The Billionaire Runaway Fiancee

Xander's POV

***L.A. California***

"Mr. Hayes is here to see you sir." My executive secretary said over the intercom. "Can you see him for a few moments now? He said it's very important."

The mention of the name made my nerves tensed immediately. Mr. Hayes was the private investigator I hired a year ago to find my missing fiancée. Mia Stewart.

"Mr. Valiente?"

I looked at my Rolex watch. I hesitated. I have an important deal to close in fifteen minutes. "Okay, show him in."

I was not really interested in finding fiancée anymore. I gave up looking for her a few months ago.

I did everything to find Mia. Hired a private investigator. Traveled in all countries she'd been in the past years. Asked her family and friends about her whereabouts. But they just said the same thing. They didn't know where she was or who she was with.

That's bullshit! I knew her family would die of worry if they never knew where she was, especially his brother, Tristan Latsis.

But realization suddenly hit me. It's hard to find someone who doesn't want to be found. And that made me stopped.

The office door opened and my secretary came in together with Mr. Hayes.

"Good morning, Mr. Valiente."

I stood up and shook Mr. Haye's extended hand then invited him to a seat in front of my table.

"I have good news for you."

My heart suddenly stopped beating.

"I found your fiancée." Mr. Hayes continued.

It was the news I expected. Hearing him said it still brought a cold tension in my body.

"Are you sure?"

Mr. Hayes smiled and pushed a brown envelope towards me. "Positive. See for yourself."

I opened the envelope and saw a picture of a sexy hot woman in gold bikini. She has long golden blond hair parted in the middle and its waves flowing over her shoulders. She was posing seductively on a white sand beach.

The woman looked like Mia. But...

I studied her tanned legs and arms, her skimpy bikini, then focused my eyes to her breasts.    "No. This is not Mia." I put down the picture on the table, feeling disgusted.

"She is Mia Stewart.    She disguises herself as Lily Rojas. A smokin' hot Latina bikini model."

I laughed to cover my annoyance. "Mia is very conservative, like a saint. She never wears skimpy bikinis. That girl is good as naked!"

"That's what you think." Mr. Hayes got another envelope from his attaché case. "I have recent photos of her. This will convince you that Lily Rojas and Mia Stewart are the same."

I took the envelope and opened it.

There were two pictures. The first pic, the same blond woman was laughing - like she just heard a joke from the man sitting beside her.

I sat forward and looked at the picture intently.

I studied the shape of her face. Her eyes, nose and lips. Her hair was pulled up in a bun.

I frowned and clenched my teeth. She looks exactly like Mia here.

I blinked my eyes several times and every time I opened my eyes, I was more and more convinced that she was Mia.

I started sweating and became uneasy. My hands trembled as I turned to the second picture. The woman and the man were kissing,    lip locked. Her hand was touching his jaw. F*ckingsh*t!

I was paralyzed on my seat. I knew that hand so well. The small wrist and slender fingers... that I used to kiss and laced my fingers with.

Dammit. There's no doubt, she's Mia!

I slammed a hand on my desk, then stood up abruptly. I was breathless with rage.

"Where is she?" I ran my hand through my hair, then sat down on my chair again. I clenched and unclenched my hands several times, preventing myself from smashing anything within reach.

"In Colombia." Mr. Hayes leaned back on the chair, looking satisfied. "Are you going to see her?"

Should I see her?

She left me without explanation. Not even a note, a text or an email. She was gone and hiding away from me.

I didn't know what went wrong in our relationship. Why she left me all of a sudden. Why did she do this when I gave her all my love and attention? Why she was determined to keep her whereabouts from me?

Too many questions playing in my head. Where did I go wrong?

I need an explanation and she has to give me a very good one or else...

My attention went back to Mr. Hayes again.

"Yes." I answered then picked the picture I tossed on my table of Mia kissing another man. How could she kiss another man!

I felt betrayed. Jealousy. Deceived.

My eyes transferred on her ring finger. Damn it! That was not the engagement ring I gave to her. I was immediately clouded with anger. My thoughts were racing dangerously.

"Who the hell is this man?" I asked Mr. Hayes.

"That's Dylan Cooper. A famous telenovela actor in Colombia. He is Miss Stewart's latest... fiancée."

Fiancée?

I was stunned and my thoughts were running wild.

Dammit! You have a lot of explaining to do Mia Stewart.

Lily Rojas

***Cartagena, Colombia***

"Chest in Lily... good... your eyes... give me a seductive look... more... more... that's perfect!" Tim, the photographer said. I did what he told me to do and gave him my best seductive pose which I mastered already. For almost a year, I've been doing this for a living. Modeling swimwear, beachwear and active wear at Strings Swimwear Company exclusively.

The sun was coming up and the heat started biting my arms. But the beach water below my thighs was still cold.

"Just this angle and we're done. Smize... show me your in-love look... think of Dylan Cooper. Sonrìe con tus ojos (Smile with your eyes.) Tim continued taking photos of me.

"You look tired already. You can't achieve the look I'm looking. Just give me your natural smile. Okayyy...    that's it." He snapped some more photos then turned to the people sitting at the shore. "Pack up everyone, we're done!"

My personal assistant slash nanny, Carmen Vega, single and in her late fifties, walked towards me. Bringing my hat and white embroidered rope tunic with her. I loved Carmen. She was very patient and understanding with me. She even treated me like her daughter.

We were in a famous five star hotel and Beach Resort in Cartagena, Colombia. We arrived yesterday for the photo and video shoot of Strings new swimwear and beachwear summer collection.

"Finally, you can take a rest now."

"Yeah." I replied and pulled on my tunic, covering my black bikini.

Carmen helped me by pulling the hem of my tunic down. "Dylan called. He said he's on his way now."

"Oh! That's great."

"I'm sure you're very excited to see him tonight."

"Of course. I can't wait. I miss him already." It had been a week since I last saw Dylan. He was in the United States shooting for his new telenovela.

"That boy is so lucky. Lo amas tantu. (You love him so much.)" Carmen replied.

My fiancée, Dylan Cooper was a famous Colombian-American actor. A Telenovela hearthrob. He was tall, lean and very handsome – with a cute smile. He was funny, outspoken and a good listener. He had good taste in clothes and shoes. He treated his mother with respect. He loved music, a good dancer and singer. Many loved him, men and women, young and old. He was very dedicated to his work as an actor and won many awards.

I met Dylan in a photoshoot. Strings Swimwear Company hired him to model their product six months ago. We did the swimwear photoshoot together. It was very awkward at first. It was the first time I partnered with a man – and to think that he was a sensational Telenovela star. But Dylan was a gentleman. He made me feel at ease with him.

The second time I met Dylan, it was in a veterinarian's clinic. My dog, Bitsy got her rabies shot. Dylan was there to have his dog groomed.

"Are you stalking me?" His eyebrows shot up when he saw me inside the clinic.

"Oh! I thought you're the one stalking me."

He laughed and we started talking about our dogs for a few minutes. I left ahead of him. Bitsy became irritable after her vaccine.

After a week, I met Dylan again in a friend's party.

"You know, if you're stalking someone, you should make it less obvious." An easy smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"Excuse me? Are you implying that I'm stalking you?"

"Aren't you?"

"Believe me. I'm not. I don't even watch telenovelas. I'm not your fan."

"It's okay. You don't have to lie. I'm used to it." He chuckled.

What an arrogant and egoistic man! He thought that all female species fell for his charms and looks.

"Sorry to disappoint you. But I don't find you attractive."

He frowned. "Not even a little?"

"Nope. Not all women find you irresistible. Excuse me." I spun around and left him.

The third time our path crossed was three days after, in the gym. I was so upset when I arrived at the gym and saw him there. And what was more upsetting was, he was talking to my personal trainer.

I totally ignored him and started working on my work out program.

"Are you going to pretend that you don't see me?"

"There's a difference between pretending and avoiding. I'm avoiding you. I don't want you to accuse me of stalking you again. It seems like you established it in your mind already." I pressed the cool down button of the treadmill machine and continued walking in lower speed.

"I'm sorry if it upsets you..."

"It is very upsetting. And now, I have a feeling that you're going to accuse me again of stalking you! For your information, I'm a member of this gym for months already. You can ask anyone here..."

"I know." He grinned.

"I don't know why I keep on meeting you. It's just a coincidence."

"It's not."

"What do you mean?"

"I knew you're going to the vet that day. It was your dog's schedule of vaccine. I even borrowed my P.A.'s dog just to see you. I was about to ask you for a cup of coffee, but unfortunately, you left in a hurry."

I was shocked by his revelation, but continued to listen to him.

"I invited myself to your friend's party. I was meaning to ask you for a date, but my usual pick up line didn't work on you. I was so bothered and felt so bad that night."

"I don't believe you."

"It's the truth. Okay, I admit. I'm the one stalking you. My sources said that you don't go out on a date. You don't entertain men." He inhaled deeply. "I just don't know how to approach you."

"Then don't approach me. Your sources are right. I don't date and entertain men."

Dylan was pretty insistent. He courted me. He sent me flowers and wrote poems for me, everyday. He was a very romantic and wonderful man. Eventually i agreed to go out with him on a date... a date that led to many dates.

Last Saturday, Dylan proposed to me and I accepted it.

Xander's POV

**Cartagena, Colombia**

I pulled up my rented Maserati outside the lobby of Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena Hotel. The valet greeted me and took the car keys.

I almost bumped at a group of women when I entered the hotel. They were all wearing pastel floral dresses with flower crowns on their heads. They looked like bridesmaids in a garden wedding.

The girls eyed me up and down, then giggled.

I continued on my way inside the hotel. The ambiance was very nice, striking a balance of French art and beauty. The architectural designs were a blending of vintage and contemporary.

I went directly to the reception area and checked-in in their presidential suite.

"Is Lily Rojas already checked in yesterday?" I asked the receptionist.

"You know her sir?"

Damn it. She just wouldn't say Yes or No.

"Of course. I know her very well. Actually... I'm meeting her here." I gave her my best smile.

"Ahhhh... I see." Her mouth opened in surprise. "Yeah, she's here since yesterday."

Good. Mr. Hayes did his job well in knowing Mia's itinerary.

I heard a commotion. The rising shrills of women's voices and giggles. I turned to where the voices were.

"Sorry about the noise sir. A famous celebrity just checked in today causing excitement to some of our female guests. But normally, it's very quiet here."

"Is that the telenovela actor?" I asked her.

"Yeah. Dylan Cooper. You know him sir?" The receptionist's face lifted up with excitement.

"Not personally." My mouth thinning with displeasure. So, he is here with Mia.

***

I took a shower and planned on how to confront Mia.

Mia. The only woman who captured my heart. It had been a year, but still I couldn't get her out of my system. She left her mark on me - so deeply... in every cell of my body... in every drop of my blood.

I missed her... I missed her so badly.

I closed my eyes and looked down. My body turned hard just thinking of her. I turned the shower lever to the full blue direction and shivered.

I have known Mia since she was still in Senior High. She was my sister's best friend. During dinner, Stella told us about her activities in the day. Her new friend Mia, who was a fifteen year old    transferee from New Zealand. Very smart with an attractive English accent. The girly things they did, their sleepovers, their celebrity and school crushes, the parties they went and other things. Well, I was not interested to hear anything about Mia at that time. For me, she was just Stella's classmate and a friend.

Several times, I met Mia in the house. She was so thin and pale. She even looked like a kid in her school uniform. We never talked or see eye to eye. She always avoided looking at me. I was never bothered. I didn't have time talking to young girls... she was fifteen and I was twenty at that time.

I remembered talking to Mia for the first time. It was during Stella's eighteenth birthday . I came across her in the hotel hall. We were alone. She looked so surprise seeing me and she didn't have a choice but to look at me in the eye.

"Who died?" I asked her. She was wearing an all black long sleeves dress like a pilgrim.

"What?"

"You look like you've been in a funeral." I extended a hand... a little, to her dress.

The smile on her face slowly faded. A dim flush raced her pale and beautiful face like a fever.

"No one died, Mr. Valiente... I mean, not recently."

Instantly, I was bothered.    It made me regret what I just said. Damn. Why couldn't I just keep my mouth shut.

I clenched my hand and abruptly put it down.

"I'm sorry. It's just like... your dress..." So black and conservative like a nun. I really wanted to add, but I didn't want to embarrass her further.

"I love black and this is my manner of dressing." She lifted her small chin proudly and looked at me with contempt. "I know men like you prefer their women to dress in skimpy tight dresses with plunging necklines and open back.... Showing more cleavage and skin..."

"Men like me?"

"Yeah. MEN. LIKE. YOU." She emphasized each word with gritted teeth.

I chuckled. I didn't know what happened. But she got my attention. I was really amused of her. "What do you mean by that statement? I'm curious."

"I don't have to say it. You know what I mean."

"Ah... that's not fair." I moved towards her slowly and she was stepping backwards, trying to avoid any body contact from me.

"Stay away from me." Mia said sharply.

"I won't until you tell me what you mean."

Mia shook her head. Then she stopped stepping backward when her back touched the wall. She resembled like a prey trapped and scared of being eaten.

I studied her face, her eyes and her lips. God. She looked so beautiful. Why haven't I noticed that before?

"I wonder what men like me do to young girls like you?" I lifted a finger to touch her face.

"Don't touch me." Her voice was fragile and shaking.

That made me stop and flattened my hand on the wall above her head. My brain said that I should go and leave her alone, but my body wouldn't allow me to go.

I held her eyes with mine, wouldn't let her look away. Her glassy blue eyes were so compelling, magnetic... yet full of remoteness and unquenchable warmth.

I moved my face nearer to hers and instantly our breath mingled. I inhaled her scent and the warm of her breath deeply. So fresh and sweet. I leaned forward. A kiss. Just one kiss.

Mia put her fingertips on my chest. I gasped. The mere touch of her hand made my heart jumped and body tensed.

"Let me go." She almost whispered then pushed my chest a little.

I felt like I was splashed with a bucket full of iced water. I stepped backward and saw her run away from me.

***

I saw Mia the moment I walked inside the bar, wearing a very sexy satin dress and stiletto heels. Who would ever miss her, she looked like a lonely sexy nymphet sitting there on a stool. Every man was eyeing her.

I sighed heavily. Mia wouldn't dress like that before.

I walked towards where she was and sat beside her.

I kept an eye on her. She was looking down at her margarita, then slowly her thick eyelashes lifted up.

Our eyes caught each other and we held eyes for fraction of a second.

"Hello Mia. Nice seeing you again."

Lily's POV

I waited for Dylan at the bar for our dinner date. He called awhile ago that he would be late, just a few minutes. He had a sudden video interview in a local TV Network. He couldn't say no, especially now that the next season of his Telenovela, La Paśion de Santiago was about to start.

I heard the man sitting beside me ordered a drink. Something about his voice made me look at him.

Jet black hair. Silvery gray eyes. Aquiline nose. His mouth was thin with cynical twist to it. He had a very striking attractive features. Bronzed skin, tall, lean, strong and rigid.

The man was already staring at me. His eyes like bullets aiming at me – ready to pull the trigger if I make a move. I felt like I was in a trap... and there was no means of escape.

"Hello Mia. Nice seeing you again."

The tone of his voice signalled danger, like a warning – for me to face him and not to mess up with him.

I gasped. He looked really dangerous and frightening like a devil, despite his clean pure white button up shirt and pants.

A tumble of confused thoughts and feelings assailed within me. I froze on my seat and got tongue-tied.

"I couldn't believe you're hiding here in Colombia. Of all places, you chose to be here. Why Mia? You think that this is the last place that I'd come looking for you?" His lips twisted with distaste. "But I guess this is your brother's idea. Tell him that I send my congratulations. He'd done a good job fooling me."

I couldn't take my eyes off him. I felt like I was in a dream – a horrible nightmare. My body was shivering with fear and my palms got sweaty.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

"I... I..." I stammered.

"Stop staring at me and say something."

"I... I don't know you, mister."

A muscle clenched along his jaw. He shifted on his seat and turned his whole body towards me. "We're done with hide and seek Mia. Tell me, what game are we playing now? Pretending not knowing each other?"

I felt the heat rose on my cheeks. He was mocking me and made me so upset. I straightened on my seat and looked around. Where is Dylan when I needed him?

"Why did you run away Mia. What's wrong? You didn't even leave me a note. What happened to us? I need a damn explanation!"

"Lo siento (I'm sorry)... but you got the wrong person. Mi nombre es Lily Rojas and I really don't know you, mister. Excuse me." I stood up to get away from him -    to run as fast as I could, but his hand was very quick, he clasped my wrist tightly and pulled me closer on his side.

I yelped at the pain. The pain of his burning touch... like fire... turning my body into flame.

"I know, it's you, Mia. You can't deceive me with your fake Colombian accent. You may have dyed your hair into gold, got a sun tan skin and dress stylishly but I know you so well, every inch of your body."

"Let me go. Please señor... I don't know what you're talking about." I struggled for him to let go of my wrist, but his hand was like an iron clasp.

"What's going on here?" Dylan. Thanks God he arrived. "Take your hand off my fiancée!"

The man did not let go of my wrist, but even pulled me closer to him. "Correction. My fiancée."

"What?" Dylan's eyebrows furrowed. "What's the meaning of this, Lily? We just got engaged last week and now you have another fiancée?"

"No! He mistook me for his fiancée. I told him he got the wrong person." I pulled my arm and finally he let go of my wrist.

Dylan held his hands up and faced the man squarely. "I don't want to create any trouble, okay. We'll talk and settle this in a very calm manner. I don't need this kind of publicity. It's bad for my image especially that I have an upcoming Telenovela season 2 series."

What? All Dylan could think of at the moment was his image and Telenovela rating?

"I'm sure you know me, I'm Dylan Cooper, the Telenovela actor." Dylan gave his usual camera smile and extended his hand to the man for a handshake, but the man ignored it.

"I'm Xander Valiente. Mia's fiancée... or Lily, whatever your name is right now." He gave me a sideway glance then shook his head, disapprovingly.

Dylan heaved a sigh. "You got the wrong girl, Mr. Valiente. Lily is my fiancée."

"I assure you Mr. Cooper that she is not Lily. Her real name is Mia Stewart. She was born and raised in New Zealand.    Her brother, Tristan Latsis, brought her in Los Angeles to study when her mother died. She was fifteen at that time and that same year, I first met her. She was my sister's best friend." He held my eyes with no shame while talking, like we were the only person in the room. "Our relationship started two years ago. We got engaged and lived together for a couple of months."

"No tengo un hermano (I don't have a brother). I... I haven't been to New Zealand or Los Angeles. I'm a... a Colombian."

"Of course you are, Lily." Dylan backed me up. "I understand your situation, Mr. Valiente. You know, it happens all the time, having similar faces. Some people even mistook me for a Mexican actor Aaron Diaz. It's very upsetting... and insulting on my part. But, that's life. We have to learn to accept it."

Mr. Valiente took something on his pants rear pocket. It was a small envelope. Then he handed it to Dylan. "These are proofs that Lily and Mia are the same. See for yourself."

Dylan shrugged his shoulders and took the envelope.

"I'll leave you for now, Mia. But I'll see you tomorrow." Mr. Valiente said before he spun around and left.

Dylan opened the envelope. It contained pictures, about ten of them. He scanned the pictures thoroughly, one by one. Then he stopped.

"She is you, Lily."