The Billionaire's Bargain

Chapter 3

Ariel's POV

Devil At My Door

I had to put on the best 'I will be fine' face for my best friend as she stood hesitantly by the door, still pondering on either spending the night with me or taking my word for it.

"I don't trust you, Ariel, you can be pretty bad at bottling things. I know something is wrong and I know it is about work, but I can't say what if you won't tell me." She stated, her voice a little high, apparently frustrated with me.

"Hilary, I told you already, it is everything and nothing, it's work stress, it comes with working, you wouldn't know it." I said, low blow, yes, but she was pushing me that far.

Hilary simply rolled her eyes, "Being self-employed does not make me any less employed, Ariel, it even saves me this whole life crisis you are passing through just two days into work." She retorted and frowned at me, her lips slightly parted, no doubt deep in thought.

"Here's what I'll do, I'll be back tomorrow and if your mood hasn't improved, I swear you are quitting that job, we will both go to the flower shop and make it work, deal?" She asked, giving me her pinky to swear with.

I was not a big fan of the horticulture business but I didn't want to tell her that. I simply smiled and nodded, avoiding the pinky. "I'll be fine, I just need a bit of sleep is all." I replied and she nodded sarcastically, " Yeah right, you said the same thing last night too."

"Really, it's just the new place and my bo...my work schedule and all, I'll be fine, I promise." I assured her and Hilary nodded, made puppy eyes at me and hugged me tightly before letting me go and promising to call to check if I was asleep.

"Good night, Ariel." She waved and then sped off into the night.

The moment I clicked the door shut, I sighed and almost plopped on the floor, but I quickly reminded myself it was hard wood and I didn't have the money to cover it up with a rug.

Exhausted after a few hours of trying to ward off Hilary, I finally sat on the couch, drew out the contract from where I'd shoved it when Hilary arrived and stared at it again, this time, my eyes hovering over all the clauses and non-disclosure agreement. It was technical, it no doubt was a deal made with the devil himself, but every second had me leaning towards the idea. How bad could it be? Having all my debts cleared out and enjoying the luxury of being a billionaire's wife, even if temporarily.

I wished so badly that I could at least tell my best friend about a major life choice, but no, I had a piece of paper literally forcing me to either make the worst mistake of my life or not make it and regret it later. I couldn't tell Hilary about it, not when there was a tendency of me signing the contract in the future. That would be me breaching the contract.

"Think, Ariel, think." I mumbled to myself as I hung my head and groaned, how bad could it be? What was expected of me? How would I act, dress? How much time did I have to decide?

I was startled and jerked up as a knock sounded on the door. I quickly shoved the paper between the couch and tossed the pen under the table. Hilary was such a mama bear when she wanted to be and I was sure she was back to check on me - again. Or maybe she'd forgotten something.

"I'm fine, Hilary, I promise to sleep early, is that alright?" I asked with a bored look as I opened the door, expecting to see my best friend with her legendary scolding face.

Right before me was Mr. Sylvester Stone. My eyes went to the clock automatically and it was a few minutes past 10:00pm. What was my boss doing at my door?

A little unsettled and dumbfounded, I merely nodded as he asked if he could come in and then I shut the door behind me. Suddenly, I was self-conscious, I was in the presence of a man who had literally asked my hand and I was dressed in a t-shirt three sizes too large with a bold Pooh the bear design.

"Hi." Was all I managed to say as he looked about the room, his eyes scanning every corner. I was aware that my heap of books by the corner was nothing like the library it was meant to be and the center table had a bowl of leftover cereal from that night.

"I just wanted to make sure you're fine, you left work early today." He said and I nodded, he obviously knew why and I wasn't eager to begin that conversation. God, what if it was all a prank? Did Sylvester Stone play pranks?

"I can see you are fine, resume work tomorrow." He said and I nodded instinctively, still unable to say any reasonable thing. I was acting like a zombie and I know it.

Sylvester stood, his huge frame dwarfing me as he walked close to me and then strode to the door, his jacket in hand and a Chevrolet parked just by my mailbox. "I know you'll do the right thing." Was all he said, the only indication he had an idea about the contract on my desk.

I stood by the door and watched him hover, eyes scanning my face and my legs, exposed by the short t-shirt. Before I could read the desire in his eyes, his lips closed over mine possessively, his hands moved to my waist and clutched it beneath the large t-shirt, his grip firm and his lips moist, igniting a fire in me long dead. My knees gave out and Sylvester held onto me and whispered in my ear,

"Sign the contract."