Healing the Broken Billionaire

THE FLOWER

"'Late! Late! Late!' says the white rabbit."

My supervisor Maddie has always been on my case since the day I entered this building.

"Makes me wonder, what's your excuse this time?" She and her endless tattle.

If ever I got the chance to roast her, I'd aim for her fat feet that struggle to fit inside her small stilettos.

"I'm sorry, Maddie," I winced. "I got stuck in traffic, and this heavy storm rained a bucket above me--"

"I'm not asking you to explain." Raising her palm, she closed her eyes and wore false eyelashes. "Get your things on your desk and make sure to immediately march to the boss' office."

"T-- to the boss?" Oh, no.

"The fourth time this week, Allen." Giving me her tight smile, she reminded my flaws flawlessly.

"You're lucky that you haven't lost your seat." rossing her arms that wrinkled her perfectly pressed suit, she frowned. "Five years of working here, a headache to me," she added.

Talk about being the worst employee of every year, that award belongs to me.

Reaching for my hair that I hadn't washed for three days, I untangled it with my fingers.

I stood by his office. "Just go for it, Nicole."

"... can't do it right?! YOU'RE FIRED!" Eric Marsh's voice echoed through the whole building, and my body stopped functioning.

"He's in the mood firing people." With my jittery system, I watched how a lanky man in a suit exited the barbaric office with his glassy eyes.

Poor guy.

"Now, let's just hope that Eric the barbaric won't do the same to you, Nicole." With my cross fingers, I knock on his door.

"In." The enunciation teeth gritting annoyance was spoken in one word he uttered.

When I swung the door open, his cold glare gave me chills. The holes of his tall nose flared and his lips drew one line. He's pissed.

It's just eight in the morning and he's already frowning.

With that gorgeous face, he should be loved. But no, he's feared. Everyone would wobble their legs for Eric Marsh.

"Sir? Maddie said--"

Before I could even finish what I got to say, Eric tossed a volume before my feet, and I jerked.

"Pick it up and tell me what you see."

Swallowing to aid my drying throat, I did what I was told. "It was the design I gave you, sir."

Adjusting his rectangular glasses upwards, he lifted his chin. "What I see is a trash. A worthless piece of work."

I've heard those exact words more than a thousand times. I'm used to it. Not a sweat rolled down my forehead.

"And I told you that the frame should be dark green, not turquoise!"

"But I heard that you asked for--"

"I know what I said!"

"I'm sorry, sir."

Eric groaned, pinching the bridge of his envied nose with his eyes closed. "How many times do I have to tell you I never like hearing apologies?"

"What should you do when you're wrong?"

"Prove what you can do and do it right, forget useless apologies." That's what his employees should know, and if not, they can say goodbye to their jobs.

"Good, now tell me why I hired you."

"W-- well..." licking my lips, I tried digging my brain for possible reasons why am I here. "Since then, I've been very confident of my work, and-- and I'm doing all my best to be a reliable employee."

Just looking at his face, I already know that he's not satisfied with my answer. My ass feels burning and I'm ready to take off and be set out to another planet.

"Wrong answer," said with a period, he declined my grumbling answer. "I hired you because your parents used to be the best and known influencers in terms of business."

"I don't have any single idea whether you were a neglected child or you were spoiled that you can't adjust in this kind of world."

Partly true. So, 'ouch'.

"Whatever your parents achieved, you don't have them."

My eyes fell on the floor. That slapped so hard that my whole body felt numb.

"Take that with you and get it done. I want it delivered here before midnight or you'll lose this job."

That's it, and my life has gone critical. I need an ambulance.

"Yes, sir."

"And tie that ridiculous hair, will you?!"

As soon as I stepped out of his office, my face couldn't help but mock the way he talked to me.

"Whatever, Eric Marsh." Wanting to utter a heavy insult over at him, I tried sewing my lips. "Once I get this done and you like it, you will always see this gorgeous face every freaking day."

`

On my way home, I can feel my lungs bleed, how my feet burn. And the worst part? My brain is starting to melt.

I'm so done being human.

"Oh, no!" An old lady shrieked when her things began rolling on the floor.

"Here let me help you." I crouched on the floor and helped her.

"Thank you, you're a very kind person." The smile she wears reflects her voice.

"I'm sure people would do the same."

"But you're the only one helping."

Placing it all in her cart, I mirrored her expression. There I noticed how beautiful her eyes were. One is blue and the other is gray.

"I have something for you."

I was hoping it was cash that I desperately needed, but then she pulled a golden flower from her basket.

"Oh, thank you for the... golden flower." My eyebrows lifted high up on the ceiling. What an odd flower.

"Your kindness speaks to me, and I shall give you what you deserve." She pushed the flower closer to my chest. "It had been a a long wait for the right person to utter a wish, you are the chosen one."

"Chosen?"

"Take it, listen to what your heart longs for. Make a wish, and the magical flower will grant it right away."

"A wish?"

"But beware, if your words weren't spoken from your heart, your broken future might leave the deepest scar of forever torment."

"Lady, I-- I don't understand."

A cheering noise from a group of teenagers from a corner stole my eyes, and when I turned to ask the old lady what she meant, I stood there nailed on the floor.

She's gone.

"Huh?"

I looked around and found none of her silhouettes. It gave me a sudden creep, but whatever, I still had work waiting for me and I only had less than five hours to finish it.

Hours later, my whole apartment is currently sprinkled with crumpled papers.

"I'm going to lose my job."

It's halfway passed 11. No way that I can make this work.

"Only if there's a miracle," I scoffed." I wish."

Wish...

The flower, it's sitting right on top of my table. The old lady said that it was magical.

"This is stupid, Nicole." Smacking my forehead, I walked close to it and picked it up. "Magic, oh, well. What should I wish for?"

Protruding my lips, I raspberry. "I think I got it, flower. So, star light, star bright. I wish I may I wish I might... I wish that Eric Marsh would fall in love with me."

Snorting after I recited those words, I began to laugh. But that smile washed away when the golden flower turned to dust and disappeared in the air.

"What the hell?"

THE KISS

As soon as the sunlight hit my face, I gasped.

"Oh, shoot!" I'm late again.

I don't have enough time to take a shower, put makeup on, or change my underwear. I slipped through a pair of loose pants and a flowery blouse, and I rushed through the door, carrying the empty canvas in my hand.

"You're certainly getting fired, Nicole," I told myself.

Fishing for my phone, I saw his secretary's message. He wants to see my face, the very moment I get to the building.

"Be ready to be skinned alive."

My palms are sweaty, and I bet that nervousness is shown on my face.

At least I'm still pretty. That's all that matters.

I knocked on his door. If ever the floor is hungry, I'd volunteer myself to let it eat me now.

"In."

"Sir Eric?" Peeping my head inside his office, I saw him sitting on his chair, eyes staring at his laptop. His sharp jawline tells me that I'm dead meat.

"Midnight, I'm certain of the deadline I gave you. Midnight."

"Uh-- sir Eric, I was -"

"Take a chair." He cuts me off, just like what he always does.

He's not even looking at me. Though I prefer it that way, I don't want to be murdered by his deadly scowl.

"Do you know what you just lost, Ms. Allen?" Heaving a deep sigh, he added, "Your job."

I knew it. Now, I should ready myself to go through another painstaking process of finding another place to work.

"I gave you a chance to compensate, and you blew it up."

My head hangs low, and I can see myself sitting in front of him like saggy bread. In my peripheral vision, I saw him staring at me.

"Now, you didn't just give yourself a burden, mine as well!" Shouted Eric, which made me close my eyes. "I'm paying you for the job you're not doing right, and all that you ever make the best are your endless excuses!"

Clamming my lips, I know to myself that what I did for his company wasn't enough.

"Sir, I was so burned out recently. But I promise not to fail you ever again." Risking my everything, I guaranteed him with my eyes closed. "From now on, I swear to give out my very best in every project. I will pass it on time, and I will never snooze my alarm for ten minutes every morning."

Silence.

With my wrinkled face, I lifted my head and found him staring at me blankly behind those glasses.

"Sorry."

Releasing his breath, Eric pulled his eyeglasses off and pushed a paper in front of me I quickly realized that it would be my 'leaving the company and his life and to never be seen around his territory ever again' paper to sign.

With my dismayed eyes, I looked straight at him in the eyes.

"You're f--"

I noticed the way he frowned when he suddenly cut himself off. Can't seem to see a way to tear the stare from mine.

Clearing his throat, Eric opened his mouth to speak, but not a word escaped his lips.

"You're firing me." Accepting my fate, I was about to pick up the pen, but he suddenly crumpled the paper and trashed it. "Sir?"

"I'm not."

"One more chance, I'll give you that." As if blessing showered above me, he changed his mind.

"Sir?"

"I'd accept the last design you gave me. It wasn't that bad." Formally sat there with his eyes, sending me thunder and lightning chills. "One chance."

I chuckled in rejoicing. "Oh my gosh, sir. I promise you, I promise you, I will never procrastinate again. I won't disappoint you." I was about to cartwheel my way to his door and start working my ass off when he cleared his throat.

"I'm not done yet, Ms. Allen." Leaning back in his chair, his eyes raked all over my body, obviously checking me out from head to toe. "You will get your chair back, only if you agree with my conditions."

"Conditions?" With my wide eyes, I repeated.

"You will come with me."

"Huh?"

Without elaborating, Eric stood up from his chair and buttoned his jacket. "Now."

"N-- now?" Lost in a trance for a second there when I felt his hand lay flat on my back, I knew that something was wrong. "To where... sir?"

"Just come with me."

Inside the lift, his manly sandalwood cologne spreads along the place. My body odor is shaking. Not a dead skin clings on him while I need to scrub my whole body with sandpaper for five hours.

"What's your favorite color?" Out of the blue, he asked. He's placing his folded glasses in his welt. I saw the way he glanced at me.

"Brown, sir." Confused, but I answered anyway.

"Why?"

One of my brows is silently judging his sudden change of aura and, technically, his weird questions.

"Uhm-- because I like autumn. And dead leaves' color is brown. It's... aesthetic," I replied without any backbone to that part and winced as I heard him hum.

This situation is making me feel edgy. Things began to make a huge commotion in my head.

"Is that going to be the color of my coffin?" Asked a silly question. It made him arch his thick eyebrow. "I asked something stupid, right? I'm sorry."

Arrived at a branded boutique shop, I glanced at his serious face when his hand once again guided me where we were going.

He even opened the door for me.

"Mr. Marsh, good morning. Are you here for the suit you ordered?" A woman, wearing a blue bob haircut and chopped bangs, asked with a wide smile.

"Yes, and I need you to fit her a gown," Eric replied, showing me to the woman. "Give her something comfortable, but a head-turner."

"Any specifics you'd like to request?" The woman asked as she pulled me by my arms and studied my physique.

"Brown."

"Great!" Clasped her hands before holding my hand. "I have got the very best dress for you."

"Uh -" I turned to look back at my boss, who took a seat on a comfortable couch with his legs crossed like a sexy woman.

After struggling to wear the gown, I stood on the platform as if I was being auctioned, and Eric was the only bidder.

"Since her bust and hips have the same measure, the sweetheart neckline would be best to boast her upper body. The mermaid design would follow the lines of her edges, especially her small waist," She explained before turning me around.

"Backless. Low, lustrous, and a certain head turner," added the designer. "Long sleeves can be conservative, but the shape is scandalous. Just like what you asked."

"I like it." He stood up and tilted his head to the side. "Let's settle the check."

Inside the dressing room, I changed and scratched my itching neck.

"What's with him?" Shook my head and flicked that question away. "Stop questioning what's going on and just be grateful that you're not fired."

Pushing the curtain to the side, I almost dropped my heart and sucked all oxygen on earth when Eric's drop-dead view welcomed my precious eyes.

"What's with me?" Repeating what he heard, he pushed himself from leaning against the wall and trapped me with his alluring stare. "I don't know too, Ms. Allen."

"But I know I want this."

He leaned forward and enveloped his lips with mine.

THE SMILE

Standing right in front of the mirror, I'm staring at a woman I never thought I was.

I took a shower, frankly, almost three hours. God knows what kind of business I did inside the bathroom.

Eric hired people to help me get ready. They did my hair, and my makeup, and none of it answemymymy skeptical mind. What's with the makeover?

"You look so gorgeous, my dear."

A gay male hairdresser has been pouring me praises even before they started to fix my whole existence. Now, my confidence has been multiplied by five.

"No wonder why the well-known Eric Marsh would want to date you, sis." The designer I met at her boutique shop, Tonya, smiled while also looking at me through my reflection.

"We're not dating," I corrected them, but Soda, the hairdresser, just laughed at me.

"Oh, dear. They are in their hush-hush stage of the relationship."

Tonya pointed her forefinger at him as she nodded her head. "It's the business we shouldn't put our asses in, or we won't get paid."

"Though, that sweet and romantic kiss I witnessed earlier was a sight for sore eyes."

I stiffened from that memory that made my butt clap. On that part, what the hell was that kiss for? And... why did it feel so good?

Am I being a sinner? If so, it's Eric's fault!

Soda checked my hair once again before clapping his hands twice.

"Very well, you are done. Our magic has been showered all over you, and now, you will be standing under the limelight tonight."

"Good luck!"

"We'll wait for you downstairs."

Tonya showed her biggest smile and two thumbs up before leaving me in the room.

"I don't even know what's the party for." Puffing my cheeks before sipping in the situation, I headed to the door. "Here we go, be a queen."

I snorted before opening the door and walked down the staircase that shouted the power of Eric Marsh. I never thought that I would step foot in his private place. But I just did.

"Here she comes!" Soda squealed.

By the living room, Soda stands beside Tonya. And the dashing Eric Marsh awaits. He's clad in his white three-piece suit, and those tantalizing ocean eyes are looking straight at me.

"Hi," timidly greeted him, and I received no response.

There's this alien emotion on his face that I've never seen before. As if he's... bedazzled by what he's looking at.

I'm that gorgeous.

"Mr. Marsh?" Tonya was the one to wake him up from whatever trance he whooped himself through.

"Y- yes?" He cleared his throat, yet his eyes were still glued on mine.

He should stop that, or I'll assume that he would want to marry me.

"We'll be leaving, and we are very hoping that we not your expectations and satisfy you with our service."

"Yes," Eric answered. "Very satisfied."

`

Greenlight, orange, and red. We were caught by the light.

Inside the limousine, he's sitting right in front of me with his knees apart. Sitting like a real man with a gold drink in his hand.

And me? I don't know where to look, or how to breathe. Hell, I don't even know why am I sitting here looking like an expensive woman, which I'm not.

"Sir?"

"It's Eric," rectifying how to address him, he glanced in my direction. "We're outside the building."

"Tonight, I'm not your boss. You're not my employee. You're my... partner."

"Uhm-- wouldn't that be inappropriate?" Grimacing for a second, I am not used to calling him by his name, especially when I'm talking to him.

"You have my consent." His eyes found that something was wrong with my hand, and it made him frown. "You're wearing a ring."

"Oh, uh--" Hiding it, I chuckled. "It's uh-- an engagement ring from my ex-fiancé."

"Ex?"

I nodded my head.

"Then why are you still wearing it?" As if it's his right to question it, he asked.

He's tapping his forefinger on his knee, counting the seconds of my silence. He took what was left of his glass in one swig, and his eyes finally fixed on her.

"He and I, we never had a closure." The bitterness of my life started to flash in my head.

"So you're still hoping he would come back to you?"

"No," honestly replied, I stared at it. "I'm just waiting for the right day when I get to sell this to someone or at a pawn shop. It's a real diamond, though."

"Take it off." He's not asking. He's demanding it. "I can give you something worth more than just one diamond."

My eyebrows lifted over his sentence. "Give me a ring?"

Eric tilted his head to the side, giving me a stare that undressed me. "Yeah, why not?"

"Why would you give me a ring?"

Perplexed, I stared at his profile. Perfectly symmetrical beauty and the masculinity he gives off. It hurts the ego of many men and steals many hearts of women.

Just staring at him, and this new him makes me want to believe that soon I'll be one of the girls who would come after him after stealing my heart.

"Can you just take it off?"

"But where am I going to put it?" Hesitation poked my shoulder. It had been a year since I wore this ring. Even after my ex-fiancé left me three months ago, it's giving me second thoughts to take it off.

"Give it to me." Laying his palm in the air, I reluctantly placed it on his palm, thinking that he would give it back to me later.

But that thought dissolved when he opened his window and tossed it.

I gasped, "Why..."

"If my mother sees you wearing a ring given by someone else, she would question it," he uttered, putting the glass on its holder

"Why?"

"Because you're with me."

"Why?"

"Why 'why' are all your questions?" A frown was displayed on his face.

"Because... you just took me from work, and then you bought a dress worth three years of my salary, and then you took me to your home and you just threw my ring outside the window," I recited everything that happened today. "I don't even know where we're going or what's going on here."

"I don't know why you're like that, or why take me with you. There are a lot of prettier women out there who are crawling the path you take. Why me?" Pointing calmly fingers at my chest, I added. "And I-- I can't find a reason why you kissed me."

"Believe me, I don't know what I'm doing as well."

Eric pat the space beside him.

What am I, a dog to a pet?

"Sit here."

"O~kay?"

My butt didn't reach sitting on the leather seat when his hand wrapped around my waist and made me sit on his thigh.

"Eric!" I shrieked, and somehow, it amuseme d to dance in his eyes.

"This is the first time I heard you say my name, now I'm craving to hear it more often."

"What?" I tried to stand, but his hands held me firmly.

"You look beautiful."

I want someone to correct me if I'm wrong, but did I just see admiration in his eyes?

"And you look better without a frown," I replied to him.

This day had been very weird. It became even weirder when I saw the notorious terror handsome man... smiled, for the first time.