Taken By The Arrogant Billionaire

She slept wide on the bed, smiling in her sleep as her tongue stole out to lick the drool that was about to wet the bed. It was obvious she was dreaming. A very sweet one.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

"Valerie! What is wrong with you? Wake up" Sandy tapped her continuously.

Valerie stared at Sandy with half-open eyes. She looked angry.

"What?"

"You should leave for work"

"It's not even time yet, so stop bugging me" she drawled

"It's 8am" Sandy deadpanned.

Valerie Gardner's eyes flew open.

"You're serious! Oh, God! But.... I set the alarm yesterday. How....."

"Your alarm was ringing nonstop at 7. I thought you were up at that time"

Valerie hurried out of bed, to the bathroom, kicking her leg against the bedside table in the process.

"Ouch" she rubbed the affected area and ran to the bathroom, where her head collided with the wall.

She screamed in pain.

Sandy shook her head helplessly. "So clumsy. She's sure going to get a nasty bump" he tutted.

Valerie exited the house at exactly 8:30, ditching breakfast and silently praying not to lose her job.

She arrived at her workplace. New life mall was written in bold at the top of the building. It wasn't a massive mall, but customers came in steady.

She skedaddled to the entrance and ran straight into Mr Duncan, the manager.

"Damn it" she muttered.

He sent a tight smile her way.

"Hello Miss Gardner"

"Good morning Mr Duncan" she looked down at him.

He was a short man, probably six feet two. His belly protruded, making him even less attractive than he was.

"You are 55 minutes and 48 seconds late" he pointed out.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir. It won't happen again"

"You are saying that for the third time this week!" He boomed. It directed people's gaze towards them.

"One more chance, sir. Just one" she pleaded as she raised her index finger, putting on her best puppy eyes.

His face hardened even more.

"Just one more time and I will send you out of here" she breathed a sigh of relief as he walked away.

She changed into her uniform and went to her post. She heard someone, or specifically, two people, snickering beside her.

"See, I told you she was going to be allowed in. The man is always so strict. I wonder what she gives him in return for keeping her job. She should perhaps teach us, right?" The other said, and they chortled scornfully.

"Oh, right. I think I know" The first girl snapped her fingers. "I just have to lay on my back and my job is secured" They both chuckled.

She was about to snap but calmed herself down. They were no match against her, but it wasn't the right time.

She ignored them and began the day's work.

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

Outside, in a Chevrolet Traverse SUV, sat two young men in suits. The handsome one was wiping his coffee-soaked shirt, looking like he could puke any minute.

"Boss, I think you should get another one" the other man said.

"Where do you expect me to get one at this time?" Jared Smith wiped it with extreme vigor, muttering curses.

Will raked his hair, looking confused as he looked around. They had a meeting in a few minutes.

"Oh, look! There is a mall over there" he exclaimed, pointing. Jared stared at him like he had just grown an extra head.

"You want me to get my clothes from this cheap mall?"

"Boss, we've got no choice. You can't go to the meeting in a ruined shirt"

Jared poked his tongue in his cheek, contemplating. That bitch. She had soaked him in coffee while trying to seduce him.

Now, he had to buy from a chap store when all his clothes were custom-made.

"Fine"

Will quickly alighted and was surprised to see Jared exit the car.

"Boss. I will get the-"

"Shut up and let's go"

Will was about to say something else, but Jared hissed and he chose to keep his mouth shut.

They entered the mall and Will began to look for shirts that fit his boss. He finally found one and showed it to him. Jared shook his head in disapproval. He showed him something else, but his face scrunched up in anger. It went on and on. He had shown his boss everything on the deck, but he was having none of it.

Will was already exhausted.

"Excuse me Mister. How may I help you?" Jared turned in the direction of the voice.

"You seem to be looking for something"

"Yes. By any chance, do you have-"

"I'll take this" Jared picked a random shirt from the rack. Will looked on, surprised. This was the same shirt his boss had scrunched up his face for.

"But boss-"

"Shut up, you idiot" He turned to smile at Valerie.

"Oh. I see you've picked what you want. Please go on to pay and thank you for buying from us" She gave him a platonic smile.

Jared was bedazzled by that smile and was rendered speechless for seconds.

"Boss" Will whispered

No response.

"Boss"

Jared snapped out of his reverie and realized the little lady looked guarded against him.

"Thank you so much, Miss..." Will glanced at her name tag. "Miss Gardner"

He practically pulled Jared away.

Valerie blinked severally. It felt weird being stared at like that.

It was time to get off work. Her phone rang. Her boyfriend's name was boldly displayed-Ivan. With multiple love emotions.

"Hello" she said coyly.

"You're at work?"

"Yes"

"There is something I want to say to you"

Valerie waited for him to speak more.

"Val, let..... let us... You know what, let us meet up. I will send you the address and time"

The line went dead.

Valerie's mind travelled to different places at once.

'Let us...? What could that mean?' She thought.

She suddenly thought of something and her heart almost jumped out of her chest.

Was he going to propose? She almost screamed in excitement as she packed her bags and ran out of the company.

Her phone dinged as she received a notification.

Valerie breathlessly opened the message.

'Amber restaurant at 7pm'

It was 6 already. She had to run.

She burst into the house as the girls screamed bloody murder. Each with a weapon to attack the intruder.

Layla held up a ceramic cup, while Sandy's weapon was a pepper spray.

"Hey, chill. It's just me" Valerie said, and they finally dropped their 'weapons'.

Sandy and Layla patted their chest from fright. The three of them had been best friends since college and had nothing in common. For example, Layla was the manager to a small-time Hollywood actress and was the completely crazy type. No man wanted to mess with her.

Sandy was the gentle one and always mediated when Valerie and Layla locked horns. She recently resigned from her Job as a teacher. Reasons unknown.

Valerie was, well, in-between. She was mostly gentle. Not many people had seen her crazy side.

"Guys, take a guess" Valerie said, excitedly.

"Guess? After scaring the bloody hell out of us?" Layla was disgruntled. It was already a miracle that she didn't pick a fight.

"Okay. I'm sorry. Now, guess"

None of the girls spoke.

"Okay, if you're not going to reply, I'll just say it. Ivan asked us to meet, and I think he's going to propose" She jumped, thrilled.

She received no reaction from them.

"You won't say anything. Are you not happy for me?"

"Wow. Congratulations Val" Sandy forced a smile.

"Believe it or not, I'll never come to like that man. He looks so calculating and manipulative to me"

"Come on, Layla. Ivan is a nice guy if you get to know him. Also, he loves me so much"

"Good for you" She said dully.

Valerie rolled her eyes and ran to her room to pick clothes for the date. Her friends were not going to help anyway.

She chose a flashy red dress and a smoky makeup to match. She made her hair in minutes, and she was finally set.

Likewise, she checked herself in the mirror and smiled satisfactorily.

It was already 6:45. She had just 15 minutes left.

She bolted to the living room.

"You like?" She spun around.

"Pretty, but would have been better if you had not worn it for something.... or should I say someone, so useless" Layla commented.

"You really have a way of putting me down" Valerie replied.

"You look dashing" Sandy said.

"Thank you. I'll be back soon" She air-kissed them and left.

"Do you think he will propose? He doesn't look like someone who is in love" said Sandy.

"Well, our dear friend thinks otherwise"

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

Amber restaurant was not too far as she arrived in 15 minutes. She assessed her appearance in the restaurant's door, which was made of glass. She exhaled and took a bold step in.

Ivan was seated in a corner, and she immediately saw him. She was, however, disappointed that there were no candles, flowers, or something that could imply a proposal. There was a cup of coffee before him and his face was glued to his phone.

Valerie slowly walked towards him.

"Hi" He finally looked up. She wanted to kiss him, but he avoided it.

"Why don't you have a seat first"

Valerie sat down, embarrassed? Luckily, no one saw them.

"You are 6 minutes late"

"I'm sorry" was all she could say.

"You must be wondering why I called you here. So, I'll just go straight to the point. Valerie, let us-"

"Yes" she screamed, attracting attention. Ivan looked confused.

"Yes. I'll marry you"

"That was not what I wanted to say" He finally burst Valerie's bubbles. Her shoulders drooped in disappointment.

"You are a superb woman, Val. Hardworking and lovable... but I realized this won't work"

She shifted in her seat.

"What won't work?"

"Let us break up, Val"

Valerie's mind went blank.

"Ivan, are you serious right now? Why? Did I do something wrong? Tell me and I'll make amends. Please don't break up with me. I love you Ivan"

"But I don't" He snapped. Valerie's eyes widened.

"Not anymore" he added. "I'm ending this and it is final"

"Is there someone else, Ivan?"

He looked away, but that was enough answer. He stood up, paid for the coffee, and left without looking back.

Her mind was still reeling as she stared into space.

After a while, she stood up to leave. Everywhere was dark, and it was momentarily brightened as lightening struck and a resounding thunder followed. It only meant one thing-rain.

Valerie took off her heels and began to walk to only-God-knows-where.

On the top floor of Smith Industries, the office of the CEO was filled with the clicking keyboard. Jared was seated at the table, typing away as the rain beat the floor to ceiling windows.

His tie was off, and the first few buttons were open, making him as sexy as ever.

There was a knock on the door, and he didn't bother to respond as he already knew who it was. Will entered.

"Boss. You should go home" Will said, with hands on his hips, like a nagging wife.

"You should go if you want to" He said without looking up.

Will sighed. His boss had been pulling an all-nighter for the past few weeks, and he knew why.

His fiancée could be in his house, waiting for him.

Will and Jared had attended the same high school and were friends. He was on scholarship as his parents could not afford the high fees of the school.

Jared had offered him a Job when he resumed as the president of the all-powerful Smith Industries, and he had agreed without second thought.

Jared was his friend before being his boss.

"How about we just, you know, chill out, like old times. What do you think?" Jared stopped typing, then resumed.

"No, thanks"

"Come on, Man. It's been a while since we had fun. And you really look as if you need it" he persuaded.

Jared knew he had to go out and let off some steam, especially when that vixen was waiting for him at home.

His grandfather had revealed the password to his penthouse to her. He had changed it several times, but his grandfather always succeeded in cracking it.

As a result, he would find Jane in his apartment, scantily dressed or not even dressed at all, trying to seduce him, but he wasn't interested in her and ignored her everytime.

There's was a time when she had tried to drug him, but his willpower was stronger than that. Damn, she was so desperate.

His grandfather was a headstrong, adamant and unrepentant man. He must have gotten those genes from his grandfather.

Jared finally stood up and Will released the breath he was holding. Jared shut down his computer.

"Where are we headed?" Jared questioned.

"Perhaps, a bar"

"Perhaps?"

"A bar" Will quickly asserted, afraid he would change his mind.

"Did you dismiss her?"

Will raise a brow, confused. It was when Jared turned to him then it clicked.

"Oh, yes. I did. With immediate effect" He was referring to the secretary who tried to seduce Jared and had accidentally poured coffee on him. Now, he had to start looking for someone else to fill the position.

Will got into the car after Jared and started the ignition. He drove towards the nearest bar, as he could not drive a long distance in the rain.

He was just a few steps away from the bar when he almost hit someone. A woman, specifically, in a red dress. He honked angrily. She was walking in the middle of the road. He poked his head out, through the window.

"Get out of my way, woman. If you want to die, do it somewhere else and not in front of this car" he yelled.

She continued to walk so slowly that he got frustrated and alighted the car, to confront her.

"Are you crazy? What is-" He stopped when he saw her face.

"Miss Gardner, what are you doing in the rain?" She looked him dead in the eye, then ignore him as she walked towards her destination.

"Who was that?" Jared asked as soon as Will returned.

"It was that woman earlier, at the mall. The attendant"

Jared kept silent, looking contemplative.

They were met with a blast of loud music as they entered. He looked around for the object of his curiosity and finally found her. She was seated before the bartender, drinking in large gulps.

"I'll go sit next to her" Jared shouted, trying to make his voice heard, above the ear-splitting sound.

"What did you say?"

Jared pulled Will closer and said directly in his ear.

"I'll go sit next to her" He pushed Will away and left without waiting for his response.

Silently, he occupied the seat beside her. She drank a whole glass before going for another one.

"You know" She said to the bartender. "Men are the worst creatures ever. Dogs are way better than they are" she was getting drunk. "After-" she hiccuped. "After 3 years. Devoting my love to no one but him, now, he wants a break-up. Is that pathetic? Am I not pathetic?"

'Oh. So, it was a break-up' thought Jared.

"Perhaps, you should leave. You are drunk, ma'am"

"You!" She pointed her index finger at him. "How dare you do this to me. I will make you pay" Without warning, she raised her glass and threw it in his direction.

Luckily, he avoided it just in time.

Her phone rang. Bestie was displayed on the screen. The bartender quickly accepted the call.

"Where are you?" Sandy asked.

"Hello ma'am, your friend here is drunk and needs to be taken home"

"You are the drunk one, you bastard" She slurred. Jared watched on, wondering how someone could be so cute.

The man gave Sandy the address and hung up.

Valerie continued to curse at him as he moved far away from her.

She turned her head in Jared's direction.

"Huh! I know you" she squinted, trying to remember. She brought her face closer to his till they were just an inch apart. She cocked her head, thoughtfully, unaware of the effect she was having on Jared.

"I'm sure I've seen you before" she pouted. "Can you dance?" She asked, all of a sudden.

"Huh? I-"

Without waiting any further, she grabbed his hand and led him to the dance floor.

She danced wildly as Jared stood there, like a statue.

Sandy and Layla entered the bar and looked around. They went to the bar tender and ask him her whereabouts.

"She went to the dance floor with a man" he replied.

They headed there, constantly shoved by intoxicated men and women. They finally saw her, dancing crazily before a man. They ran towards her and held her.

"Let go of me. Who are you?" Valerie looked up and realized they were her friends.

"Oh! It's Sandy. You're here too" she said to Layla.

"I apologize on her behalf, sir" Sandy pleaded.

"It's okay" Jared replied and watched as they dragged her out of the place.

"What are you doing in a place like this" Sandy slapped Valerie's butt repeatedly.

"Ow! Ow! It hurts" She whined.

Layla hailed a taxi and they entered. That was the last thing Valerie knew before passing out.

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

The headache was splitting. She struggled to open her eyes and looked around. Valerie wondered how she returned to her room.

Layla suddenly burst in, looking at her like she could kill her any minute. Valerie secretly wondered what she did.

The last thing she remembered was entering a bar, the rest of it was a total blank.