Cheating The Billionaire

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Taylor could feel the pain and tribulations Zac was going through. Like a tease, his bright fortunes had turned overnight and pulled him back to square one. Lying on the hammock with a calm look, he failed to hide the storm that sucked him deeper into depression. Taylor caressed his unshaven face and picked the beer cans strews across the room.

"I'll be late today. Don't forget to heat the food unlike yesterday when you ate it cold," She advised, but it fell on deaf ears, as Zac was occupied with thought of his own.

Time was ticking. Chase's men were after him like leeches, waiting to drain him out cold. They persistently  threatened him over phone calls and mailers, reminding him to pay his debts. Just as Zac began treating it as a harmless routine, he received a voice message from his former manager Denis, who now threatened to harm Taylor if he didn't hurry things up.

That night, Zac raged in anger and stayed awake contemplating how to protect her and repay the debts. The very fact that they knew Taylor and where she worked, terrified him. "I've got to sort this! I've got to sort this now..." he hit his fist against the wall and pondered for solutions, when all of a sudden he was distracted by the muffled ring tone of Taylor's phone.

Heavy  with emotions, he walked lethargically towards her phone and noticed the amount of unread messages that had popped up. Wondering why she left her phone down in the garage, he walked ahead before retreating his steps.

Picking her phone, he gazed up stairs to see if she was around and hastily rushed out the back door. "Where did that bastard go?" he murmured as he anxiously scrolled through her mails.

It wasn't long before he found what he was looking for and cautiously read the mail sent by Chase all over again.

Much as he wished to punch Chase for annoying his girl, there was something holding him back. He read every word Chase had typed with utmost attention, as if he were trying to read between the lines. Recounting the harrowing tale she had narrated about the murder, he for a second felt he had the upper hand as he knew his dirty little secret. But after much deliberation he realized he was up against a billionaire, who could very well erase all the evidences including Taylor, the prime witness to it all. But why didn't he threaten or kill her in the first place? Did he like her? Why was he adamant on meeting her though she had cleared the air and promised to stay quiet?

A train of thoughts rushed into his mind as he stared at the mail endlessly. "Could she...no...what if she can..." he murmured and glanced at a spider crawling towards its prey that was entangled in the web.

Zac broke into a sly smile as he watched it devour the trapped fly. With a sense of achievement and relief, he rose on his feet and stared into the horizon as dawn broke. "Chase Franshaw...this game has just begun..." he said and without thinking twice hit the reply button.

Dear Mr. Franshaw,

Pardon me for having kept you waiting for so long.

The incident was far more disturbing for me than what you would have expected. I assure you I'll carry your secrete to my grave, but that doesn't imply I'll ever forget what you did. I was pretty unsure at first, but I guess meeting you would be better after all.

I don't know you well enough, maybe my prejudice will diminish once we meet across the table.

See you by the pool side at Crystal club at four.

Regards,

Taylor Meyer

"And there she goes..." he smirked as he hit the send button and felt the warmth embrace of the rising sun.

Unaware of the dangerous conspiracy that Zac was weaving, Taylor woke up in bed to a beautiful surprise. "Seriously? Breakfast in bed...and a rose...?" she asked in utter bafflement.

"Anything for you my precious..." he kissed her hand tenderly and made her taste the spread he had prepared.

"Wait...it isn't our anniversary, right? Nor is it my birthday...Zac what was it that happened this day?" she quizzed and looked at him anxiously.

"Nothing yet my dear...but it sure will ..." he replied and confused her further than she already was.

"Zac, stop talking in riddles. What is going to happen today? Wait they spared you, right? We're celebrating because he..." she had barely finished when Zac interrupted.

"No...they're after you," he paused and studied her expression as she turned pale in horror.

"Me..." she gulped.

"Denise know everything about us, he has threatened to harm you if I delay any further in paying my debts," he grimaced.

"If he knows, chances are Chase knows..."

"No. I doubt he's unaware. Things will get harder for me if he were to find out about us,"

"Wait...Zac what exactly are you talking? I'm telling you let's leave Florida now..." 

"Taylor do you love me ?" Zac asked out of the blue.

"Of course I do, I love you more than my life,"

"I know, but how far would you go to prove it,"

"Prove it? You want me to prove my love?" Taylor made a face.

"I mean how far would you go to save me?" He paused and studied her expression.

"Further than you can ever imagine! I'd do anything to save you Zac..." She responded without thinking twice.

Zac remained quiet for a brief second before revealing what was going on his mind. "Would you get romantically involved with Chase, for me?" he expressed his wish and startled her.

Taylor went numb for a minute and stared into his eyes in disbelief. "Zac..." her voice seemed to trail off as she was surged with mixed emotions.

"Pretend dear , you only have to pretend you're into him," He explained and inched closer to her. "baby please don't say no! I know it's hard for you but think how hard it is for me."

"Just the thought of it is killing me," He frowned and cupped her face in his hands.

"Then why make me do this? Zac, I cannot love another man, leave alone faking it. Just how did you think I would be up for something like that? She retorted and accidentally dropped the breakfast tray.

"My bad, I thought you loved me and would go to any lengths to see me alive..." he left her side and walked away angrily.

Surged with guilt, she took a while before stepping out of the room. Finding him by the window, she quietly stood at the doorway and waited for him to notice her presence. However Zac was too engrossed peering through the curtains, as if he were secretly watching someone outside.

When he glanced behind, he rushed towards her and pulled her near the window. "See that car at the end...his men are watching us twenty four seven...following every step you take..." He whispered and drew the curtain.

"I'm telling you let's find another solution..." she had barely finished, when Zac forcefully pressed a knife in her hand and pointed the sharp edge towards his chest.

"This is the solution...either you kill me now or let his men kill me like a dog...the choice is yours," he sounded determined and pulled the knife closer while her hand trembled. 

"Please stop this madness! I can't kill you," she screamed and broke into tears as she knelt before him.

"I would rather let you end my suffering than go through more by his men, but it seems you aren't willing to do that either. Which means I have to..." he paused right when Taylor reached for his hand and held it tight. She knew it wasn't right and wished he had asked for anything but that. With a deep heart, she finally gave into pressure and gazed up at him.

"I'll do it..." she whispered as tears streaked her cheek.

Zac broke into a smile, but wasn't quite sure what she had agreed to. " Do what?" he enquired anxiously.

"I'll do as you say and pretend I'm in love...with him," she said the words that felt like a nightmare to her.

Much to his satisfaction, Zac heaved a sigh of relief and pulled her up on her feet. "I knew my girl wouldn't disappoint me...You may not realize it now, but when it happens you are going to thank me," he stroke her cold wet cheek and embraced her.

When night fell, he left without any explanation to fix a loose end that could create extreme hurdles in his plan. Taylor waited and fell asleep, unaware that he had returned with blood smeared over his clothes. Without making a sound in the laundry, he hastily dumped his clothes in the washer and joined her in bed. 

Not far away, Chase had just finished reading all his mails when he heard the shocking news about Denise's mysterious death. 

"How and when did this happen?" he closed his fist in anger.

"We know nothing sir, Denise last ordered us to break for a quick bite before driving away alone," one of them replied and left him wondering as to who could have killed him. After all his most trusted man was charred to death.

Hope you're liking the story so far, feel free to comment. My next update will be on  Saturday.