Love, Lies and Billionaires

The night was dark and chill, sending sweet goose bumps round her body with every breeze that blew.

The smile which spread across her face was one of satisfaction and thrill as she stared into the night. She turned to the table on which stood a teapot and its little teacup.

It felt different as she picked it up and began pouring its hot contents into the cup. Suddenly, she felt arms around her from behind.

She smiled. “It’s late. What are you doing here?” She asked as the muscular arms made their way into her small top and caressed her breasts. Then he withdrew them and turned her to face him.

Helping her arms around his neck, he pulled her close and traced his lips round her neck. She shuddered and shut her eyes, inhaling his scent as he placed kisses on her neck and squeezed her ass.

Slowly, he made his way upward and towards her ear. Her hand slid upward and touched his hair. ‘It’s long!’

“Wake up!”

Maren’s eyes flew open, his whisper and scent imprinted in her mind. She sat up and rolled her eyes, anger overcoming her.

“Is this your way of mocking me, universe?” She asked no one in particular as she got out of bed. She made her way to the window through which rays of light peeped.

She drew the curtain blinds, squinting her eyes a little as the sun was a little too bright and almost blinded her.

The household was already up and about as she watched the gardener trim the hedges. Her mind suddenly drifted to the meeting the previous day, making her ring her nose in a short annoyance.

The document of agreement was passed to her, and she put down her signature. As she didn’t, she stole a glance at the name under the second signature on the page: Kendrick Harding.

‘He’d be better off as a Marco,’ she thought, holding back a scoff as she scribbled down her signature, then handed it back to the man who stood by who then took it to Mr Harding.

“Well then,” he said and stood up, followed by the entirety of his party, in unison. “I’d be taking my leave now. A copy will be made and sent to you,” he says with a note of finality, and turned towards the door.

“I’ll see you out, sir,” she said and also stood up. She whispered a few words to Louise, who was already standing beside her before hurrying to join them.

“I really am impressed with what you’ve done here, miss Sharppe,” he said, as they got out to the exit and were about to descend the stairs. He turned to look at her when his party had descended and left them alone. “Bear that in mind.”

“Certainly, sir,” she answered, surprised at how steady her voice was.

“This partnership is not one you see everyday so I expect your hundred percent effort and results. Or else” he suddenly leaned forward, making Maren’s heart painfully skip a beat-he was so close that their bodies slightly touched.

“You will be destroyed,” he whispered, then resumed his standing position and smirked. “Cheers to a new beginning” he extended his hand.

Maren, still in partial shock, nodded and took this hard hand in a handshake. With that, she watched him walk down and get into the car.

Maren clicked her tongue. She really didn’t like this man. I mean, who talks about relationship statuses during an official meeting? Was it to taunt her or something?

Either way, he didn’t seem like a nice person, but she herself couldn’t deny that she was aware of the consequences when she agreed to make the deal with the devil.

She turned away from the window and walked towards her bed in search of her phone, her mind going back to her dream.

‘What the heck was he doing in her dream? Was her head trying to play games on her?’ she scowled. ‘But it felt so familiar and – okay, that’s enough!’ she stopped herself.

She picked up her phone, which she had slept on while she was scrolling through tiredly last night.

“He didn’t even commended my impressive speech”

There was a knock on her door. “Ma’am, miss Burton is here to see you,” a maid said from behind the door.

“I’ll be out in a minute,” she replied, wondering why Nella was here so early.

As soon as she unlocked her phone, notifications began popping through, but the biggest one yet was the picture of her and Mr Harding when he’d leaned forward to threaten her.

Boldly written beneath the picture was: “HARDING + SHARPPE; BUSINESS OR AFFAIR?”

“What the fuck?!” Maren screamed.

“Oh my god Maren, you didn’t mention you were getting involved with Kendrick Harding,” Nella accused as soon as she sighted her coming down the stairs, her phone in hand. “The news has gone haywire”

“The news?” she asked in surprise as she picked up the TV remote and switched it on. The same picture with the same headline was being spoken about.

“I can swear there were no cameras out there yesterday,” Maren said, switching it off with anger. “And what the hell is that headline?”

“But in an actual sense, what went on between both of you?” Her mom, who had just entered the room, asked.

“Remember Helix?”

“Oh!” Nella exclaimed.

“Well, what do you expect? He’s a famous figure. You don’t expect him to not be noticed when he’s in a neighborhood,” her mom responded.

Maren’s phone dinged in a notification, but this time it was different. She stared at it and smiled mischievously.

“Let them talk,” she

“Now that’s the spirit, I guess?” Nella said, confusingly.

“Their accusations get me more exposure that no one can ignore. Not even a certain someone called Alexander Blackwood”

“Really? Is this your aim in all of this?” Her mom questioned.

“Of course not. But what can I do when my company gets noticed by some business celebrity who wants to go into partnership with me and then I wake up with accusations that go haywire which are giving me more exposure?”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

“Mom, this is good for business. And for once since Alexander, I feel so happy shaking hands with the devil” she stopped as she noticed her mom’s expression.

“I know you’re worried, mom but I promise I’ll be careful,” she assured.

“Not to be a party popper, but don’t you think this was so out of the blue? The sudden partnership doesn’t sound shady to you?”

Maren stopped to think for a while. Her brows creased. “I don’t care.” her notification rang again, and she checked it.

“I guess I’ll find out”