Rapine: Abducted by the Billionaire

by Charlotte Rose

  Julian takes the book and puts it back on the bookshelf, then takes a seat right beside me.

  “Eat,” he commands. “You must be hungry.”

  I shake my head firmly from side to side like an errant child. “No.”

  “You have to eat some time,” he whispers as he gently lifts my chin up with his finger to meet his eyes.

  I pull away from his gaze. “You abducted me from the life I was reasonably happy with,” I whisper.

  “Yes I stole you,” he boldly declares.

  “Why?” I ask, peering up at him.

  Julian’s eyes lit up, and his mouth curves up into a hint of a smile. “You were Derek’s most prized possession and I knew he wouldn’t give you up for anything. So, I had to steal you. As I told you before, in fact, the first time we met, I told you that I take what I want, and nothing can stop me,” he says intrepidly. “And you only mention being reasonably happy? Tell me why you were not fully satisfied with Derek?”

  “None of your business.” I frown.

  “You will tell me sometime,” he says casually.

  “I will not.” I demand.

  “Oh yes, you will.” He smirks. “And you will learn to love me, I am sure of that,” he says with conviction.

  “So you’re just going to keep me locked up here perpetually?

  “Well yes until you learn to love me, you will be confined and held against your will.”

  “Any more questions for me?” Julian says coolly.

  “I do have one question for you,” I whisper. “Several times we bumped into each other. I assume it wasn’t by accident?”

  “Yes, you’re right.”

  “So then how did you always know where I was?”

  “Your cell phone,” Julian says as he pauses. “I tracked your every move using your cell phone. Technology these days makes it easier for a man to obtain any woman he desires.” He smiles with satisfaction.

  I gasp. “You did stalk me!”

  “You can call it that, but I consider it a strategy. Derek failed to protect you, as he should have when he suspected I was tracking you. He knows about these technologies.”

  That means that if I had my cell phone with me, Derek would be able to find me, but Julian must have discarded it when he abducted me. Disappointment hits me hard.

  “I love Derek, and only Derek, I don’t want to be with you!” I protest resolutely.

  Julian’s jaw tightens and his lips press into a grim line. “Well you’ll have to learn to love me,” he says firmly.

  “No I won’t,” I grumble.

  Julian pierces me with his stare. “You’re mine, get used to it,” he commands. “The sooner you accept that, the sooner you will settle in and I promise you that you won't be disappointed. You will be very happy with me. Time will convince you best.” Then he leaves the room.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  I wake suddenly from a distressing dream and am momentarily disoriented. I dreamed of Julian and Derek viciously fighting but awoke before either of them defeated the other.

  Bright sunlight pours into the bedroom, and I know it must be morning. I look around and take in the sight of the bedroom before me. I see a pink sheath dress lying on the chair. I head to the bathroom adjoined to the bedroom to brush my teeth and take a shower.

  As I take a shower, trying to release some of the tension compressed in my upper back with the hot water, my mind drifts. Julian kicking Derek. Derek falling over helplessly. I groan and close my eyes while that last image haunts me.

  When I re-enter the bedroom, I hear a knock at the door. My heart jumps. Julian enters. I stand there with nothing but a towel wrapped around me.

  “Well good morning beautiful. Breakfast will be served in the dining room today. I’ve picked out a dress for you, as I will every day that you are with me. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Of course I mind! I hate you! You took me away from the man I love. How could you!” I shout angrily, no longer able to contain myself and coming to the full realization of what has occurred. I have fully awakened from my state of shock.

  “Well then, I’ll leave you,” he responds with a brusque tone.

  “Fuck you!” I say, feeling my heart begin to pound, my anger rising. “Go to hell.”

  Julian closes his eyes briefly as I see him struggle to contain his annoyance, his jaw tightening. “No one has ever talked to me like that before except of course my father,” he responds quietly, coolly, dangerously low. He opens his eyes, and glares at me. “You know I have great power over you. I could do anything I want to you, but I haven’t,” he says acidly.

  I swallow hard. My anger is replaced by feelings of anxiety.

  “I have to work,” he says, his tone deceptively gentle and with that he leaves the room.

  I exhale. I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath. He does make a point. He’s been keeping me locked up, but yet he has not made any moves on me. A thought flashes through my mind. I remember reading about it yesterday.

  Even when a female is not sexually receptive the male Hamadryas baboon keeps his females away from other males at all times...The female will likely cooperate in the future.

  That must be his plan. He is keeping me locked up, away from Derek, just like an animal. How primitive. I will never consent to have sex with him, never!

  I get dressed and go into the living room. I gaze out of the floor-to-ceiling windows at the miles and miles of snow glistening and twinkling in the sunlight along with snow covered trees and mountains. Where am I? Northern Canada? Northern Europe?

  A few moments later, the Spanish lady brings in breakfast, places it on the dining room table and leaves. I hear my stomach grumble as I look over at the plate set on the table, but I don’t feel like eating. The stress of all this has killed my appetite. I look back out the window, and gaze at the bright blue sky. Where are you Derek? Tears start to trickle down my face as I discern how far removed I feel from everything. I may never be able to get away, and Derek may never find me.

  I hear someone stir behind me. I whirl around and face Julian. Julian hands me an iPhone.

  “Here is your new phone,” he says formally. “It will keep track of your every move. I have disabled outgoing calls. It only takes incoming calls. I will call you on it and you must answer me at all times.”

  “Where am I?” I ask tears continuing to trickle down my face.

  He blinks at me as though he doesn’t comprehend the question. He frowns. “I can’t tell you that, and it’s not important right now.”

  “You can use e-mail on it.” He points to the iPhone held in my hands. I look down at the iPhone. Tears suddenly blur my vision. I am so distraught and blinded by my tears that I don’t see anything but a muddle of color.

  With a gentle touch of his hand, he wipes away the tears that refuse to stop running down my cheeks. “Hey,” he whispers. He puts his fingers under my chin and tilts my head back to meet his eyes. “Don’t cry.”

  I pull my gaze away from his.

  “You are too beautiful for tears,” he whispers. “I don’t like to see my woman cry.”

  I whip my gaze back to him. “I am not your woman!” I blast out.

  “Well I must work,” he says abruptly. He points back to the iPhone. “I will allow you the limited use of e-mail and Internet browsing. I will monitor all the emails you send out, so don’t bother mentioning what has happened to your friends or your family.”

  “And Derek?” I ask feebly.

  “You are forbidden from contacting Derek.”

  His words burn into me, churning my stomach.

  “Derek has already told them he is no longer engaged to you and that you went on a last-minute vacation on your own to clear your head.”

  I gasp. To think that Derek went along with all this is too much for me to handle right now.

  “I would simply like you to confirm to your friends and family that you are on an extended vacation,” Julian says brashly.

  I feel
anger ablaze inside of me but because I am helpless and at this man’s mercy, I deliberately avert myself from expressing an eruption of rude remarks as I had before. I look away, staring blankly. “What do you want from me?”

  “Once you adapt to me, you are expected to satisfy my sexual needs, while I will satisfy your material and emotional needs. I know what women want and need.”

  I whirl around and face him. “I will never have sex with you!” I shout at him as tears stream down my face. I turn on my heel and rush to the bedroom, taking with me the memory of his frustrated face.

  I try to make a call to 911 on the iPhone but it doesn’t even dial. Outgoing calls are disabled just as Julian said. I lay face down on the bed, releasing a stream of tears, my entire body shaking with the force of my grief, my endless crying dampening the pillow.

  I am jostled awake as Julian lifts me in his arms. I must have fallen asleep. “Hey,” he murmurs, “you need to eat.” He carries me into the living room in his arms. He sets me down on a chair at the dining room table, a plate of salmon and vegetables in front of me.

  “Eat,” he says gently.

  My stomach grumbles loudly as the scent of salmon tempts me, tickling my nostrils and palate, so I obey. I eat everything rapidly without looking up.

  “I’m glad you finally ate,” Julian says, as he stands gazing at me.

  I peer up at him. “Please let me go,” I whisper, the tone of my voice sounding desperate, knowing that my plea is in vain, but asking anyway.

  “Please, open your heart to me,” Julian responds with a similar tone of desperation.

  I sigh heavily. “But I love Derek,” I mumble.

  “You will learn to love me,” he whispers.

  “You hurt the man I love, I could never love you,” I whisper and then make my voice stern and determined. “I am Derek’s woman.”

  “I want you to be my woman, Cheryl,” he whispers. “Your obstinacy will not deter me. I’m the type of man that the harder I have to fight and labor for something, the more I adore and cherish it in the end.”

  I reflect on Derek, about how much I miss him, as I stare at Julian’s indomitable face. I blink back the tears in my eyes, and disregard the dryness in my throat. I don’t want to cry, I’ve cried enough already. I look away as tears fill my eyes.

  “Smile,” Julian says softly. “I just want to see you smile.”

  I look back at him. His face is as determined as an Olympic athlete competing for gold.

  He strokes his chin, deep in thought. Suddenly, it appears he has an idea. “How about this…” Julian begins eagerly.

  “Please, I don’t want to...” I whine.

  “Let me finish,” Julian interrupts me. “How about you spend time with me for ninety days, and if after the ninety days you wish to leave, then I will let you go,” he says confidently, his eyes twinkling.

  “Really?” I ask, wide-eyed.

  “Yes.”

  “You’ll let me go?” I ask hesitantly, still shocked.

  “I will bring you back to Derek and I’ll leave you and him alone permanently.” A very intriguing self-assurance radiates from Julian.

  “How can I be sure you’ll let me go after the ninety days?”

  “We’ll make a formal agreement.”

  “An agreement?” I ask curiously, not convinced.

  “It is a contract that is legally binding and enforceable. I will bring it to you in the morning, but now you must get some rest.” He leaves me to be alone with my thoughts.

  I go into the bedroom, get undressed, and hastily slip under the sheets. I close my eyes but lay there for a while unable to fall asleep, pondering all that has happened. Derek being thrashed. Julian keeping me confined. And now, Julian has decided to let me go after ninety days? This is all so overwhelming. Tomorrow I will get to see what this contract is all about. I force myself to cease overthinking everything and finally drift off to sleep.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  I awake as bright sunlight pours into the bedroom and onto the sheets, pleasantly warming my skin. I get off the bed and wander to the window. I gape out at the endless view of snow. I feel so far removed from everything. Julian is accountable to no one, yet he hasn’t touched me or made any moves on me. I grab the iPhone and decide to write an e-mail to Derek, regardless of Julian’s request. I set up my Gmail account on the iPhone and write a brief e-mail.

  To: Derek

  ------------------------------------------------------

  From: Cheryl Lynn

  ------------------------------------------------------

  Subject: Find Me

  ------------------------------------------------------

  I've missed you so much honey. Julian has been holding me against my will. I’m scared. I have no idea where I am. When I look out the window, all I see is snow covered trees and mountains everywhere.

  P.S. I don’t understand this: If you really loved me, wouldn’t you notify local authorities? Do you really have to follow the ridiculous rules of your secret society? If you loved me, wouldn’t you do anything in your will to get me back?

  Sent from my iPhone

  ------------------------------------------------------

  I get showered, and put on the dress laid out for me on the armchair. I walk into the living room. I find the Spanish lady placing breakfast on the dining room table.

  “Your breakfast, miss,” she says politely.

  I smile as sweetly as I can manage. Maybe she will help me escape?

  “Please, help me,” I beseech her. “He is holding me against my will. I don’t want to be here.”

  She stares blankly at me and then walks away. I follow her into the room with the keypad lock, but she swiftly exits and the door slams shut. I attempt opening the door but in vain. Fuck. I feel my face heat up in frustration.

  The door’s handle suddenly turns and opens. Julian enters, and looks surprised when he sees me. He slams the door shut behind him. He’s wearing an expensive-looking tailored suit and is holding a folder.

  “I know you contacted Derek. Don’t let it happen again,” he says nonchalantly. “Now, come, take a look at the agreement.” I follow him into the living room. We take a seat at the dining room table. He reaches into the folder and hands me two sheets of paper. I sigh heavily and start reading the first sheet of paper hastily, still feeling frustrated with the entire situation.

  COMPANIONSHIP AGREEMENT

  This Companionship Agreement (“CA”) is made effective the 14th of March, 2014 (the “Effective Date”)

  Between

  Cheryl Lynn (the “Companion”)

  - And -

  Julian Stone (the “Provider”)

  Whereas, the Parties have entered into a term sheet dated March 14th, 2014 (the “Term Sheet”) confirming their common understanding of the purpose, process and timing of interaction.

  Whereas, the Parties have agreed to interact and build a relationship between them during the time specified in the Term Sheet.

  Whereas, the Parties have agreed not to disclose their involvement in this CA and the Term Sheet, with the exception of an arbitrator in the case of dispute resolution.

  Whereas, the Parties have agreed to set out the nature of their relationship and to:

  (a) Interact on the basis of mutual trust, respect, and benevolence in order to obtain the best possible outcome for their relationship;

  (b) Comply with all national and international laws and regulations;

  (c) Immediately notify the other Party, in writing, as soon as a Party is made aware of any technical difficulties or failure to comply with agreed terms of this CA.

  Both Parties agreed on the following:

  1. Term

  This CA shall be operative until June 14, 2014, and can be extended by mutual agreement of the Parties in writing.

  2. Objective and Scope

  The objective of this CA is to outline the roles and responsibilities of the Parties in managing their relations
hip. The Parties record their understanding that they shall each be solely responsible for any costs and expenses that they may incur in the course of performing their responsibilities under this CA.

  3. Communication/Interaction

  a) Daily face-to-face interaction will be maintained between the Parties for building and maintaining a relationship.

  b) Regular e-mail/phone communications will be maintained between the Parties for regular updating and sharing of information of mutual benefit.

  c) Intimate encounters between the Parties will be agreed upon by mutual consent but are not an integral part of agreement.

  4. Renewal/Termination

  This CA shall be in force during the time specified in the Term Sheet. Renewal shall be determined on the basis of initiative.

  Either Party may terminate this CA by providing the other Party with 3 months’ prior notice in writing. Either Party may terminate its involvement in this relationship and its obligations under this CA with immediate effect in the event of:

  (a) a material breach by the other party, which has not been resolved within 10 days following written notice of such a breach; or

  (b) an act or omission by the other party that brings the terminating party or its name into dispute or disrepute in any way whatsoever.

  5. Dispute Resolution

  The Parties shall try to settle amicably, through direct negotiations, any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this CA. If these negotiations are unsuccessful, the matter shall be settled by arbitration, to the exclusion of national jurisdiction, in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules as at present in force. There shall be one arbitrator appointed by agreement of the Parties. The Parties agree to be bound by any arbitration award rendered in accordance with this paragraph as final adjudication of any such claim or controversy. The place of arbitration shall be Geneva and the language of arbitration shall be English.