Craving The Forbidden - The Billionaire's Secret Obsession - Ongoing

“Liana, are you sure you heard him right?” asked Catherine Reed, glancing at her best friend and colleague, Liana Ashford. 

“Yes, Zed has asked me over to dinner with his parents. Can you believe it, Cathy?” she gasped, clasping her hands together and casting her dreamy eyes on her best friend. 

Tonight, Liana was in high spirits, wanting to forget all her woes. Her crush, her boyfriend Zed, had asked her to dinner at his mansion! He wanted to introduce her to his family!

A month ago, it had been an impossible dream, but Zed Bancroft eventually noticed her after two years of frequenting Jimmy’s Café, where she worked as a server. 

“Be careful, please. He isn’t the type to take a girl home to his parents.” 

Liana rolled her eyes, not letting it affect her. “Don’t be so cynical, Cathy. Okay, bye. I got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She walked out of Jimmy’s Café and Diner in Bronx, New York, where she worked part time to pay for her education. At twenty, she was struggling to make ends meet and soon would have to shift to weekend classes. 

A hopeful smile lit up her face. Maybe tonight her life would change for the better. Zed was everything she had ever wanted. He was way above her league and it was a miracle he liked her back. She didn’t have the confidence to approach him, as his rowdy group of friends always surrounded him. Yet he asked her out on a date. Despite his killer looks, he paid attention to a nobody like her.

It made all her coworkers misbehave with her, but Liana had learned to ignore them. She was secretly in love with Zed for the last two years! And he had proposed last week, asking her to be his girlfriend! Ever since, she couldn’t erase the happy smile from her face. 

Zed was the only good thing that has ever happened to Liana. Coming from a broken family, she never saw her father. Her mom, Beth Ashford, brought her up single-handedly by working as a sales representative in a nearby shopping center in Bronx. She was an alcoholic who always was depressed and struggled to make ends meet. She overworked Liana and misbehaved with her, but she never complained. It was only when her mom brought home a man did complications start in Liana’s life! 

Rocco Foster, her stepdad, was a drug dealer who settled in her house after marrying her mom. Liana was just fifteen and hated the sight of the man. She wanted to escape, but had nowhere to go. For years, they tortured her and overworked her like a slave until she ran away from home at eighteen. 

Her best friend from school, Lucie Stewart, sheltered her in her house. Both friends got themselves admitted to their neighborhood community college when Liana heard about her mother’s death. 

She didn’t grieve at all, since she never bonded with her mother. After her death, Liana lived in constant fear. Would her step-dad seek her out? 

Lucie moved out of New York with her family, and Liana was left to fend for herself. However, with the cops pursuing Rocco, he had been absconding for the last two years. Liana found work and settled down in a rented apartment nearby, sharing it with three other girls. 

Soon her innocent heart was bowled over by the charming playboy, the rich brat, Zed Bancroft. After four dates, Liana started harboring dreams of a happily ever after with him. Everything was like a fairytale for her. She dreamed of a perfect life with him: a cozy, sunny villa surrounded by a white picket fence, two kids, and lots of furry friends! Zed was so charming, he never crossed his limits with her! 

She took a bus to Manhattan where Zed lived, grimacing at her ordinary outfit. It was the best dress she possessed. The black velvet dress was a little worn out, but she knew she looked good in it. Her pale blonde hair shone in contrast and so did her alluring gray eyes! She didn’t at all resemble her mom, who hated the very sight of her! Maybe because she looked like her dad! 

Liana hopped off the bus at the posh Madison Avenue and looked around for the address Zed had specified. The place was lined with luxurious condominiums, expensive shopping arcades and grand mansions. She walked ahead, hesitating a little until she stopped in front of a magnificent limestone mansion. Did Zed live here? 

Seeing the grandeur of the place, she started having second thoughts about going inside. What if they mocked her? This was a world she didn’t fit in. 

She stood in front of the gate, clearly in a dilemma! The solitary guard watched her before approaching her. He looked around and then at her. “How may I help you, miss?” 

“Umm, does Zed Bancroft live here? He has invited me over tonight.” She wrung her hands together with nervousness as she watched the man expectantly. He hesitated a little before opening the gate for her. 

“Go right in. They’re waiting for you.” Liana’s heart raced with apprehension. Was his family waiting for her? Would they be annoyed that she turned up an hour late? What could she do? She couldn’t leave before the café closed! Liana took baby steps towards the main entrance. The entire house was bathed in darkness except for the ground floor. It looked more eerie than lived in! 

Before she could ring the doorbell, the door gave way! Why did Zed’s family keep their front door open? She could hear laughter and voices echoing from the inside.  

Liana pushed the door open and walked into the foyer indecisively. There was no one. The voices were coming from the living room on the right. She inched slowly towards the room, frowning at the raucous laughter that suddenly followed. Were Zed’s family members as rowdy as his friends? The entire house was quiet, with no attendants or members except those in the living room! 

Without a thought, she walked into the living room but froze at the sight in front of her. There were around eight to ten of Zed’s rowdy group of guys in front of her! Where was Zed’s family? Was this some kind of joke? Her face paled as realization struck her! He had played her!

They all gaped at her with lust, as if ready to pounce upon her! 

“Oh, I’m sorry!” she gasped, whirling around to leave. 

As if coming to their senses, someone sprang and raced to the door to lock it. 

“Come now, don’t be shy!” said a guy, busy checking her out. Liana panicked and looked around for Zed! Where was he? 

“Look, Zed called me tonight to meet his family!” she started, but they howled with laughter. 

“What’s the hurry, babe? We’re his family too.” More laughter followed. 

“Please call Zed. I’m not here for you.” Tears sprang into her eyes as she backed away. Two of them got up and approached her, but she ran to the door, struggling to open it. 

“Let me go. Open the door!” she screamed in panic, but they just laughed. 

Four hands grabbed her from behind, dragging her towards the sofa. The other guys cheered them on. Liana thrashed with all her might, kicking, struggling to get free! 

“No, let me go. Zed will be furious if he knows.” They laughed at her puny efforts. 

“Do you really think he likes you, bitch? He’s celebrating his win tonight with a twosome in the next room.” Liana used all her strength to knee them one at a time in quick succession and run off to the next room. She had to confirm. 

“Bitch! Now I’ll teach you the lesson of your life!” groaned one as he doubled up in pain. 

“F*cking bitch!” yelled the other one, lying on the floor in pain, holding onto his injured junk. 

“You’re just a conquest for him, bitch! He won the bet to get you here for us in a month, and he did.” Laughed another, lunging after her. Liana stilled as she opened the door and peered in. 

To her immense horror, she saw Zed with two girls, all naked, busy having the best time of his lives. 

“Zed!” The tears spilled over, trickling down her cheeks, as she watched him pound into one. He looked up to give her a lazy grin. 

“Hey! Enjoy with my boys, Liana! I’ll join you in a couple of hours.” 

Mad fury coursed through Liana’ body and she marched into the room to teach the guy a lesson he wouldn’t forget. She slapped him tightly across his face, left and right, while the girls shrieked with horror. It made Zed release them and stagger from the brunt of her attack. 

“Bitch! How dare you hit me?” In an instant, he overpowered Liana, twisting her hands behind her as she cried out in pain. He tied her hands while the others cheered him on. He slapped her back, making her stagger. Before she could come to her senses, another resounding slap on her other cheek made her cry out. 

“Please let me go,” she sobbed, but no one heard her. 

“Guys, she’s yours. Rip her apart so that she can never walk again!” Liana’s head reeled as they grabbed her limp body and dragged her back to the living room. 

“Please let me go,” she cried out brokenly, all the fight leaving her body. Her innocent heart shattered into a million pieces, never to be whole again. She watched the satisfied look on Zed’s face as he watched them take her away. She was no match for ten rowdy twenty-year-old who were lusting after her. 

“I’m sorry, Zed! Please save me!” she sobbed. 

“I don’t give a fu*k for cheap chicks like you. You aren’t my type! You’re just a conquest for me. I’ve won you as a treat for my friends. So enjoy!” he laughed, ready to resume where he left off. 

Five guys pulled at her clothes as she struggled to get free. With her hands tied up, she couldn’t do much.

Suddenly, the door flew open, making them all freeze. 

“What the fu*k is going on? Leave the girl right now!” yelled a booming voice from the door. Liana turned to look at the tall, muscular man who walked into the room. Clad in a business suit, he looked distinguished, mature, and dependable. 

They cowered at the sight of him, releasing her instantly. Liana rushed towards the man in tears. Her head swooned, and she knew she would lose consciousness anytime.

“P-please s-save me,” she stammered as everything blacked out and she felt herself falling, only to be caught by the man!