Billionaire’s Toy

Chapter3

Netim’s Point of View

My heart stopped.

I didn't know he was going to be such a…well, complete jackass.

I'd only met Velasquez once before, appearing at one of my dad's auction soirees, before he even funded my designs, purchased a couple of assets, and said maybe even two words the whole evening. But I wasn't expecting him to be the sort of, you know, individual to humiliate a person in front of all these gossip mongooses.

And now? I was so sure I was going to make headlines by dawn.

His bodyguard stepped forward to pull me aside, but I turned on my heels immediately, not forgetting to drop off the card in the bodyguard's hand. I wasn't going to allow more tarnishing of the Danjuma's name. And he can go straight to hell if he doesn't still want the card for further repair of his ruined suit.

Racing down the tower I pushed open the bistro doors below and ran outside.

The sidewalk was empty.

My chest fell.

I scooted up the floor and fell there on the curb, not caring who might see me.

Tears traveled down my face.

He really was gone.

It was truly over.

Seven seven-year relationship I thought might lead to marriage, is gone.

My whole body ached inside, as I tried to hold back the tears, but they kept flowing. If that rude Velasquez hadn't grabbed me back inside, maybe I could have been able to catch up to Jared.

Maybe I could have been able to clear things up.

Though… deep inside me, I knew Jared wouldn't have listened.

Still bending down crying my eyes out, I sensed a presence very close beside me.

I slowly lifted my eyes—and my stomach dropped when I spotted a lady with a recorder in her hand.

"Wow, you're Netim Danjuma, right?" The woman dropped to her knees next to me. Her tone is falsely soft.

"Would you mind answering a few questions, please? Just a quick one.

Can you say something about what went on between you and

Mr. Velasquez this evening?

Did you spill the wine intentionally?”

I stood up quickly. Can these people just mind their business? This night was already bad enough for me.

“I have nothing to say to you,” I said to her but she followed as I turned, still wiping at my face.

“One more question, please. People inside said they saw Maximos Velasquez holding onto you. Was that… a personal connection? Or business-related?”

I blinked trying to get away from her but more people now gathered with more cameras and phones in every direction, their flashes going into my eyes, their voices piling in on all sides.

I tried to cover my face, as I tried elbowing some of them aside but the throng packed even tighter, their questions turning into a cloud of buzzing bees.

"Miss Danjuma, you and Mr. Velasquez, are you together in secret?"

"Was the wine incident staged for publicity?"

I could barely see. My mascara blistered as it mingled with my earlier tears. I turned, shielding my face, as I tried to retreat, but someone blocked me again.

"Do you confirm the rumors about—"

"Move."

The crowd went quiet.

That voice.

Maximos’s bodyguards.

"I said—move."

Velasquez stepped out of the bistro his bodyguards following behind as they too as presumed were trying to push off some journalist who had followed them down from the bistro.

The moment the crowd gathering around me saw him, the entire mood shifted, and they ran on their heels toward him.

"Mr. Velasquez! Did she ruin a seventy-thousand-dollar suit?"

"Are you suing—?"

His eyes met mine as my breath got stuck in my throat.

I turned away from his gaze, turning and pressing through the people, back into the bistro without hesitation.

I walked a beeline straight to the bathroom, nearly running over a waiter again in the process.

There, I switched the lock and leaned back against the door, my chest panting.

I made my way to the mirror and stood surprised at the woman looking back at me She barely looked like me anymore.

My makeup was caked on. My eyes were puffy from crying. My previously shiny lips were quivering.

This was not the birthday I had envisioned.

This was certainly not the night I had dreamed of.

My hands trembled as I turned on the faucet.

The cold water shocked my skin.

As I let it run over my fingers, while splashed some onto my face.

I swallowed the lump in my throat shortly and tapped on my call log.

Adanna picked up on the second ring.

"Girl. Tell me why I just saw a video of you destroying some billionaire's suit?"

I moaned in anguish. "Oh my God, Adanna, don't even start."

"I mean… You went for it. Red wine? Daring move, girl."

Tears welling up fresh in my eyes. I tried to blink them back, to get them back in, but they refused to stop.

There was a pause on the other line.

"Girl? Are you crying?"

I brushed my face.

"Talk to me," she said, completely switching now in tone. "What happened?"

I exhaled unsteadily. "Jared—Jared broke up with me tonight."

"What?"

"He found out," I murmured bitterly. " He found out about that night. About what happened at Aegis."

"Oh my God girl."

"He thinks I cheated on him. I tried to explain to him, but he would not hear me out. He's going, Adanna. He's going to San Eldridge for this new position, It's over. Everything is over, I'm screwed."

There was silence on the phone.

Then—

"Where are you?"

"Gilded Fork.”

“Drinks.”

“Ooh Adanna yes, yes I do need that right now. And I need you too.” I said cleaning my face.

"I’m on my way girl."

I finally let out a breath ending the phone call and dropping it into my purse.

Adanna always knew exactly what I needed.

I adjusted my gown, grabbed my purse, and took one last look in the mirror.

I was getting drunk tonight.

It was my birthday anyway.

I ended up at Noir Lounge a few minutes later, a bar a few blocks away from Gilded Fork.

I slid into a corner booth and ordered two drinks for both of us, not forgetting to send her the address again just in case, though I'd already texted it to her when I was leaving Gilded Fork.

A few minutes passed.

A waiter came.

"Evening. Would you like something else to wait for? Something to eat? Fries? Chicken wings? Sliders? We also have nachos if you'd like."

I nodded, realizing I hadn't even eaten anything at Gilded Fork.

"Uh. Fries," I said. "And maybe. The wings too."

"Spicy or BBQ?"

"BBQ, please."

"Okay. It'll be out soon."

He smiled at me and disappeared, and I went back to looking at my phone again but no Adanna yet. And still no messages.

I looked over at the seat next to me, the one I was saving for her, and tried not to feel the tightness in my chest again.

The waiter came back a few minutes later with a tray in his hand.

"Fries and BBQ wings," he said, setting them down. "Enjoy."

"Thanks," I muttered.

He left, and I gazed again at the door. A few people came in laughing, and chatting. Not her. I went back to my drink, then checked the time again.

Still no message, nor my best friend Adanna. So I leaned back against the booth, and glanced down realising that unintentionally, I'd eaten everything.

The fries were gone. The wings too. And so were both beers.

I swept my eyes over the bar, accidentally glancing at a man and woman in the booth across from me. They were both holding one another—kissing, and smiling.

I strained my chest.

It was stupid, but that is what I was supposed to be doing tonight. Jared and I.

Not sitting here alone, heartbroken, on my birth anniversary.

I winced at the sting from my eyes and signaled to the waiter.

"Another beer?" he asked.

"Actually." I stumbled, then tried to smile weakly.

"Something stronger maybe."

He raised an eyebrow. "Any preference?"

"Surprise me."

He nodded curtly and disappeared again.

I leaned back in the car, releasing my head into the padding, and closed my eyes.

If I were going to be alone, and devastated—I might as well be drunk too.