A Billionaire's Bargain

ELSIE I let out a low wince as I downed the remaining content of the glass, the tasteless liquid going down my throat, leaving a burning sensation that had me shutting my eyes, a grunt escaping my lips. I slid the empty glass across the table, and towards the bartender, silently asking for a refill. How on earth are you going to pay such a large sum of money in such little time? That tiny screech-like voice was back in my head, as usual, trying to cause a turmoil, distorting my thoughts, causing light pangs to surge through my skull. I massaged my temple with my fingers, slouching slightly on the stool I sat on. Another glass was dropped right in front of me and I looked up at the bartender, my lips tugging up slightly in an appreciative smile. I took a sip. And another. Memories from earlier today started to swirl through my mind. I had just got back home from my shift at the restaurant on the second street, down town. I was tired and hoping to come home, take a cold shower, have dinner, and then go to bed. But the universe had other plans in store. I waltzed into our apartment, tension looming in the air, so thick that I could slice through it with a knife. "Hey, mom. I'm…" I was cut off by the very disturbing sound of steel meeting the ground, followed by a scream I believed was my mother's. I took rushed steps to the kitchen, halting at the entrance. My eyes grew wide in shock as I stared mortified at the sight before me. The pot was upside down right besides the counter, its content splattered on the kitchen floors. I ran towards her. "Mother!" I shouted, pulling her away from the kitchen and into the living room. "Are you okay?" I asked, checking if she had somehow gotten hurt in the raucous. I sighed in relief. She was fine. "How on earth did that even happen? Why weren't you concentrating? Where's you mind at? What were you thinking? Do you want to—" "He was here again," she cut me off, averting her gaze to meet mine, worry laced in her tone. "He?" I asked, confused. She nodded. "Who's 'he', mother?" I asked, massaging my forehead in utter frustration. "Mr Jameson." My heart skipped a beat. Oh jeez. "He was here?" My voice dropped and she shook her head in affirmation. I took a step towards her, "what did he say?" I asked, dreading her response. She let out a sigh, moving away from where she stood and walking to the dining table. She sat down on one of the chairs, placing her elbows on the table and burying her head in her palms. "We have to pay up," she conveyed, taking a deep breath before dropping the bomb. "In two weeks." "What?" She jolted at the sound of my voice. "Two weeks!? What the f**k!?" I could probably be heard from the across the street, but I just couldn't digest the information. "How!?" I started to pace back and forth, one of my hands on akimbo, the other pressed against my forehead, doing absolutely nothing to stop the constant banging there. I reached for the glass, downing the remaining of it's content in another gulp. "Easy," an unfamiliar masculine voice spoke, causing me to turn in the direction of the voice. He was tall, muscular, his scent intoxicating. I couldn't make out his face, probably because of the dim multicolored lights that swirled around the room, causing the color of his shirt to change colors continuously at intervals or because my vision was starting to blur out, merging together in distort. Everything was starting to look like a painting done by a four year old; colors splattered on a white canvas. "And you are?" I sassed, quipping my brows at him in disgust, resting my elbow on the table, plopping my head on my palm. "Zachary," he said with a faint smile, extending his right hand for a handshake. "Refill," I said, dismissing him, pushing my cup towards the bartender. "Zachary is such a dumb name in my opinion," I said nonchalantly, blowing imaginary dust off my nails, causing his hand to drop to his side, his smile faltered for a second before deepening. He pulled out a stool beside me, sitting down on it. "I'll have what she's having," he said to the bartender before turning fully in my direction. "Your sass," he drawled, his eyes raking my body in a not so subtle once over. "I like it," he added, earning a look of disgust in return. "So, is that a line you've used on every other sassy girl you've met?" I inched closer towards him, scrutinizing him. "Yes," he said with a small chuckle, raising his hands in mock surrender. I let out a breathy laugh, shaking my head slightly in…disappointment? "Is it working though," his voice had a teasing undertone to it, his lips turning up in a lopsided grin. "What do you think?" I replied sternly, my brows furrowed, sarcasm laced in her tone. "I think it is?" He responded, the doubt in his voice making his reply sound like a question. "You thought wrong, man," I said with a subtle eye roll, taking a swig from my glass. "I like your accent," he said after a moment of comfortable silence. "You're British?" "Ugh," I let out a groan. "What do you want from me?" I turned to face him, wearing an expressionless face, staring at him with so much disinterest. "Isn't it obvious?" He queried, bobbing his head to the side. "Why me? There are so many way hotter girls, dancing everywhere," I answered, gesturing to the people on the dance floor. "Because you piqued my curious when you walked in," his voice dropped a bit, but still loud enough that the banging music didn't drown it. "You walked in here wearing that," he spoke, gesturing to my outfit. I had a red baggie T-shirt that swallowed my slim frame, paired with a pair of washed ripped jeans and sneakers. "Nobody dresses like this to a club," he added, "so you piqued my interest." "I didn't come here to party though," I said it like I was trying to justify my actions. Maybe I was? "Obviously," he muttered. "I just came here to loosen up, drink the night away," I continued, but not before taking another sip from my glass. "I came here to forget my problems. So yeah, I didn't come here to party." "I could help you with that," he said, sultry swimming in his eyes, his hand finding it's way to hers tighs, giving it a light caress. A part of me wanted to abruptly stand up and give him a resetting slap across his face, but another part of me wanted this. "Uh…" I tried to protest, but the higher his hands moved up my thighs, the more dumbfounded I became. My mind wandered to places I did not want it to go, filling me with a feeling of want…need, and no matter how many times I opened her mouth to decline this offer, I couldn't utter it. My body and mind were conflicted, and it wasn't long before his hand got up there, eliciting a sharp gasp from my lips. "My place?" He asked and I nodded profusely, still unable to find my voice He got up and held me by my hand, leading me through the crowd of sweaty, dancing bodies. The loud music resonated through the room, the bass drop vibrated underneath my feet. I could walk properly. The ground was moving like I was standing in a boat, and with each step I took, the boat unsteadied, threatening to throw me off balance. We made it outside, and he led me to his car, securing me tightly in the passangers seat before settling down on the driver's seat. The drive wasn't long, and in no time, he was driving into a vast compound. He helped me out, pulling me with him into the mansion. We got in, and we went for the flight of stairs. We got to the top of the stairs and he led me into a room, shutting the door behind us. He turned around, undressing me with his eyes, slowly taking his bottom lip in his mouth. Fuck… He took slow steps towards me, wrapping his arm around my waist, the other moving to cup my face. His eyes lingered on my lips for a few seconds before he brushed his against mine. The kiss started of slow, our lips moving against each other in sync before it transcended into something wild, fueled by untamed want and desire. The kiss deepened, as he kissed me with urgency, pulling me closer to himself, and the knots in my stomach tightened. The temperature in the room had raised immensely, heat radiating from our bodies as we moved rhythmically to an unheard beat. His hands roamed my body, groping me. He disconnected the kiss, trailing kissrs down my chin till he got to the crook of my neck, dangerously marking me with his tongue. His teeth pierced through my skin, causing a moan to involuntarily escape my lips. I shut my eyes, letting my head fall backwards as my body shook in sheer pleasure. He tugged at the hem of my top, and I raised my hands, giving him permission to take it off. He went for my jeans, undoing the button and the zipper, tugging it down. I was left it my bra and panties, and his eyes raked my body. His orbs grew dark with lust and he muttered a cuss word. "Your body is perfect," he whispered against my lips before claiming them again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, wanting nothing more that to merge my body with his. I bit softly on his lower lip, Eliciting a moan that had me smiling against his lips. He grabbed my tighs and lifted me off the ground, causing me to wrap my legs around his middle as he walked towards the bed, his lips never leaving mine. He dropped me gently on the soft bed before taking off his shirt, revealing his tanned skin and very muscular body. He was over me, supporting his body weight with his limbs, and he leaned closer, trailing kisses down my neck and over the swell of my breasts. "Do you want this?" He asked, his voice low and husky, barely audible. I nodded and he shook his head no. "Words," he commanded, and I made a decision I didn't know would take my life down a rocky road. I let out a shaky breath and whispered,"yes, I want this."