Billionaire's Best Friend

XX. Slowly Falling in Love

Nina’s POV:

I stood there, mesmerized by the fish of different shapes and sizes. The sunlight bouncing off each scale of the giant tuna fish is stunning — vividly colored of the corals and plants swaying back and forth by the calm water. My eyes widened as a giant shark passed by us, his eyes glancing at me, and its majestic beauty immediately captured my heart.

The aquarium.

Turning my head, Matt stood there looking at me. The scenery in front of me is breathtaking, but for some reason, I can’t stop staring at the pair of icy blues in front of me.

A smile crossed his face. “Makes you want to stay here? Maybe a bit more?”

I blink a few times and resume breathing. I didn’t even notice when I stopped. “Yes, a bit more.” I wanted to tease him, but somehow those words came out as a whisper.

He grabbed my hand, and we went around looking at everything from the jellyfish to the turtles. “Let’s take pictures, Matt! We can put them on our walls!” A broad smile crossed his lips, and he gave me a nod. We would take various photos throughout the aquarium. If this is a date, it’s the best date of my life.

“Hungry?”

“Famished.” I place a hand on my stomach.

We drove to a very tall building, but then again, every building in New York is tall. When we got inside, we took an elevator to our destination. Matt places an arm around me as I hold his hand with my fingers.

“Hello, Mr.Greyson.” The man bowed to Matt and smiled at me. “This way, please.” He showed us to our table next to a large window. Glancing outside, elegantly New York scenery made its appearance.

“Wow.” For the third time today, my breath was stolen from me.

Matt ordered us some wine and food. “Like it?” he asks. My eyes trail from the window towards the first scenery that took my breath away.

“Very classy, Mr.Greyson. One would think you’re trying to court me right now.” I lifted a brow and gave him a sly smile.

He extended his hand and held mine. “Perhaps I am trying to court you right now. How is it, my lady? Do you feel your heart pounding yet?”

I started playing with his fingers. “I hear a heartbeat, but I don’t think it’s mine,” I said teasingly.

He smirks, “Are you suggesting it’s mine?”

I shrug and continue playing with his fingers as he smiles and plays with mine.

“Matt!” I heard a loud girl yell. Turning my head, a tall, brown-haired girl with light green eyes stood in front of us, hands around her waist as her foot tapped angrily. “Who is she?” She spat out.

Matt closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. “Daniella. Stop.” I retract my hand from Matt, but he moves forward, holding it tighter.

“Matt! How can you do this to me! I’m your girlfriend!”

My mouth widens as I cover it with my free hand, and look at Matt. “No. No. No. No. She isn’t my girlfriend, Nina. Daniella, you’re not my girlfriend.”

“Not yet!”

Shifting her eyes, she looked at me and scanned my body then released a snort. “Her? Really? I give you two weeks darling before he gets sick of you.”

“Daniella!” Matt slammed his hand on the table, causing her to flinch back slightly. To be honest, I flinched too. I’m sure everyone inside the restaurant did.

“I’m telling the truth. Look at her. I don’t understand why you want to even be here with her.”

I release a scoff running my fingers through my hair. Slamming my hand on the table, I caught both of their attention. “Look here, Dorito.”

“Daniella,” she hissed.

“Okay, Daniella. Whomever you think you are-”

“I’m Matt’s future wife,” she had the nerve to cut me off.

I chuckle, “Okay, and who is here with him? Me. That’s who. So why don’t you make a U-turn and leave? You are ruining our date.” I waved her off. I feel like I’m getting better at the whole waving thing each day.

“Why you little-” she raised her hand to me only to stop by Matt’s hand on her wrist.

“Leave Daniella,” Matt spoke with no room for argument.

“But baby!” She whines.

“Leave,” he scowls.

She shot daggers at me one last time and left, muttering: “Whore.”

I started tapping my leg as I drank the whole cup of water in front of me. Matt pulled a chair next to me and held my hand. “Sorry,” he whispers.

“Is she really your future wife?”

He shuddered and shook his head. “No, she is just a friend and Justin’s ex.”

My mouth widens once again as a gasp escape. “I know why Justin left New York now.”

He chuckled lightly and pulled me into his lap as I wrapped my arms around his neck to keep steady. “Date, huh.”

My shoulder lifted into a shrug. “Yeah, sure, a date.”

Matt started chewing on his bottom lips. “And how is the date so far?”

“Not bad until that incident.”

“Can I expect a second date from you, sweetheart?”

Throwing my head back, a laugh escaped. “Maybe I’m still debating.”

He kissed the top of my head and pulled me in farther. Matt refused to let me go, so we sat there, eating the delicious food and drinking fine wine. I place both hands on my cheeks, feeling it heating. “No more wine for you,” Matt said, and I nod, knowing I would embarrass myself in this fancy restaurant if I drink anymore.

“Matt, let go of me. I need to use the toilet.”

“Don’t you mean powder your nose?” He teases.

I rolled my eyes, “I don’t powder my nose. I don’t even know what that means. I need to pee; that’s realistic and something I can do.”

Matt chuckles, “Very classy, sweetheart.”

“I know I’m such a catch.” I flipped my hair dramatically and stumbled to the bathroom.

I did my business and started washing my hands only to stop by the one and only Daniella. “I don’t see what he sees in you.”

“Pardon?”

“Two weeks, and he will leave your small desperate ass. You’re nothing but a toy to him. Why are you with him? Money? Publicity? Here is a warning, he likes to play with girls’ hearts, and you are no exception.”

I grab the paper towels. “Matt isn’t like that - well he used to be, but he isn’t like that anymore. So, stop saying those things about him.”

She covers her mouth and releases loud laughter. “Oh, you are so naive, sweetie. You think he loves you, don’t you? You feel special being next to him, huh? You know he does that to every girl. If you think he is going to stay with you, you don’t know Matthew Greyson. Here is a bit of advice, chew what you can and leave before he leaves you,” she spat out.

She halts half-way in opening the door, and smirks, “Oh, and one more thing. Isn’t Matt so good in bed?”

I lean against the bathroom counter. “What do you know about him.”

Closing my eyes, my hands tighten into fists. I thought meeting Jack was terrible until I met Daniella. She hit the home run. Never once had a girl, no person, pissed me off so much in such a short amount of time.

I wanted to grab her perfect hair and shove her face down the toilet. Never said I was a saint.

Looking back into the mirror, I took several deep breaths and plaster on a fake smile. I walked back to our table and saw Matt putting his card back into his wallet. “Want some dessert, Short Stack?”

I shook my head and smiled, “I’m full.”

“Okay, what’s wrong?”

“What?”

“Something happened, didn’t it?”

“Nothing happens Matt, let’s go.”

He pulled me down into his lap as he wraps his arms around me. “Something is wrong.” I bit my lips and played with my fingers, knowing he will refuse to let me go until I tell him the truth. “I met Daniella in the bathroom.”

He releases a deep breath. “What did she say?”

“That you guys used to be more than friends and how you will dump me when you are sick of me. Did you two-” I trailed off.

“Yes, we slept with each other once, but that was a long time ago. I was young and drunk at that time too! Right now, I’m not sleeping with anyone, except you, and unfortunately, we just sleep,” he chuckles lightly.

“You sound kind of disappointed.”

“Only sound? I am disappointed.” He pulled out his lower lips and looked at me with large puppy dog eyes.

I laughed and smacked him in the chest. “I don’t do it on the first date.” I brought out my best snobbish voice.

“Oh, how many more dates do we have to go to until I can woo you into my bed?”

“I don’t know; perhaps I’ll be wooed after our 15 dates?”

“That’s a lot of dates. Does that mean you want to go on a second date with me?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know if the second date will go well.”

“Why?”

“Because the first date is so good already. You’re setting a high expectation for the second one.”

He laughs, folding his hands together on the side of my waist. After several seconds, he placed his lips near my ear. “I’ll make sure the second one is better. Every date will be better than the last one,” he whispers.

I can feel the blood rushing towards my cheeks even more than when I was drinking earlier. “Then, I look forward to dating you, Matthew Greyson.”

“Nina Lun, watch out, I’m coming after your heart.”

“My heart will be tough to catch. You sure you want to chase it?”

He hummed out lightly, “I’ll continue chasing it, no matter how long it may take.” I smiled and hopped out of his lap. “Where are we going next?” I asked as Matt helped me put on my coat.

“The beach,” he replied.

“Why?”

He threw his coat on, leading me back to the car. “Everyone knows a beach is a romantic place which will lead me one step closer to your heart.”

“Woah, pretty!” I took off my shoes, placing my feet on the fresh sand. I threw my shoes at him, and he put it in the trunk of the car, doing the same with his shoes. “Come on, Matt!” I screamed. He ran towards me, and we started walking around with no particular destination.

“How is it? Feeling wooed yet?”

I look around. “I must admit, you got game Mr.Greyson, but it’s going to take a lot more than a beautiful aquarium, delicious dinner, and a romantic stop at the beach to wooed me.”

He bites his lips, placing both hands in his coat. “You, Miss Lun, are quite hard to please. Many women will be completely head over heel on a date like this.”

I flipped my hair. “I’m not like other women. That’s why you’re here with me.”

“Yes, you’re definitely not like other women. You boss me around and kick me very often. Jump on my back like you’re a monkey. No other women will do that.”

“I’m not a monkey!” I yelled, jumping on his back. “Take that back!”

He ruffled out deep laughter and attempted to push me off. “Fine, you force me,” he said, grabbing onto my legs and running towards the ocean.

My eyes widen, attempting to push myself off, causing me to fall on the sand. Instantly, Matt lifted me over his shoulder, releasing an evil laugh. “No! Matt! Sto-” before I can even finish my sentence, he dumped me into the cold ocean.

I sat there, spitting out salty water, sending him a glare. Matt bend over and smirk, “See what ha-”

I pulled him down into the water with me and burst out laughing. He sat up, drenched in water, sending me a menacing glare. Grabbing a handful of water, I splashed it on his face, which he quickly retorted.

Standing in the cold water, we continue splashing water, seeing people passing shaking their heads in disapproval of our decision.

“Matt! Stop!” I yelled, choking on salt water.

I can hear his cracking laughter roared, mixing in with the pleasant crashes of the wave. I stood there, staring at him as the water dripped down his soak clothes, the heart-throbbing smile on his face widened. Licking his wet lips, his face grimaces slightly due to the salt. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me into his arms. “Fell in love with New York yet?”

The light breeze carries through our wet clothes, and I know there’s a chance we may catch a cold. “Slowly falling in love.”