Within The Billionaire's Walls

Chapter four

Alyssa smiled softly as she flipped through the pack of chocolates, carefully selecting the ones she knew her autistic sister would love. Her birthday was just a few days away, and Alyssa had always cherished this time of the year. The anticipation of celebrating her sister's special day had become a family tradition, and this year felt especially meaningful, with her sister turning nineteen. Alyssa couldn't help but imagine the joy on her face as she bit into her favorite treat - a chocolate sandwich - her laughter ringing out like music. It was a simple thing, but it filled Alyssa's heart with warmth.

“Hey there, it's good to see you again,” a firm, masculine voice broke her reverie from behind. He smiled brightly as he spoke.

Startled, Alyssa spun around. The man standing before her seemed vaguely familiar, but she couldn't quite place where they had met.

“Hi, have we met before?” she asked, her confusion evident as her brows furrowed.

“I didn't expect you to remember, just like that,” he replied, his tone teasing, though Alyssa remained unsure.

“I'm Rex. We met a few days ago - the ‘one-night thing’ guy”, he added, his smile pulling at the edges of his mouth as though he found the situation amusing.

Alyssa turned back to the shelf, her fingers brushing along the items as she tried to ignore him. She had no interest in reliving that night.

As she focused on the chocolates, she could feel his gaze lingering for a moment longer, before he finally spoke again.

“You really don't need to overreact about the whole thing, Alyssa.”

Alyssa froze. Alyssa? How did he know her name? The question echoed in her mind, panic beginning to curl in her chest. How the hell did he know her name?

Alyssa stood frozen. Surprise etched across her face as she locked eyes with him. Had he been stalking her?

“How do you know my name?” The words slipped out, her voice rising in pitch before dropping at the end.

He laughed - loud and unabashed - drawing the attention of several nearby onlookers. He didn't seem the least bit embarrassed by his behavior, as if absurdity were his domain.

“We actually had a proper conversation before……you know the rest.” His tone was mocking. As he watched her, the hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth.

There was just something about her, he really liked. She reminded him so much of someone from his past.

Alyssa swallowed hard, a knot forming in her throat. She closed the distance between them with quick, purposeful steps.

Leaning in so close that her breath tickled his ear, she whispered softly,

“That night meant nothing to me. It's high time you stopped stalking me.”

He burst into laughter again, the kind that drew more stares from people. She had sounded so funny - he hadn't expected that.

“Listen,” he said, the laughter fading from his voice, replaced by a strange sincerity. “I'm not stalking you, okay? This is just….coincidence. I swear, you're the last person I thought I'd see today.” His body language was open, almost too honest, as though he truly believed his own words.

“So, what now? What do you want?” She met his gaze, her voice sharp, demanding an answer.

She could sense his intentions - his flirting was blatant, and to her, it felt like nothing short of disrespectful.

He appeared quite younger than her. His short, curly hair was a clear sign of someone who took pride in his appearance, his hygiene evident. He was tall - impossibly so - and his T-shirt clung to his sculpted torso, hinting at a strength that could easily overpower. His thick, muscular legs stood confidently in his Nike shorts, completing the picture of a man fully aware of his own appeal.

He was undeniably handsome. In another time, Alyssa might have been drawn to men like him - his type, the kind who effortlessly turned heads.

But not now. Not after the heartbreak one of his kind had put her through. She was done with men like him, resolved never to let herself fall prey to that kind of heartbreak again.

“I just want to get to know you, Alyssa. Trust me, I mean no harm.”

“I couldn't stop thinking about you after that night….”

She interrupted him, her voice firm. “I'm married. I'm sorry.” The words felt strange as they left her lips, and for a moment, she couldn't believe that she had just claimed to be married. A marriage that, in truth, had made her feel more like an afterthought than a partner - treated like a mere possession, something disposable.

“I know,” he replied, his voice steady. “You're married to the famous billionaire, Robert Hills.”

Alyssa's voice was trapped in her throat. He knew. He knew all along. He even knew who her husband was. No. Something didn't add up here.

“How do you know so much about me, Rex? How do you know I'm married to the Hills’ family….? Her voice faltered, the shock of his knowledge lingering in her chest.

“Alyssa, he doesn't deserve you,” he cut her off, his words unyielding.

“I see how he disrespects you - how he's with other women. It's all over the news. You deserve better.”

Yes. He was right. She couldn't deny it. The words stung, but they also rang true. She did deserve better.

Alyssa's mind drifted back to that night at the bar, the kind of place where neon lights flickered against the dim haze of conversation and the clink of glass was the soundtrack to the evening. She had been expecting to hang out with Claire, but at the last minute, Claire canceled. Hanging up the phone, Alyssa surveyed the crowded space, the low hum of chatter and soft beats mixing in the background. That's when he appeared - Rex. Tall, effortlessly cool, with a presence that seemed to carve out space in the buzz of the bar. She couldn't deny it: he was the best-looking guy in the room. He held a glass of champagne, fingers wrapped around the slender stem like it was an extension of himself, his movements smooth and deliberate. She hadn't even noticed him approaching until he tapped her lightly on the shoulder, pulling her gaze from the bartender's rhythmic dance of pouring and shaking.

“Hi there, you don't seem to be enjoying the evening,” Rex said, sipping from his glass with a casual ease. “I'm Rex….” He pulled his hand from his pocket, extending it towards her for a handshake. Alyssa hesitated, eyeing his hand before reluctantly giving it a firm shake.

“I was over there,” he nodded toward a table across the room, “watching you. Looks like your date bailed.” Another sip of champagne, his eyes lingering on hers as he waited for a response.

Alyssa didn't answer immediately, unsure whether to engage or brush him off. But there was something about his presence - relaxed, yet confident - that made it hard to ignore.

She stood up, ready to make her way to the restroom, trying to gain some semblance of composure. As she passed him, Rex lightly tapped her shoulder. She paused and turned just enough to meet his gaze.

“You could've atleast told me your name,” he said, a playful challenge in his voice.

“Alyssa,” she replied coolly, her tone flat, and without another word, she continued her journey toward the restroom. By now, the buzz of the alcohol was settling in, and her steps had taken on a slightly unsteady rhythm.

Rex's voice cut through the haze of Alyssa's thoughts, snapping her back to the present. She had been lost in her own world, but now, she was done with the conversation they were having. She grabbed a few chocolate bars from the shelf and casually dropped them into her cart, pushing them towards the cashier stand, ready to move on.

She reached into her back pocket to pull out her wallet, but as her fingers brushed the fabric, a sinking feeling hit her. Her credit card was gone. A flush of embarrassment swept over her, her pulse quickening with frustration.

“I'll just put these back,” she muttered, her voice tight as she gestured toward the shelves she had just come from.

But then, from seemingly nowhere, Rex appeared at her side, handing his card to the cashier with a knowing smile.

“Don't worry, I got you,” he said, his voice casual, as if it were no big deal.

Alyssa blinked, thrown off by his sudden generosity. She couldn't help the flush that rose to her cheeks. “You…..you don't have to do that. I could just take them back!” She stammered, looking over at the shelves, suddenly feeling small.

“Help! Help!” A young male voice suddenly cried out, its desperation sharp against the hum of the mall.