The Billionaire's Secret Obsession

Episode 2

“Iris… why are you awake?” I turned my head slowly.

Val was standing at the kitchen entrance, her hair messy and eyes half opened. I checked the clock and it was 5:15 AM.

I shrugged and flipped the pancake in the pan.

“Couldn’t sleep.”

She stared at me for a few seconds.

“You hate cooking.” She said.

“And you hate mornings.”

“I know.”

She walked closer, squinting at me like she was trying to figure out something. She looked funny.

“Iris, what happened?”

I didn’t answer. Val sighed and sat on the stool.

“Iris.”

I placed another pancake on the plate.

“I just didn’t feel sleepy.”

“That’s a lie, you like sleeping.”

“I’m serious.”

“Do you know how you look?” “You look like someone that fought demons all night.”

I forced a smile. “Maybe I did.”

“Okay,” she said calmly. “What happened?”

I kept my eyes on the pan. “Nothing.”

Val raised an eyebrow.

“You expect me to believe that?”

She leaned forward.

“You cried yourself to sleep yesterday. There’s no way you woke up at five cooking pancakes unless something is wrong.”

I stayed quiet.

Val studied me, then she narrowed her eyes,

“Did Mike come over?”

“No.”

“Did he call again?”

“No.”

“Did he text you?”

“No.”

She frowned. “Then what happened?”

“Jeez nothing.” “I just didn’t feel like sleeping.”

“Iris Kennedy Nash.” “Are you going to tell me what happened or you want me to force it out?”

“I stared at her suspiciously.” “Force out, How?”

And before I knew what was happening, Val started tickling me.

I laughed, my first real laugh in the past 10 hours. And the burden in my heart eased a little

Then she stopped, she looked so happy like she has accomplished a mission.

“I did it!”

“You’re finally laughing.”

“You should laugh more Iris, you look so beautiful when you laugh.”

I hugged her and started crying. I didn’t know why I did that but I’m just grateful I have her as my best friend.

She hugged me back almost immediately.

“Hey… hey,” Val murmured softly, rubbing my back. “What’s wrong?”

I wiped my face quickly.

“Nothing.” “I just felt like hugging you.”

She pulled back just enough to look at me.

“Iris.”

“It’s just that it’s not easy moving on from Mike.”

“ I can’t believe he did that.”

“I thought I’ll be fine”. I admitted, “But… I guess I’m not.”

She crossed her arms.

“You saw him cheating on you. Of course you’re not okay.”

“I know.”

She looked at the pancakes on the plate.

“You made food though. That’s a progress.”

I snorted. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I’m serious.”

She grabbed a pancake and took a bite.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“These are actually good.”

“Wow. Thanks.”

She pointed a fork at me. “I’m proud of you baby.”

For a moment the kitchen was quiet.

The early morning light was starting to slip through the window.

Val finished the pancake and grabbed another.

“So,” she said. “What’s the plan for today?”

“Plan?”

“Yes Iris. Plan”

“Post breakup healing plan.”

“Ohh.. that?”

“Yes, that.” “So?”

“The plan is to just stay in my bed and watch a romance movie.”

She sighed.

“Nope,” she said immediately.

“Yes.”

“Nope”.

“Val.”

“You are not sitting here crying over Mike all weekend.”

“I’m not crying.”

“You literally cried 5 minutes ago.”

“That was different.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

She ignored me.

“We are going out tonight.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I hate clubs.”

“We are not going to a club?”

“Bars? ”

“No.”

“Parties?”

“No.”

“Then where?”

Val smiled darkly.

“You’ll see when we get there. Val’s smile widened.

“You’re hiding something.” I muttered, folding my arms.

“I’m not, just… excited.” She winked, which made me more suspicious.

I shook my head. “ Hmhm, I’m not going.”

“Not this time, we are going” she said.

“Get ready by 6pm, okay?”

“So… what do I do until 6pm?” I asked, picking my mug.

Val leaned against the counter, scrolling through her phone. “Depends. You could binge a show, read a novel, go shopping, anything babe to keep you busy.”

I rolled my eyes. “Post breakup healing sounds like a full time job.”

“Exactly,” Val said, smirking.

I still didn’t feel like sleeping. So I spent the next hour tidying up the apartment. Folding laundry, clearing dishes, and cleaning up my room.

Around 9 AM, Val’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and smiled. “Christian’s on his way. You’ll like him. He’s very charming.”

I froze. “Christian?”

“Yeah,” she said casually. “My soon to be boyfriend. You met him briefly at my birthday, remember?”

“Oh… right.” I muttered. The memory came back; Christian, tall, polite, and handsome.”

“Your soon to be boyfriend?” I asked laughing

“Yeah, I like him, he likes me. And I have a feeling his going to ask me out soon” she said smiling

By 9:30 AM, there was a knock on the door. Val practically jumped to opened it.

“Hey!” he greeted, wrapping his arms around her. Christian’s smile was easy, warm the kind that made you feel immediately comfortable. He handed Val smoothie and kissed her on the cheeks.

“Morning,” I said awkwardly, holding my coffee cup.

Christian’s eyes flicked to me. “You must be Iris. Val’s told me a lot about you.”

I smiled. “All good things, I hope?”

“Mostly” he said with a grin.

They chatted for a bit while I retreated to my room to give them privacy. Val’s happiness was infectious, and I felt happy for her

Val came into my room to tell me she’s going out with Christian. She said she’ll be back before 6, and I should make sure I’ve gotten ready for the outing.

I groaned because I didn’t really feel like going out. But Val’s adamant.

After Val left with Christian, the apartment was suddenly quiet. I slumped unto the couch, holding my coffee, staring at the wall.

I tried to focus on my phone, scrolling aimlessly through social media, but I felt unease. My mind kept wandering back to last night, to Mike, to messages, to… everything.

After I binge watched Bridgerton then I forced myself to sleep.

Around 4pm, the sound of my phone woke me up. I was scared for moment thinking it was the same person from last night. . Checking the Caller ID, it was Sienna, my boss. I picked up reluctantly.

“Iris, good evening,” her voice chirped. “I hope I’m not disturbing your weekend”

“Good evening. No it’s fine.”

“I’ll get straight to the point. I received a business contract for Volkov International Holdings. To plan for series of events and I want you to be in charge of it. You’re the best fit. Come in on Monday to discuss the details. ”

“Me?” “Wow, thank you ma. I’ll be there.” I said, trying to sound composed.

“Perfect. Be here by 10 AM”.

“Okay ma. Thank you, ma.”

I ended the call, my hands trembling slightly. I wasn’t sure if it was excitement. Planning event for Volkov International Holdings is huge.

Having nothing to do, I decided to get ready. I forced myself out of my bed and into the shower, letting the warm water wash away everything that happened. By 5 PM, I was dressed, hair done and even applied a touch of makeup.

By 5:45 PM, I was pacing the room, checking my reflection for the tenth time. The sound of key in the lock made my heart skipped a beat.

“Finally!” I exclaimed as Val burst in, smiling. “Are you ready?”

“Always ready.” She said, twirling around. “You look amazing, by the way.”

“Thanks” I said blushing

Val laughed and grabbed my hand. “Come on, let’s not be late.”

The cab ride was short, filled with our laughter, talks and teasing. I felt at ease a little. Val had a way of making the world feel lighter.

We arrived at a rooftop café overlooking the city. Lights twinkled above casting warm glows over the tables. The air smelled faintly of coffee and pastries. Below us, taxi hoens and sirens wove together into the city. Up here, it almost felt safe.

“This is…beautiful,” I said, still in awe.

“I told you. You needed a distraction. And I wanted somewhere pretty for my favourite girl.”

I smiled weakly and grateful. The world felt normal for the first time in a long while. We ordered smoothies and sat, chatting about everything and nothing—Val’s upcoming plans with Christian, my new assignment with Volkov International Holdings, and silly storiesfrom our past.

But as I laughed at one of Val’s silly jokes, my phone buzzed in my bag.

I pulled it out slowly.

A new message from an unknown number. My stomach dropped.

“You look more beautiful when you smile”

I froze. Before I could respond, a photo appeared. A picture of Val and I sitting at our table, laughing, completely unaware we were watched.

I looked up instinctively, at the other tables, at the rooftop edge, at the street below. Nothing. Just strangers and city light.

Val noticed my change in mood. “You okay?” She asked

“Just tired. Can we go back home?”

“We’ve done enough for tonight, let’s go back home”

I nodded.

I barely spoke on the ride home.Val filled the silence with chatter. Something about Christian, about the café’s menu and I nodded in the right places. My phone sat in my bag like something alive.

On getting home, my phone buzzed in my hands.

A new message appeared; a photo of us entering the apartment, followed by:

“LOCK YOUR DOORS VERY WELL, SWEETHEART.”