The Billionaire Takes A Wife

Chapter 2

You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams

- Dr Seuss

There was a jackhammer going off in her head. Either that or God was punishing her for leaving the comfort of her home and stepping into the first bar she saw the previous night. Laila groaned and rolled onto her back, trying to open her eyes despite the pins of pain coursing through her temples.

She finally opened her eyes, expecting to see her faded wallpapered ceiling with the water stains from spring ages ago. Instead, she saw a plain white cast ceiling flecked with gold dust and a massive chandelier. This was not her humble run down home in the Bronx. What the…… She thought, sitting up quickly and ignoring her protesting head. She looked around, wondering where the hell she was. The room looked like something straight out of Architectural Digest. Where the hell am I, she thought.

Staggering off the bed, she waddled over to the floor to ceiling window. She could see the entire New York City skyline. She deduced she had to be in a penthouse in Manhattan. Suddenly, aware of movement and voices somewhere in the penthouse, she crept towards the door, picking up a lamp on the bedside table.

As quietly as she could, she opened the door and stepped into the vast hallway. Her heart pounding in her chest, she silently walked towards the direction of the voice. Coming to stop at the entrance of a large living room area, she surveyed her surroundings and determined that the voice was coming from the studio kitchen flanking the living room. Stepping further into the room, she tiptoed towards the kitchen but took care to stay out of sight.

Laila swallowed as she spied him. He was shirtless, moving across the kitchen with the confidence of a god. She could she that he was fit, his chest ripped. She could see that he was handsome, his jaw strong and angular with dark tresses of hair falling into his eyes. She must have made some sort of sound, because he suddenly looked in her direction and saw her, his silver gaze pinning her to her spot. Silver grey eyes. Oh my God, she thought, the guy from the bar last night. She had faint memories of laughter and drinks. One too many drinks apparently. He must have brought her home.

Shyly, she walked towards him, setting down the lamp. He was still silent, his hands gripping a cup of coffee, his eyes following her every move. Coming to stop in front of the counter, she gazed back at him, lost in his eyes.

“Coffee?” he asked.

“Where am I?”

“You passed out last night. I brought you home. Knew you were not much of a drinker.” he smirked as he placed a cup of coffee in front of her.

“Oh” she murmured, lifting the cup of coffee to her lips. She felt her cheeks heat. This was embarrassing. She went to the bar the previous night to have a drink and forget her sorrows for a while, only to end up passing out on a stranger and him having to carry her back home.

….……………………………………………………………………..

Jake smiled as turned away from the woman seated on his counter. One minute she was singing drunkenly the previous night, the next minute she was snoring away in his arms. She looked so petrified and he didn’t blame her. His twenty storey penthouse with it’s airy view, floor to ceiling windows and obviously expensive antiques and furniture could be quite intimidating.

“Did anything happen between us last night?” she asked suddenly.

“Anything like?” he replied, raising a brow. He knew exactly what she was asking. He just wanted to play with her. She silent after that, looking at him with pleading eyes. He decided to put her out of her misery.

“You still have your dress on. I can assure you that the answer is no. n*********a isn’t my thing princess.” Jake replied.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Fine. Tell me your name.”

“No.”

“Okay. Princess it is.”

She rolled her eyes, then looked around, trying to survey her surroundings. She looked out of place, like a fish out of water.

“Can I use your bathroom?” she asked.

“Sure. The bedroom you slept in is en suite. Use that.” he replied.

Muttering her thanks, she made her way towards the hallway. Thinking he should probably make her breakfast to help with her hangover, he stepped into his adjoining pantry to get ingredients. Stepping out with produce in his hands, he was surprised to hear his front door slam. He told his driver, Freddy he wasn’t going into work this morning. Soon, he realized that he was alone. Bolting from the kitchen, he surveyed the empty living room before walking into the guest bedroom she had bunked in. It was empty, so was the bathroom. Shaking his head, he realized that she had run away. He could bet she thought he was a kidnapper or an organ trafficker.

Walking around the bed, he noticed a bit of plastic peeking out from the rumpled bed covers. Picking it up, he noticed it was a New York City drivers license. Laila Shepherd. Laila. He tested her name on his tongue. It felt beautiful. With the drivers license in her hands, he walked back to his kitchen. Picking up his phone resting on the counter, he called his security adviser.

“Williams. Get me everything you can on a Laila Shepherd. Now.”

….………………………………………………………………………

“Laila, where in God’s name have you been? Bob is about to lose his mind” said Becca, a fellow waitress at Bob’s Diner. Laila slipped into the back door and looked around before giving Becca a quick hug and running into the dressing room.

Changing into her work outfit which consisted of plain black pants with a shirt with the diner’s logo and an apron, she stepped out to join Becca who was waiting for her just outside the door. Falling into step with each other, they walked towards the kitchen.

“You better have a good explanation as to why you’re nearly an hour late! I thought you’d been kidn*pped or something.” Becca said

“Trust me, there’s nothing I have that they want.” Laila said as she tied her hair into a ponytail.

“You have a well functioning kidney. That’s all that matters.” they both laughed.

“But seriously, where were you last night? I called and went by the house and you weren’t there. I almost reported you missing.” Becca said, tugging on Laila’s arm to pull her to a stop.

“I’m fine. I went to Craden’s last night for a drink and passed out.” Laila said.

“Craden’s? What were you doing in that dump? And when did you start drinking? What do you mean you passed out? Where did you spend the night? What’s going on?” Becca shot out in one breath. One of Becca’s not so redeeming qualities was that she shot out so many questions at the same time, expecting you to answer those questions in the same breath.

Laila opened her mouth to answer but quickly shut it when Bob’s meaty face popped out of the kitchen door. He reddened at the sight of them.

“I don’t know what you think this is, but I’m paying you to work not hang around and talk about your little boyfriends. And if either of you is ever late again you’ll be out on your ass!” he screamed at them. They exchanged a look before scurrying into the kitchen.

….……………………………………………………………………..

Six hours later, Laila was more than ready to clock out. Bob had worked her hard to the bone, probably to punish her for being late. She didn’t mind. Keeping busy prevented her from thinking about the eight hundred and fifty thousand dollar debt she had to pay. She knew she had to come up with a plan to raise the money. But she’d be damned if she knew what the plan was. Her mind drifted to the previous night. Going out for a drink was part of the plan, passing out in front of a stranger was definitely not part of the plan. She must have really been comfortable around him to let herself go that far. She didn’t recall being that comfortable with any other men.

Sighing, she leaned back into the recliner in the break room and closed her eyes. He had the most unique set of eyes. Silver grey, with the face of Adonis. Too bad she was never going to see him again. Besides she had bigger problems to contend with, like how she was going to come up with the money. She knew it was cowardly of her to run away the way she did, but what other choice did she have?

She heard someone call her name. Opening her eyes, she saw Becca hovering at the kitchen door.

“Some guy out there is asking for you. Says he only wants you to serve him.” she said.

“My shift is over. Let someone else take it.” Laila said.

“Girl, he gave me a five hundred dollar tip. He smells rich and he’s so handsome.” Becca replied, giggling like a school girl.

“Why is he looking for me?” Laila grumbled as she put her shoes on and rose out of the chair.

“You probably served him and made an impression, although I’m not sure Bob’s Diner is his scene. Get out there.” Becca said, pushing Laila towards the door.

Laila walked out into the diner. Lunch hour just rounded up. Dinner rush would be starting soon. She was glad she’ll be out of there before it began. Becca mentioned that the man was seated at the corner booth, almost secluded from the rest of the diner. She made her way towards the table, spotting the head of a dark haired man.

“Welcome to Bob’s Diner. What can I do for…….” The words died in her throat as she rounded the table and saw a pair of silver grey eyes twinkling at her. Silver grey eyes.

“Hello Laila.”