My Ex's Billionaire Dad

Nora laid in her bed in her college apartment and listened to her roommate and best friend try to coax her out of her room for the umpteenth time but she couldn't bring herself to bother. She stared at the walls of her room and remembered the day her life turned upside down...

A week earlier

"Come on Jess, please come to the mall with me, I really need to do last minute shopping for Jake's surprise birthday"

I blinked my eyes cutely at my best friend who has been adamant to help me.

"Nope not happening, am not helping with anything that has to do with Jake. I don't like him and certainly won't be getting myself involved in his birthday."

She replied fully focused on her phone. I sat on the couch next to her resting both chin on my palms in order to fully focus on her.

"Please Jessica,I'll buy you lunch" She looked at me for the first time in ten minutes. And instantly her eyes popped up in excitement.

And that is my best friend right there, you can get your way with anything as long as you offer her food.

"Is it a restaurant of my choice ?" She asked. "Definitely sweetheart."

"I want Chinese."

"You wish, you only get a hundred bucks nothing more."I said sternly.

She groaned, "Fine I'll go get dressed."

"Hurry up!"

She scurried away yelling how it will only take her few minutes to get dressed.

Jessica walked out minutes later with a pair of jeans and a flowery crop top.

"Alright let's get going" she said.

It's the middle of July here in Boston and extremely hot. I had worn a simple free gown myself.

We spent the next two hours browsing through aisles, picking everything and anything I could think of. After paying for our goods we grabbed lunch.

Jessica had offered we go to the park where we got an ice cream and just enjoyed the view.

The day went by pretty fast and soon we were back in our apartment.

Jessica won't stop talking about how good the meal was.

Jake's birthday wasn't until tomorrow so I just had enough time to sort through the things I bought and then plan the decoration.

I went to bed with all smiles on my face knowing tomorrow is going to be even better.

My alarm woke me up at exactly 7am.I woke up with joy and decided to give Jake a call.

He picked up on the third ring.

"Hey babe, good morning" I said in my own end of the phone.

"Good morning" he replied casually.

"I called to ask if I could come to your place this evening."

"Uhmmm"

"Is 8pm okay by you ?" I asked.

"Well have got some work to do and won't be back until past 8 or so. Is there something you want ?" He replied.

"Alright, that's fine was just asking so I can stop by later, let me know when you get home."

"Okay, Bye"

"Bye. Lo..."

He ended the call before I could say love you.

Sometimes I understand why Jess doesn't like him. Deciding not to let anything dampen my mood, I set my activities and as the clock struck 12 I left my apartment and headed for Jake's.

He probably thinks I forgot his birthday but that's part of the surprise.

I have the keys to his house and I'm gonna go make all the preparations before he gets back tonight

I let myself into the house and kicked start my big surprise.

As soon as I arrived, I set about putting the decorations in place. I hummed to myself as I carefully frosted the chocolate cake, my mind filled with anticipation. I had planned everything down to the last detail: his favorite meal, the perfect playlist, and a heartfelt gift that I knew would make him smile. I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he walked through the door.

Jake and I had met during our year at college, bumping into each other in the library of all places. I had been frantically searching for a book on European history to study for a test while Jake was lounging in a corner, reading a sci-fi novel. Our accidental meeting led to coffee, then dinner, and became friends, soon enough a relationship that has lasted for 8months now. We spent every single minute we could with each other. I love Jake's sense of humor, his kindness, and the way he made me feel cherished. I had envisioned many more birthdays together, many more memories to be made.

As I set the cake on the kitchen counter, I decided to send Jake a text since it was already past 7.

"Hey love when will you be home ?" I pressed the send button and seconds later his reply came in.

"In an hour."

"Okay."

"Yeah, you can be on your way by 8:00."

Well that isn't so bad have got an hour to freshen up and get dressed and also do a final touch.

I turned off the light to conceal the decorations before walking into the bedroom.

My phone rang and thought it was Jake wanting to tell me something but saw the name that flashed on the screen,Emma.

I sighed and picked it up

"Hey email, what's up?"

"Hey sis, how are you?"

"I'm fine. Why did you call ?"

"I really need to speak to you, could you spare some time for me." I sighed, a slight frown marring my excitement.

"I'm at Jake's can't it wait?"

"No it can't, please Nora it's important"

"Fine, meet me at Jake's apartment and you've got thirty minutes he'll be back by 9 and I need you gone before then"

"Sure, thanks sis"

I ended the call and sighed.

Emma had always been the wild one, getting into trouble and dragging me along for the ride. But family was family, and I couldn't say no.The history with Emma is complicated. We had never been close, even as children. Emma was bold, impulsive, and always seemed to crave what I had. Whether it was my clothes, friends, or attention, Emma wanted it. The rivalry, though unspoken, had always simmered beneath the surface.

Right from when we were just teenagers she never missed an opportunity to compete with me and make me look bad. I wonder what she's gotten herself into now.

My phone rang pulling me out of my thoughts and I smiled. It was jake.

"Hey, you on your way yet?"

"No,not yet. I got caught up with traffic and I won't be home for another hour"

I bit down on my disappointment

"Ok then I'll see you by 9?"

"Yea 9 is perfect"

"Alright" he ended the call.

Well that gives me enough time to freshen up and talk to Emma. I headed to the shower to freshen up. I came out the shower and slipped on my halter neck chiffon gown and afterwards applied a bit of mascara on my lashes and some lipstick. I swept my hair up into a messy bun and smiled at my reflection.

Minutes later, I heard the front door creak open and close. "Jake?" I called out, wiping my hands on a towel. There was no answer. If it were to be Emma she would need to knock.

Curious, I walked towards the living room and turned on the light from the switch closer to me. And instantly I froze in my tracks. My heart stopped, and the world seemed to tilt on its axis. There, on the couch, was Jake, locked in a passionate kiss with Emma.

Nora's pov.

"Jake? Emma?" My voice came out as a whisper, barely audible above the pounding of my heart. The room seemed to blur around me, even more like suffocating as anger and betrayal surged through my veins. The party decorations,which was once symbols of joy and celebration, now felt like mockery.

I just couldn't believe what I was seeing right now, my picture perfect night has been shredded into an un-recovering pieces.

Jake jumped up, his face draining of color. "Nora, wait, it's not what it looks like!"

"Not what it looks like?" I echoed, my voice trembling with fury. "So, you're telling me you didn't plan to kiss my sister in our living room? On your birthday night? The one I spent weeks planning?"

I ran my hands through my thick brown hair from frustration. I turned my gaze to Emma, who was lounged back on the couch, completely unperturbed. The first three buttons of her top undone. She crossed her legs and smirked, not even bothering to cover herself.

"Oh, come on, Nora. Don't be so dramatic. You should've seen this coming." She said sarcastically.

My eyes blazed as I turned to my sister. I can't even believe I still consider her my sister

"You're not even sorry, are you? This was your plan all along. You always had to have what was mine you whore."

I lunched at her in an attempt to pull her hair. Jake stepped forward as fast as possible, raising his hands to intervene. "Nora, I'm sorry. I didn't know what got into me. It was a mistake, I swear."

"A mistake?" My voice rose. "You're not sorry, Jake. You're just sorry you got caught. If I hadn't walked in, you'd still be here, with her!"

"So this was your reason for telling me to come in an hour and thirty minutes time ?, Your intentions were so deliberate, yet you call it a mistake you motherfucking cheating asshole.

The anger and betrayal coursed through me like wildfire. In a blur of motion, I grabbed the cake from the counter and hurled it at Jake. Frosting splattered everywhere, but I didn't care. "Happy birthday, Jake," I spat, my voice dripping with sarcasm and pain.

Emma laughed, a cold, mocking sound that cut through me like a knife. "Looks like your little party is ruined, Nora."

I couldn't take it anymore. I stormed out of the house, my breath coming in ragged gasps, tears blurring my vision. The night air hit my face like a slap, but it did nothing to cool my rage. My eyes fell on Jake's car parked in the driveway, and a reckless idea formed in my mind.

Without thinking, I picked up a rock from the garden and hurled it at the windshield. The glass shattered with a satisfying crash, reflecting the broken pieces of my heart.

As the shards fell around me, I took a deep breath, feeling a strange sense of archivement. I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving the chaos behind me. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration, but instead, it turned into a disaster.

I walked aimlessly, my mind a storm of thoughts and emotions. Every step felt heavy, my legs could barely move and my brain kept replayed the scene over and over, like it couldn't yet process what had just happened. I found myself at a small park near the apartment, a place I and Jake often visited. The benches and pathways, once filled with happy memories, now felt like grave markers of a love lost.

I sank onto a bench, burying my face in my hands. Tears streamed down my cheeks, uncontrollably.

"How could he do this to me?" I screamed at the top of my voice, "And with her, of all people?"

"Whyyyyyyyy?" I kept shouting and crying. The questions echoed in the almost deserted playground with just a few love birds enjoying the peaceful night.

Two passer-by turned to stare at me 'like is this girl normal'. But at this moment I don't care what anyone thinks, cause clearly the universe has turned against me.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. My finger hovered over my best friend Jessica's contact. Jessica had always been there for me, through every up and down. I hit the call button. And after it rang for a while she picked up.

"Jessica? It's Nora. Can you meet me at the park?"

Jessica's concerned voice came through the line. "Of course, Nora. I'll be there in ten minutes. Just hold on, okay?"

And that's why she's the best, she doesn't need to know what's wrong or what happened she's definitely gonna pull up.

As I waited, I let my mind wander. I thought about the first time I had met Emma, the young girl who had suddenly become my step-sister when both our parents remarried. Emma had always been competitive, always trying to outdo me. But I had never imagined it would come to this.

Jessica arrived, her expression a mix of worry and determination. She hugged me tightly, and for the first time since the ordeal began, I felt a glimmer of comfort. "Tell me everything," Jessica said, sitting down beside me.

Through sobs and broken sentences, I recounted the entire event. Jessica listened quietly, her hand never leaving my shoulder. When I finished, Jessica took a deep breath wiping the tears off my face with her palm. "You don't deserve this, Nora. Jake is an idiot and have certainly knew that all along, and Emma...well, she's always been trouble. But you're stronger than this. We'll get through it together."

I nodded, wiping the new wave of tears rushing down. "I know, but it just hurts so much. I feel so stupid for trusting them."

"No sweetheart, you just have a good heart and they are the fool for taking advantage of that, truth be told I'm glad you saw their true colors." She said pulling me to rest on her shoulder.

We both sat there enjoying the peace and quiet of the night with no words spoken, and at that moment I lost track of time completely, until I heard Jessica saying.

"Let's get you all tucked up in bed, you've had a really long day and trust me a warm bath and a cozy bed will help."

She pulled me up supporting me all the way to her car and she drove both of us to our apartment.

I went into the house and walked directly to the refrigerator to get a beer. Staggered into my room and locked the door behind me.

I don't know how long it was, hours or days, I honestly have no idea.

Except the constant ringing of my phone from Jake's calls and continuous messages of how it was the devil's doing, I really didn't care.

Jessica has been really helpful, she kept dropping snacks on my doorstep knowing fully well I didn't want to see or talk to anyone or even do anything.

I ones heard her chasing someone away which I was very much certain was Jake.

" She doesn't want to see you" I heard her say.

"Just let me talk to her and tell her how deeply sorry I am. She hasn't been receiving my calls or replying to any of my text."

"What part of she doesn't want to see you don't you understand, get out and never come back here." I heard the door slammed pretty hard. And a sense of satisfaction rushed through me.

Unfortunately I didn't have the stamina or courage to come out and say thank you to her.

Nora's pov

It's been days since the incident with Jake and it still feels like yesterday.

I've been seeing his Instagram with pictures of him and my sister and good Lord!! it only makes my blood boils the more. It feels like the injury keeps reopening every passing day.

He has blocked my main Instagram handle and isn't aware I have another Instagram with a fake name. While he's busy sending me apologitic note, he's also busy galavanting the town with my sister.

Here I thought there was a chance of redemption for him,obviously there isn't. To add more salt to my injury Emma keeps sending me photos of both of them in bed, which by the way is 'yuck'.

I don't even want to think about her Instagram post and her tweets.

What's even more annoying is the fact that never for ones in our eight months of dating did the asshole post a picture of me.

I'm certainly being very pitiful right now, I know, but I really can't help it. I brought my pillow to my face and screamed my lungs into it. Laying flat on my back, I kept staring at the ceiling, thousands of thoughts running through my head.

Minutes later I heard a knock on my door. I and Jessica live in a two bedroom apartment,and we've both shared an apartment since college.

I walked sluggishly to the door sighting a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

My hair is a total mess, traces of eye bags could be seen and my skin looks pale from the absence of sunlight.

"Ooh boy this isn't good" I muttered to myself.

I opened the door to the sight of Jessica leaning on it.

"OMG Nora you can pass off as a vampire right now" she said pushing her way into the room.

I walked behind her saying nothing and just jumped right back into my bed.

"No no no no, you've had enough of this bed, it's Friday night and everyone is going to party. Get your pitiful ass out of this bed and let's go out" she said standing akimbo at the edge of my bed.

"I'm not in the mood to party Jessica" I said, a frown forming on my forehead.

"That's not an issue, the mood can be easily fixed with a bottle of tequila, now get the fuck up from that bed before I do it myself" Unfortunately all of what she said fell to deaf ears cause I literally hugged on my pillow even more.

Like flash the pillow was dragged from underneath me and my legs were pulled out of the bed.

" Okay okay okay, I'll go. You don't have to be aggressive." I said stopping her halfway from almost landing my butt on the floor.

"Now that's the spirit, get dressed we'll be leaving in thirty minutes" she said before walking out of my room.

I was speechless and just sat at the edge of my bed for some minutes before picking up the courage to walk to the mirror.

Jessica was certainly not wrong about the vampire thing. I could land myself a role with this look if I auditioned.

I went to the bathroom to take a quick shower which made my muscles less tensed.

Started off with my hair and applied a little bit of makeup. And when I walked to my wardrobe I realized I had mourn my broken relationship enough. Is high time I come out and get a life for myself. I picked out one of the skimpiest dresses I had. It was a red dress which had brought out my chestnut brown coloured hair. I wore a red lipstick to compliment the look and a strap up heel.

"At this rate the party will be over before we get there Nora." Jessica's voice echoed in the corridor.

"Few seconds please." I walked out after touching my face one last time and checking if I was good to go.

Jessica who was on her phone looked up and gave a nod of approval. "You're looking gorgeous girl, certainly gonna get heads turning tonight"

I smiled as we both walked out of the door. We drove to a club in down,that is famous to be a club for the elite, it's definitely one of the hottest place to be on a Friday night.

Ray's pov

I kept nodding my head to the sound of the music. Legs crossed and a glass of wine in my hand. My week was one hell of a stressful week.

I landed in town earlier today and decided to chill out in the club. Have been out of town for a while now and for a second, have forgotten what a wonderful place Boston is. There are a lot of people on the dance floor but no one has caught my attention yet.

I just decided to focus on the pole dancers who were clearly trying to show off their skills. One of them winked at me trying to get my attention. Too bad I don't like red hair girls, the disco light clearly not doing justice to her makeup.

While I was still lost in my thoughts this young lady walked into the club with a friend, I suppose. I was seated on a couch at one end of the club, this was a spot that will give you a clear view of who was coming into the club, the lighting in the entrance is better because of security reasons, that way the CCTV camera will be able to tell who came in and who left.

The red dress she wore clinged to her hour glass shape, her skin so fair and white that one will be so tempted to run their hands on. The slit on her gown showing her smooth long legs down to the silver heels she had on.

My eyes scanned her body from her legs up to her face. The heels were just the perfect fit. The gown she had on had a tiny strap that gives the illusion of falling off and expose the perfect sets of boobs ever. Her confidence and grace was indeed very captivating.

I couldn't help but stare as she made her way to the counter, her long hair swaying with each step. Her red dress giving a fresh rose feeling.

As she ordered a shot, I found myself captivated by her laughter and the way her eyes sparkled in the dim light of the club. I watched, as she danced with her friend, her body swaying to the rhythm of the music.

I had to call one of my boys who was sitting not too far "Who is that young lady ?" I asked when he came closer.

"I have never seen her here before sir" he replied

"Okay that's fine" I said waving him off.

"If you want me to get information on her I'll do so" he added.

"Don't bother for now, I'll get the information I need myself."

I kept watching her as she danced on the dance floor and when she returned to the counter to get a drink for herself, I saw a chance and walked up beside her.

"Something to drink please" I heard the sweetest and most melodious voice have heard. The bar attendant gave her the drink and she responded with a thanks.

"Can I get the same as the young lady" she turned at me surprise clearly hitched on her face

"Sure" the bar tender said.

I turned facing her and said"You look like you're trying to forget something."

She turned to me, her eyes locking with mine. "That's the plan," she said, her voice husky. "I had a hell of a week."

I raised an eyebrow. "What could make a beautiful young lady like you want to forget?"

"I just met you and don't even know you, what made you think I'll start telling you my problems ?"

"Well maybe because I'm so approachable and you look like you'd like to talk to someone" she rolled her eyes at my response clearly not buying anything am saying.

I watched as she took another sip from her drink "Well even if I want to talk to someone it would be someone I know, not someone in a club ordering the same drink as me."

"Well there's the saying that goes, is better to share your problems with a stranger than a friend, atleast you'd be certain they won't use it against you." I said shrugging.

"You are so persistent aren't you?" She said her face forming a tiny smile.

"Well my friends say that about me alot."

She sighed, taking another sip off her drink. "Well if you must know, Let's just say I caught my boyfriend cheating on me with my step-sister. On the night of his birthday, same birthday I spent weeks planning. The motherfucker said he won't be home and I shouldn't come yet, not knowing the reason was because he already made plans to sleep with her. What's even more annoying is the fact that it was all part of my sister's plan, a fucken set up."

My expression turned sympathetic. "Sorry to hear that. Whoever your ex is, he doesn't know what he's lost."

She laughed, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Tell me about it." She said rolling her eyes.

I shook my head. "Like I said, he's an asshole. But I'm glad you're here, forgetting your troubles. I'm Raymond, by the way. Ray for short."

She smiled, extending her hand. "Nora. Nice to meet you, Mr Ray."

I chuckled, taking her hand in mine. "Please, call me Ray. 'Mr Ray' makes me sound like I'm 100 years old."

Nora's eyes sparkled as she laughed. "You don't look a day over 35, Ray."

I grinned, "Thanks, I get that a lot. But I'm actually 40."

Nora's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! You don't look it at all."

I shrugged, "Good genes, I guess. But how old are you, Nora?"

Nora leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Old enough to know better, but young enough to not give a damn."

I laughed, my eyes locked in hers. "I like your style, Nora. Let's forget about our troubles and enjoy the night, shall we?"

We both clinked our glasses together, downed the content and hit the dance floor.