One Night Stand with a Billionaire

by Ayla D. Viktoreva

  “This is on a completely different level than the normal wish to be with someone!” But then again, he was famous and handsome. Those type of guys surely had tons of fangirl clubs.

  “Shut up! I didn’t want it to be like this!”

  “Then why did you end up being like this, anyway?”

  What I realized at that moment was that the more we ran, the more girls gathered and my thoughts somehow drifted to the possibility of us being locked alone in the fair, surrounded by fangirls at every corner.

  “This won’t do!” I shouted between my breaths. My legs were starting to give away. “We need to hide somewhere!”

  “Haunted house! Haunted house!” he shouted back, and I glared before hitting his arm.

  “Just to what extent do you want to visit the goddamn Haunted House?”

  Needless to say, after finding out about Blake’s true intention, which was to visit that place instead of going out to an actual date, we actually ended up hiding in there. Of course, some girls chose to come and check that place as well, so we had no choice but to hide among the props and pretend to be part of the act, scaring them away. It was mostly by saying how we already devoured a couple that ran by—we used muffled voices and all—and wanted to taste more human souls, and combined with already worn-down haunted house props, it somehow all worked out. When the owner came to check what was all that about and we explained our situation, he actually told us to keep with the good work and even brought us food and drinks.

  Apparently, we brought even more customers, hence making him earn more money.

  I was only able to look at it with that old saying “All’s well that ends well,” and I tried to enjoy the so-called date with only one thought left on my mind: “We’re definitely not doing this dating thing right.”

  And Blake’s response, who clearly enjoyed his newfound attraction, was “Shut up. Be happy that you’re in one at all.”

  I, on the other hand, knew that this definitely wasn’t a story one would tell their children, so I demanded to repeat it in the future, properly and without his complicated relationships.

  On that day, I learned the true meaning of being careful with what you wish for and that sometimes things we want to avoid the most are the things we also need the most.

  We just don’t want to accept it.

  Chapter 22

  Differences That Separate Us

  If I could be the rain that connects earth and heaven that won’t meet in whole eternity, could I also be the one to bind two peoples’ hearts together?

  —Inoue Orihime (Bleach)

  I used to hate mornings, but it had been almost a month since that girl, Regina, barged in. Blake had a long time talking with his father about what happened, which only made things worse with their relationship. Not that I thought that it could’ve gotten any worse than it already was. Regina tried to get back to Blake so many times after that incident, using all kind of seducing schemes, but failed every time. Even after I tried to convince myself that I didn’t love Blake, every argument I used made me think otherwise.

  I found many new things about him, except for the one I really wanted to know: what happened to his sister. By the looks of it, I came to the conclusion that something also happened to Melissa. She never talked about Amy’s father, which I found very confusing. Not only that, but whenever I asked her, she completely shut down, saying how she didn’t know who he was—a one night stand apparently—but Max always looked at her with saddened eyes whenever she’d say that.

  At first, I thought that it was probably him who was Amy’s father, but he wasn’t so attached to her as a father should be, and when I confronted Blake about that, his reply was “No. Why the hell would you think that?” Since his answer didn’t hold any secrets, I dismissed the idea not so long after.

  So I came to the conclusion that she was either telling the truth or hiding something painful. But I decided not to press her any further. If she wanted so, she’d tell me one day. There were some things we couldn’t voice out, I guess.

  Our wedding was scheduled for Valentine’s Day, or in two weeks, but I knew that even though his mother was glad that I opened and “fixed” Blake somehow, she was very wary of me. I couldn’t blame her. It’s not like your billionaire son decides to marry someone of low status every day. I guess you never actually know. It was a natural assumption that I was using him. It’s the way the world works nowadays. People are going to judge you either way, so at least do what you want. That’s how I decided to live and is probably one of the rare things I could say I didn’t regret.

  “What are you thinking about?” Right, to get back to my point.

  I always hated waking up, but more than a month since I saw Blake again and decided to marry him, I came to like waking up in his arms. Not even once did it happen after Christmas that I woke up alone, and I was grateful for it. It was rare, but I used to have nightmares of that night I lost my parents and even of that night with Blake. To make it worse, they’d come to haunt me at the same time. But surprisingly, they stopped when I slept with Blake. It’s not that we did anything together; we just shared the bed.

  Was that what they meant when they said that those who hurt you become the only ones who can help you move on?

  “I was just reminiscing about what has been happening for the previous month,” was my shy reply as I hid my face in the crook of his neck. I liked being next to him. For some strange reason, it was really nice and comfy. Was it because I like him? I wasn’t sure. All that love deal was a strange subject to me.

  Maybe I should’ve done some research on the Internet about it, if nothing else helped. It was so strange and complicated for me. Why did I have to fall in love when I never even liked anyone a lot? I wanted to learn it slowly and safely, not for it to simply barge into my life.

  For a man I once thought I’d always hate and never see again, for that matter. Love is odd; that’s the one thing I was sure of.

  “A lot has happened, right?” He chuckled. “I hope that you don’t plan on giving up on our wedding,” he joked, but I could feel a hint of seriousness in his voice.

  “As if you’d let me,” was my sarcastic comment, but even if he did let me choose, I doubted that I was going to reject and leave him alone.

  “But”—his voice became serious—“if I do let you choose, would you still say yes to me?” My eyes widened. Did he just say that out loud?

  “I…” I was at a loss for words. I didn’t know what to answer to his question when he approached me like that. There were some things one could or couldn’t say. What was wrong with him? Didn’t I already say yes once on my own volition?

  “Never mind. It’s fine. Not like I would let you go.” That little… But it seemed like it was a forced answer. Almost as if he was—how should I put it—maybe afraid of my answer? I shook my head. Ever since my so-called love proclamation for him, I tried to find some indicator that those feelings were mutual. How stupid of me. I was pathetic for even trying like he could seriously love someone like me.

  He and I were like Earth and Heaven. He was rich and very successful while I, on the other hand, was poor and not so smart. I only reached high school, if we’re being honest.

  “Shall we go to eat?” was his question, and I nodded my head. I wanted to tell him, but if he had been wondering about that, then he probably wanted to get rid of me. Facing reality, I reminded myself that he didn’t even have sex in the last month, and it was obvious that he was a man with needs that I, apparently, couldn’t satisfy.

  That was a really terrifying thing for me. I didn’t think that I would be able to take it if he left me. Just the mere thought of him sleeping with another girl was sickening and unacceptable to me; I hated it.

  I really loved him, didn’t I?

  “Let’s go.” And with that, he got up, and I followed slowly behind, tugging on his shirt. “What?” It was anger that laced his voice, and my eyes widened. Did I do something wrong to anger him? If I did, t
hen what was it?

  “Umm, nothing,” I said as I headed for the doors.

  “Sorry. What’s wrong?” The way he asked that half-heartedly made my blood boil for some unknown reason. I had no idea up to this day what made me turn around and throw everything at him. Was it the way he had been acting rude, the way he ignored me sometimes, the way…I don’t know. Or was it the fact that he didn’t share the same feelings I had and I was the only one suffering because of them?

  “That, I would like to know. Why are you so angry and jerky all of a sudden?” I yelled. Even I was surprised by my voice. Why did I even care?

  “Me? Look who’s talking?” His voice was no calmer than mine.

  “At least, I wasn’t snapping like you did after waking up!”

  “Snap? You think I snapped? I’m much worse when I snap. I was acting all normal until you started changing your mood all of sudden for me asking you a single, fucking ‘What!’”

  “If you had asked me nicely what was wrong with me, maybe I could have not snapped back at you and told you nicely what I had on my mind! But no, you acted like I was a bother to you instead!”

  “Shut up, you stupid girl!” I flinched at his tone. His yelling was nothing compared to this one he just used. “For all I care now, you could go. You don’t even have to marry me. I’ll take care of the baby! If you want, I’ll give you enough money to live your life peacefully and away from us!” And with that, he stormed out of the room as I tried to think about what had just happened.

  Dread couldn’t even compare to the emotion I felt when I realized that my fears were confirmed. He had gotten tired of me and decided that he no longer needed me. That was why our wedding didn’t matter to him anymore.

  I fell on my knees and suddenly felt the thick, cold substance rolling down my eyes. I was crying.

  Not only did his decision hurt me, but his words as well. He thought I was stupid. I knew, I knew, I fucking knew I never went to the universities I wanted and all that, but did he seriously have to rub it in my face?

  I cried even harder.

  I was just a teenager for crying out loud. I had to take care of Ayden so he didn’t have to suffer at a young age! I didn’t want him to feel what I had! It was not like I chose this life myself. It was not like I wanted to be like that! I couldn’t go to a damn university because I didn’t have money, and I had to take care of my little brother. No, I was not blaming Ayden. He was not wrong. He did nothing wrong. It was my fault Mom and Dad died in the first place, so if someone were to blame here, then it would definitely be me. Blake was right. I was stupid and thus, worthless. And the worst thing was that I only brought problems in the lives of other people.

  Blake would have probably been much, much happier if he continued with his bachelor’s life, and I just came in bringing him the burden of becoming a father. How stupid I was. I could have used some pills for that night knowing what was going to happen, but no, I was stupid! Ryan had to take care of my parents’ funeral because I killed them, which brought him a problem with his budget! Why? Because, once again, I was stupid!

  Of course, Blake wouldn’t have wanted to be with me! He could have any woman on this planet, and I was just naïve, plain, and stupid me! He and I were never meant to be together. We were too different to even have a chance for a relationship. If I had to say, even Regina was a better choice for him!

  My breaths soon became heavy, and I had a feeling like I was suffocating. It wasn’t long before black spots appeared in my sight as I finally fell down in numbness. The last thing I remembered were heavy footsteps running toward me, and someone’s voice calling out my name.

  Numb. Darkness.

  How stupid of me to faint after confronting reality.

  I didn’t know how long I had been out. I didn’t want to know. I didn’t even want to wake up from the overflowing numbness that was my only comfort out of pain. In the end, even the voice that brought me back didn’t belong to the one I cared for, the one I loved.

  The one that didn’t love me back.

  “Kaley, how do you feel? Does anything hurt? Are you all right?” Questions came to me as soon as I opened my eyes. That nasty smell that brought back my consciousness was no longer under my nose.

  “Yeah,” I replied. I didn’t really want to talk. Was I going too far? No, it was my only way of coping.

  “Let’s check on you,” Max said. I recognized his voice. “First, do you feel any pain in your belly?” I shook my head. Words seemed mundane here. And then it hit me. Pain? Why would I feel pain in my stomach? Nothing happened, right? Frantically standing up, I placed my hands on my belly, looking for something, for proof that my child was still there. I knew that the bump didn’t grow much, but I just prayed.

  “Don’t worry. It seems like nothing happened, but I have to check something else, so lie down and relax,” Max assured me, and I could only nod back at him before lying down again.

  “Do you need some water?” It was him. Blake.

  “Yes please,” I weakly mumbled. I was rather thirsty despite feeling numb, and it was a good excuse for him to leave me alone. He left fast. It didn’t take him long. Maybe he truly didn’t want me by his side; I was glad I didn’t have to look at him again. I couldn’t take it. Once he was done with his checks on me, Max tried to cheer me up, but I just couldn’t bring myself to smile wholeheartedly.

  Sorry.

  I wanted to apologize for being unable to smile when he was trying his hardest, but I couldn’t even manage that much. What was wrong with me? I didn’t know what was fucking wrong with me.

  “Oh c’mon. You know you like them. Touch!” he continued flexing his muscles, and I gave him a weak smile, the one to make him stop worrying. Why couldn’t I have fallen for someone like him instead? Why wasn’t it Max who found out about Ayden first and gave me money instead of Blake?

  “Wow.” I couldn’t stay like that. “I told you that you can mix your cuteness with your manliness after all,” I weakly said before I heard the doors open, which meant that Blake was back.

  “Here’s the water,” he said, and my smile fell. I couldn’t stand to look at his face. I ruined his life too, didn’t I?

  “Thanks,” was all I could say as a single thought passed my mind. Maybe he’d be better off without me.

  “Anytime.” I barely heard his voice. “Is she fine, Max?”

  “Yeah, but please avoid situations like this for her. First trimester is the most critical considering it’s the period all the organs are forming within the fetus, so she has the most chances of miscarriage. Why don’t you pick some nice and remote village for your honeymoon? She’ll get relaxed, and healthy air will help her a lot. Plus, it’s romantic.” I had blushed before Blake smacked Max’s head, making me go back to normal. So he didn’t even want to think about it?

  “I’ll leave now. I’m going downstairs. I believe the two of you have something to clear up.” And with that, he headed out of the room. “Give yourselves a chance. Everyone fights, but peace formed after fights is what makes your bonds grow stronger. Give it a go, and you’ll see it for yourself,” he said before closing the doors, and I closed my eyes. What chance was there to be given when there was not even room for it as an option?

  “I apologize for the way I acted. I was a fool, and I don’t even know why I did it, but believe me, I didn’t mean a single thing I said.” There was no need for him to force himself; I knew. Be it that it was up to my hormones or my own damn self. It was probably my fault, wasn’t it?

  “I’m the one who should apologize. You were right. I was stupid.” My voice almost cracked, and I cursed. I didn’t mean to give that away.

  “I didn’t mean…”

  “I just stormed in your life, bringing you the responsibility of being a father. I’m sorry,” I began. “I know that we’re like Heaven and Earth. I’m a stupid girl who never finished her education, who managed to get pregnant because of her forgetting to take pills, who killed her parents because of
her hard head and made her brother suffer without them.” Tears fell from my eyes before I even realized it, but that was how it should’ve been. Blake didn’t deserve someone like me. I wanted to give him back the life he wanted even if I was not going to be in it.

  “That’s n—” he started, but I didn’t want to let him finish. If I did, he’d only get more tangled in this problem and never be able to get out. It’s not what I wanted for the man I loved.

  Yes, I loved him. I saw the truth.

  “And I came into your life being a burden, so I understand why you don’t want me as your wife!” Please be happy without me. “And that’s why…if you…if you want for me…to do it, then I…I’ll…I’ll leave you to enjoy alone, without me burdening…”

  But in truth, I didn’t want that. I disliked the idea of living without Blake, of another woman being by his side. Although I was pushing him away, I wanted our feelings to be mutual and for him to stop me and tell me to stay, no matter how mundane I knew it was. There was no way that he’d…

  In a mere second, as I was trying to wipe my tears that simply knew no end, he had embraced me in the tightest hug I ever felt. Was he thankful that I had given him his freedom? The mere thought made me cry out in his chest, my cries being muffled by his shirt. I calmed with the fact that it was the last time I’ll get to be that close to him.

  It wasn’t fair. Why was I the only one feeling that way? Why couldn’t I be happy as well?

  The kiss he planted on my head hit me like a hurricane, telling me just how much he actually meant to me. It was so painstakingly sad, just how true it was that you only realize how precious things you had only after you lost them.

  I didn’t want to lose him. I couldn’t take it.

  “But I don’t want you to leave.” His voice was like a soft breeze from a dream, his words so unreal like the kindest melody my ears ever heard. “I love you, Kaley Evansville…Even if you don’t feel the same way.”

  It was that moment that my present and past crumbled like glass, allowing the thing called future to come in my life.