Chapter 1

Jake

Why the fuck I had to return to this godforsaken town of Ryedale was a mystery. Jake Woods, billionaire and entrepreneur. Thirty years old and single. I started from nothing, and now I was untouchable. I used my money to make sure my first name and image were never found out.

I stood at six feet eight inches tall with a well-defined body and muscles that I gained from spending all my free time in the gym. I had a few tattoos but not much, black hair, and blue eyes. My height alone drew attention to me.

When the women I dated found out I was wealthy, all bets were off. They instantly molded themselves into the perfect woman or what they thought I wanted, so I kept hidden. It was better that people didn't know what I looked like or what my first name was. That was one way to keep women away from me.

Shawn Allen, my VP, ran my company, Zion Corporation, which was located in Brighton in the heart of Ryedale. I was used to being overseas and handling the business, which kept me locked away, and that was the way I preferred it, but I was needed, so I had no choice; I had to come back.

Before my private jet touched down in Ryedale, Shawn already had a house in one of the less crowded parts of Ryedale, and all my bikes were sent here. Those were the loves of my life: my bikes, a few Ducati's, a few Harley Davidsons, a Horex VR6, a Kawasaki Ninja, which was my absolute favorite for speeding, and an Airel Ace.

Imagine being a billionaire and you preferred bikes to cars, and you basically lived in sweatpants and t-shirts. When the jet landed and the doors opened, Shawn was waiting for me.

“Welcome back to Ryedale J.; your bike is already here,” he said, looking towards the white and blue Kawasaki parked in the hanger.

“Hey  Shawn. Thanks, I'll see you on Monday, and remember, no one should know," I said, grabbing my helmet.

“No one will. This is the address of the house; I've already had the employees and security vetted and warned," he said.

“Sure, Thanks.“.

Avery

What was the purpose of this life?. I contemplated as I walked down the long stretch of road heading home. Imagine being the daughter of a wealthy businessman, and your life meant nothing to the people around you. I guess that's just the way life is.

“Ohhh, boo hooo, what's the matter, Avery? Are your feet hurting?” her taunts, pulling me out of my thoughts. She pulled the car up to the sidewalk. I didn't look at her nor did I answer her. I knew what would be waiting for me at home if I did. Alexis Peterson, my stepsister.

Renee married my father one month after my mother died. I was ten years old when that happened, and my well-balanced and calm life turned upside down. Alexis was eleven when they got married. When I turned twelve, my life changed completely. From having a loving and caring father, he became cold, uninterested, and stoic towards me.

He believes whatever they tell him, and Alexis and her mother take that opportunity to make my life miserable. I am eighteen years old and a college freshman, well, almost finished with my freshman year. I took advanced classes because, why not?, I was a hell of a lot smarter than Alexis, and that was a problem. Alexis and I both attended Ryedale ASU College, but it was miserable for me.

There wasn't a day when Alexis hadn't made my life miserable; everyone stayed away from me because of Alexis. I had a curfew, I was forbidden from extracurricular activities, and I had to be home by five every day. Talk about a modern-day Cinderella story. At least they didn't stop me from going to school.

She got a car for graduation, and I got nothing. I had to walk to college every day. I didn't mind; it gave me time to think. I was an outcast in college. My professor knew the situation but couldn't do anything about it. I didn't mind being an outcast; I was better alone. Her singing and nagging brought me out of my thoughts.

“Hey, I'm talking to you,“ she yelled.

I continued walking because there was no use in answering her. The road leading to our home was desolated; there were four houses out this way, so no one really passed here during this time of the day. And only the wealthy of the wealthy could afford to live around here. She got out of the car and walked over and stood in front of me. I looked at her carefully.

She was five nine in height—the perfect body that seems to drive those idiots in college crazy—fair with short brown hair. Nails and hair are always done. She was basically a princess but a mean one.

“I asked you a question, Bitch," she yelled, pushing me on my chest. I just looked at her.

“So you've got the nerves to look at me too?. Wait until you get home, bitch, see what happens to you!” she yelled, getting back into the car and speeding off.

This has been my life since I was twelve. It was a three-hour walk both ways, and I've gotten used to it. I continued walking because what else was I going to do?. Forty minutes into my trek, a bike passed me going really fast; this road was made for that type of riding. Whoever it was, had better be careful. I was two hours into my walk when the bike passed me again.

They passed multiple times going the same way; the last time he passed and was heading in the direction of town, he slowed down, as if he were trying to figure something out. I wasn't scared; everyone knew who I was, but fear of my father, stepmother, and sister had them staying away from me.

I was five minutes away from home when I heard the telltale sound of the bike again. He rode past me and stopped a few feet away from our gate. I looked at the person for a good second; he was wearing bike gear, he looked extremely tall, and he had muscles and tattoos.

I put my head down and kept walking. When the security guard opened the gates, I walked in, not looking at the person on the bike anymore. The minute I walked up to the front door and my father saw me, he slapped me.

“You little ungrateful bitch. How dare you call your sister names?. I fed you, clothed you, and put a roof over your head, and this is the thanks I get,” he said, slapping me again. There was no point in retaliating or answering him. I needed to wait until I could get my freedom.

I stood quietly, taking the slaps and abuse. Alexis and Renee were enjoying this. That is why I was still here. I was their source of entertainment.

“Get out of my sight, you ungrateful bitch," my father said.

Jake

When I got to the suburbs, I sped down the empty road. I passed a car parked on the sidewalk with two girls. I didn't really care. After I found my place, I rode in and dropped my backpack. The staff introduced themselves and went about their business.

I decided to ride; the road was good and empty, and no one would complain about the noise. So I grabbed my gear and left. Riding always helped to clear my mind.

After multiple times back and forth, I realized the same person was walking on the sidewalk. All the houses on this road were at the end of the Long Road. On my way back, I slowed down and looked at the person.

She looked about five, six. Long blonde hair, fair-skinned, and petite with curves in all the right places. Her breast stood out on her slim body, and her ass looked magnificent. My body reacted to her. Fuck. She had her head down.

She had a backpack, and she looked really young. This road was long; how long had she been walking?. I rode past her and didn't think about it anymore. On my way back, she was still walking. I rode past her and stopped a little before the first house. I turned around and looked at her. When she looked at me, I cursed under my breath.

She was fucking beautiful. Her eyes were brown, and her face was slim and flawless. This was the first. This is the first time a woman has managed to get my attention, and she wasn't even trying. And she looked barely legal too. Fuck me, I was in trouble.

She bent her head and walked past me. I stayed there, looking at her walking up to the house. If she lived here, in such a damn mansion, why was she walking home?