The Billionaire's Beloved

Chapter One: Blinded (Part 1)

"Ash! Can you hear me? Ash! Wake up!" I heard a woman's voice hoarse and shouting in panic.

I feel her caress my long hair and holding me in her arms. "P-Please, Ash. I-I'm sorry. Wake up!"

I open my eyes and I hear whispers of people encircling me. They're all staring at me with worried, confused faces. The tiled floor felt cold under my legs, almost sending me chills. It's a bit uncomfortable. I gasp and facepalm in my head. How can this happen again? Will I faint at random places 'til I'm old and grey?

*START OF FLASHBACK*

"Good day, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the blind date show! Where you find your one true?" Steve announced with glee.

"Love!" the audience shouted in response. They clapped happily. The background music was loud while light blue, pink, and purple lights dance in the stage.

What am I doing here again? I tried to remind myself that I'm here for a reason and that's to salvage my singing career.

"We have a very, very special guest. He's the most sought after bachelor and a top celebrity. He won more than a hundred acting awards both here in the States and internationally throughout his nine years in the industry. He's our tall and handsome debonair, Tony Green!" Steve sounds more enthusiastic than ever.

Tony gave a nonchalant smile and waved at the crowd as he entered the stage. He shook hands with Steve.

Uh-oh. TONY GREEN?! I'm in big trouble. Manager Kim did not tell me that I'm playing here to date Tony Green. Are you kidding me? The playboy, easy-go-lucky, mean, badass Green? No way, not me! No! No!

"Nooooooo!" I shouted. My voice echoed in the studio. This is one of those shameful moments when you unknowingly, abruptly uttered something from your mind and you regret it immediately after you say it. How impulsive can I get?!

"Oh, is there anything wrong, Contestant number 3?" Steve asked immediately with a worried look on his face.

I fidgeted. "T-there's a cock-, cock-, I mean, a c-cockroach i-inside my booth." Stupid, stupid, stupid! How can you say cock in this situation? Now I look like a pervert.

The audience laughs heartily at my response.

"That's gross!" Steve remarked and signaled to the show's staff, "Grace, kindly check booth number 3 and have that roach removed."

Grace looks pale and disgusted as she approaches my booth.

"N-no, it's fine. It left, I mean, it flew away." I answered. Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!

Tony smirked. He looks entertained. Wow, what a beautiful sight he is!

I slap my forehead. Don't fall for him!

"Alrighty. If that's the case, let's start the show. Beautiful ladies, introduce yourselves first." Steve came back to his original stoked self.

"Hi, Tony! You can call me Sexy Angel. I've got everything a man could wish for. You'll have no dull moments when you're with me." the girl inside the first booth introduced herself with a flirty, high-pitched tone, almost sounding like a firetruck's siren. No kidding.

"Hello there, Tony! I'm Lovely Dream Girl. I'm smart, pretty, and fun to be with. I'll make you a satisfied man at the end of the day." She sounds sweet and sincere.

"Hi, Mr. Green! M-my name is..uh..hmmm... Miss Happy. I love music." Seems like I'm nervous. Is there a bee on my throat? Note to self: I'm here for Mom and Grandma.

Tony laughs cheerily.

Just wow. Did he just laugh at me? What's so funny? What a stuck-up jerk!

"Now that we're done with our introductions. Let's start with Round 1! Ready, ladies?"

"Yes!" We said in unison.

"Tony?" Steve stared at him.

"Yeah." He smiled revealing his perfect set of teeth.

The girls went wild.

My heart skipped a beat. Damn!

I examine him from head to toe and he looks so darn sexy in those ripped jeans, a gray polo shirt that hugs his torso, and a navy cap on his head. He's like 6 feet and 7 inches tall. I stared at his face and I'm drawn to those light blue eyes that glistened like stars. Any lady will be lost in that.

"First question. Where do you think is the best romantic getaway?" Asked Steve.

He has short, brown wavy hair, perfectly thick eyebrows, and long, dark eyelashes. His skin is tan and he looks so manly, as an alpha male...

"For me, that will be at the beach. We'll sit by the bonfire along the shore, beside a small tent. We'll eat marshmallows and sweetly talk to each other." Sexy Angel said with a seductive smile.

And of course, I wouldn't miss those two cute, deep dimples that show even if he doesn't smile and just talk. His naturally red lips that you want to kiss so badly...

She explains, "You got yourself into this mess. This is the only way for you to save your descending career. You passed out during your concert and it made a big buzz. You fanned the fire by losing consciousness tonight. Your fans are rapidly leaving you, not believe you anymore. I have to handle a lot of declined projects and canceled endorsements, too. You know I always got your back so trust me in this, okay?"

She continues, "For 13 years, we've been supporting you. We gave you all the help and counseling you need but all failed. You have to help yourself, too. I'm not telling you to date him for real, okay? It's just that dating him can help cover up your failures, just for now. Until we find a more permanent solution, I expect you to cooperate."

I take in and let out a long, loud breath. I can't argue anymore.

I place my hand under my chin and nod.

She relaxes and got back to her old self. That's a relief. Sometimes I wonder if she has some anger management issues or something else 'cause her mood changes in a snap. Oh well, I just think we need to visit my shrink together.

I laugh to myself but feel miserable soon after. Will I survive 7 days with that guy? It'll not be that bad, right?

"Your luggage is ready. I've got everything packed up for you. Your passport is at right side pocket of your handbag. I really have to go, you know how President Rogers is." She takes her Louis Vuitton handbag and put a bright red Mac lipstick on her lips.

Yes, she really is the Starlight Entertainment's Big Boss' wife.

We hear a loud knock at the door.

"It must be Tony. I asked him to take you to the airport. Enjoy, okay?" She winks and kisses my cheek as I gape at her.

Just great. I need to take a breather. Please.

Manager Kim opens the door quickly and I see a tall man, around 6 feet 3 inches.

He's smiling from ear to ear and looks dashing. I bite my lip and feel myself blush. So cute. The boy next door, just my style.

He has blonde hair, dark green eyes, and a chiseled jaw. His skin is porcelain white and he's got a well-defined body.

He holds out his hand, "Hi, I'm Greg Mckinley, Tony's assistant."

Manager Kim shakes his hands and I copy her, too. I stare at him, his face is perfect and it seems like he's also got a nice personality.

Oh yes, I remember he's the talk of the town because he's friendly and jolly, the exact opposite of his boss.

Maybe, just maybe, this trip might be fun.

"Nice meeting you, Greg. I'm Ash." I didn't realize that I was shaking his hands for quite a while now.

I hear someone clearing his throat from behind Greg. It's Tony.

I let go of his hands feeling a bit awkward.

In a baritone voice, he says, "We need to go, we'll be late. Our flight is at 10:30."

I look at him from head to toe. He's now changed to a white shirt and white denim shorts.

It's plain but he looks so sexy in it. His big shoulders and strong chest shows underneath. And looks like he's got abs but I'm not sure. Did I just check him out?

"Like what you see?" He smirks teasingly.

I raise an eyebrow while rolling my eyes, "You wish, Mr. Green."

Greg enters the room and takes my bags with herm. While Manager Kim is talking to Tony, I storm out of the dressing room.

As I said, I need a breather. Like I'm literally out of breath. I didn't know he'll have this much effect on me.

I just notice the flight of stairs in front of me but it's already too late, I lose my balance.

I squint my eyes, preparing myself for the worse but I felt two sturdy hands hug me from behind. His long muscular arms embrace my body.

He turns me around and our eyes meet. Tony Green. My heart is pounding like crazy. His blue eyes appear dark and angry.

"Ash, are you blind? How stupid can you get?! What if you fell, get a head injury and died?!" He looks furious. His face is as red as a tomato when he's angry, it's funny.

I laugh out loud. He's unbelievable. Tony stared at me in disbelief. I can feel his breath on my face. We're so close to each other. My heart beats faster than before.

This is so awkward. Feeling a lump in my throat, I turn away from his embrace and straighten my clothes, "Don't overreact, thank you for your help. Especially during the show."

He shakes his head and is that a glint of a smile? Not sure though.

"You're such a troublemaker." He says in a serious tone.

"You're so cute together." Greg teases. He's behind us? I didn't notice that.

Tony immediately grabs my left hand and we walk down the stairs together. Greg let out an amused laugh.

...

We reach the front of the building and he's still holding my hand in his. A gentle winter breeze touches my cheek but I don't feel cold at all. Tony's hand feels soft and strong at the same time. He intertwines his fingers into mine and I'm extremely nervous which I think is kind of weird. I should not be affected by all of this.

My hand is now clammy and it's so embarrassing that I can't control it. Wanting to let go of his hand and ending this awkward situation, I clear my throat which I also regret doing. He gets the message but he grasps my hand tighter.

Oh my goodness! I feel butterflies in my stomach.

Cameras are now flickering, making me find out why he held my hand. I feel a surge of pain inside but I try to shake it off. He wants people to see that he's a gentleman and we're sweet and all that and I realize that it's also beneficial for me. I let him embrace my waist as we pose for pictures. My cheeks are now a bit tad red.

Shiny, black limousine parks in front of us and I see Greg driving. He smiles at me and I smile back. Tony opens the door for me and gave me his charming smile. Oh dear! He's so perfect!

After riding his car, it dawns on me that this is all for show. I face him when he sits beside me and closes the door, "You don't have to do that."

"What?" He glances at me and then raises his eyebrows.

"You need to ask permission first before you touch me, Mr. Green." I answer immediately, making sure that my voice is firm.

He utters a laugh, looking amused.

"Hey! What are you laughing about?"

"You're so full of it." He smirks.

"Huh!? I don't understand." I exclaim.

"I'm not dating you. I just pity you because I overheard what Kim said in the dressing room." His stare is as cold as ice and it chills me inside.

I'm speechless. My mouth dropped open. I got myself into this chaos but I don't want anyone's sympathy especially someone like Tony Green. Do I have any choice though? It's good for me but why do I feel hurt?

It was very quiet inside the car. I can feel the tension between us and it made me too anxious, I fidget.

My stomach is now churning, too fast then slow then fast again. Oh no! This is not the right time! Alright, Ash, relax. I can do it!

Five minutes passed, I'm already perspiring... A lot! I shift my position and my hand touches my tummy. I don't think I can take it anymore! I have to tell Tony.

"Uhmm. Mr. Green, I need to-"

Pffffffffffffffft!

Loud and clear.

Okay, please kill me now!

I scream my lungs out, "Stop!"

The car halts to a stop. Good thing, it's beside a restaurant. I run as fast as I could, enter it and bypass the crew who asks me if I have any reservations.

The hell, this is so embarrassing!

I march towards the comfort room. After ten minutes, it's a success. Haha! After washing my hands, I go outside but I'm shocked to see Tony standing beside the restroom door.

He's smiling from ear to ear, "You should have told me earlier that you want to..."

"I'm sorry." I cut him off, distressed and embarrassed. I don't want to hear him say it with his own mouth.

"..That you want to eat. I'm hungry, too. Come on, let's grab a bite." He rests his arms around my shoulder, leading me to a table at the farthest side of the restaurant.

He's teasing me but in fairness, this player is quite a gentleman.

"Ah yes. Thanks, let's eat, then." I smile shyly.

We sit on a wooden chair. I look around and the place is very cozy. Lights are dim and there's classical music on the background. There are also no people around us. The waiter attends to us, "May I take your order?" He's cute with a boy-next-door appeal. He winks at me.

Tony clears his throat, "I'll have Grilled beef and mushroom with mashed potato. How about you, Babe?" He places emphasis on the word Babe. He takes my hand, grinning impishly.

I gasp, feeling nervous and I'm running out of breath. Why does he drive me so crazy like this?

The waiter looks surprised and he composes himself instantly. He recognizes us by now, not sure.

I'll go ahead and order Tony's favorite food as per my research. That's the least I can do for him saving me earlier. Good thing it's in the menu.

"I'll have buttered shrimp and garlic bread." I smile at the cute waiter but it seems like he appears awkward. He nods and looks away.

"Seems like you know my favorite food. Why did you answer Chicken soup with lots of eggs earlier? It's a public knowledge that I'm allergic to that." He stares at me, waiting curiously for my answer.

Isn't it obvious that I don't want to date you? I was about to say that but I instantly remember Manager Kim's words.

"Oh well, not everyone knows about your allergies and I'm not aware that buttered shrimp is your fave. I just want to eat those." I lie.

"I also don't want to have a girlfriend yet, so don't concern yourself about that." He appears serious.

Just wow. Did he just read my mind? Is he a psychic?

"Close your mouth, Ms. Myers. I know I'm charming but please don't fall for me." He smirks.

My eyes grow wide and my mouth drops. OMG! He's surely a psychic! How did he know my last name? It's not printed out anywhere.

It's a family secret. I am a Business Tycoon's Illegitimate child. My father is Ron Myers, the owner and President of Myer's Grand Cruise Lines.

He and my mom, Grace Kelly, fell in love when she worked as his secretary. No one knows about this except Manager Kim. Did she tell Tony earlier?

It's my most kept-secret because I don't want anything to do with my father anymore. I go by my mother's last name. That's why I'm absolutely shocked that Tony knows my real last name.

"H-how d-did you know my last name?" I ask feeling on pins and needles. I don't want anyone to know my background.

"You left your wallet in the car earlier." He gives me my red wallet. I sigh in relief, "I checked who owns it, I saw your ID. You go by the name of Ash Marie Kelly. I just found out that you have a different last name." He explains.

"Kelly is my mother's last name. Need not say more." I'm now teary-eyed because I miss Mom. She lives in Texas with my Grandma while I'm based in New York. I'm doing this for her. Everything I do is for her good.

"I didn't mean to offend you. It's just an honest mistake because I wanted to know who owns that wallet." He says with sincerity.

"I'd appreciate it if you'll keep this a secret, Mr. Green" I stare at him. He nods in response.

The food arrives and we eat silently. The only sound I hear is the bell whenever the front door opens and also the footsteps in the background. I feel awkward so I decide to start a conversation. "So is this your first real date?" I know he never dated anyone, he just parties all night, almost every day. I regret asking about this though. Why did I ask the first thing that popped up in my mind? I made my voice sound happy and smile timidly.

Tony notices, "You know, there's always a time for everything. If you're happy, smile. If you're sad, cry. Don't hide your emotions. Some people totally lost their sanity because of that."

I can't help but laugh at his advice. He's got a sensitive side, too. My smile is now real this time.

"That's more I like it." He smiles back and his full mouth is so sexy. I feel myself blush.

He adds, "It's true, it's my first real date though."

"We're not dating for real. This is just all fake." In your dreams, I'll never date you, bad boy.

But I feel otherwise. My heart tells me that it's not impossible to fall in love with him. It seems like he's not the person others say he is. He looks nice and considerate to people. Yet my mind says this is why ladies fall for his charm, he comes across as a good guy.

"You said it yourself when you asked me earlier, remember? Besides, there's no camera here, only you and me. I'll consider this as my first real date." He moves his face closer to mine. His full red lips teasing me. My heartbeat is so fast and loud. I just hope that he can't hear it.

"How about you, Ash?" His fresh breath fans my face.

"W-what?" Okay, now I lost it.

"Is this your first date?" Seems like he knows what I'm thinking. He's smiling widely.

"U-uhm, no, of course. I've dated, uh," I count using my fingers. "Around 18 guys." Ash, get yourself together. He's not into serious relationships. Good thing I said that I've dated a lot of men but I'm not sure if it's a major turnoff to him though.

"Okay, so you're the expert here." He presses his back to his chair.

"Coming from a guy who goes to bars mainly to mess around with women. You dance and flirt with random girls every night."

"Sounds like you're jealous. Haha!" He raises his brows multiple times.

"Me?! Why should I?!" My voice is louder than before. Oops!

"You're fuming red. So obvious! It's fine. I get that all the time."

Such a big head! He's so conceited!

"I'll catch you again when you fall. Promise." He blows me a kiss and then smiles sweetly at me, flashing his two deep dimples.

Fine. I'm now gone to Mars.