THE BILLIONAIRE'S MISSING PIECE (ENGLISH)

Naime feels as if she has everything she could ever ask for. Her life is blissfully complete: Clifford, the man who loves her unconditionally despite her circumstances, seems almost too good to be true. She has a close friend who supports and trusts her, and she’s thriving in her career. With her wedding day approaching, Naime can hardly contain her excitement as she anticipates walking down the aisle and saying "I do" in front of their loved ones. Naime placed the photograph back on her desk and resumed typing, working on an email for a project proposal to their clients. “Naime, congratulations! I’m sure Clifford will take great care of you,” Drevin, her boss at the new company, said with a warm smile. Naime turned around, her smile growing even wider at the sight of Drevin. Since Clifford and Drevin are friends, Drevin had already known about her engagement when she interviewed for the position. “Thank you, Boss,” she replied, her excitement evident in her voice. “Anytime. Once you’re done, feel free to head home and get some rest. You deserve it,” Drevin said, giving Naime a reassuring smile before heading out. He had a personal meeting that didn’t require her presence. As her boss, Drevin was kind and supportive, and their friendly rapport made work enjoyable. Naime stretched as she wrapped up her tasks. Despite having been at the office for only three hours—a stark contrast to her usual eight-hour days—she had managed to finish everything on her to-do list. She had already spoken with the wedding coordinator and was keen on being actively involved in the preparations. The invitation cards had been sent out, and now they only needed to finalize the venue and her bridal gown. With a heart full of gratitude and love, Naime picked up her cellphone and dialed Clifford’s number. “Hey, babe,” Clifford answered immediately, his voice warm and familiar. “Where are you?” Naime asked, her voice laced with curiosity. “I’m on my way to the condo. Do you need anything?” Clifford replied. A smile spread across her face. She planned to surprise him by getting home early and making lunch for them. She hadn’t mentioned her early return yet. “Nothing for now. I just spoke with our wedding coordinator about the venue. He’ll send us some designs, and we’ll choose the one we like best.” “That sounds exciting. I can’t wait, babe.” “Me too! See you soon.” “I love you.” “I love you, too.” As the call ended, Shelly’s eyes rolled in annoyance. She was sitting next to Clifford, her hand resting on his thigh, clearly displeased by the conversation. “What’s with the attitude, Shelly?” Clifford asked, irritation clear in his voice. “What? Did I do something wrong again, babe?” Shelly responded, feigning innocence. “I’m engaged, remember? We need to keep a low profile. I don’t want Naime to find out about us and jeopardize our future. Do you understand?” “Fine!” Shelly snapped, pulling her hand away from his thigh. They were nearing the condo, and Clifford sighed, visibly frustrated. After parking the car, he pulled Shelly close and embraced her. “Just be happy for us. I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time, haven’t I?” Shelly’s face darkened, and she pushed him away. Without saying a word, she opened the car door and stepped out. Clifford followed quickly, and as soon as she opened the condo door, he seized the moment and kissed her deeply. The annoyance melted from her expression, replaced by a mischievous smile as he playfully bit her lip. He had learned how to calm her when she was upset. When he finally pulled away, Shelly led him into the room. “Let’s not do this now,” she said, her tone firm. “She’ll be here later. Let’s enjoy this time together while we can. You might miss it once you’re married, but I doubt it. Even if you’re with her, I’ll still be here to keep you warm on those cold nights that she can’t,” Shelly said, her tone laced with temptation. Her words only fueled Clifford’s desire, leaving him overwhelmed by the intense heat radiating from Shelly’s body. He kissed her gently, slowly undressing her as they lay in bed—the same bed where he and Naime had once dreamed of building their life together and shared their most intimate moments. He could no longer contain himself as Shelly’s body was revealed before him. It felt as though he was experiencing it for the first time, eager to possess her body and soul completely. Naime closed her eyes for a moment after loading the grocery items into her car. Realizing she had forgotten a few key ingredients for her cooking, she decided to head back into the store. With time to spare, she quickly gathered the missing items and ensured she had everything she needed before lining up at the cashier. “Hi, Miss Alvarez. I’ve sent over the venue designs for you to review. Take your time choosing. Please let me know within a week so we can proceed with the preparations,” the coordinator said. Naime smiled, pleased with the update. He had called her just before she left the grocery store. “Thank you so much for your hard work.” “If you have any preferences for colors or designs, just let me know,” he added. “Will do. Thanks again,” Naime replied. She played a mix of love songs on her music app, feeling a swirl of lightness, nervousness, and excitement all at once. Her heart raced even more when she received the message that her bridal gown was ready. Everything was falling into place perfectly, and she couldn’t wait to share the details with Clifford. The thought of seeing his emotions when they met later made her smile. Carrying the groceries, she made her way to their condo where she and Clifford lived. As she approached, she saw that the door was slightly open. She wondered if Clifford had forgotten to close it or if he had fallen asleep inside, exhausted from his demanding job as President of E-largo Travels. She set the grocery bags down, her brow furrowing as she noticed her best friend’s shoulder bag lying haphazardly on the floor. Her heart pounded with increasing dread when she heard Shelly’s moans and playful laughter coming from their bedroom. She tried to push away the dark thoughts racing through her mind, unwilling to believe the worst. She hoped it was all just a misunderstanding and that there was a simple explanation for what she was hearing. Summoning her courage, she opened the bedroom door, only to be confronted with a devastating sight. There, on the bed, were Clifford and Shelly, both naked and tangled together in an intimate embrace.