ONE MONTH WITH A BILLIONAIRE

As the sunshine from the slit in the drapes made contact with the diamond stone on that engagement ring, it gleamed. For some reason, the mood in this room seemed really dreary. It's as though the grief - misery had permeated the entire space, from corner to corner.

The ring was worn by Ida Okino Mitsuko, a half-Japanese, half-American actress based in Japan. She secured a contract with a famous firm and has become the most successful actress in her country, making her a well-known billionaire throughout Asia.

Ida possesses practically everything a woman could desire: fortune, fame, attractiveness and a wonderful physique, a strong character and attitude. Her life would have been wonderful if her only love had never departed.

For as they all say, without love, the world is nothing. You may possess all the pleasures in the world if you pay for it, but you can never do the same for love.

A voice from the doorway of this room reverberated through the silence, breaking the ostensibly silent gloom. "You will never move on if you continue to wear it and gaze at it like that," it said.

Ida turned to face the direction of the voice and discovered her father standing inside with a warm smile. "May I come in?" said the elderly man after a soft sigh.

"Of course," Ida responded, placing her hand on her lap as she adjusted her swivel chair to face the armchair where the man would most likely sit. "He was gone too soon, dad," she began.

Ida's father hummed as soon as he sat down, gesturing for the other to continue speaking. This man was completely aware of his failure to be present for Ida at a moment when she sought all the comfort in the world. Her fiancé, Akio, who worked in politics in Japan, was just recently killed in a shooting.

"I know they got the guy responsible for Akio's killing locked away, but I feel like it's not enough," she added, her voice trembling as she poured her feelings out. "That fucking monster shouldn't just spend a lifetime in there, he should endure the same suffering he inflicted on Akio," she said, her words less guarded.

"Ida," the man cautioned, yet calmly. "Stop speaking evil of others," he continued, "justice has served him well, and the fight for Akio ends now."

"You say that because you don't feel the same way I do," Ida stated.

"You know that's not true, Ida," the man muttered, shaking his head. "I, too, lost your mother in an accident."

"Which is a whole different situation."

"Maybe you're right," he said. "But the thing about the world is that you may yell at it all you want, get angry, but it will never return what it has taken."

Ida was speechless because what her father had told her was completely right. It's a hard-to-swallow truth that once you've lost something, all you can do is go on and start over. It's really unfair, but that's the reality; nothing is ever fair.

"I saw something online that I think might help you," the man described.

"I swear to God, dad, if this is just another dating site..." Eda grumbled, tired of her father's ludicrous attempts to help her.

"I did come upon another dating site that seemed to be legitimate-"

"No!" Ida responded firmly. "Aside from every single dude in there being a man-bitch looking for nothing but hookups, most of them are also thieves," she continued. "My friends are constantly the victims of such things, and I am never going to be like them."

"Huh, are they?" the man inquired, completely uninformed that such a thing was occurring. Of course, he had never used a dating website before. And now that he knows about these things, he'll never bother anymore.

"Yes," Ida responded quickly.

"Here this one out then," he replied, only to elicit a sigh from Ida. There's nothing she can do but listen to his next nonsensical idea. "I discovered this special vacation package deal from something called Love-Free Yacht Services," he explained. "And I think it's perfect for you... It's a perfect way for you to unwind and forget things, especially those relating to love." ""I mean, that's why it's called Love-Free, isn't it?" he chuckled.

"That sounds really stupid."

"But it's a real thing, and you can look it up on the internet."

Ida stroked the crown of her head gently, saying, "I think you should take some time off the internet, dad."

Finally, Ida was left alone in peace since her father had an important meeting that needed to be handled right away. Now, it's not like she wanted to keep his company because the man's reasoning is vastly different from hers. Most of the time, they couldn't understand what each other was saying.

Perhaps it's due to the linguistic barrier as well. Tsuyoshi, her father, is a pure-blooded Japanese who only learnt English when he met Ida's mother, the love of his life. But still, there were some concepts he could never fully comprehend, making it difficult for Ida to keep up with him in most conversations.

"That Love-Free thingy can't be true, can it?" Ida wondered as she settled in front of her personal desk. And since her laptop was just sitting there, waiting to be used, she came up with one of the most radical ideas: believing in her father's crap.

"It surely wouldn't hurt to look it up," Ida said to herself, hoping that whatever it was would help her overcome the experience she was currently dealing with.

To her surprise, it was a real thing, and it was something only the wealthiest could acquire. Perhaps that's why it's never actually discussed publicly on social media.

"Thirty days?" Ida inquired, already wary of the possibility. Because, really, aside from sailors and pirates, who would want to drift in the oceans for thirty days? There couldn't possibly be so much to do in such a getaway. Also, the concept of idleness does not sit well with Ida.

"With no internet connection?" she asked, stunned by what she had just read. "Thirty days, no internet connection, completely alone... in the middle of deep oceans," Ida had to repeat several times in order for it to sink in. "What kind of lunatic would desire anything like this?"

And the answer to her query lied around in the other part of the world. Avery Quinton Jacques, a French billionaire and future heir to his father's Solar Power Production Plant, believes that there is so much freedom to be found on the open seas.

"You love me, right?" enquired a woman of color. She was holding a blanket to her chest, which covered her entire naked body. A man with dark, slightly curling hair and unshaved stubble reclined beside her. His features were angular. His eyes are blue, his brows and eyelashes are compact and lavish, his nose and jawline are razor sharp, his lips are bow shaped and somewhat pinkish. He's as attractive and captivating as the devil.

Oh, breathtaking Avery, he is every woman's fantasy.

"Well, I'm supposed to marry you, right?" Avery asked, his voice deep and raspy in the morning. He then sat up, casting a cold gaze at his fiancée. "I suppose that answers your question," he added, before dropping his foot on the floor in search of his slippers.

Vanna, the woman, remained in her position, having become accustomed to Avery's behavior. She was never going to complain about it anyway. And it's because she desires to be his wife, like any woman would.

"Of course, you will have to marry me," Vanna said simply, while witnessing Avery get up and expose his bare back to her from top to bottom.

"Vanna," he said quietly, "I'll be gone for a month."

"Where to?"

"Anyplace I'd be free," Avery replied, his gaze drawn to the distance through the wide and full glass window. Even if he strolled around with not a piece of clothing in front of it, that wouldn't be a problem because he lived in a contemporary cliff-top mansion away from the city and people.

"As long as you return before the wedding date."

"Don't worry," he whispered, "I'll come back." "I just need to live my single life to the fullest first... before anything.

Avery spun a fountain pen in his fingers, clearly not paying attention to his personal assistant, who was attempting to discuss the getaway trip with him. He would merely hum and bob his head, pretending to understand every important detail of what was being spoken.

"So..." his personal assistant named Francis said, finally capturing Avery's entire attention. "Do you agree with all of the terms discussed?" he said, receiving just a tight-lipped smile from Avery.

"Mr. Jacques, did you really follow what I just told you?" he needed to double-check, as he was skeptical of Avery's expression.

"Of course," Avery replied, crossing one leg over the other and nodding. Francis would have believed his act if he had been more confident. But then, Avery is unable to meet the other man's stare.

"Of course... not," Francis sighed, shaking his head. He expected this to happen and went on with it anyway, so it's completely his fault that the entire talk was pointless.

"I did understand some things," Avery muttered timidly. "Like I'd be alone for a period of time, traveling the seas, whatsoever," he explained.

"Which seas?"

"Well... I... I..." Avery began, his eyes narrowing before shrugging his shoulders. "The name of the sea is not the most important bit here, Francis. Is it?" he inquired, arching both eyebrows. "What's important is that I'd be able to get away with this relationship that I don't want for a considerable amount of time," he persisted.

When the other man remained mute, merely staring at him, Avery gripped his nape and muttered, "I agree with the terms, Francis. Let me just proceed with it."

"I can't really decide for you anyway," Francis said faintly, so only he could hear. He then stood up and took a step closer to Avery, whose eyes followed his every move. "Love-Free Yacht Services asks you to sign this paper as proof that you consented to their terms and conditions," he informed him, handing over pieces of paper clipped to a hard material board.

"Uh-huh," Avery said, then pretended to examine the entire list of terms. His eyes eventually landed at the section where his signature should be inserted. "All right," he whispered before pressing down on the fountain pen's button.

Then and there, Avery affirmed the agreement without giving it a second thought.

*****

Ida, on the other hand, is on the phone with her manager, Maki. This is done particularly since Ida's leave from work is now overdue. The company is concerned that the longer the woman fails to appear in front of her followers, the more dissatisfied they will become. She must continue to be the most popular actress in order to receive greater sponsorships and endorsements.

"How are you, anyway? Are you all set for your trip back here in Japan?" Maki inquired, peering through the computer screen at Ida. "The company is sending a private jet, so you'll be more comfortable," she explained.

"Why don't I have my own jet?" Ida whined, making circles on the surface of her desk with her index finger.

"Would you like one?"

"I'm not sure," Ida said with a faint sigh. "I'm not sure what I really want," she murmured, making it difficult for Maki to catch.

"Well, if you think you want one, it's possible," Maki answered. "With a dedicated worker like you, Ida, anything is possible."

"It's not making me feel good, Maki."

Maki took a breather, almost giving up on attempting to cheer up Ida. No matter how hard anyone tried, the woman's passion for working in the industry never returned. And no one could blame her either. It's disheartening to lose a loved one in one of the most dreadful ways possible.

"Maki, I don't want to make a comeback just yet," Ida said after a while. "I don't want to come back knowing that I won't be able to fully offer myself. A highly distracted woman isn't who I am," she continued. "I need to unwind completely and forget about the problems that are holding me down."

"You're saying that you won't be returning to acting for an extended period of time, aren't you?" Maki inquired, somewhat dismayed by what she had heard. "You know you can't do that, Ida, because the company won't let you," she explained.

"How could they not?"

"Because you are Japan's biggest actress, and you are the face of the company, and they profit a lot of money because of you. You understand that, right?" Maki asked, both eyebrows raised in concern. "If you fall down, everything in the company goes down as well."

"Everyone is so worried just about themselves, aren't they?" Ida smiled bitterly, feeling the strain of carrying something that shouldn't be her primary duty. "How about me, Maki? Don't I matter as a human being? Do I only matter when I'm on TV?" she questioned.

Maki pursed her lips, unwilling to simply answer the question for some reason. "What do you intend to do for a long time, anyway?" she attempted to interject. "Wouldn't you still look for something to do?"

"Taking a leave from work would also involve some forethought, Ida. It's not something you can just decide on," she continued.

"I do have a plan," Ida insisted, regardless of the fact that she didn't have a plan. It was just that she was the stereotypical obstinate, rich, and successful girl who refused to listen to anyone's opinion. "I'll be gone for a month," she continued, her subconscious mind doing all the reasoning.

"For a month?" Maki inquired, evidently taken aback. "How are you going to spend that much time? Are you kidding?"

"Ah," Ida exhaled, suddenly in need of a reason, prompting her to fizzle forth the worst thought that had recently entered her thoughts. "There's this mind-cleansing tour called Love-Free, and I have signed up, paid for it, and I can't back out," she explained, having to make up that lie at the end.

"Love-Free?" Maki inquired. "That sounds completely made up."

"I know, I didn't believe it at first, but it's true," Ida reasoned, sounding more like her father when he tried to convince her of the authenticity of that service. "I just think it's... exactly what I need," Ida replied, biting her bottom lip before continuing, "I mean, it's only thirty days, right?"

"Yeah?" Maki could only murmur.

"Thirty days in the open sea with no wi-fi," Ida faked a grin. "...all alone," she went on while feigning a laugh, "such joy! Don't you think?"

"Ida," Maki remarked justly, "you're not sure about this, are you?"

"I am positive," Ida insisted, "I want to do this."

"I can't believe you actually listened to me," Tsuyoshi said to his daughter as he drew a trolley. He only found out this morning that Ida had agreed to go on this getaway, and he couldn't have been happier. As a father, he only wanted what was best for Ida, and perhaps this is it.

"Don't say a word and help me with these two as well," Ida complained as she handed her carry-on bag to her father. It wasn't too hefty, but she was a spoiled child who usually whined about everything.

For some, Ida's audacity is what makes her irresistible. Tsuyoshi and his wife are to blame for this. They treated Ida like a princess because she was an only child. They fulfilled all of her desires with no question.

"I was just surprised that you thought of it," Tsuyoshi said as he adjusted the bag strap to fit more comfortably on his shoulder. "I am delighted that you are putting yourself first by going on this trip, Ida," he continued. "I can assure you that the sea waves will wash away all your sorrow."

"What are you..." Ida muttered, clutching her forehead in disbelief. "You sound like you work for them," she mumbled.

"Do I?" the man laughed heartily, a little embarrassed as he might have sounded that way just now.

Ida remained silent, thinking to herself, "I just know I'll regret this soon enough."

******

Avery finally got on the airplane to Kenya at 4 p.m. in Paris. Being highly sensitive to people and noise, he simply obtained a first-class seat. Well, there was also no way Avery would sit with anyone else who was clearly lower in status than him.

He wasn't exactly someone who complained loudly and behaved badly; well, he would if he wasn't protecting his image as the heir to a large corporation. But that's not the case, so he would instead pass judgment quietly with a single glance.

To add to the things that have already been stated, Avery is obsessed with hygiene practices. He had always suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which made it difficult for him to deal with unfamiliar places, especially when everything in that place was disorderly.

This is also one of the reasons why his personal assistant, Francis, worked so well with the getaway trip organizers. He had to inform them of Avery's preferences, such as modifying the color scheme of his room to a grey and white scale and getting rid of anything bright and flashy as that would displease the young billionaire.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Jacques," a flight attendant stated cordially, bowing down her head slightly after greeting him. She moved in closer, fully facing Avery before bending her body forward. She seemed to be making an effort to entice the man to look inside her blouse, intent on showing her cleavage.

"Do you need anything? Are you comfortable?" she inquired, a suggestive smile on her face.

Avery recognized what the woman was doing, so he returned his gaze to his laptop's screen, where he continued scrolling along an article page. "I don't need anything, thank you," he answered quietly, still unwilling to turn his head and give in to temptation.

"If you need anything," the woman seductively whispered close to his ear. "...I'll be here for whatever," she continued.

Avery tightened his jaws and remained silent. Perhaps this was one of the qualities that women admired about him. He always seemed uninterested in physical intimacy, in contrast to other men. Avery would probably never lay his hands on anyone's body if he wasn't set on marrying Vanna. Another thing about him is that he is a narcissist who just loves himself.

************

Ida flew from New York to Nairobi, Kenya, for around thirteen hours. Of course, she'd whine about it. Sitting for that long is exhausting, especially for the lower half of the body.

"My buttocks are all numb," Ida moaned, patting her hips side to side to encourage her blood to flow back down to her lower back and leg muscles. "I should've brought my dad so someone could help me with these," she mumbled, struggling to pull the trolley and hoist the carry-on bag on one shoulder, unassisted.

It was nearly 12 a.m., and her entire body was restless. She is scared she is about to pass out from exhaustion. And to think that the journey did not end there, Ida could only close her eyes in anguish. Later that evening, at 8 p.m., she'd have to catch another flight from Nairobi to Lamu, where Kiwayu Island was located. Love-Free Yacht Services will be waiting there to welcome her.

"Ms. Mitsuko," a man's voice could be heard a little further away from Ida.

"Who..." Ida murmured, her eyes narrowing as she tried to figure out if she knew that man. That's when she realized she'd forgotten something. "Oh, it must be them," she mused as she watched the man approach her.

"My name is Jaali from Love-Free Yacht Services," the man said, smiling warmly. "I will pick you up and take you to Hemingways Hotel, where you will be staying," he continued.

Ida didn't say anything, just stared at Jaali from head to toe, confusing him. "The package covers your stay at that hotel," he added discreetly.

"Yes, I know," Ida replied, nodding her head. "If I'm not mistaken, I'd be flying in a jet to Lamu," she added, seeking clarification.

"That's right, madame," Jaali responded pleasantly.

"Wonderful," Ida responded brightly. Without saying anything further, she handed Jaali the carry-on bag, which the latter eagerly accepted.

Ida began to walk, but she soon stopped and turned back to the man, asking, "Which way to the car?" with both eyebrows raised.

*******

Avery, on the other hand, had just finished a late-night dinner at Hemingways. He sat alone in an exclusive area, overwhelmed by different recipes that he couldn't finish on his own.

Nonetheless, sitting alone at a long table with no one else didn't make him lonesome. Nothing else matters to him at the moment except peace and quiet, which he hasn't had since he got engaged to Vanna and was asked to live under one roof as a way of getting to know each other better.

Following a brief period of contemplation over whether to order another drink of whiskey or return to his suite to rest, Avery made his decision. He moved the chair back slightly, making a tiny scraping sound.

"I'd love a quick shower," he mumbled to himself before standing up.

Avery gave his wristwatch a short check before smoothing the front of his blazer with his palm. He buttoned it up tight, ready to find his way back to the room.

On his way, Avery's gaze landed on the other side of the hallway, where a woman in a formal and classy rose-colored jumpsuit was walking. She was eye-catching, especially since her long neck was exposed and her hair was beautifully done up.

It was Ida.

And for some reason, as they got closer, Avery couldn't keep his eyes off of her. He was wondering if it was Ida's wonderfully proportioned facial features or her slim, small, enticing physique that continued to enchant him.

He had no idea that Ida was thinking the same way about him. She was trying to figure out if it was those deep blue eyes or Avery's nicely shaped body and tall stature that pulled her in.

They stopped right in front of one other, their gaze locked, but neither of them said anything. It was as if their eyes communicated things that, when spoken, would never create meaning.

Avery casually broke eye contact, as he turned to face the door to his room. Without further ado, he grabbed the hotel card key from his pocket and slid it into the door's lock.

Ida continued to watch Avery until he entered his room and delicately closed the door behind him. Ida could only mutter, "A mystery pretty boy," at that precise moment.

Right then, one side of her lips curled up into a suggestive smirk. Ida definitely desired him - everything about him, Avery.