The Billionaire’s Secret

“Why are we meeting secretly?” Missy asked Beckham, gazing deep into his eyes as she bit her lip casually. “I don’t want anyone to know about us,” Beckham replied in his gruff, masculine baritone, leaning on her so that his breath caressed her plum skin and the hair on her neck flustered him. “W-Why?” she moaned lightly upon his grazing finger on her skin. “It’s not like we’re doing anything sensual,” she finished, and he pulled back, settling into the couch of his hotel room. “Did you see it? The ant?” “I told you,” Beckham replied. “There’s nothing there.” “I saw it. I saw an ant crawling on my uniform this morning. I thought it left, but…” “Trust me, Missy. If there was an insect in your uniform, you’d know,” Beckham replied with a chuckle, sipping from his coffee. “Whatever. This is why I hate clothes. I never had to wear any in my former work,” she complained, checking herself while Beckham laughed. “Anyway,” he started again. “How have you been? Any disturbances from… you know?” “No, no. Come on. No one can step up to you,” she boasted and rolled her eyes, crossing her legs so that her mini-skirt shifted up to her thigh. “Besides, you already paid off all my debt to that monster. And I’ve been taking karate lessons so that his goons will no longer be able to beat me up like they used to. I think I’m safe.” Beckham kept silent, glaring at Missy as he grounded his lower jaw. She, on the other hand, smacked her lips and shook her head with a smile. “I know what you’re thinking. And I am fine, really,” she said. “Okay. I believe you.” “So…” she started again, shifting closer to Beckham. “Why are we meeting in secret? You don’t want your jealous girlfriend to know about us?” she teased, and Beckham rose from the couch, adjusting his Hugo Boss bespoke suit. “You leaving?” “Yeah,” he sighed and gulped the last contents of his coffee. “I just wanted to know if you were okay, and you are.” “So, you won’t answer my question?” she nagged while he trod to the room’s door. “No, I won’t,” Beckham said with a smug face as he placed his hand on the knob, ready to turn. “I’ll see you next week then… and say hi to your little brothers for me.” She nodded and flashed him a smile, then he left. ****** Esmeralda strutted into her office in red heels, smiling brightly to accept the ‘congratulations’ hitting her from left to right. Pushing the door open, she heaved a sigh of relief and settled into her desk just as her phone rang. “Jude, spill,” her sharp, emotionless voice shot into the phone, and after a while, she drew her laptop nearer and swung up the lid, pressing on the power button. “Yeah, I was again awarded employee of the month, so the office has been very celebratory. I'm checking my email now.” Esmeralda continued to listen to the phone call as she navigated her laptop to her mailbox. “Why would I be interested in publishing a story about a murder? Murders happen all the time…” “I know, I know, I know. You emailed me. I’m checking.” As she said this, her mailbox opened, and she clicked on the latest inbox, reading the contents. “Popular and secretive billionaire bachelor Beckham Archer might have killed a hotel attendant?” Esmeralda exclaimed on the phone. “Yes,” Jude replied to her and continued. “But it’s exclusive information. Not out to the public.” “I know, I know, I know. So… what can I do to get my hands on this topic? It’ll be super juicy.” “Just tell me what to do, boss,” Jude answered sternly. “Okay, wait. Dig up all that you can on this Archer guy, and I’ll try to get the case approved. This will be a big break!” She screeched and ended the call after Jude had responded, dropping her phone on the table. She raised her hand to her laptop, and a knock resounded on her door before it swung open, and a middle-aged man in a navy blue suit and sky-blue shirt made his way into her office. “Daniels,” he exclaimed, opening his arms wide to reveal his protruded belly, tugging at the button of his shirt. “Franklin!” she replied in the same tone, pushing her seat back to stand up and receive his handshake. “Congratulations! You know, I knew as soon as you walked into this building that you’d be a valuable asset to me,” he prided and sat down as soon as he released her hand from his thicker ones. “Actually…” she trailed her words as she sat back down. “You didn’t like me at first. I remember, sir, that you wanted to fire me.” “But I didn’t, did I?” he defended with a bright smile, relaxing on the creaking chair he sat on. “Besides, that was three years ago. You had no experience… both in the job and the city. And I gave you a chance. That’s what matters.” “Yes, sir,” Esmeralda agreed and smiled at him. “And now, you are the employee of the month… for the twenty-fifth time.” “Yeah,” she beamed brightly from her eyes. “I guess I have been bringing the most addictive stories for two years now…and speaking of intriguing stories…” “No, Daniels. You can’t still be thinking of work. Today’s your free day. Go out, hang out with friends… Do you even have a boyfriend, Daniels?” “Er… sir.” “Talk to me, child. I like how dedicated you are to this job, but if you don’t want to end up like Oscar over there,” he shrugged his shoulder to the left, and Esmeralda laughed at his insinuation before he continued. “Then get a man before you grow as old as me.” “Sir… you’re not old.” “I have three wives and ten children. I’ll be sixty in a few months. I can’t call myself a teenager at this age.” Esmeralda laughed again, and Franklin cut in. “Listen, I know I’m your boss, and we should only talk about business. But I am also a father and have a kid like you. If you were my kid, I’d tell you to get out into the market and get laid.” “Sir…” Esmeralda cringed while Franklin cackled out loud before getting up from the pressed seat. “About that work, pause it for now. Go out and have fun. In fact…” he stopped and checked his back pocket, grunting from the tightness of the fabric to his body. “Here,” Franklin said as soon as he pulled out a crumpled paper and dropped it on the table for Esmeralda to see. “Sorry, it’s folded,” he added, breathing quickly. “This is…” “It’s an invitation I got. There’s going to be an exclusive charity event, and all the high-and-mighty influential people will be there.” “And…” “Mitchell’s in town, and you know how much I love my second wife. I can’t miss her for a boring meeting with people I already know. But you…” he widened his eyes and brightened his features while Esmeralda scrutinized the paper. “You can go in my name. You’ll be helping out your boss, and you’ll also be having a great time meeting new men. Then, you can come back on Monday and talk to me about all that work.” “But…” “Daniels, it’s not a request,” he interrupted, and she stood up. “Then it’ll be my honor, sir.” “Good. And yeah, you’ll need fine clothes and a mask.” “It’s a masquerade event,” he added when Esmeralda shot him a confused glare. “Why is it a mas…” “Look, child, I don’t know. Don’t investigate this, either. It’s not work, it’s fun. So, wear a nice dress and get a mask that screams your singleness. Is that clear?” “Yes, sir,” Esmeralda responded amid chuckles, and Franklin nodded before casually slamming his palm on the chair as he released a deep sigh. “Well, then. I’ll be off to receive some case proposals for acceptance or rejection.” “Er, sir?” Esmeralda stopped him just before he was about to reach the door. “Yes?” “Can I still send my proposal? You can always check and vet it later, and I can get the report on Monday. I just…” “You sometimes make me feel like our job is more than investigative journalism… yeah,” he finally said, and she brightened her smile. “Send it to my mail. I’ll check it out. You know, working does make us huge revenue anyway, so… yeah. Send it.” “Thank you, sir,” she said excitedly, and he left. Esmeralda returned to her seat and picked up her phone to dial Jude’s number. “I’m certain I’ll get the approval. Do you have anything yet?” “Affirmative. I’ll forward it to you.” “Wait- if you’re alone, I want to know what I can, now. Talk to me.” “His name is Beckham Archer. Forty-four, no wife or kids. He’s popular, the current CEO of the Archers, but he’s not the one standing as CEO.” “Why,” Esmeralda cut him off. “Unknown to the public, boss. But I can seek it out. The charade has been on for thirteen years. He was never officially announced.” “He let another person rule the company instead of him? For that long? Is he into illegals?” “Unsure, boss. But likely. Most people who rule from underneath and pull strings usually have many dirty secrets.” “Secrets that we’re going to find. Don’t worry. Continue your work, I’ll create the proposal from here. We’ll reveal that this billionaire is nothing but an illegal businessman and a murderer who needs to be brought to justice.”