THE TRIP
1151 Words
THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRAVING
CHAPTER 9: THE TRIP
I didn’t know what to expect next.
But whatever it was… I was ready.
Adrian opened the car door for me, and I stepped in, my curiosity growing stronger with every passing second.
“So,” I said, fastening my seatbelt. “Are you finally going to tell me where we’re going?”
He started the engine and glanced at me with a small smile.
“No.”
I sighed dramatically.
“You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Very much,” he replied.
I shook my head, smiling.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet… you’re still here.”
I didn’t respond to that.
Because he wasn’t wrong.
---
We drove for a while before arriving at the airport.
I blinked in surprise.
“The airport?” I asked, turning to him.
He nodded calmly.
“Pack light, I said. You didn’t think we were going somewhere ordinary, did you?”
My heart skipped.
“Adrian… where are we going?”
He leaned closer slightly, his voice dropping.
“Singapore.”
My eyes widened.
“Singapore?!”
He chuckled at my reaction.
“Is that a problem?”
I shook my head quickly.
“No! I mean… no. It’s just… unexpected.”
And exciting.
Very exciting.
---
The flight was long.
Long enough for my excitement to slowly turn into exhaustion.
At some point, I leaned back into my seat and closed my eyes.
“Wake me up when we arrive,” I murmured.
“Sleep,” Adrian said softly.
That was the last thing I heard before drifting off.
---
“Hey… we’re here.”
I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
Adrian was looking at me.
For a moment, I just stared back, slightly disoriented.
Then it hit me.
“We’re in Singapore?”
He smiled. “Yes.”
I sat up immediately, my excitement returning.
---
The air felt different the moment we stepped outside.
Fresh.
Alive.
Adrian drove us to his beach house.
And when I saw it…
I froze.
“Adrian… this is beautiful,” I whispered.
The house overlooked the ocean, the waves moving calmly under the evening sky.
“You like it?” he asked.
“I love it.”
He smiled.
“I’m glad.”
---
“I’m tired,” I admitted after a moment.
“Go rest,” he said. “We’ll explore tomorrow.”
He led me to my room.
The space was warm and elegant, with large windows showing the ocean.
“Goodnight,” he said softly.
“Goodnight,” I replied.
And within minutes…
I was asleep.
---
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of waves.
For a moment, I didn’t move.
I just listened.
Then I smiled.
This was real.
---
After getting ready, I stepped outside and saw Adrian already waiting.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning.”
“Ready?”
I nodded.
---
We spent the day at the beach.
The water was cool, the sand soft beneath my feet. The breeze played gently with my hair as we walked along the shore.
At some point, Adrian took pictures of me.
“Stop,” I laughed. “You’re taking too many.”
“I disagree,” he said calmly.
“Adrian…”
“You look beautiful. I’m documenting it.”
I shook my head, smiling.
Then he handed me the phone.
“Your turn.”
I took pictures of him too.
And for a moment…
It felt natural.
Easy.
Like we had known each other for a long time.
---
My phone suddenly rang.
Marshall.
I sighed softly and picked up.
“Are you safe?” he asked immediately.
“Yes, Marshall.”
“Where are you?”
“On vacation.”
“With who?”
I hesitated.
“A friend.”
There was silence.
“Be careful,” he said finally.
“I will.”
---
That wasn’t the last call.
He called again.
And again.
And again.
Adrian noticed.
“He really cares about you,” he said.
“I know,” I replied softly.
---
The next day came faster than I expected.
It was time to leave.
And strangely…
I didn’t want to.
---
We boarded the plane back.
I spent most of the flight quietly looking out the window.
Something had changed.
I just didn’t know what yet.
---
When we landed, Adrian turned to me.
“One last stop,” he said.
“Where?”
“Dinner.”
---
We arrived at a restaurant.
I smiled, feeling excited again.
“What do you want to eat?” I asked.
“Anything you choose.”
Big mistake.
I ordered fries, eggs, spicy jumbo shawarma, and fruit wine.
Adrian excused himself to take a call before the food arrived.
So he didn’t know what I ordered.
When he returned, we started eating.
The moment he took a bite of the shawarma—
His expression changed instantly.
He froze.
Then quickly grabbed the wine and drank it.
I blinked.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded quickly.
“Yes.”
He wasn’t okay.
He took another bite.
Bad idea.
His eyes widened, and he immediately reached for the wine again.
That’s when I lost it.
I burst out laughing.
“I’m so sorry!” I said between laughter.
“You’re enjoying this,” he said, struggling.
“I didn’t know you couldn’t handle spicy food!”
He finally called for water.
After drinking it, he sighed.
“I should have asked what you ordered.”
“Yes, you should have,” I said, still laughing.
---
After dinner, he drove me home.
We arrived around evening.
As I stepped out of the car, I suddenly remembered something.
Marshall.
The hug.
The warning.
I turned to Adrian.
“What did Marshall say to you earlier?”
He paused.
Then sighed lightly.
“He told me… if I ever hurt you—physically or emotionally—he would make sure I pay ten times for it.”
My eyes widened slightly.
“He also said,” Adrian continued, “that I shouldn’t underestimate him just because he’s small.”
I couldn’t help it.
I laughed softly.
“That little punk…”
“He really loves you,” Adrian said.
I looked toward the house.
“I know.”
---
There was a brief silence between us.
“I should go,” he said.
“You can come in,” I replied.
“It’s late.”
“I knew you would say that.”
He smiled.
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Adrian.”
He handed me my bag and waited until I reached the door.
As I stepped inside, I paused.
And for a moment…
I smiled.
Because something told me—
This wasn’t just a trip.
It was the beginning of something much bigger.
- Writer
