FLIRTING WITH A BILLIONAIRE

Ella woke up at five o'clock in the morning, but it was evident that she hadn't slept well due to her longing to see Damian again. It had been five years since he left his job as a pilot. Despite not needing the money, he had been fully immersed in his work, resulting in infrequent conversations and quick video calls. Ella missed him dearly.

"Good morning, Rebecca! Did you sleep well?" Ella greeted Rebecca, the middle-aged woman who had been serving her foster father for a long time. Rebecca played a significant role in raising Ella after Damian's father took her under his care. At times, Ella wondered if Rebecca and Jack McBride, Damian's father, were secretly involved.

"You must be excited to see him," Rebecca said, understanding Ella's emotions.

"I am. It's been five years since he celebrated Christmas with us," Ella replied, blushing at the thought that her excitement might reveal something more than Damian's homecoming.

"Indeed, it has been a long time. Well, why don't you sit down now, Miss Ella? I'll get you a cup of milk," Rebecca offered.

"Milk? I'm old enough for coffee," Ella protested, not wanting to be treated like a child.

"Twenty is not old enough, Ella. Now, stop complaining and sit down!"

Ella shook her head in disbelief but complied, waiting for the glass of milk that Rebecca prepared. She couldn't go against Rebecca's wishes when it came to such matters. After her real mother passed away, Rebecca acted as her second mother, and Ella was grateful for her love and care.

"Here's your coffee, Madame," Rebecca teased, handing Ella the cup. "You might be allowed to have coffee now, but for Jack and Damian, you're still a child. Do you want to upset them?"

"Jack would never be angry with me, but I'm not so sure about Damian. But who knows? Maybe he's more open-minded than his father," Ella reasoned, though Rebecca just snorted.

"Maybe if you got rid of that mug, they might see you differently and consider you more mature," Rebecca suggested.

Ella smiled, holding her favorite pink mug with her name written on it. "This mug is innocent," she defended playfully.

"Would you like a sandwich?"

"Yes, please. With the chocolate spread," Ella replied, and Rebecca quickly prepared the sandwich. The whole family treated her like a princess, even though they occasionally complained about her stubbornness.

After finishing her coffee and sandwich, Ella left the house. As expected, Jack McBride was enjoying his coffee by the pool, engrossed in a newspaper. Ella approached him and kissed his cheek.

"Good morning, Pop," she greeted him. Though Jack had encouraged her to call him Daddy, she preferred calling him Pop. But soon, when she became Damian's bride, she knew she wouldn't hesitate to call him Daddy.

"It's still early, Ella. Why are you already awake?" he asked, but before she could respond, he added, "Damian called last night. He can't come home this year."

Ella waited for Jack to smile and take back his words, hoping it was a joke. However, Jack didn't smile. "You're kidding, right?"

"Am I? Well, you're right. I'm just kidding," he said, trying to dodge her playful pinch.

"You're mean, Pop!"

Jack took a deep breath and sighed. "You're not as funny as you used to be, princess. Why did you grow up so fast?"

"Still, you've just told me he canceled his plans. You know how much I miss Damian," she pouted, expressing her disappointment.

"Don't you think it's time to move on from your infatuation with my son? You're already twenty, my dear, and sooner or later, Damian may marry someone else. You'll get hurt," he warned, concerned for her well-being.

Ella had always confessed her feelings for Damian to Jack, and Damian was likely aware of them too. Perhaps, she was the reason he didn't enjoy staying at home and instead preferred to travel with friends or even girlfriends.

"Don't worry, Pop. I assure you it's just a passing infatuation. I might find a boyfriend of my own sooner or later," she stated, noticing Jack's frown at her announcement. "Enjoy your coffee, Pop. I'll go back to my room now and take a shower," she said, leaving him to his thoughts.

"Go ahead."

However, instead of taking a shower, Ella found herself lingering in her room, anxiously awaiting Damian's arrival. Her bedroom was on the second floor, but from her window, she had a view of the gate.

Damian was supposed to arrive on the 23rd, but he hadn't made it. It was already the 24th, and Ella was losing hope that he would come. Sighing with disappointment, she sat by the window. Suddenly, a commotion downstairs caught her attention. Rebecca hurried toward the gate, and Ella's heart skipped a beat when she recognized the man who had just arrived.

Without a second thought, she rushed downstairs, unable to contain her excitement. She shouted Damian's name as soon as he entered the main door. "Damian!" she called out, even though she was still on the staircase. He smiled at her, making her heart flutter. Running towards him, she hugged him tightly. "I missed you! I missed you so much, Damian!" She no longer cared if Jack and Rebecca were watching.

"Hmm, what's up, kiddo?" he asked, taken aback by Ella's sudden embrace. His eyes widened in surprise, and he felt slightly embarrassed when he glanced at his father, who merely shrugged. Rebecca did the same. He was even more taken aback when she kissed his cheek, feeling it was inappropriate. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. Ella was a woman now, and he was a man. Her actions felt risky, but he couldn't scold her. He looked at her intently and said, "I missed you too."

"How long are you staying this time?" she inquired eagerly.

"Longer than before," he replied.

"Really? I'm glad," Ella beamed at Damian.

"Welcome back, son. Now that you're here, I'm sure our Christmas celebration will be fantastic!" Jack exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

Damian smiled at his father, grateful that Ella had become a part of their family. Despite her beauty, he hoped it wouldn't distract him too much. "Dad, are you genuinely happy to see me or not? You seem sad," he remarked, approaching his father.

"I was expecting you to bring someone with you tonight," Jack said.

"Mmm, don't worry. I will bring her later," Damian replied.

"Who?" Jack inquired.

Damian glanced at Ella before answering, wanting to spare her any hurt. Sensing her true feelings despite her attempts to hide them, he was aware of her emotions. "My girlfriend," he replied.

"You have a girlfriend?" Ella asked in disbelief, her heart shattering into small pieces when Damian nodded. She hadn't expected to be hurt on Christmas Eve!

"Ella, what's wrong?" Damian asked, noticing her sullen expression.

"I'm just shocked that you already have a girlfriend, Damian. I guess I wasn't prepared for you to be in a relationship," she admitted, carefully concealing the true reason behind her reluctance to let him go.

"I'm sorry if it came as a surprise, Ella. We can discuss it later. I'm exhausted and need some rest before attending the church service," Damian explained.

Ella raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly annoyed by Damian's dismissive tone. Her question was simple; she only wanted to know when he had become engaged. "I was just curious about when you met her," she mumbled.

"It was a few months ago," he replied.

"Just a few months, and you're already planning to marry her? Why?" she asked, disbelief evident in her voice. However, she quickly realized that she had no right to question his choices. When she glanced at Damian, she sensed his disappointment with her behavior. "I'm sorry for overreacting," she apologized to him.

"It's fine, Ella. I'll see you later," Damian said, not giving her a chance to apologize properly. Ella wondered if he was genuinely tired. She took a deep breath, feeling her world crumbling after his announcement. Nevertheless, she convinced herself that whoever his fiancée was, their relationship would be temporary. She believed that she and Damian were destined for each other, soulmates meant to be together. She had spent years gathering the courage to confess her feelings, only for him to announce his engagement to someone else. Ella snorted in frustration before heading upstairs.

Later in the evening, around nine o'clock, Ella took a quick shower and got ready to attend the evening mass. She wanted to ensure she looked presentable, especially when Damian's girlfriend would be there. She had plenty of formal dresses to choose from, but she settled on a knee-length, long-sleeve dress that hugged her figure, feeling that it made her look perfect. Pairing it with black high-heeled shoes, she left her long hair loose. Before leaving her bedroom, she applied light makeup, opting for vibrant red lipstick, and a touch of blush on her cheeks, and curled her eyelashes, recalling that Damian had admired her long, curly lashes back in middle school. Hoping his preference hadn't changed, she descended the stairs, drawing all eyes towards her, as expected.

"Gorgeous as always," Jack muttered, admiring her appearance.

"Thank you," Ella humbly replied, but when she glanced at Damian, she couldn't decipher his expression.

"Isn't she pretty, Damian? I bet you'll have your hands full keeping suitors away from her soon," Jack remarked, chuckling.

Damian nodded, captivated by Ella's charm. He wasn't one to deny his fascination with her beauty, but he reminded himself that Ella was off-limits. She was his foster sister, and his father wouldn't approve of him having any intentions toward her. Though he had initially planned to stay within his father's estate, Ella's presence constantly tempted his self-control.

"Damian, don't you think she's grown even prettier?" Jack inquired once again.

"Yes, Daddy," Damian replied.

"Promise me, son. Please don't abandon her when I'm gone. Always keep an eye on her and protect her from any harm, okay?" Jack whispered to his son, concern etched on his face.

Damian furrowed his brows, listening to his father's words, but now wasn't the time to argue. It was almost ten o'clock, and the service was about to begin. Besides, he had to meet with Monique, his fiancée who had also visited her family. Ella and his father were unaware that the woman he was about to marry was the only daughter of Martin Dixon, the mayor of Victorias City.

As they arrived at the church, the mass was about to commence. They found seats at the back since it was the only vacant area. Suddenly, Damian checked his phone and excused himself after reading Monique's message.

"The mass is about to start," Ella tried to stop Damian from leaving, but he seemed determined.

"I'll be back as soon as possible," he assured her.

True to his words, Damian returned in less than five minutes, but he wasn't alone anymore. Ella's brows furrowed as soon as she recognized the woman accompanying him. She glanced at Jack, seeking confirmation, but Damian's father simply shrugged. As they approached, Ella wished she could disappear.

"Merry Christmas, sir," Monique Martin greeted Jack upon their arrival.

"Merry Christmas, dear," Jack replied with a smile.

Monique smiled back and turned her attention to Ella. "You must be Ella Sullivan. Damian has told me a lot about you," she said, engaging in small talk. "Merry Christmas, Ella."

"Merry Christmas to you too," Ella replied, avoiding mentioning Monique's name. In truth, she had no idea how to address her. Judging by their similar ages, Ella felt like they considered her a mere child.

Ella had no right to feel jealous, but she couldn't control her heart's reaction. Suppressing the urge to push Monique away from Damian took immense effort. When she noticed Damian holding his fiancée's hand tightly, she felt a wave of nausea and discomfort. Her stomach churned, unable to bear witness to Damian's affection for another woman.

During the mass, Ella struggled to focus. Her attention constantly drifted toward Damian and his fiancée. Jack kindly invited Monique to join them for Christmas Eve, and she gladly accepted. It was settled. Earlier, Ella had sat beside Damian on their way to the church, but on the journey back home, she found herself relegated to the back seat.

"Are you okay, Ella? You've barely said a word since we left the church," Damian asked, concerned.

"Don't worry about me, Damian. I'm fine," she replied. "Although my feet are hurting, and I just want to get home as soon as possible."

"Next time, avoid wearing high-heeled shoes if your feet can't handle them," Damian advised, with Monique chuckling in agreement.

Monique's amusement at Ella's discomfort offended her, fueling her resentment. In that moment, she longed to lash out at the woman, but she restrained herself. When Damian's car entered the gated estate that belonged to Jack McBride, she breathed a sigh of relief.

As expected, Rebecca had already set the table before their arrival. Monique's eyes widened at the feast prepared by Rebecca. Ella caught a glimpse of sadness in the woman's expression, speculating that she might be on a strict diet and unable to partake in the meal.

However, that assumption proved wrong. When it was time to eat, Monique enjoyed the food, and Damian appeared proud of his future wife. Ella found their lovey-dovey behavior irritating, as they acted like a newlywed couple, and Jack didn't seem to mind at all. To her, it was repulsive.

"I never knew you could be so sweet to a woman, Damian," she remarked, attempting to insult him. However, Damian took it differently, responding with a smile as he looked at Monique.

"But of course! I'll do everything to make my woman happy," Damian proudly declared, winking at his fiancée.

Ella bit her lip, struggling to hold back tears. Crying in front of them would only make her look foolish, and they would undoubtedly make fun of her. She had eagerly anticipated Damian's homecoming, but it had turned into a nightmare when he introduced Monique as the woman he would marry.

"Just ignore them, Ella. Lovebirds are usually like that," Jack said, trying to console her.

"You misunderstand, Pop. I wasn't bothered by their public display of affection," she lied, attempting to salvage her pride. She redirected her resentment towards the food that Rebecca had served, eating until she was uncomfortably full. Later, everyone left the dining table, except for Ella, who remained seated, overwhelmed by her emotions.

"Ella, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling down?" Damian returned to the table, finding her alone.

"Feeling down? Certainly not!" Ella sighed and looked at him. "I'm just heartbroken, Damian. Now go, focus on Monique. She might feel lonely being alone on the balcony."

"Tell me who broke your heart, Ella. Who is he?" Damian's concern was evident in his gaze.

"It's none of your business, Damian," she replied, standing up to leave, ignoring his glare.

"Ella, we're not finished talking yet! Who is the man who broke your heart?"

As she didn't want to encounter Monique and Damian again, Ella decided to go outside. She planned to get some fresh air by the pool area, but when she arrived, she found Rebecca and Jack engaged in a serious discussion. Once again, Ella wondered why they always whispered to each other whenever they were alone. She cleared her throat to get their attention, and Rebecca immediately smiled upon seeing her.

"Why are you here, Ella? Aren't you supposed to join Damian and Monique on the balcony?" Rebecca asked.

"I don't like his fiancée," she blurted out the truth.

"We understand, sweetheart. Why don't you let Damian know about your feelings?" Jack suggested.

"No way, it's too risky to do that," Ella said.

Jack took a deep breath and said, "If you won't let him know, you will continue to suffer. Don't torture your own heart, darling, just to save your pride."

"I don't know what to do anymore," she confessed.

"Go to sleep, dear. You need to clear your head before going into battle," Rebecca suggested.

"I didn't sign up for a war, Rebecca," she answered, and all three of them laughed out loud.

Ella followed Rebecca's suggestion and went to her bedroom. The woman was right. She needed to come up with a better plan on how to express her feelings to Damian. She had to do it right, or he would despise her for the rest of their lives!

Inside her room, Ella tried her best to sleep as soon as possible, but her mind kept wandering elsewhere. If only she could teleport to the balcony, she would spy on Damian and Monique. She would check if they were kissing under the moonlight, while the cold breeze brushed their skin. She shook her head to dismiss the wild thoughts. Damian wouldn't do anything to disrespect their home. He would probably just send Monique home after enjoying some fine wine.

However, the thought of them kissing and becoming intimate in his car still bothered her. She couldn't accept it either. Her mind was filled with restless thoughts about Damian and Monique, preventing her from sleeping early. She was awakened by a bad dream and decided to check on Jack. In her dream, he was crying.

When she reached his room, she knocked softly and waited for him to open the door. Jack was a light sleeper, and any sound from outside would wake him up. She waited patiently, but he didn't open the door. She knocked again, this time louder. When she didn't hear anything from inside, she remembered that Jack had entrusted her with a spare key.

Ella hurried to her bedroom to retrieve the key and returned to Jack's room as quickly as possible. The dream had made her panic, and she felt that something was wrong. She took a deep breath before inserting the key into the doorknob, focusing on the task. Finally, she managed to unlock the door.

"Pop?" she called out for Jack as she entered, but he didn't respond. "Pop?" she called again, walking faster towards his bed. She sighed with relief when she saw Jack still lying there, seemingly sound asleep. She was about to leave when her intuition stopped her.

She turned around and approached Jack's bed. He was so still, and a sense of nervousness washed over her. With a trembling hand, she reached out and placed her finger below his nose.

Ella froze for a moment, her eyes fixed on Jack's face. Then, a burning sensation radiated from her chest. She tapped her chest, trying to find relief from the agony she was feeling. Panic started to take over when she couldn't escape the pain. She tried to contain her tears, but it was difficult. Watching his lifeless form suffocate her, and she couldn't help but scream in sorrow.

"E-Ella, could it be... could it be?" Damian pushed the door open, but she couldn't care less. She was so focused on dealing with Jack's sudden death. As Damian stammered, she felt bad for him. "Damian..."

Last night, Damian had made plans with Monique to go sightseeing in the morning. He had just left his bedroom when he heard Ella's screams. He was about to visit her room when he realized the voice was coming from another room-Jack's room.

As he rushed toward his father's room, he wondered why Ella was crying so loudly. Fear gripped him, and he prayed that nothing had happened to his father. One of the reasons he had decided to settle down in Victorias City was to spend more time with his father and Ella. Several months ago, he had learned about Jack's heart disease. He wanted to come home as soon as possible, but he couldn't. He was tied up with several contracts, and although he could afford the penalties for breaching them, he had chosen to honor his commitments.

Damian pushed the door open, and his eyes widened at the sight of Ella on his father's bed. He called his father's name, but there was no response. Ella was unaware of his presence. Then, he noticed the stillness of his father's chest. He stood frozen at the door, unable to move an inch.

"Daddy!" Damian shouted as he ran toward the bed. Then, he looked at Ella, whose eyes were filled with tears. "He's not dead, right?" He was scared as he asked Ella, who stood up to hug him.

"Damian...," she called. "He's gone. He died," Ella sobbed continuously.

Damian went to check his father's breathing to confirm Ella's statement. She was right. Jack McBride was no longer breathing. As Damian stared at his father's face, guilt washed over him for not coming home earlier. Ella appeared strong, but he knew she was breaking into tiny pieces. His father loved her dearly, and it would be difficult for her to deal with his death.

"Damian... what should I do now? He's gone. He left me," Ella cried.

Damian recalled his recent conversation with Jack the night before, and he clenched his fists as he began to comfort her. "I am here. I will always be here for you," he promised.