THE BILLIONAIRE'S BARGAIN

CHAPTER 29

*****

As the night descends deeper, a gentle stillness envelopes the room where Carmilla lays in bed, the soft glow of her phone illuminating her surroundings. The weight of the day lingers in her thoughts, particularly the cryptic words Crystal had spoken earlier that morning. An inexplicable sense of unease settled over her, compelling her to reach out.

She felt an overwhelming need to ensure that he was alright. With a sense of urgency, Carmilla picks up her phone and scrolls through her contacts. Her fingers paused momentarily over Harrison's name, a flicker of uncertainty momentarily halting her resolve. Yet, the concern she felt for him was stronger, and she quickly typed out a message.

"Hey, are you okay?" she sent, her thumbs racing over the screen.

At that moment, Mia, her roommate and confidante, stirred beside her, roused from her slumber by the faint sound of Carmilla's activity.

"Who's that?" Mia murmurs, her voice still thick with sleep. Carmilla hesitated, caught between the desire to confide in Mia and the desire to find out about Harrison.

"Just Harrison," she replies nonchalantly, hoping to deflect any further inquiry. Mia's eyes gleamed with mischief.

"Ooh, Harrison, huh? Are you that worried about him? Crystal said he was okay”, she teases, propping herself up on one elbow. The playful curiosity in her tone was unmistakable.

Carmilla rolls her eyes, attempting to maintain her composure.

"Why won't I be worried about him, Mia. I just wanted to check in on him."

Mia, however, was not easily convinced. She started to tease Carmilla, weaving jokes about Harrison being her "The one."

Carmilla shoves it off, but that lightness in her chest momentarily distracted her from the flutter of anxiety and attraction that rose within her. Before she could gather her thoughts, her phone buzzes again, this time with an incoming call from Harrison.

A surge of adrenaline rushes through her, and she hesitated for just a moment before answering.

"Hey," Harrison's deep voice resonated through the speaker, sending an unexpected shiver down Carmilla's spine.

"Hey! I was just checking in on you. How are you?" she asked, striving to maintain a casual tone even as her heart races a bit. Harrison chuckles softly.

"I'm good, thanks for asking. I was just taking a nap, and your text woke me up," he admitted, his voice warm and inviting. Carmilla felt a wave of relief wash over her.

"Sorry about that," she replied, her own laughter mingling with his. She felt at ease, the tension of the day dissipating as they exchanged light banter.

As the conversation unfolds, Carmilla and Harrison’s conversation begins to shift from casual small talk to a more serious topic. They started discussing about their families and their respective businesses.

“ How's your company doing?”, Harrison ask, his voice filled with genuine interest.

“ It's doing well, thanks for asking”, Carmilla replies, with a little smile in her face, even if Harrison could not see it.

As they continue talking, Carmilla and Harrison delves deeper into the world of business and finance. They discussed everything from market trends to investment strategies.

Meanwhile, Mia who had been awake lying beside Carmilla, listening to their conversation felt a little bit pity for the two.

“ I mean, who discusses about business deals late in the night with their partner”, she ask herself, staring at Carmilla who is enjoying the conversation with her husband.

“ I thought it was only in movies, but now I see that we still have boring couples in this universe”, Mia concludes to herself as she drift back to sleep beside Carmilla, the gentle rhythm of her breathing filling the room with an air of tranquility.

Carmilla couldn’t help but smile at the peaceful scene, feeling grateful for this quiet moment with Harrison, who was unbeknownst to her, becoming an integral part of her thoughts.

Their conversation flows easily, and before long, they have been talking for over an hour. Carmilla glances at the clock and became surprised to see how late it was.

“ I'm sorry, Harrison. I've been keeping you up for so long” Carmilla said, feeling a pang of guilt.

Harrison chuckles, and Carmilla could hear it through her phone.

“ No need to apologize. I really enjoyed this conversation. It not like it everyday we get to talk like this”.

"Thanks for checking in on me, Carmilla. It really means a lot," he said, sincerity threading through his words.

Carmilla's heart swelled at his acknowledgment, a warmth spreading through her chest.

"Anytime, Harrison. I'm always here if you need someone to talk to," she replied, her voice steady but imbued with genuine affection.

“That’s good to know," he responded, a hint of vulnerability in his tone. "I really appreciate it."

The conversation lingers in the air, quiet moments punctuated only by their shared smile and the occasional sound of Mia’s soft snoring.

Finally, after what felt like hours, get decided to call it a night.

"Well, I should probably let you get some rest," Carmilla said, reluctantly acknowledging the time.

"You need to recharge for tomorrow."

Harrison chuckles, a hint of reluctance in his voice.

"Yeah, I guess you’re right. But I really enjoyed talking to you."

"Me too," she replied, her heart fluttering again at the sincerity in his tone.

"Goodnight, Carmilla," he said softly, the warmth of his words wrapping around her like a cozy blanket.

"Goodnight, Harrison," she echoes, her heart brimming with a sense of contentment as she hung up the phone.

As she lays back in bed, a soft smile still lingering on her lips, she felt the echoes of their conversation enveloping her like a comforting embrace. The sound of Harrison's voice replayed in her mind, a melody that would resonate long after the call had ended. With that thought, she closed her eyes, allowing the warmth of their conversation to guide her into a peaceful slumber.