The Billionaire Deal

Chapter three

Chapter three:

[Adelaide Knowles]

•

“Uh…when you said we're doing something fun tonight, I didn't think Vespera would be your idea,” Eva remarked, eyeing the gleaming metallic dome structure which seemed to rise from the ground, reflecting its curved surface light to surround the city lights like a mirror.

We were standing right in front of NY’s most luxurious downtown club which happened to also be my workplace. Valets were standing at attention, and big muscles security men at each entrance checked the long queue of IDs of people dressed in party outfits and fancy eye masks as conditioned by the club rules.

I grinned at her, “Don’t worry, I am not here to work, Eva. At least, not tonight.”

“Yeah, but an off day meant anything outside work and I don't see how coming here is any different.”

I wouldn't have been here today, but I've always wanted to come to Vespera as a normal person, not one who had to stand behind the counter all night, serving drinks and cocktails to crazy rich people who had no care in the world.

Also, aside from having a blast tonight, I wanted to ask my boss directly for an advance check. Wild, I know. But I had little to no option on how to make up my debts except this. What were the chances he would consider my request?

Besides the club being one of the most exuberant and popular downtown sights, no one had ever seen the owner of the club. Rumors had it that he was a scary man who hardly came out in public because he had a track record of cop bait. Still, I was determined to try.

“Oh my f*****g ovaries.” Eva’s astonished tone trailed off as she gawked at the sports car which zoomed past us.

I shrugged, wealthy billionaires, rich celebrities…they came here all the time. I wasn't surprised about whoever she had just seen.

“See? This could be a nice way to relax, drink cocktails, and maybe, meet some incredibly hot rich guy for a one-night stand.”

“A one-night stand? Sis, my flora shop needs a whole lot of rebranding, I could as well just get married to hot and rich.”

I snorted, “Careful, they bite too.”

“I can take a bite in my t**s,” she said, making us giggle as I shook my head at her, pulling her in. Good thing we didn't need to go through all the checks and passes like the queue outside, courtesy of being an employee.

•

The interior of the club was a lot more grandeur than what the exterior portrayed. The shiny black marble floor stretched out before us like a still pond, reflecting the soft glow of the ambient lighting above.

The ceiling soared high above, adorned with intricate geometric patterns that seemed to dance across the surface. The walls were lined with plush, dark leather benches. There were different sections in the club, the one which had banging music from the stereos and disco lights and the quieter section of the club which led to the bar that was designed in high fashion opulence of polished marble, glowing chrome, or rich wood The surface was smooth and alluring, with subtle LED lighting embedded within the countertop.

The counter which had a glistening array of bottles and glasses sparkled like diamonds, illuminated by subtle lighting that highlighted the vibrant hues of the cocktails. Cool jazz music serenaded the atmosphere, adding a flair of glamor to the aesthetics.

There was an air of exclusivity in the quieter section that demanded only registered members of Vespera an entry and sure enough, I worked there so I had the perks of being included, but I was solely allowed there for work purposes thus, making tonight solely for the party haul.

However, if I wanted to get my boss's attention, I needed to be here. Thankfully, my outfit, as mediocre as it seemed, could fit easily into the vibes the seclusion gave out. I had worked here long enough to know what attracted the rich to people like me. My hair was packed up in the usual up-do style and I had worn minimal makeup courtesy of the eye mask required of every person in the building.

I turned to my best friend, “Evie, I'm sorry but could you go ahead without me, I'll meet you later.”

“You said you were not working tonight.” she pouted, taking a shot of alcohol which was held in a fancy tray by a bar server.

“And I'm not. I want to see someone for a minute, trust me, I'll be back as soon as I can." My voice was louder than usual because of the noise that erupted from the DJ's music mix.

“Do I-”

“I’ll be fine, sis. Isn't that the guy who acted the lead role in Casablanca?” I pointed at some celebrity look-alike which I knew would get her attention off me.

“I have been wanting to get my boobs autographed by him, who knew today will be my lucky day?” she gasped, kissing my cheeks quickly before making her way to where the man was.

“Thank you too and see you later,” I called after her, chuckling at how fast her attention swerved off me. I got back into the lounge, going over the counter.

“Hi Sean,” I called out to my co-worker whom I figured was my fill-in for the night.

“If it isn't the one and only Shorty.” he grinned, mixing a glass of cocktail. He called me Shorty because he believed my 5’6ft was as good as the height of a doorknob ever since the first day he saw me.

I rolled my eyes playfully at him as he teased, “Don’t tell me you missed work so you had a change of heart.”

“Not in a minute. One glass of French martini, please.”

“Got it. So pray tell, if you're not here for work, what brings you over because honestly, you look good, would have thought you were on a date.”

I sipped the alcohol he handed over to me, “I am. Just not here with my partner.”

“Huh. Eva?”

“Damn you.” I snarked and he chortled. Sean was the only person aside from family who knew my relationship status with Jeremy and so far had been against what it was.

“Have fun, Shorty. You needed this break, remember.”

“Thank you for pointing out the obvious,” I commented, taking my drink with me and spurning around just as soon as I rammed into a sturdy surface, causing the drink to spill out of the glass.

I rubbed my throbbing temples, I took a moment to realize that I was being held by strong arms wrapped around my body, “watch it.” The cold baritone reverberated through my nerves, making me shudder.

I blinked, pulling myself out of their grasp, “An apology would have been more practical, don't you think-” My words were cut short when my eyes trailed to the man towering over me.

He had broad shoulders which were clothed in blue suit trousers, a waistcoat over his white rolled-up sleeves which displayed the tattoos on his right hand, and the other hand wearing a designer's wristwatch on his tanned skin.

His presence seemed to entrap the air around us, causing time to a standstill. I could only see his slightly shaved beard over his chiseled jaws. His eyes were hidden underneath the eye mask and I've never disliked Vespera’s club rules like I did this minute.

He stretched his full height, digging his arm into his pocket as his face scanned my body, before resting on my masked one, “Practical?”

I swallowed a breath, “I don't think I have seen you here before. In…In Vespera, I mean.” Why was I stuttering? And why was I changing the subject?

“You work here?” His accent sounded like it was a bit of Italian and Spanish… or either one, I couldn't tell.

I clung to the half glass of alcohol in my hand, “No. Just…a regular.” Okay, now I'm lying.

There was just something intimidating and chill about this man at the same time, it made me want to seem better than I was on every random day.

His lips, which I noted were remarkably full, twitched, “Ms?”

“Knowles.” I offered. I was going to worry about why I gave him my last name later. But for now, the way he repeated the name after me, slowly, like he was trying to savor the knowledge. It made my insides tingle.

“Practical, Ms Knowles, would be you avoiding drinking by yourself if you can't handle a glass of alcohol.”

I shook my head, aware of the fact he just called me drunk in rude subtlety, “Better yet, if you simply apologized seeing that you bumped into me with that hard chest of yours-” I bit my lower lips to stop the words from embarrassing me further.

He said nothing, holding me to a blank stare which should have made any normal person walk away or say something. But for some reason, my reflexes seemed to go on hiatus as his gaze pinned me. I liked the feeling of eyes on me. It made me want to hold his stare for a longer time.

“Hey, man.” Another guy called out to him, “Reyes is here.” He said nothing in acknowledgment of the call, although finally pulled his eyes off me.

“Smart-mouthed, I see.” He retrieved a folded handkerchief from his pocket, handing it to me. “I don't make apologies, Ms Knowles.”

I released a breath I forgot I was holding as soon as he walked past me. My eyes followed the confident way with which his gait held, like a man who had all the time in the world, knowing that nothing moved without his command.

I squeezed the small cloth he gave me, taking in the scent of sandalwood and dominating cologne which lingered around as my brain tried deciphering the meaning of the last thing he said which sounded like an invite…or threat.

He was definitely not a regular person in Vespera. I knew that much because I had a fair knowledge of the members of the club aside from who controlled the club and this man.

I made a mental note to go through the membership registry again simply to satisfy my curiosity about who he was and what kind of person he was aside from the authoritative aura he gave out even though accessing the registry was the next thing after rocks flying. Either way, I was going to find out. My mind reverted to the name, Reyes. It sounded drastically familiar.

I could have tried shuttling my memory as to where I had heard the name from but my brain lately has been in overdrive, I was going to have a migraine with any more trials. Deciding to give up, I turned to Sean again, “Who’s Reyes?”

“Seriously Shorty? How long have you worked here?”

“C’mon…”

“He’s our boss. How didn't you know that? ” He shook his head in disbelief. I could ask him the same question just the other way round. My eyes immediately darted to where the man from earlier had recently walked into.

The Reyes of Vespera? What the hell was I thinking still waiting around? I got up immediately, ignoring Sean's warning call. I walked up to where I suspected Reyes was just to be prevented from further movement by the bodyguards whom I had not noticed before.

“I'm sorry, but I need to see your boss, who is technically my boss, right now. This instant.” I said, my tone was more desperate than I intended and I hadn't even started making my appeal.

“You have to book an appointment, ma'am.” the big guy with a staunch face said. I glanced past him. It was going to be one hell of a difficult way to figure out who Reyes was. Big guy here wasn't letting me move an inch no matter how much I pleaded, so I decided to do the next thing that crossed my mind, unthinkingly.

“Reyes? Which one of you is Reyes?” I called out loudly, attracting a bunch of stares toward me. I was risking my job, the one thing being my lifeline.

“Oh, for fucksake!” I heard big guy cuss under his breath as I continued to call out unflinchingly, “Reyes?”

Big guy’s eyes had hardened the more, “You’ll have to come with me now, ma’am” he said, not waiting for a response before he single-handedly lifted me with one arm when a hand stopped him.

“I’ll take it up from here.” I breathed a sigh, wordlessly as the man led me out, while I inwardly hoped he had to be the person I was causing a nuisance.

Fucking Vespera’s rules.

It wasn't until I felt the cool air caressing my face that I realized we were outside the club. “Who are you? ” I asked, freeing my hand from the stranger's grip.

He growled in a low tone, “Do you always make a scene?”

“What?” I pulled off my mask, falling back a little when he took a step toward me.

“Or do you just crave attention, Adelaide?”

“Says the masked man?” I arched my head, watching him immediately take off his mask.

Almond-hooded green eyes penetrated my being in a cold glare as I took in the man before me, I gulped sparingly, finding my voice in the middle of the a million and one question that infiltrated my thoughts. I was staring right at him. The devil I prayed to never encounter.

“Christian Castillo?”