One Night Stand with The Control Freak Billionaire

"_If you think I'm going to be a gold-digger, then you're mistaken. I'm going to be the best and the most beautiful gold digger woman in the city-" Lyka de Luca.

Lyka de Luca had completely transformed herself from an ordinary gallery shop owner, often seen donning big round eyeglasses, into the most alluring woman in pursuit of a wealthy man!

She wore a striking red dress with a provocatively daring cut. The design left no room for modesty, featuring a deep neckline and a skimpy little skirt that revealed a lot of her glorious cleavage and her long, creamy white legs. The dress hugged her hourglass figure like a second skin, making her exude the allure of a million-dollar goddess. Completing the look, she stepped into her most expensive pair of stilettos, knowing she would need all the beauty and courage in the world to face someone as influential as Blake Darklore himself.

Radiating an air of full-blown seduction, she gracefully emerged from her chauffeured limousine and entered the vast mansion to meet her millionaire blind date.

Lyka feasted her eyes on the luxurious surroundings of her millionaire date. Her attention was drawn to the bright garden, where elaborate preparations were laid out. She carefully observed the place, starting from the lush plants adorned with tiny bulbs leading to the extravagant dinner table set for just the two of them.

Mr. Blake Darklore certainly excelled in showcasing luxury and elegance. It was evident that he had prepared everything, and Lyka's friend was right-he seemed genuinely interested in her. A mysterious smile formed on her elegant lips.

"I deeply apologize, Ms. de Luca. Mr. Darklore will be available in a few minutes. There was just an unexpected call that came in," said a female staff member in a formal uniform resembling those in an elegant hotel.

"But of course, your boss is a very busy man. I do understand," she replied with a smile, concealing her excitement to see the man behind this lavish setting. She had heard a lot about him-how intelligent and good-looking he was. However, she had yet to see her "secret admirer," as her best friend described him, in person.

This was the first time they would meet after she reluctantly agreed to this date. In truth, she had no interest in him. If not for her desire to negotiate regarding her ancestral house owned by his company, she wouldn't have agreed to meet him.

"Hi!"

It was like a breath of cold wind that suddenly awakened her senses and sent chills down her spine. The icy voice came from behind her, and she had to turn around to check. Emerging from the shadows was a tall figure of a man in a black, finely tailored executive suit. Lyka gasped as she finally laid eyes on the face that had been hidden in the darkness. His hair was as dark as midnight, styled messily to enhance his rugged aura.

He had a pair of exotic eyebrows that gave him a stern but charismatic appeal. Below those brows were a set of piercing eyes fixed on her. His arrogantly straight nose and the firm redness of his lips completed the image of a rebel heartbreaker from her deepest and wildest fantasies.

Nothing matched the description given by Lina, her childhood best friend, about what Blake Darklore of Darklore, Inc. looked like. Lina had reminded her that he was in his early twenties, a cheerful businessman with a boyish grin. The man in front of her exuded the aura of a fierce animal, powerful enough to disrupt the Earth's balance. His grin was far from boyish-it was extremely mysterious and dangerously captivating.

According to Lina, he had the typical trustworthy face of a businessman. Well, definitely not this guy! He resembled more of a Hollywood superstar playing the role of a bad boy rebel-a rule breaker in a suit. He possessed the kind of face you couldn't trust but would willingly follow and admire.

"You've been staring at me for quite some time. Is that your way of saying hello?" he said in a colder voice than before.

She wasn't even aware that she had been staring at him all this time.

She blinked her eyes and slightly looked away for a second. The beating of her heart raced with incredible speed. She never expected this. She was supposed to be the one enticing, but now she's the one being enticed. Crap! What exactly is going on with her?

He showed her a devilish yet deeply enchanting smile. He guided her to the dinner table and pulled out a chair for her. He moved like an untamed jaguar - so solid yet so fluid.

"Are you this quiet on a date?" He stared at her as if reading her. They were facing each other at the dinner table now. There's a bottle of champagne and lighted candles in front of them.

"No. Uh, I mean... I've never been on a date before."

'And I have never seen a man as godly and as beautiful as you!' He's like a dream prince in a faraway castle.

He twitched the side of his narrow lips to smile.

That made her insides burn. Hell! That was a very sexy gesture; it made her grab the glass of champagne in front of her. She hoped that the alcohol would ease the heat she was feeling, but she winced as the warmer liquid burned her throat.

Blake laughed. "Easy, babe. We still have the whole night."

She forced a smile, but she could feel her body trembling with every touch of their eyes.

"Are you scared?" he asked.

"No."

"Good. Shall we dance?"

She wanted to protest, but she couldn't do anything. She was so into him, like a metal to a magnet. The sound of the violin in the quiet night was mesmerizing. But even more intoxicating were Blake's hands gripping her slender waist.

His fingers were sensually moving through her bare back as they danced to the rhythm of the music. He awakened every fiber of her being. She gasped at every touch of his fingers on her skin, but she couldn't protest. Instead, she pressed herself closer to his body.

"You're beautiful," he whispered, his eyes fixed on her inviting lips. She felt his hold on her waist tighten. Her swollen breast against his hard chest was provoking something she couldn't even control. She was already nipple hard. She could smell the combination of his woody scent perfume and sweat on his neck. She wanted to lick his delicious skin. She wanted to kiss him very badly.

"Are you sure?" his meaningful question made her unsure of what exactly he was referring to. In her mind, she kept screaming that she wanted to kiss him. She wasn't sure if he had the same thought.

"Absolutely." She was out of her mind. God, she didn't even hear herself talking! What was he doing to her? She felt like a puppet hanging from his fingers, following every move of the man in front of her.

He lowered his head to meet her lips. Her whole body stiffened. She didn't think that someone as lowly as her would ever receive a kiss from someone as supernatural as him. In a normal situation, she would have run as fast as she could. She wasn't the type of woman who would easily let a stranger kiss her. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine herself kissing on her first date. She had been taught well and had high values in life, especially since she grew up under the care of an elderly lady. That's why she would never give in to the first kiss with a man she didn't know.

She should have run earlier. But she couldn't do it. Instead, she welcomed his passionate kiss on her lips. She even opened her mouth wide enough for his little tongue to explore her insides. His kisses were charged with a voltage that made her senses explode. She tightly gripped his shoulder with her hand.

Blake's hands started to journey downwards, moving towards her chest. When he didn't feel any protest from her, he continued his actions, sliding his hand under her clothing. She felt his hand on her thigh, and it burned her. Then his devious hand made its way to her panties, in between her parted legs.

Her mouth escaped a moan when he touched her. She held on tighter. She started kissing his neck, licking it like a hungry child with an ice cream. Oh god, he's divinely delicious!

He suddenly stopped.

Her whole world stopped as well.

The fire remained in his eyes but he distanced himself. He looked at her as if seeking permission for what he would do next, like an official requesting approval.

Obviously, he's giving her the chance to say no. But Lyka couldn't do that. She had tasted a powerful drug in his mouth, and she knew there was no turning back. She simply closed her eyes and leaned forward, offering her lips to be kissed again. She was more than willing to surrender her innocence to this godly stranger.

"What's your name?"

Why would he even ask? He knows her.

"Lyka," she said in between his kisses.

"Lyka," he repeated. Her name sounded so sexy coming from his even sexier mouth.

He carried her in his arms and literally swept her off her feet. She knew where the man was taking her when he brought her inside the large house, but she didn't feel any doubt. When he laid her on the soft bed, she knew that wasn't part of the plan. But she was so overwhelmed by his heat and passion that she wouldn't dare resist it.

She didn't complain as the man unzipped her dress. She was exposed to his heated gaze. He cupped her full, swollen breast with the palm of his hand as if she was made for him. Lyka felt her muscles cringe in pleasure as his mouth followed his hands. He kissed, licked, and sucked her rock-hard nipple, then continued to touch the other one.

She didn't even notice when he undressed himself until she felt his naked manhood when he positioned himself between her legs. Her breasts were bare, while she still had her red dress around her waist and panties on. He slipped his finger inside her. She was so wet and ready. She let out a louder moan as she felt him push two fingers into her tight passage. His fingers moved in and out of her core, and she could feel every muscle in her body tensing up.

Then she felt his manhood soon after, gently teasing her clit, making her even wetter and more swollen.

"Oh Blake..." she moaned. He reached for her mouth and kissed her.

"Blake, I want to make a deal with you," she muttered in between kisses, trying desperately to regain her senses. Whatever happens, she needs to carry out her motive for entering his house.

"What deal?"

'As if he didn't know!'

"The Draconia..."

She heard him grit his teeth, but that was no longer important. What mattered was that she heard his agreement.

The deal was done. It's out of the way. She would probably discuss her terms tomorrow. What's important now is that she knows he will listen to her in her plan to buy back the Draconia. She let those remaining worries be carried away for the moment.

With all her heart, she gave herself to the handsome and mysterious Blake Darklore, who had a secret crush on her. Her heart giggled with joy at the thought. If only she had paid attention to his advances earlier.

"What are those?" Lyka inquired, as Lina placed various photos of different men from local and foreign television on the desk.

"These are pictures of men you need to stare at every night so that your child will resemble them when they're born!" Lina exclaimed excitedly, rubbing her small bump on her belly.

"Lina, please leave me alone for now, okay? Don't you see how busy I am?" she snapped at her. She was in a bad mood again, partly due to her pregnancy. Almost everything was irritating her.

"Is this about Draconia again? Why are you so obsessed with that house when Auntie Thalia has been gone for a long time? She won't know whether you fulfilled your promise or not!" Lina retorted sarcastically.

"This is not just about the promise I made to Auntie. I still want to get Draconia to show Blake Darklore that even though he didn't keep his end of the bargain, I still ended up owning the house!"

"As if you'll ever see him again! That jerk left the country, and we don't know if he'll come back or not. Move on, Lyka. Your child is growing inside you. Do you want them to come out looking stressed?"

She didn't respond to her talkative friend because what she said was true. She went to Blake Darklore's house to use his infatuation with her to regain ownership of Draconia, which used to belong to his company. The house had been mortgaged to Darklore, Inc. for her aunt's medical treatment abroad. When her aunt passed away, she was left buried in debt, and the house remained unreclaimed.

She wanted to take it back through Blake Darklore, who, for unknown reasons, secretly developed feelings for her. He sent her flowers constantly. Then one day, unexpectedly, he sent her an invitation to his house.

She admitted that her approach was wrong, but she was desperate. She rarely planned something malicious, and it backfired on her. Blake didn't fulfill his promise. After their night together, he flew to Canada, and she wasn't sure if he would come back or not.

She repeatedly went to his office, but nobody could tell her his plans. Until she heard that the ownership of Draconia had been transferred to a private individual she didn't know.

"This baby was an accident. It wasn't part of our plan, right?" she sobbed as she remembered the events.

"Don't act like that. It's already here; let's just accept it. As if you're the only unfortunate one in town!"

"At least other unfortunate ones can show that they have a boyfriend in town. And me? They might as well think I got pregnant by an enchanted creature!"

Lina simply frowned. She thrust a printed picture of a Korean actor at her. "Here's Lee Min Ho, stare at him at night, maybe your baby will resemble him, and we can introduce him as the father!"

Only then did Lyka's tears subside, touched by Lina's affection. Despite her grumpiness, she knew her best friend wouldn't abandon her.

"And you know what's more disappointing? I can't apply for financial assistance for the expansion of our gallery. Do you need a certificate of good moral character when you borrow money? Are single mothers not allowed? It's so irritating!"

"Well, you're in Costa Rica. People here can't move on from the issue of single motherhood! Let's just leave it for now, Lyka. Wait until the baby is born, and then we can take action, okay?"

"No, it's not possible. I need to expand the gallery as soon as possible! I'll use it as collateral for Draconia."

"But Draconia is already private property. It's no longer owned by Darklore, Inc!"

"That's why we need to act fast before the house is renovated or destroyed by some heartless person!"

Her friend could only shake her head.

........

"Lina, why did you only choose male celebrities?" she asked Lina when they happened to visit the mall.

"Well, you're having a baby boy. I'm sure of it. You're not that attractive. They say that if the mother is unattractive during pregnancy, the baby will be a boy," Lina remarked.

She glared at her. "Can't it just be due to stress?" she defended herself.

Lina shook her head and burst into laughter. "Oh, are you staring at Lee Min Ho every night?" she asked abruptly.

"Yes, sometimes. But you know, Lina, no matter how evil, snake-like, shameless, or monstrous the father of this baby is, he's still the most handsome man I've ever seen, and he's the only one I want my child to resemble," she said.

"Wow, a loyalist!" Lina teased. "Blake Darklore? The most handsome of them all? You should schedule an eye surgery, Lyka. Yes, Blake is handsome like a normal 21st-century businessman with a good physique and porcelain skin, but he's not the type to make you swoon!" Lina complained as she guided her friend to the mall's food court to find a seat.

"Is he the Prince-Of-Hell or something?" It was a phrase she often heard from Lina.

She sighed in response. "Hello! Here's the growing evidence that I've lost my mind, right? You underestimate that jerk, and I got pregnant."

"Well, best friend, your taste is low. You're already infatuated with Blake Darklore? How will it be when you see the official list of men that almost all women on planet Earth fantasize about?"

The Prince-Of-Hell. Yeah, right. She heard her friend talk about that list many times, so maybe it was time for her to listen to her best friend's fantasies. Just as a stress reliever. "So, what are these Prince-Of-Hell?" she asked.

"The infamous lists of cold-blooded yet sought-after billionaire bachelors around the world," she said with excitement. "They are famous worldwide for their ultra-thick bank accounts and their demon-like attitude. As the story goes, their personalities are as bad as the amount of money they have."

"What's so surprising about that? Almost all rich people have bad personalities."

"Oh, come on. Not all of them. Anyway, they are not your usual 'bad personalities.' It's even more than that! They have no mercy. They manipulate people. Anyone who doesn't follow them ends up ruined. But you know what's amazing about these demons? Despite being terrible people, the public still loves them."

She shook her head. "The world has gone crazy."

"Because, my dear preggy friend, they are gods of perfection. You can't hate them even if you try!"

Blake Darklore came to her mind. There really were people like that. If she hadn't met him, she wouldn't believe her friend.

"And guess what's the latest about them? The rumor is spreading that they, too, fall in love!" She further explained that the first and second princes on the list had already gotten married, and their declarations of love were both truthful and pure.

She thought Blake Darklore should be on that list. He was definitely evil, manipulative, cunning, and very good-looking. "So, how are you supposed to tame the hearts of those demons?" she couldn't believe she was having this conversation with Lina now.

"I don't know," Lina shrugged while sipping her iced tea. "Next in line is Prince-Of-Hell number #3, Aether Damien Darkstorm, the rather riveting Mr. Mysterious on the lists! You see, he's on the cover of the latest magazine issue."

Her heart skipped a beat at that name.

"He's half-Canadian, and his business empire is based in Canada. But lately, there have been rumors that he's in the country. Of course, no news will come out, no one will attempt it. Because Aether kills people to protect his private life. Among everyone on the list, he's obsessed with privacy, so the media knows very little about him. Any news that comes out about him needs approval from his office."

Overdramatic.

Lyka shook her head. She didn't have time for such things. She had a growing belly and a house to reclaim.

She had had enough of those cunning men with dangerous godlike faces. She was already a victim of one of them.

"You have a very fine selection of collector's items here in your gallery. I liked everything; you have a good eye for selection, Ms. De Luca, and I know you'll go far in this business."

Lyka had a wide smile for her client, who could provide the loan she had been waiting for the gallery.

"These pieces come from my loyal local artists, who are truly talented. Most of them are from remote provinces."

"I have no doubt that you can easily sell your items here. But expansion is not that easy; there are many things you need to take care of and personally pay attention to. I have no doubt in your ability to grow your business even more, and obviously, you have already established a long list of clients, even with this small shop. But given your current situation, you may not be ready for expansion yet. Once the project starts, it needs to be continuous. You need to add more stocks on display, you need more buyers. In other words, to protect my investment, you need to work twice as hard. I suggest that we wait until after you have the baby."

"But Mr. Santiago, I'm just pregnant. I don't have any illness-"

"You said you don't have a husband, no one to help you here. Let's postpone it for now. Anyway, once you give birth, my office will be open for you. I'm a businessman, Ms. De Luca, and I don't take unnecessary risks with my investments. Let's meet in my office after you give birth."

The client had left a while ago, but Lyka was still crying. How many more visitors to the shop would come and say that her business was beautiful and promising, but they couldn't invest because, apart from not having collateral, she was pregnant with no father for her child? Time was what she was chasing here. Her belly was only five months along, and she couldn't wait for the baby to come because Draconia might be completely taken away from her. The owner could demolish the house anytime, and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

"Lyka!"

Lina was panting.

"Watch this!" she said, running towards the TV inside the gallery.

"Why? What's going on, Li?"

"That treacherous bastard! Blake Darklore is getting married, they say!"

The news was about him and his marriage. The Blake Darklore on TV was a plain businessman in an executive suit with a boyish grin on his face, just as Lina used to describe him. Beside him was a blond Canadian socialite whom he was going to marry.

"That shameless traitor! He even had the audacity to announce his wedding when you haven't even talked about it!"

Lyka stood frozen. She felt her head suddenly become light. Her whole system went into chaos, and she could barely breathe.

"Ly, are you okay?" Lina asked. "You're turning pale."

"Li..." Lyka managed to mutter while holding her belly with one hand. "He's not Blake Darklore. That's not him."

"What do you mean it's not him? He's Blake Darklore. He's the man who used to send you flowers, who asked you out on a date, the damn bastard who cheated on you!"

Lyka winced at her friend's statements. "He's not the man I encountered at the mansion. He's not the father of my child."

Lina was left dumbfounded. "What? Are you joking?"

"I wish I were just joking."

They both weakened at that revelation. Lyka shut her eyes as horror and disbelief overwhelmed her. She made love to a complete stranger whose name she didn't even know. How could she be so foolish not to ask for his name before giving herself to him? He asked for her name, she asked about the deal, but she couldn't fathom what kind of stupidity possessed her that she didn't realize it was someone else she was facing.

"Excuse me?"

Both Lyka and Lina turned to the woman who had entered the shop unnoticed. The woman stood tall, dressed like a corporate employee, similar to the executive assistants they saw on TV and in magazines.

"Hi! I'm Lina. How can I help you?" Lina was the first to speak while quickly wiping away tears and composing herself.

"I came for Darklore, Inc. The big boss wants to see you, Ms. Lyka de Luca."

Lyka looked straight at her. The woman handed her a sealed envelope.

"But isn't Blake in Canada?" Lina spoke on Lyka's behalf.

"He's not the big boss," the woman said, still staring at Lyka, observing her every detail from head to toe.

"Oh! Really?" Lina interjected.

"I'm Marleigh Garcia, one of the executives. I personally came to orient you on how exactly you will behave in front of the big boss."

"Wait a minute! Who is this big boss, and why would I meet him... or her?" Lyka finally muttered.

"Haven't you been inquiring about Draconia several times? Aside from that, you also have a pending loan request-"

"That's over. I knew very well that Darklore, Inc. has nothing to do with Draconia now. And my loan application has been denied by your good office a long time ago," she said sarcastically, mixed with irritation.

Marleigh simply smiled. "Both matters have been reconsidered. It was a direct order from the big boss that he wants to see you."

"If not Blake Darklore, then who's the big boss?"

"To be honest, Ms. De Luca, it is quite rare for the big boss himself to want to see someone like you. He is a very private man. He doesn't even want to disclose the fact that he acquired Darklore, Inc. a long time ago. His identity is the company's top secret. I'm also here to orient you on a few things about him."

Lyka decided to listen, even though some of the advice seemed absurd. Who was this man anyway? Why did she need a behavior orientation just for their meeting? "Can you give me his name at least?" she asked.

Marleigh shook her head. "You'll meet him at the office. Only the executives know of his existence in the company, so please refrain from discussing it."

"Really..."

"And one more thing, I'll be very honest with you. You know, the Boss, he's not the most patient person I know, so you got to be careful with your words and actions around him. Do as you are told."

Lyka furrowed her brow at that warning. She exchanged glances with Lina.