily.

Emily wanted to ask the man for an explanation, but she didn't have the courage. His stature and face made Emily's guts shrink.

The door opened in the middle of Emily's trance, and the man reappeared. "Miss, please come with me. There is someone who wants to see you."

Emily's mind was immediately filled with questions. She walked towards the door, and the man stepped aside to make way.

Emily walked, following the man while looking around. She could conclude that this was a place built on a vast land. The owner must be someone wealthy.

The man stopped in front of a door and opened it. "The person who wants to see you will be here soon. Please wait inside."

While waiting, Emily remembered everything she had seen while outside. The design of this place is very unusual. Even though it has a vast land area, minimal space is used for buildings. In addition, the location of the buildings is far from each other. The room where Emily was locked was a pavilion far from the main building.

Emily heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, she was stunned to see a familiar face.

"Mr Don!" whispered Emily in a trembling voice. "What does all this mean?"

"Emily, I will explain everything to you. I hope you will listen to my explanation calmly until it is finished." He was sitting on the couch right across from Emily.

"How did you bring me here?"

"Emily, I'll explain everything," Don replied with a sigh. He tried not to look into Emily's eyes, making him feel even more guilty. "Firstly, I only pretended to be your client, and I'm sorry."

"Pretend?" whispered Emily in disbelief.

Don tried to avoid Emily's piercing eyes. "My main goal is to approach you and bring you to this house."

"Why do you have to use the very troublesome kidnapping mode?" Emily sneered fiercely.

"Emily, this isn't a kidnapping, and we chose a quiet approach so as not to cause a scene."

"Sneakily taking people without consent isn't called kidnapping?"

"We aren't kidnappers, Emily."

"We?" Emily squinted. "That means you're not alone!"

"I'm just helping someone," Don said with a heavy heart.

"Then what do you want? You will be disappointed if you think you have something to gain by kidnapping me. I am not worth looking for. Perhaps no one is aware that I disappeared." Emily hoped Don would regret choosing the wrong target for the kidnapping.

"We know all that." The Don nodded stiffly. "We know every detail of your life. Nothing escapes our understanding."

Emily gasped at Don's words. The thing he said sounded horrific to her ears. How could someone know all the details about her when they don't know each other? Emily couldn't fathom why they had made her a target for stalking.

"So please give me a chance to explain everything, Emily." Now Don's tone of voice sounded gentler. He hoped Emily would understand and not stare at him in such fear as now.

"Then explain," Emily said resignedly. She chose silence to listen to all while placing her hands together in her lap. Emily wished it would cover her trembling hands.

Don exhaled again before asking, "You know Kevin Jordie?"

Emily just nodded and waited for Don to speak again.

"Kevin Jordie is in debt with our company, and he's taking you as collateral." Don opened the folder containing the agreement and showed it to Emily.

Emily took the file. Her eyes widened at the contents of the agreement. Emily's gaze locked on the bottom of the letter. She saw the name and signature on it. Kevin Jordie.

Shame on you, Kevin Jordie! Until when are you going to complicate my life? Emily cursed inside.

"How could he be in debt to this big?" Emily asked, holding back anger, "Is he gambling?"

Don looked pityingly at the girl in front of him.

"So, how can people be used as collateral? The collateral should be in the form of assets, land or houses." In trembling, Emily continued, "Wait, what about his company? I think that's worth a lot more to serve as collateral."

"That man has no assets to serve as collateral, while his company will not make any profit for us." Don tried to explain, "When it comes to gambling, the answer is yes and no."

Emily frowned. "Why would a big company like the Harrison Company want to lend money to a gambler?"

"Kevin Jordie came to us and made us an offer of cooperation. He wanted to participate in constructing one of our hotel projects. However, in doing so, he broke the agreement. He could not finish the construction on time, which cost us money. Meanwhile-"

"Sir, don't try to fool me," Emily interrupted. She may be very young, but she is not stupid. "How is it possible that a delay in the completion of hotel construction could lead to a debt of this size?"

"Indeed, if you are only late in completing the construction, the amount will not reach this size. However, it's a different matter if the contractor runs away and abandons the construction without providing compensation," said Don, observing the look on Emily's face that looked confused.

"If he has run away, then what about this agreement that was made? If this agreement was made before the cooperation contract was issued, your contract should not be valid. How can humans be used as collateral objects?" Instantly Emily's fear disappeared and was replaced with hatred.

Don looked at Emily and gently said, "This agreement was made after he ran away."

"How can it be?" Emily asked, confused.

"We managed to trace his whereabouts," said Don.

"Then you should hold him responsible instead of kidnapping me like this," Emily hissed angrily.

"When we held him accountable, he said he had nothing. All his wealth is gone at the gambling table." Don shook his head, regretting the man's stupidity. "Kevin Jordie intended to solve the problem by risking his fortune through gambling, but unfortunately, that only made him fall even deeper."

Emily can conclude everything now. "So he handed me over as collateral that he would pay his debts. Is that what you mean?"

***

Don nodded without daring to meet Emily's face. "Stay here until he settles his debt to us."

"What if he can't pay his debts?" she asked fearfully. Emily was not ready to hear the answer Don would say. However, She knew how unbelievable Kevin Jordie was.

"Ah, right! I have yet to explain this to you. This time Don really couldn't face Emily anymore. "If he can't pay off his debt, you must stay here long. You have to work here to pay off his debt."

Emily felt so devastated. It was like hearing the death penalty.

"Sorry for lying by pretending to be your client. I apologize to you, Emily."

"Your sorry are useless," whispered Emily bitterly.

"Hopefully, you can survive living here. If there's anything you still want to know, ask the person who told me directly. Sooner or later, you will meet him." Don stood up from the chair and said sincerely, "Take care, Emily."

After Don left, Emily got back to her room.

Emily held her head which was spinning, curled up on the bed while feeling the great hatred gnawing at her heart. This reality is like a dream for Emily. Jordie had turned her life upside down.

"That guy is bankrupt, and I'm sure he won't be able to pay off his debts. That means I have to work here to pay off everything." Now Emily understood what Jordie meant two weeks ago after he had been missing for the past three months.

Those words now echoed loudly in Emily's head. Remember, Emily! If something happens to me, you have to be willing to help. If not for me, at least do it for Reyna. You have to remember what you are now, thanks to whom. Remember to return the favour.

"If every month that I am here is valued the same as the salary he gives me, how long will it take me to pay off all his debts? Even after tens of years, the debt will never be paid off." Just thinking about it made Emily almost go crazy. If not for Reyna, the cousin she loved, Emily might have chosen to run away.

"This is equal to selling me!" Emily hissed furiously. "Why doesn't he just kill me too? It's useless for me to live on when all my dreams have been shattered."

Under these circumstances, Emily deeply regretted her innocence in her youth. If only she had never asked Jordie for help, maybe Emily's life would not be like this.

Since her mother died seven years ago, Emily has been forced to live at Jordie's house. Even though she was 16 and could care for herself, her extended family refused to allow Emily to live alone. They decide Emily should stay with Jordie, the only close relative in the same city.

The days after her mother left were very hard for Emily. When her mother was still there, their life was hard enough. Her father died when Emily was a child. The only thing that entertains Emily is her one-year-old cousin, Reyna. Reyna is so cute. The baby made Emily fall in love from the first day she moved into Jordie's house.

When she was about to graduate high school, Emily asked Jordie to help her pay for college. Emily is willing to work to pay the fees as long as she can attend college.

Emily was so happy when Jordie agreed to help her. Jordie said he would pay for Emily's college, and the girl should help work in his office. However, Jordie added one other condition. Emily must be willing to help whenever Jordie needs help. The innocent Emily didn't know that Jordie's words had a hidden meaning.

Since then, Jordie has tried to approach Emily at every opportunity to take advantage of the girl's promise. This condition made Emily regret ever asking Jordie for help.

Emily's regrets did not stop there. When she graduated from college and thought she could finally be free from Jordie, the man devised another dirty trick. Jordie forced Emily to continue working in his office to pay the tuition fees already incurred. Even though Emily's work in Jordie's office is in her field as an interior designer, she still feels pressured. Jordie used and squeezed her, occasionally trying to get close to Emily when the opportunity arose.

For some reason, Jordie gradually forgot the boundaries between uncle and nephew. For Jordie, Emily is only the child of her half-sister. There is no blood relationship between them at all. Emily is a girl he must conquer, becoming a terrible obsession in Jordie's life.

That's the nightmare Jordie brought to Emily's life, from college until today. Now it's probably the worst because Emily has to pay off that guy's debt with herself. It's a harsh reality for a young girl just about to walk the path to achieve her dreams. The man, supposed to be a protective figure, instead destroyed her life.

How I wish I had never asked for help from you. Kevin Jordie, one day you will regret ruining my life.

A knock on the door interrupted Emily's reverie. She only realized the door to her room was no longer locked from the outside. Emily can go in and out freely. However, he preferred not to leave the room because it felt pointless. She would remain imprisoned here for a very long time.

"Miss, I will take you to your new room," said the well-built man caring for Emily's needs for seven days.

Emily just nodded. She slowly got up, then walked to follow the man. They passed the building where Emily had spoken to Don, then walked along the pool to the main building. Arriving at the main building, the man escorted Emily upstairs. While walking, Emily secretly appraised the design of this building. Overall this place could be more luxurious but looks elegant and very masculine. This place is thick with a modern contemporary feel, both in its exterior and interior design.

While observing the house's interior, Emily ignored her steps and almost bumped into the bodyguard who had stopped before a door. Luckily the man was alert and quickly backed away to avoid colliding with Emily. "Please stay in this room, Miss." The man opened the door for Emily.

***