Rent-a-date, got a billionaire

Chapter 3 Rent-a-date, got a billionaire

Alejandro led me to the centre of the ballroom, his hands sliding around my waist. From a distance, I saw Brian glaring at us, whispering something to Alfred.

"Don't let them get to you," Alejandro murmured. "You're incredible. Selene."

A bitter laugh slipped out.

"I’m just a secretary trying to navigate life under a tough boss. And she's one of the most famous PR reps in the country, living the life I always wanted. Travelling, celebrity... Alfred..."

Alejandro looked me straight in the eye, without a hint of pity. "If the life you dreamed of was being a snake married to a cheating i***t, then you seriously need to rethink your goals."

I blinked, stunned by his bluntness. Then, against my will, I felt a smile tugging at my lips.

"You're unbearable."

"But hot," he shot back with a wink.

I laughed, shaking my head.

"Your eyes are shining," he said softly. "It's not happiness but bottled-up anger."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"This tough, unbreakable-woman act must be killing you inside," he murmured. "You didn't deserve to go through that."

A wave of emotion hit me, and I had to fight to keep the tears from falling right there. How could he be so spot-on?

"I don't want to stay here anymore," I whispered.

"I've got a suite reserved here at the hotel. If you want to keep making your investment worthwhile... we can leave this boring party and actually have some fun."

"I'd like that," I said, without hesitation.

★★★★

Alejandro took me to a luxurious suite, complete with a private pool and elegant décor that made one thing abundantly clear: whoever lived here never had to check a price tag.

And me... well, I was completely dazzled. But also stunned, like the whole night had been a movie where I didn't belong in the main cast.

"Oh my God..." I breathed, spinning

"Damn..." I breathed, slowly turning in the middle of the room as I took everything in. The suite was breathtaking. A fully stocked minibar gleamed in one corner, a sofa larger than my entire bedroom dominated the living area, and an enormous crystal chandelier hung overhead, scattering light across every surface.

I stared at it for a moment.

That chandelier probably cost more than a car.

Not that I owned one.

Still, I was fairly certain it was worth more than anything I'd ever purchased in my life.

And of course, there was an illuminated infinity pool that looked straight out of a movie.

"This is insane!!! Seriously, how do you afford this? If this is your standard treatment for clients, your business model needs some work."

Alejandro let out a warm laugh before turning to grab a drink.

"I know someone who lent me the room," he said simply.

I frowned immediately, suspicious.

A rented Novio with access to a Luxury suite in the most expensive hotel in the city? Was he really keeping up the act even now?

"Uh-huh sure, You 'know someone." I made air quotes with my fingers, rolling my eyes. "Still playing the well-connected role even when we're alone? You're really committed to your job, huh?"

He just gave me a mysterious smile, saying nothing, which only made me more doubtful. I was starting to wonder what kind of rented Novio felt this comfortable in such luxury.

I kicked off my heels, slid down the zipper of my dress, and let it fall to the floor, the night breeze brushing against my bare skin.

The pink lace lingerie now in full view stood out beautifully against the pool.

Alejandro let out a low whistle, his gaze lingering on me for a moment.

"Wow."

I shot him a look that tried to seem playful, though it probably failed to hide the storm raging inside me.

"What?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"You know, I'm beginning to think I got the better end of this arrangement."

I rolled my eyes and quickly dove into the water without hesitation.

The moment it closed around me, the noise in my head seemed to soften. disappear nothing could do that but for the first time all day, it wasn't overwhelming.

I pushed away from the edge and swam toward the centre of the pool, letting the steady rhythm of my movements occupy my mind.

For a while, I focused solely on the sensation of the water and the cool night air against my skin.

No wedding.

No Alfred.

No painful memories waiting around every corner.

Just silence.

"This is amazing!" I exclaimed, forcing a laugh as I ran my hands through my already wet hair.

But the truth? I didn't feel amazing.

The warmth wrapped around my body like a hug, but it couldn't melt the frozen knot lodged in my chest.

But the worst part was that even though I was surrounded by luxury and with a man who looked like he'd been sculpted for sin... I was still thinking about him.

The way he looked at me at that wedding. The surprise. The doubt. He probably expected me to fall apart. To disappear from everyone's sight. To spend my days mourning what we'd lost.

And the truth was, I was. Not in public, not where anyone could see.

But alone, in my old teenage bedroom at my parents' house, where I had to move back after catching Alfred and Brian together.

Crying myself to sleep every night, feeling like the failure they believed me to be.

I loved him. Trusted him. Built my future around him.

And in the end, he threw it all away as if none of it had ever mattered.

The worst part?

If Alfred showed up today, apologising and asking for another chance, I wasn't sure I'd have the strength to turn him away.

And I hated myself for that.

A lump formed in my throat as a different kind of warmth burned behind my eyes. This time, I couldn't fight it. A single tear slipped free, vanishing into the water. Then another. And another.

Unable to bear the feeling, I sank beneath the surface, letting the pool hide the evidence of my breaking heart. When I resurfaced, I took a deep, trembling breath and tried to steady myself.

When I looked at Alejandro hoping he hadn't noticed my moment of vulnerability, I found him still lounging on the chair, watching me with a serious almost concerned look. whiskey glass held loosely in his left hand. He tilted it slightly toward me. ‘You want some?’”

"What?" I asked, splashing a handful of water in his direction. Yes of course

He poured me a drink, then walked over to the edge of the pool and held out the glass to me.

"What? Have you never seen someone having a good time before?" I said with a laugh as I took the glass from his hand.

He gave me a crooked smile, though his eyes stayed serious.

"It's just funny to see someone so excited about a luxury suite."

I frowned.

"What do you mean, so excited?"

He shrugged, completely unfazed. His shirt hung open, just enough to make it obvious that the man spent a lot of time in the gym.

"You say that like you've never seen anything like this before."

A laugh escaped me despite the situation I am in.

For a second, I almost forgot this was all an act." I tilted my head. "Seriously, though. How does a rent-a-date know so much about investments, real estate, and wineries? You talk about them like you've spent your whole life around that world."

He looked at me for a long moment, like he could see right through the façade I was trying so hard to hold up.

"You know, Selene, I like you exactly the way you are."

"And who doesn't?" I shot back, but my voice cracked at the end, betraying me. Alfred didn't like me. Brian didn't like me either. No one really did.

Alejandro gave a crooked smile, tilting his head as if analysing my answer.

"Interesting," he murmured. "But I can't tell if you're trying to convince me... or yourself."

The question landed harder than it should have.

"I'm not trying to prove anything," I lied, my voice quieter than I intended.

Then, without a word, he started unbuttoning his shirt.

And, dear God.

If I thought he looked good in a suit, shirtless was worse. Golden brown skin glowing under the soft dream lights, every muscle perfectly lined, tattoos scattered across his arms and torso, a sharp contrast to the polished, sophisticated image he usually carried.

My body reacted before I even My body reacted before I even realized it. Lord forgive me, but that man was walking in sin. And just maybe... he could make me forget, for one night, how empty and insignificant I felt.

He rolled up the cuffs, tossed the shirt onto a chair, and began unbuckling his belt.

"Wait..." I raised an eyebrow, trying to claw back a little control. "You're coming in?"

"Didn't you want company?" There was something in his eyes, a softness that didn't match his job, or the act we were supposed to be playing.

"I figured you'd be the type to pretend you can't get your hair wet."

"And I figured you'd be the type to have invited me in a long time ago."

"Then get in." I invited him, fully aware of exactly what was about to happen.

My heart skipped a bit.

He slipped off his belt, opened his pants and let them drop, revealing tight black briefs clinging to his body. completely unfazed by my presence. My breath caught for a second.

He swam toward me slowly, but his eyes told a different story. He was hungry for me.

For a moment, I hesitated. A stranger pretending to be rich by day, now looking at me like I was something special. What was I even doing? But then I remembered Alfred, the way he looked at me at the wedding, the way Brian smiled with pity, like I was too pathetic to ever find someone like Alejandro on my own. I needed this. I needed to feel wanted again, even if it was by a man I was paying.

When he reached me, his hands settled gently at my waist beneath the water. The touch sent a shiver through me, and I hated how aware I suddenly became of every inch of space between us.

"You're trembling," he murmured, his mouth dangerously close to mine.

"I'm not."

He smiled and damned, he has a seductive smile.

"We'll see."

One night with a stranger, to dull the loneliness that had been eating me alive for months!!!