Love, Lies and Billionaires

“Welcome back ma’am”

“Louise, what’s on schedule for today?” Maren asked, ignoring the greetings of her staff and just waving to some in reply.

“Basically, everything since you took your sudden vacation.”

On an ordinary day, Maren should have been pissed at the tone of Louise’s voice, but she was too satisfied to think about it.

They both got on to the elevator and Louise pushed the button to the floor where Maren’s office was located.

“You’ve got lots of meetings and lots of documents to sign, and they’re all stacked on your table, ma’am,” Louise continued, strolling through a digital clipboard.

Maren didn’t need to be told. She knew she’d have a shitload of work to do the moment she stepped into her building.

“Oh and also ma’am,” Louise said, drawing her attention back to the present as they both stepped out of the elevator and began walking towards her office.

“Mr. Blackwood was here yesterday. And even waited a little but left when you didn’t show up,” Louise informed.

Maren wanted to sigh and rolled her eyes, but instead a thought struck her and she smiled and felt a little guilt. She opened her office door with her key card and they both went in.

To be honest, she was expecting a bouquet and possibly a bottle of pink wine to be sitting on her table, but she remembered that only she had access to it.

And if he had been that thoughtful, he would have dropped them at her house as he’d come around, according to her mom.

Her eyes fell on the heap of files stacked on her table, and they almost widened. Louise wasn’t kidding when she said a lot.

‘How long was she gone? It was just two days. How did all this happen and when?’ she asked herself as she knew she could complain.

She took off her coat and placed it on the hanger before dropping into her chair and pulling close to the table.

“Lastly…actually there is no other thing that’s all that’s been going on while you were gone,” Louise said, looking up for the first time since she began walking with her boss.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

Maren just stared at her in a way that read, “Are you done?” But Louise didn’t dare say another word, so she averted her gaze. “Send me a copy of activities. I’ll see how I’ll handle it,” she finally said and took a file from the stack.

“Sure thing, ma’am,” the secretary said and walked out of the office.

Maren was now left alone, with no idea how she’d handle all this in such a short time. She just has to brace herself for a stressful rest of the week.

She smiled as she opened the file she had taken out. Not from the contents, but from the memory that just hit her. She knew this world was her punishment for the extreme partying she’d done with Kendrick.

He’d taken her out after their pool session and he’d insisted, despite her protests. She later agreed after much persuasion, not like she needed it though. She was ready to follow him to the end of the world at that moment.

“Where the hell are we going?” She asked as they climbed into the vehicle.

“That’ll spoil the fun, don’t you think?”

“But this will confirm the rumours.”

“Tell me you care about the rumours and I promise I’ll take you home,” he said with a challenging voice.

Maren bit her lower lip as she stared at him. He really didn’t want to miss this opportunity. She chuckled. “Can you at least tell me where we’re going?”

“Oh, you’ll see,” he said with a contagious grin on his face. He sat up straight and turned towards the driver. “Ricky, the usual!” He ordered, and he started the engine without uttering a word.

Kendrick took her hand. His sparked with excitement. “You’re going to love this so much,” he assured her. She couldn’t help but chuckle as she saw the genuineness in his eyes.

Minutes later, they were in their sixth round of shots at a VIP only bar, drunk and almost throwing up in each other’s mouths as they kissed while the music played loudly and everyone around them laughed either drunk or amused to see someone like Kendrick behave so out of character.

They laughed loudly at the slightest joke anyone made and Maren even stood up drunkenly to bust a few moves which she invited Kendrick for, but he declined countless times till she gave up and danced to the amusement of the onlookers.

They played and laughed some more in the blue lighting of the building, till it was dark outside.

“Let’s get out of here,” Maren whispered as she laid her head on his shoulder as she fought to keep her eyes open in the booth where they both sat.

“Where do you want to go?” he whispered back, unable to turn to look at her due to fatigue.

“I don’t know, anywhere” she raised her head up and looked at him, which he reciprocated. They stared at each other for a while, Maren’s eyes straying to his lips occasionally.

Then, just at the last minute, she laid her head back on his shoulder.

She was silent for a while and Kendrick thought she’d finally given up and fallen asleep, but then, suddenly, she jerked up with a start and Kendrick, startled, turned in surprise in the direction age had gone.

“Is there a backdoor in this building?” She excitedly asked the bartender, who nodded, with his own share of surprise written on his face.

“It’s that way,” he said, pointing to a corner which one would have to turn.

“Thanks,” she said, turning back to where Kendrick was with the same energy. She got to where he was and began pulling him by the hand.

“Where are we going?” He asked with curiosity in his tone.

She just turned and flashed him a wide grin before pulling him some more, urging him to come with her. He gave up eventually and stood up.

She took him by the hand and walked hurriedly towards the path the bartender had pointed. And when they got to a hallway and were out of sight, she picked up speed and practically skipped, knowing where she was going or not.

Finally, they got to a door and pushed it inward. It gave way to a dark empty cold alley with only a light at the end as the source of illumination.

She pulled him till her back was on the wall and he was towering over her and their faces were a breath away from each other.

Maren held onto his face and stared into his eyes, not knowing if it was real or the alcohol was acting.

With no words spoken and no time wasted, their lips connected like two opposite poles. They kissed hungrily into the night, sucked on their lips, and pressed their bodies into each other.

Suddenly Maren pushed him aside and ran to a corner. She bent her head and out came everything she’d taken that night.