CAUGHT IN THE BILLIONAIRE WEB

The Price Of One Night

AMY POV

James’ lips were on mine again before I even understood what was happening. I didn’t plan to kiss him back, but I did. Everything moved too fast, and somehow I stopped fighting it. For a moment, I let myself forget why I was there and let myself feel him.

It was only supposed to happen once, but it didn’t end that way. James didn’t stop after the first time. Neither did I.

When everything finally slowed, I rested my head on his chest. Both of us were breathing hard, trying to catch our breath.

I felt bad that I lost my virginity to a man I barely knew, but I told myself it was worth it. It was my virginity in exchange for my mom’s life.

We were still catching our breath when I heard the soft click of the door handle.

I froze.

James didn’t notice at first. His face was close to mine, his hand still resting against my thigh. I opened my mouth to warn him, but before any words came out…

The door crashed open.

Light exploded into the room.

Cameras.

Voices.

Footsteps.

All rushing toward us at once.

Reporters flooded in like they had been waiting outside the whole time.

I snapped out of whatever daze I was in and grabbed the blanket, pulling it over both of us as fast as I could. My heart slammed against my ribs. My hands shook so badly I almost dropped the blanket entirely.

James sat up sharply. “What the…..”

But the reporters didn’t hesitate. They didn’t even blink.

“Mr. Harrington! Who is this woman?”

“Mr. Harrington! Look here!”

“Sir! Sir!”

“Who is she?”

“Is this the woman you’re sleeping with?”

“Are you cheating on Evelyn Parker?”

“Is your marriage over?”

“Turn this way!”

I curled into myself and pulled the blanket higher over my chest and shoulders. My breath came out in short, shaky pulls. The flashes made my eyes sting.

James tried to stand in front of me, but they kept pushing forward, lifting cameras over his shoulder, snapping pictures of anything they could catch.

One of them leaned in closer, pointing directly at me.

“Miss….Are you his mistress?”

“Miss, what’s your name? How long have you been sleeping with him?”

Tears filled my eyes. I couldn’t answer. Couldn’t breathe.

He grabbed his phone and called security. After a few minutes of pushing and shouting, they finally drove the reporters out. James stormed out of the room in anger, and I used that moment to run away.

By the next morning, the scandal was everywhere.

It was on every news channel, every blog, every social page. I didn’t even need to search for it. The headlines were already flashing on the TV in the hospital lobby when I passed by.

BILLIONAIRE CEO CAUGHT WITH ANOTHER WOMAN

JAMES HARRINGTON HEIR AND CEO TO THE GREYSTONE HOTEL INVOLVED IN INFIDELITY SCANDAL WITH AN UNKNOWN WOMAN

EVELYN PARKER BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS

MARRIAGE CRASHES AFTER INFIDELITY SCANDAL

James was being dragged badly. People were calling him all kinds of names. Reporters were camping outside Greystone Hotel. Some were outside his house too.

And Evelyn… Evelyn played her part perfectly.

I saw a clip of her crying in front of cameras. She wore a simple dress, hair tied back, face bare like she didn’t care about makeup.

“I gave my whole life to this marriage,” she said, wiping tears. “I supported him through everything. I stood by him. I was loyal. I loved him. And this is how he repays me?”

She covered her face and cried harder.

Everyone felt sorry for her.

Everyone believed her.

And watching her cry like that was the moment everything clicked inside me.

I finally understood what she had done.

She used me.

I was nothing more than a pawn.

James tried to defend himself. Reporters showed him shouting that it was a setup. That he had been set up by someone who wanted him out. But nobody listened. Nobody even cared. They had already picked their side.

By afternoon, more headlines came out:

HARRINGTON STOCK DROPS AFTER SCANDAL

BOARD MEMBERS CALL FOR HIS RESIGNATION

RUFUS MORGAN DEMANDS URGENT BOARD MEETING

Everything was falling apart for him. Everything.

And the guilt hit me so hard I could barely breathe.

Even though I didn’t plan any of it, I still felt responsible.

That evening, I called Evelyn.

I didn’t know what I wanted to say at first. Part of me wanted to scream at her. Part of me wanted to ask why she would do something so cruel. Part of me wanted to tell her how used I felt.

But I kept quiet.

Because I needed the money.

I needed it to save my mom.

She picked up immediately, her voice calm. “Come to my house,” she said. “Your pay is ready.”

I went to her. She gave me the envelope, heavy with cash. She smiled like nothing happened. “Good job,” she said with a big smile.

I didn’t reply.

I just took the money and left.

By the following week, I was on a flight out of the country with my mother. I didn’t want to stay and watch the chaos I helped create. I just wanted to save her and escape everything.

Before boarding, I checked the news one more time.

My face wasn’t anywhere in the videos.

Not clearly.

Not enough for anyone to recognize me.

It was all James and “the unknown woman.”

No one knew it was me and I prayed it stayed that way.