The CEOs Unplanned Heirs

“Am I really that unfuckable?” My best friend nearly choked on her drink. “Elowen!” “What?” I stared at her from across the tiny café table. “It’s a valid question.” “It is absolutely not a valid question.” “He stopped replying.” “So?” “So?” I dropped my phone onto the table. “We talked for three weeks. Every single day. He called me beautiful. He said he liked me. He asked what I was wearing to our date tonight.” “And?” “And now he’s disappeared.” Maya picked up her glass and took a slow sip. “Maybe he died.” I stared at her. “What?” “You know, a car accident. Freak lightning strike. Fell into a volcano.” “Maya.” “Fine.” She sighed. “Maybe he was just leading you on.” I sank lower into my chair, that somehow felt worse….. I had never been good at dating, Actually, that was a lie…I had never dated. At twenty-three, I was still a virgin, and I wasn’t ashamed of it. I’d just never met anyone I trusted enough to give that part of myself to. Until him. Apparently, I had trusted a man who could lie without blinking an eye. Maya reached across the table and grabbed my phone before I could check it again. “Stop.” “I wasn’t checking.” “You’ve opened his chat twelve times in the last ten minutes.” “I was….” “Checking.” I sighed. She slid my phone into her purse. “You’re coming out with me tonight.” “No.” “Yes.” “Maya, I’m not going to a club.” “Why?” “Because I don’t want to.” “Wrong answer.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice dramatically. “You’re twenty-three. You’re single. You’re beautiful. You have nice boobs .You have a degree.“ And you’ve spent the last hour acting like you’re attending a funeral because some mediocre man stopped texting you.” “He wasn’t mediocre.” “He had a beard that looked like it was fighting for survival.” I laughed out loudly. Maya smiled. “There. That’s better." “I still don’t want to go.” “Yes, you do.” “No, I don’t.” “You’re coming.” “Tonight, we’re getting dressed, we’re going somewhere expensive, and you’re going to have fun.” I shook my head. “You’re insane.” “And you’re boring.” I folded my arms across my chest . “I hate you.” “I love you too babes.” “And I know you will love me more when we are dancing.” She added. “Maya, I don’t even have anything to wear.” She gave me a look. “You have an entire wardrobe.” “Nothing club-worthy.” “Everything in your wardrobe is club-worthy if you stop dressing like you’re attending a parent-teacher meeting.” I laughed. She stood and grabbed her bag. “Come on.” “Where?” “My apartment.” “Why?” “Because we’re getting you ready.” I stared at her. “For what?" She smiled. “Your first night out as a single woman.” “I’ve always been single.” “Exactly. Which is why we’re celebrating.” “You’re ridiculous.” “And you’re coming.” She tossed my purse at me and I caught it before it hit the floor. Maybe she was right, I did need one reckless night. I just didn’t know how reckless it was about to become. A few hours later, I was standing outside the club. Tonight, Maya had other plans. She’d convinced me to wear a fitted black dress. It was outrageously short. I’d always had good curves, it felt good to finally show them off. The neckline wasn’t exactly modest. It showed a bit of cleavage but it was not that bad. The club was already crowded when we arrived. Expensive sports cars were already lined up at the entrance. Music thumped through the entrance, vibrating through my chest. Colored lights flashed across the room, catching pieces of conversation as people shouted over the music. Maya grabbed my hand. “Come on!” I followed her inside. The place was nothing like anywhere I’d normally go. Everything looked expensive. Maya led me toward the bar. “What do you want?” “Something light.” “Boring.” She ordered our drinks. I took mine and looked around. Couples were everywhere. Men and women in expensive clothes. Everybody is talking and laughing like they don’t have any single problem in the world. I suddenly felt very aware of myself. “You’re doing it again,” Maya said. “Doing what?” “Overthinking.” “I can’t help it.” “Yes, you can.” She lifted her glass. “To tonight.” I clinked mine against hers. “To tonight.” I took a sip. Maybe tonight really could be fun. I turned toward the dance floor. And that’s when I saw him. He stood at the far end of the bar with three men, dressed in a black suit that looked effortless on him. Tall. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. Sharp jaw. “He looked…perfect .” He wasn’t laughing with his friends. He was simply watching the room with an expression that made everyone else seem irrelevant. Then his eyes found mine. And stayed there. My breath caught. Maya followed my gaze. “Oh.” I swallowed. “What?” She smiled. “Forget everything I said.” “What?” She leaned closer. “That man is definitely not mediocre.” I looked away. But a second later, I looked back. He was still watching me. And this time, he smirked. Just slightly. My heart did something strange in my chest. I had no idea who he was. I didn’t know his name. But I wanted him.