A Deal With The Ruthless Billionaire

ELAINE

I walked toward the parking lot, my car sitting in the same spot it always did.

The old sedan looked like it had been dragged through hell and back, a few dents here, a scratched bumper there, and the occasional puff of smoke from the exhaust.

But it was mine, and as much as I hated it, I needed it.

I climbed in, gripping the worn leather of the steering wheel, and forced myself to start the engine. The familiar sputter and groan made my stomach twist.

I prayed it wouldn't give out on me again.

The drive home wasn't long, but it always felt that way. My shift at the nursing home had ended earlier than expected, and while most people would have been excited about the extra time off, I wasn't.

I wasn't looking forward to going home.

My mind wandered to what I'd find when I got there-Devin, my lazy husband, sprawled out on the couch, a half-empty bottle of something cheap at his side, maybe even a second one rolling under the coffee table.

Heck, I was sure he was probably still wearing the same clothes I'd seen him in this morning when I left for my twelve-hour shift.

God knows he never had anywhere to go.

That couch had become his throne, the house, his kingdom. And I was the servant, working myself to the bone to keep the roof over our heads, the lights on, and food in the fridge-all while he sat there, sucking the life out of me one day at a time.

My chest tightened as I thought about how I'd been living for the past few years. It was always the same cycle-wake up before the sun, work myself to exhaustion at the nursing home, and come home to a man who contributed nothing.

Rent was always late. Bills piled up faster than I could pay them. I couldn't remember the last time I'd bought something for myself, let alone something nice.

The worst part was the guilt.

Devin always had a way of making me feel like it was my fault. Like I wasn't doing enough. Like if I worked just a little harder, we'd be fine.

But no matter how hard I worked, it was never enough to get ahead, just enough to survive.

Hand to mouth. That was my life. A life I'd wanted to get out of for so long but hadn't been able to.

The nursing home didn't pay much, and the long hours left me drained-physically, emotionally, mentally. There were days I thought about quitting, about finding something better, but where would I go? What could I do?

My resume was a joke, and the thought of starting over felt overwhelming.

I sighed, gripping the wheel tighter as my car rattled over a pothole. I'd been stuck in this life for so long, I wasn't sure how to even begin clawing my way out.

All I knew was that I couldn't keep living like this, scraping by, giving everything I had, only to feel empty at the end of the day.

Something had to change. I just didn't know how to make it happen.

The porch light was on when I pulled up. It wasn't for me; Devin was too lazy to turn it off during the day. I let out a breath, climbed out of the car, and trudged up the steps, my shoes scuffing against the wood.

I unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping into the living room. It was dark, but I didn't need the lights on to see that Devin wasn't there.

Huh. That's shocking.

The couch, for once, was empty. No Devin, no beer bottles tipped over, no dirty socks littering the floor. I frowned, my stomach twisting.

It wasn't a relief I felt-something was off.

I walked further into the house and froze.

Clothes.

Everywhere.

Jeans, a shirt that definitely wasn't Devin's, and a bra-a lacy, hot pink thing I wouldn't be caught dead in were scattered across the floor like breadcrumbs leading to some horrible conclusion.

My heart dropped.

Fuck no.

I followed the trail up the stairs, my breaths coming sharp and uneven. I didn't want to know. I didn't want to see it.

But I had to.

My hand shook as I reached for the bedroom door handle. I pushed it open and-

"Oh my god."

There, on my bed, Devin had some brunette bimbo pinned in front of him, her face buried in the mattress as he slammed into her from behind like a wild animal.

They didn't notice me at first. Devin's hands gripped her hair so hard his knuckles were white, and the sounds-god, the sounds-made my stomach churn.

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

My voice cracked through the air.

"Are you KIDDING me?!"

Devin froze mid-thrust.

The girl whoever she wasmlet out a startled squeak and scrambled for the sheets to cover herself. Devin turned his head to look at me, his expression blank, as if I'd just walked in on him napping instead of screwing some random woman in my bed.

Our bed!

"Elaine?" he muttered, as if he had the right to sound confused.

It was his audacity for me.

"You piece of shit," I said, my voice low, shaking with fury. "You absolute piece of shit."

It was like every ounce of energy drained out of me, leaving behind only pure, ice-cold rage.

The motherfucker didn't even flinch. Didn't scramble to cover himself. Didn't even look ashamed. He just stood there, completely bare-assed, staring at me like I was the one who'd walked into his house uninvited.

"It's not what it looks like," Devin muttered, his voice lazy and flat.

"Not what it looks like?!" My voice rose an octave, vibrating off the walls. "Oh, so you're not railing some random bimbo in my bed? Is that it, Devin?"

The brunette who'd been trying to shrink into the mattress, let out a tiny squeak. That sound sent me over the edge.

I bent down, yanked off one of my shoes, and hurled it across the room. It hit Devin square in the chest with a thud.

"Elaine!" Devin barked, stumbling back a step.

I didn't care.

I was already pulling off the second shoe. This one went flying toward the girl, missing her by a foot, but it was enough to send her scrambling off the bed.

"Get. Out," I snapped, my voice dripping venom.

The girl who looked all of twenty, with stick-straight brunette hair and wide, deer-in-headlights eyes fumbled for the sheets as she tried to cover herself, staring at me like I might murder her.

And I would if she doesn't get out this minute!

She lunged for her clothes, scooping them up with all the grace of a newborn deer. I spotted her hot pink bra lying by my feet and grabbed it.

"Here," I snarled, chucking it at her. The lacy thing smacked her shoulder before falling to the floor.

She made a noise as she bolted from the room, clutching her clothes to her chest like they were a shield.

I turned back to Devin, who was now tugging on a pair of boxer shorts like the whole thing was inconvenient for him.

"You've lost your goddamn mind," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

"I lost my mind?!" I shouted, my chest heaving. "You're the one fucking a stranger in my bed while I'm out busting my ass to pay the bills! I lost my mind?"

"Elaine, calm down. You're overreacting."

I froze. The words sank into my brain like a knife, slicing through the last shred of patience I had left.

Overreacting?

"Overreacting?" I repeated, my voice deadly quiet. "Devin, I work twelve-hour shifts at that damn nursing home. I come home exhausted every single day while you remain sprawled on the couch, drunk like a fool! I've been breaking my back to put clothes on your body and a roof over your head while you sit on your ass all day. And this is how you repay me?"

"It was just a one-time thing, alright?" Devin scoffed, running a hand through his unkempt hair. "Jesus. You're acting like I killed someone."

I stared at him, my chest tight.

A one time thing.

I swallowed hard, something inside me snapping into place. I have had enough.

Turning on my heel, I marched straight to the closet, yanking open the door so hard it nearly came off its hinges.

"What the hell are you doing?" Devin demanded, watching as I grabbed my duffel bag and started pulling my clothes off the hangers.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" I shot back, stuffing jeans, shirts, and anything else I could grab into the bag. "I'm leaving, Devin. We're done."

"Elaine, don't be ridiculous." He laughed, he actually laughed as if I'd just told a bad joke. "You're not going anywhere."

I spun around, my fingers gripping a sweater so tightly my knuckles turned white.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Do you think you get a say in this? Because you don't. Not anymore."

His smug expression faltered.

"Elaine-"

"No, Devin." I held up a hand, cutting him off. "I've put up with your shit for too long. I worked while you drank. I stayed while you did nothing. And I gave you chance after chance when you didn't deserve them. This? This was the last straw."

He opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but I turned away, zipping up my bag with finality. Slinging it over my shoulder, I walked past him, refusing to look at his face.

"You'll regret this, Elaine," he muttered bitterly as I reached the doorway.

I paused, turning just enough to glance over my shoulder.

"No, Devin. The only thing I regret is not leaving you sooner."

And with that, I walked out, slamming the door behind me.

I didn't cry. I didn't look back.

For the first time in years, I felt free.

ELAINE

"I'm just going to say it, I never liked him,"

Gigi, my best friend, announced with zero hesitation, tilting her head back as she took a slow sip of her wine, her dark curls bouncing in movement.

"Gigi, you never tried to like him." I snorted, shaking my head.

"Because I knew he was trash," she shot back. "I didn't need to try, and now that you've finally kicked his sorry ass to the curb, I can say it without any guilt."

She raised her glass in a mock toast.

"To freedom!"

I couldn't help but laugh, though it came out weaker than I wanted.

"To freedom," I echoed softly, clinking my glass against hers.

Gigi studied me for a moment, her hazel eyes sharp.

"You don't look as happy as you should," she said to me. "You're free, Elaine. Free of that deadbeat leech and his nonsense. This should be the start of something better." She encouraged.

"I know," I muttered, setting my glass down on the coffee table. "It's just... I don't know. I spent so many years putting up with him. Carrying him. Now that it's over, it feels-empty."

"Empty?" Gigi scoffed. "Girl, it should feel like you just dropped a thousand-pound weight off your back. Don't mourn what was never worth it."

Her words stung a little, but only because they were true.

Devin hadn't been worth my tears. I know that now. I have known it for a long time, but I'd let myself believe that things might get better that he might get better.

"Yeah," I murmured, more to myself than to her. "You're right."

"Damn straight, I'm right," Gigi said, shifting closer and poking me in the arm. "Look, Elaine, you're twenty-seven. You've spent the last five years dragging dead weight while working yourself to the bone. It's about time you started thinking about yourself. What you want."

I let her words sink in as I stared at my glass.

What I wanted.

I wanted a lot of things, didn't I? I wanted more than long shifts at the nursing home, where I spent my days caring for others when no one cared for me.

I wanted to stop living paycheck to paycheck. I wanted to walk into a room and own it, to feel powerful and confident and completely untouchable.

I wanted money. Lots of it.

And I wanted to never, ever feel small and helpless again.

"I'll tell you what you're not gonna do," Gigi said firmly, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You're not gonna sit here and mope about that loser. You're gonna take control of your life, Elaine, and go after something better."

"Better," I repeated quietly, tasting the word.

"Better job. Better future. Better men," Gigi said, ticking off each one on her fingers, smirking at me at the last list. "Because you deserve it, and you know what else? You're gonna stop settling for anything."

Her words hit me.

Stop settling.

I have been settling my entire life, settling for less than I wanted, for less than I deserved, for scraps that Devin couldn't even bother to appreciate.

I gripped my wine glass tighter and looked up at her, something sparking to life inside me.

"You're right." I said again.

"I'm sorry, what?" Gigi blinked. "Did you just admit I'm right twice in one night?" She gasped, feigning shock.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile tugging at my lips.

"Yeah, I did. Don't let it go to your head."

"Too late," she said smugly, but her expression softened as she studied me. "But seriously, babe, you can do this. You're strong, you're smart, and you're a knockout, don't think I didn't notice how half the guys in this neighbourhood turn their heads when you walk by."

"Gigi," I said, laughing despite myself.

"What? I'm serious!" She grinned and leaned back. "You've got everything it takes to go far, Elaine. You just have to stop holding yourself back. No more bending over for men who don't deserve you. No more settling for crumbs. Go take the whole damn cake."

For the first time in years, I felt like something in me had shifted, like a door had cracked open.

I nodded slowly, my resolve solidifying with every beat of my heart.

She was right. I was done settling. I'm done bending to anyone's will. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get myself at the top to the life I've always dreamed of.

"Now that's the Elaine I've been waiting for." Gigi grinned, raising her glass. I picked up my glass and clinked it against hers again..

"To breaking free," I said.

"To taking what's yours," Gigi replied, smiling.

And as I sipped my wine, I let those words wash over me. I was done being the woman who waited for life to happen to her.

I was going to take control.

ELAINE

The sound of the gavel hitting the block echoed through the courtroom, and I felt like I could finally breathe again.

The judge's words-"The divorce is hereby finalized"-rang in my ears like a sweet melody.

I glanced over at Devin, sitting a few feet away from me, looking like someone had just sucker-punched him. His mouth hung open slightly, and his eyes were wide with disbelief.

If I didn't despise him so much, I might've laughed. But instead, I just smiled, a real, genuine, ear-to-ear smile.

This was it. I was free.

As soon as the judge stepped out, I practically skipped out of the courtroom. My heels clicked against the marble floor, my steps light for the first time in years.

I felt weightless, like I'd just shed a hundred pounds of dead weight.

"Elaine!" Gigi's voice rang out from the hall.

She stood there, leaning against the wall in a bright red jumpsuit, her curls bouncing as she waved at me. She was impossible to miss, radiating confidence like she owned the whole damn building.

I rushed over to her, throwing my arms around her.

"It's done," I said, my voice filled with relief. "It's finally over."

"I knew you'd do it!" Gigi squealed, hugging me back tightly. She pulled away, her brown eyes sparkling. "How does it feel to be officially Devin-free?"

"Like I just got out of prison," I admitted, laughing.

"As you should," she said with a grin. "This calls for a celebration. Something big. Something-"

Before she could finish, I heard his voice behind me, sharp and bitter.

"Elaine!"

I turned to see Devin storming out of the courtroom, his face flushed with anger.

"You're making a huge mistake," he spat, his voice loud enough to draw a few curious stares. "You think you're better off without me? You think you're gonna do better than me?"

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. For someone who couldn't bother to fight for our marriage when it actually mattered, he suddenly had a lot to say now.

"Devin," I said calmly, crossing my arms. "This conversation is over. Just like our marriage."

"You're such a slut," he sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "I bet you're pimping yourself out to rich men, just like your little friend here." He jerked his chin toward Gigi, who raised an eyebrow, looking completely unbothered.

"Oh, hell no," Gigi said, stepping forward. "Say one more word, and I swear I'll-"

"It's not worth it, G," I interrupted, holding up a hand. I turned my full attention to Devin, my voice steady and cold. "You can call me whatever you want, but at least I'm not the one who sat on my ass for years, leeching off someone else. You were a loser when I met you, and you're an even bigger loser now. So do me a favor, go back to whatever hole you crawled out of and stay there." I dismissed him with a wave of my hand like a pesky fly he was.

Devin opened his mouth to argue, but Gigi cut him off by flipping him the bird.

"Bye, Devin," she said with a sweet, sarcastic smile.

I grabbed Gigi's arm, pulling her toward the exit.

"Let's go," I said, my voice light.

We stepped out into the bright afternoon sun, and Gigi led me to her convertible parked at the curb. It was bright yellow and obnoxiously flashy, just like her.

She slid into the driver's seat while I climbed into the passenger side, tossing my bag at my feet. As soon as the engine roared to life, she glanced over at me, her grin widening.

"So," she said, putting on her oversized sunglasses. "Where to? Spa? Shopping spree? Fancy dinner?"

I shook my head, laughing.

"Honestly, I just want to let loose. Go somewhere loud, somewhere fun." I said. Her grin turned devilish.

"Oh, honey, say no more. We're going clubbing." She announced.

"Clubbing?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Absolutely," she said, pulling out into the street. "We're gonna dance, we're gonna drink, and we're gonna celebrate your freedom in the best way possible."

I felt a bubble of excitement rise in my chest. It had been so long since I'd done anything just for me-anything fun.

"Okay," I said, nodding. "Let's do it."

"That's my girl!" Gigi cheered, speeding up as we zipped through the city streets.

The wind whipped through my platinum blonde hair, and for the first time in years, I felt alive.

No more Devin. No more misery.

Just me, my best friend, and the start of a brand-new chapter.