One Night Stand and With The Ruthless Billionaire

A Night To Remember

Asher Blackwood

The shrill ring of my phone sliced through the fog of sleep, pulling me from the depths of a dream I couldn’t quite grasp. I blinked against the harsh light from the bulbs. Confusion clouded my mind as I took in the scene: an empty bed, sheets tangled and warm from the night before.

Vivid memories flashed through my mind: a dance with the mystery woman who captivated me like no other. The passionate night that followed was unlike any I had experienced before. Normally, I would kick women out by dawn, but surprisingly, this one was nowhere in sight.

As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, something caught my eye—a gold mask lying discarded on the floor. I picked it up, studying the intricate designs. It served as a haunting reminder of our brief encounter. I can still picture her taking it off, revealing the most mesmerizing brown eyes I had ever seen. Those eyes sparkled with mischief and warmth as she smiled, her red lips widening into a grin that made my heart race.

I recalled how she had danced for me, a sultry striptease that left me breathless, and how our lovemaking had been tender yet electric—so different from my usual encounters. There was something about her that felt unique; she had slipped under my skin in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I tried to shake off the lingering sense of loss that came with her absence. If I wanted to see her again, I had the power to find her, but that wasn't my priority now. I had pressing business to attend to. Last night had been a mere distraction—though a good one, I have to admit.

The sound of my phone ringing again reached my ears. “Mr. Blackwood,” came the crisp voice of my assistant, Troy. “Just a reminder—you have an appointment with Drew & Co. at 10 AM.”

I glanced at the clock on the wall and cursed silently under my breath. It was already 9:40. “Damn it,” I muttered, running a hand through my disheveled hair.

Why didn’t I wake up earlier?

“The car is waiting outside the hotel for you, and your outfit is in the wardrobe.”

“Right!” I shot a glance at myself in the mirror. “I'll be there shortly.”

As I hung up, I tossed the mask onto a nearby chair and headed for the shower, mentally preparing for the day.

***

The tension in the room was palpable as I glared at the staff member across from me. “You submitted the wrong records again!” I barked, my voice cutting through the silence. “This isn’t some minor oversight; it’s a colossal screw-up!”

“I—” he started, but I cut him off with a sharp wave of my hand.

“Don’t even try to give me excuses. This is the third time this month. How hard can it be to get simple data right?” My frustration boiled over as I flung the file across the floor, where it landed with a dull thud near the door.

The door opened instantly, and Troy walked in, closing it gently behind him. He took one look at me and raised an eyebrow as the staff quickly scurried out of the office, almost bumping into him.

“You seem to be in a foul mood today,” he remarked. “You’ve been like this all week. You fired a quarter of the staff in H.R. Do you want to talk about it?”

I shot him a glare, my patience fraying. “I’m fine,” I snapped, my voice harsher than intended. The last thing I needed was someone prying into my headspace.

“Fine?” he echoed incredulously, crossing his arms. “You’re throwing files and scaring people away. That’s not fine. I know this is how you normally behave, but you've been putting a little extra topping on the attitude this time.”

“Maybe they should do their jobs better,” I retorted. “I don't have time for such incompetence.”

He sighed, his expression softening slightly. “Asher, this isn’t just about work. You need to let off some steam, or you’ll drive everyone away—including me.”

I clenched my jaw, unwilling to let him see how much his words affected me. “I said I’m fine,” I repeated, more firmly this time.

He studied me for a moment before shaking his head and turning to leave. “Just remember, you can’t run this place alone,” he said quietly as he opened the door.

“I don't need anyone,” I muttered under my breath as the door clicked shut behind him. The silence that followed was deafening, amplifying the thoughts in my head.

Troy was right.

I had been grumpy all week for some reason. I was often distracted, and my thoughts kept drifting toward a certain brown-eyed beauty. Her face lingered in my mind to the point where I even mistook one of my new employees for her. My productivity level this week was low, and that irked me.

It was like Maya Angelou said—this one had a diamond at the meeting of her thighs, which was why I found it hard to forget her. It struck me as strange that she hadn’t tried to reach out after that night. Other women typically bombarded me with phone calls, messages, and their annoying physical presence, but this one had kept her distance.

I didn’t even get her name, so how the hell was I going to find her, then?

What the heck? Where did that thought come from? I don't need to find her.

“This has to stop, Asher,” I said to myself. “You need to get your head straight and focus.” I didn't build an empire by daydreaming all day. I pulled my laptop close and reopened the website I'd been working on.

An urgent knock drew my attention again. “Come in,” I called out, my voice edged with impatience.

Troy stuck his head inside, “The model, Evelyn Sparks, is here to see you. Said you guys have an appointment.”

I gritted my teeth, a flicker of annoyance crossing my face. I remembered her vaguely—one of the women who had warmed my bed occasionally. “Find out what she wants, give it to her, and send her away. I don’t have time to entertain fools,” I snapped.

Troy raised an eyebrow but nodded, sensing the tension in the air. “Sure thing, boss.”

As Troy went to attend to her, I leaned back in my chair and ran my fingers down my face in frustration. I didn’t want to entertain any more distractions today - especially not from a model who thought she could waltz in and demand my attention.