The Billionaire's fragrance

Ruby adjusted the hem of her black evening gown for what felt like the hundredth time, glancing around the opulent ballroom as a wave of uncertainty washed over her. The event was more glamorous than anything she had ever imagined. The chandeliers, dripping with crystals, cast a warm, golden glow over the polished marble floors, while the chatter of the elite buzzed through the air like a hum she couldn't quite tune into.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the anxious flutter in her chest. Her boss had insisted she attend, calling it a "networking opportunity." But Ruby wasn't foolish. She knew she didn't belong here. The wealthy, the powerful, the beautiful-they all seemed to glide effortlessly through the room, exchanging charming smiles and empty pleasantries. And there she was, a junior marketing executive who had stumbled into this world by sheer accident.

The weight of eyes occasionally grazing her as they passed, judging silently, made her feel exposed. She hadn't worn her designer gown-she didn't own one. Her dress, sleek and simple, was a rental, but its elegance was far more understated compared to the extravagant ensembles around her. A part of her wondered if everyone could tell she didn't fit in.

She grabbed a flute of champagne from a passing waiter, hoping the bubbles would offer some relief from her nerves. As she sipped, her gaze wandered around the room, falling upon clusters of people deep in conversation, all too polished, too composed, too artificial. Her fingers tightened around the cool glass as she debated sneaking out.

That's when she saw him.

Zane.

He stood at the far end of the ballroom, his tall, commanding presence drawing her gaze as if it was inevitable. His tailored black suit fit him perfectly, accentuating broad shoulders and a trim waist, the crisp white shirt beneath adding a striking contrast. The crowd seemed to part around him as if they instinctively recognized his authority, though he wasn't making any effort to engage. Instead, he stood quietly, scanning the room with the same distant detachment she felt.

Ruby's breath hitched. Something about him was magnetic. His dark, unruly hair framed a face that was handsome in a rugged way, but it was his eyes-sharp, assessing, and deeply intense-that caught her attention. He wasn't like the others, the kind of man who used charm and smooth words to blend into this polished world. No, there was something different about him. Something dangerous.

She sipped her champagne again, trying to pretend she wasn't staring. Yet, every time her eyes strayed, they inevitably found their way back to him. Who was he? His aura was almost overpowering-self-assured, perhaps even a little arrogant-but there was a mystery in his expression that made him impossible to ignore.

He shifted, and for a brief moment, their eyes met.

A jolt of electricity shot through Ruby's body. His gaze, steady and unreadable, lingered on her for just a beat longer than necessary. It felt as though he could see right through her, peeling away her layers, exposing her insecurities. She looked away, heart pounding in her chest, her cheeks growing warm. What was that?

She tried to busy herself, turning her attention to the other guests, but the hum of the party faded into the background. The conversations around her blurred, and suddenly, she felt even more out of place than before. It was as if the room had narrowed down to just the two of them.

When she dared to look back, Zane was still watching her. This time, a slight smirk played on his lips, one corner lifting ever so slightly. Her breath caught in her throat. There was something about the way he looked at her, something that stirred a strange mix of curiosity and apprehension. He wasn't like the polished, safe men who frequented these events. He was dangerous, she could feel it, and yet, she couldn't pull away.

Another sip of champagne did little to quell the heat rising inside her. She forced herself to look anywhere else, letting her eyes wander to the vast chandeliers above, the intricate floral arrangements on the tables, the grand staircase leading to the second floor. It was easier to pretend she hadn't noticed him at all, easier to convince herself that the moment had been in her imagination.

But the image of his intense gaze stayed with her.

"Ruby! There you are!"

The sound of her name pulled her from her thoughts, and she turned to see Clarissa, her boss, gliding toward her with a bright smile. Clarissa was everything Ruby wasn't-confident, glamorous, and perfectly at home in a room full of millionaires. She wore a deep red gown that hugged her every curve, a look of easy sophistication in every move she made.

"I've been looking for you," Clarissa said, looping her arm through Ruby's. "There are a few people I'd like to introduce you to. Networking, remember?"

Ruby forced a smile, nodding even though her mind was still on the mysterious man across the room. She couldn't help but sneak one more glance in his direction, only to find that he had disappeared. A pang of disappointment tugged at her, and she didn't know why. She didn't even know who he was, and yet... she wanted to.

"Come on," Clarissa urged, pulling Ruby along toward a group of investors. "This could be big for you."

Ruby followed, but her mind was elsewhere. As she was introduced to various high-profile figures, shaking hands and exchanging polite conversation, the image of Zane remained etched in her thoughts. There had been something in that moment-something unspoken, something electric-that she couldn't shake.

The evening dragged on as Ruby made her rounds, trying to be polite and engaging, but all the while, she kept searching for him in the crowd. He hadn't reappeared, and with each passing minute, the evening seemed to grow duller. The champagne didn't help. Neither did the mindless chatter of the wealthy, discussing investments and business mergers with a cold detachment that made Ruby feel invisible.

Just when she had resigned herself to a long, uneventful night, Clarissa leaned in, whispering, "I saw you looking at someone earlier."

Ruby's heart skipped a beat. "What? Who?"

"Tall, dark, handsome," Clarissa teased, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I saw the way you two exchanged glances. Don't worry, he's not exactly the type to bite."

Ruby flushed, grateful for the dim lighting. "I wasn't-"

"You should get used to this crowd, Ruby," Clarissa interrupted, squeezing her arm. "Men like him, they're sharks, but you can't let them intimidate you. You'll never survive in this industry if you do."

Sharks. The word echoed in Ruby's mind. Maybe that's what he was. Dangerous, powerful, and always circling.

"I've got to go talk to someone about a potential deal," Clarissa said, flashing her a quick smile. "But I'm telling you, keep your eyes open. You never know who might take an interest in you."

As Clarissa disappeared into the crowd, Ruby exhaled, her mind spinning. She glanced around the ballroom one last time, but there was no sign of the mysterious man who had so captivated her earlier. The evening felt strangely incomplete without him.

But as she turned to leave, a lingering thought kept her rooted in place.

Who was he? And why did it feel like their paths were destined to cross again?

Little did she know, this brief encounter was just the beginning.

ZANE'S P O V

I'm finally ready to propose to Chloe, the love of my life. We have been dating for two years and three months now and I absolutely can not wait any longer to start a family with her, plus my parents have been making a huge fuss over it, asking when I would settle down and get them their grandchildren, being their only child, the pressure they put on me to get married is much worse than it would have been if i had other siblings for them to disturb the same way they have been disturbing me every day of my life since I turned twenty. It's not like I don't want a family, I do, but running a multibillion-making company is time and energy-consuming and I want to have time for my family. My parents are threatening me with their health now so I have to finally tie the knot and make things work.

I watch as she stirs in her sleep and notice she's about to wake up, so I quickly move to her side of the bed and kneel in front of her with the engagement ring in it's box, ring ready to be slipped into her precious finger.

"Babe, why are you kneeling beside me?", Chloe asks while rubbing the sleep out of her beautiful almond coloured eyes.

"Chloe, the love of my life, the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with and raise children with, will you make the happiest man today and forever by marring me?"

"What?! you can't be serious right now Zane"

"What do you mean by that? I'm asking you to marry me and you're telling me I can't be serious"

"How can you ask me to marry you in such a boring and unromantic way?! Where are the flowers? the real ones and the money bouquet? the cake? the camera crew? my friends standing around asking me to say yes? the fireworks display? What is this? A joke?"

I should've known this was what she'd say, she always wants everything to be done in a grand way, I just thought she'd let me do this my way, but I was wrong, I stood up and sat beside her asked,"So is that a no or a yes?"

"I'll marry you Zane", she moves closer to me and pecks my cheek,"but you have to propose the right way, it has to be on camera for my followers to see, maybe at a fancy and really expensive restaurant. You're a billionaire, so you can easily rent the whole place. I want white roses everywhere and a ten layer red velvet cake, oh and big red balloons that spell out marry me"

"Right, anything you want baby, here's the ring, try it on at least, I really want to see how well it fits your finger",I bring out the diamond ring and hope this is up to her standard at least.

"Why is the diamond so small? You could have gotten a bigger one."

Of course, the ring didn't meet her big expectations either.

"Well, it's nice even if it's smaller than I expected, I'll just have to manage it like this, thanks Babe", she kisses me quickly on the lips," I'm going to shower. Care to join me?"

"No, I mean, I have to meet up with Alex soon so I can't join you now, you know what's going to happen there and afterwards." I smile but she rolls her eyes at me and sighs before going to enter the shower.

I leave shortly after she starts showering and drive myself to one of my restaurants where Alex and I always meet up. He was seated at our usual spot in the VIP section of the restaurant, having a drink while flirting with one of the waitresses as usual.

"You finally made it, was starting to think you weren't going to make it so I was already making other plans", he winks at the waitress then whispers something to her which makes her blush so hard she turns red. She turns to leave but then he spanks her which makes her blush even harder. He's never going to stop treating women like toys, I honestly don't know how we're still best friends.

"Still up to your nasty tricks? Won't you ever get tired of messing around Alex",I laughed while pouring myself a glass of wine.

"I'm not a lover boy like you, there are too many women of different shapes and sizes, I need to have a taste of all kinds of them. I just can't tie myself to one. I'd get bored seeing the same body every time, so there's no way I can stop messing around as you call it and no way I'm going to get married too"

"Speaking of weddings, I proposed to Chloe today"

"You proposed to that....that...gold digger?"

"I've told you to stop calling her names Alex. You know I love her."

"You love her, fine, but does she really love you? You and I know very well that she's been with you for your money."

"She loves me, she said yes to marry me so she can't be with me just because of money but I have to propose again because she wants me to propose in a more expensive way, with flowers and cameras and fireworks."

"Of course she wants it big, she's a gold digger. You can keep telling yourself that she isn't, but don't you dare come crying to me when everything blows up in your face"

"Alex my dear friend, you're totally wrong", I laugh. we have been together for so long, she could've left me for richer men if she was truly with me for money." Chloe loves me for who I am, not how much I have so it will work out" but deep down I start having a little doubt, what if Alex is right? What if I'm making a mistake getting married to Chloe?

Ruby wandered through the lavish ballroom, still shaken by her encounter with the mysterious man. The memory of his gaze lingered like a ghost, haunting her even as she tried to engage in polite conversation with the elite of the business world. She had hoped the event would be an opportunity for her to network and maybe, just maybe, feel like she belonged. But the weight of the glamorous surroundings and the sharp judgmental eyes of those around her kept her on edge.

She drained the last of her champagne and turned to find another waiter with a tray. The night was dragging on, and she hadn't quite figured out how to leave without offending her boss. Just as she was about to slip into the shadows, someone stepped into her path.

"Excuse me," a deep voice said, smooth and charming.

Ruby glanced up, forcing a polite smile. Standing before her was a man she hadn't noticed before. His suit was sleek and tailored, and his smile radiated confidence. He was undeniably handsome-chiseled jawline, perfectly tousled brown hair, and piercing green eyes that sparkled with mischief. He was the type of man who could easily make any woman swoon.

But not tonight. Not Ruby.

"I don't think we've met," the man said, his smile widening as he extended a hand. "I'm Alex."

Ruby hesitated. Something about his approach felt too practiced, too smooth. The last thing she wanted was to spend the rest of the evening entertaining yet another rich bachelor looking for a fleeting distraction.

"Sorry," she said, her tone more dismissive than she intended. She stepped around him, barely making eye contact. "I'm just on my way out."

Alex's smile faltered slightly, though he quickly recovered, watching in amused disbelief as Ruby brushed past him without a second glance. He chuckled under his breath, shaking his head as he watched her disappear into the crowd.

"Well, that's a first."

He didn't take rejection personally-at least, not the kind that came from a woman like her. Ruby's indifference piqued his curiosity more than it wounded his ego. She was different. Most women, especially in this environment, would have jumped at the opportunity to talk to someone like him, but she had shrugged him off as if he were just another face in the crowd. That intrigued him.

Still grinning, Alex made his way through the ballroom, weaving between groups of elegantly dressed guests until he reached the bar at the far end of the room. Leaning against it, Zane was already waiting, a whiskey in hand and that same brooding look that he always carried.

"Rejection looks good on you," Zane said, raising an eyebrow as Alex approached.

Alex smirked, grabbing his own drink from the bartender. "She had no idea who she was turning down."

Zane took a sip of his whiskey, his dark eyes glittering with amusement. "And let me guess-you're not used to that."

"Not at all," Alex replied with a laugh. He leaned against the bar, glancing over his shoulder in the direction Ruby had gone. "She was different, though. Most women in this crowd see me, and they're already plotting how to get me to ask for their number."

"Maybe she wasn't impressed by your usual charm."

Alex pretended to be wounded, placing a hand over his heart. "Ouch. Low blow, man."

Zane smirked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "You know, maybe she just wasn't interested in what you were selling. Women like that... they're not so easy to figure out."

"Women like that?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow. "You mean women who don't care about the money, the lifestyle, the status?"

Zane's gaze grew more distant, thoughtful. "Exactly."

Alex followed his best friend's gaze, noticing for the first time how Zane's eyes seemed to follow the woman who had rejected him. Ruby, the same woman who had made an impression on Zane earlier. He chuckled under his breath.

"Oh no, don't tell me she caught your attention too?"

Zane shrugged, but his expression betrayed the slightest hint of interest. "I don't know what it is. There's something about her. She doesn't belong here, that much is obvious. And yet, she holds her own in a room full of sharks."

Alex leaned closer, his smirk deepening. "So, let me get this straight: I try to talk to her, she blows me off, and now you're interested in her too? We've got quite a situation on our hands."

Zane chuckled softly, his eyes still following Ruby as she moved through the crowd. "It's not like that."

"Isn't it?" Alex pressed, his tone teasing. "Come on, Zane. We both know how this goes. You see someone intriguing, someone who doesn't fawn over you the way most women do, and suddenly you're hooked."

Zane shot him a sidelong glance. "Don't make this into something it's not."

Alex raised his glass in a mock toast. "Fine, but I'm just saying... if she wasn't interested in me, good luck charming her. She's not the typical type, clearly."

Zane didn't respond, but the challenge lingered in the air between them. He was used to the effortless attention women lavished on him, drawn by his success, his power, his status. But Ruby? She didn't even know who he was, and that fascinated him.

"What's her name?" Alex asked after a moment, turning to the bartender who had been standing by quietly.

The bartender, a young man in a sharp uniform, hesitated before responding. "I believe she's Ruby. Came with Clarissa, if I'm not mistaken."

"Ruby," Alex repeated, rolling the name on his tongue like he was trying it out. "A fitting name for a hidden gem."

Zane set his glass down, his eyes darkening with interest. "She didn't just reject you because you're a bad flirt, Alex. She rejected you because she's smarter than that."

Alex laughed. "You're really leaning into this whole 'mysterious woman' vibe, aren't you?"

Zane shrugged but didn't deny it. There was something different about Ruby, something refreshing compared to the usual women who crossed their paths. In this world of wealth and power, everyone had an angle, but Ruby didn't seem to be playing the same game. It intrigued him more than he cared to admit.

"She probably doesn't even know who we are," Zane mused, staring into the distance.

Alex nodded. "Which makes her even more interesting, doesn't it?"

Zane leaned back, the corners of his lips curving slightly. "I think we'll be seeing more of her."

Alex smirked, taking a swig of his drink. "Careful. We wouldn't want to scare her off too quickly. You know how these things go. She might get curious."

"Oh, she'll get curious," Zane replied, a glint of mischief in his dark eyes. "But when she does, she won't know what hit her."

The two of them shared a knowing look, one forged from years of friendship and shared experiences. Zane and Alex had always been a team, navigating the world of high society with ease. They knew how to play the game, and they knew how to win. But this time, the stakes felt different.

Ruby had unknowingly stepped into their world, and now they both found themselves drawn to her in different ways. Whether it was the thrill of the chase, the allure of the unknown, or something deeper, neither of them could quite put a finger on it. But one thing was certain: Ruby had caught their attention, and their paths were bound to cross again.

Zane raised his glass in a silent toast, his eyes following Ruby's figure one last time before she disappeared from view.

"To the game."

Alex smirked, clinking his glass against Zane's. "To the game."