Billionaire by Chance

On Hold

After thinking about what just happened for a while, I move to clean up the mess I made all over the floor and then finally get the shower I need.

I was planning on talking to Viktoria tonight, but now I feel guilty, even though I know I shouldn't. I don't have a girlfriend, I can do this kind of thing without feeling guilty. I don't have a girlfriend, I can do this kind of thing without feeling guilty.

I repeat that to myself as I make my dinner, using for the first time the toaster I bought for my house.

Just looking at the toaster fills me with masculine power. This was all I wanted in life and now I have it... so what's to stop me from talking to a woman like Viktoria? Maybe she looks like a Russian model who would never notice me, but that was before. Now that I have money and a car and a house, I'm different. Maybe I feel the same, but I'm not.

So I send her a message while I eat my toast.

Is it weir to love talking to her so much? Maybe it's because I haven't been with a girl in so long, but only talking to her on the phone makes me excited.

➿➿➿➿

Viktoria didn't answer my text all night so when I finally get her text in the morning, it makes me start the day in a good mood. I get to the office and talk to Rea while texting with Viktoria, who ends up being so interesting that when Tamara starts talking to me too, I don't have the mental capacity to hold a conversation with her, too.

I'm looking down at my phone when someone knocks on my desk and makes me jump with fright. I raise my eyes, it's a guy I don't know, he has black hair and a wicked smile on his thin lips.

"You're Adrien Belmore, right? The bastard?" He asks, looking deeply at me. I drop my mouth open not knowing what the fück to answer as he continues to study me, "You look like Drake a little… but better looking."

"Thanks? And yes, I am the bastard," I reply, not knowing what else to say. I can see how everyone in the office is watching with very big eyes as if they’re shocked at this exchange, "What do you want with me?"

"I just want to get to know you, dude, don't get defensive.” He answers, throwing his hands in the air, “You're kind of the new hot topic on the top floor. So, do you want to go to lunch with me? You can give me a ride in your Lambo."

This i***t is a clear jerk who just wants to get as much information out of me as he can so he can keep sharing it with his friends on the top floor, but despite that, I think I kinda like him.

I think he’s the kind of jerk I'm used to, a clear and open one.

"Sure," I reply, shrugging and getting up from the desk, "Come on. You haven't told me your name yet, by the way. Or your title. If I'm the bastard, who are you?"

"My name is Damien and, coincidentally, people call me a bastard too," he blurts out with a smile as I stand up. I can see everyone look away and pretend they weren't extremely interested in our talk. Damien is shorter than me, though his personality made me think he was taller. "But they usually call me a faggot."

"In this fancy company? Goddamn, even in my neighborhood filled with lowlifes it was wrong to say that." I grumble, shaking my head like I’m disappointed and Damien throws his head back to let out a laugh that rings throughout all of California.

As I walk past him, he takes hold of my arm and doesn't let go until we get to my parked car. He stares at me when we're there until I realize he's waiting for me to open the door for him.

"Get in, Miss." I mumble as I open his door. Damien gives me a big smile and gets in.

He guides me to his favorite place to eat and it ends up being a sushi place. I've never had sushi before and I tell that to Bastard #2 as we walk in, but he assures me I'll like it so I listen to him and I let him order for me, like a million different things. I know the guy is used to having money because he doesn't even look at the price of things, unlike me.

Even though I don't mind spending now, I can't help but notice and see how much I absolutely could not have afforded to buy this a month ago.

"So... who are you?" I ask once he finishes ordering half of the menu for us. Damien returns his gaze to me and sprawls out on the couch before giving me a look that is perhaps intended to be seductive. It’s not working for me, by the way, "You know a lot about me and I have no idea who you are besides being a bastard and… a you know what.”

He laughs again.

"I’m Damien Dell. Your cousin." He lets out and my mouth drops open. I absolutely wasn't expecting that, "Not by blood, though. My dad was Ed's brother and he married my mom when I was already born. He gave me his last name and has basically raised me my whole life, but I've always been shunned by the family. That's why I'm so intrigued by you."

"Oh. My cousin," I repeat, turning the word over in my head. Being the only child of a woman who had no contact with her family, I've never had anyone around me. I'm not used to a family, I've never had cousins or uncles or brothers, not even a dad, obviously, so I don't understand how I immediately feel something for this guy, like we've seriously grown up in the same family, being close, "So you're not close with Allison and Drake?

"Absolutely not," he blurts out with an offended look on his sparkling eyes, "They're the worst of the worst. Allison is a stupid bïtch who does nothing but waste oxygen and Drake is a demon. A literal demon. When we were little, he used to hurt animals. You know that's a trait of psychopaths?"

"I know," I murmur, wide-eyed, "He killed them?"

"No, of course not. He only hurt them enough to get pleasure from it without getting in trouble and then blamed it on me," he grumbles with hatred in his voice, "He only managed to make my life miserable for a few years, but I quickly learned to defend myself and play his games. Because of that, he started to leave me alone. Still, we hate each other to this day."

His words leave me thinking. I'm obviously not surprised by what he's telling me, it just makes it clearer to me that I'm right and that ässhole is a crazy piece of shït who could actually kill me.

"Do you think he could do something to me?" I ask, lost in thought. Damien moves his head in confusion, "If I die, Megan gets the shares Edward left me. That makes me think those weirdos might want to do something to me."

"Oh, totally. You should take care of yourself," he replies without a moment's thought, "I mean... even I would, no offense. Imagine being a little demon used to being your father's favorite because your sister is useless and always being the number one, the magnificent, the 'heir' and suddenly finding out you have a bastard brother and your father didn't leave most of your money to you, but to this random guy, who is also coming to the company that should be yours. Megan got the CEO position, but we all know she's going to pass it on to Drake once he turns thirty. So, in my eyes, killing you sounds incredibly beneficial."

He's right. I already knew all that, but being told that by someone who has known Drake since they were infants makes me certain of that fact.