Cheating The Billionaire

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Taylor wore her slippers and stepped out of her room lethargically until she felt the sweltering heat of the fire. The raging flames were burning down the house, consuming everything in its path. "Papa!" She cried out in anxiety and rushed up the broad wooden stairs. The crystal chandelier creaked as it swung back and forth before crashing down. Taylor looked away as crystals shards spread in the air, scartching her delicate skin.

Undeterred, she continued climbing upstairs and waded through the roaring fire. "Mamma..." she called out to her parents and proceeded towards their room. Anxious to find them safe inside, she pushed open the door and was led into a quiet and well maintained chamber that appeared far from being part of a burning house. The room was bright with pink walls that reflected the sunshine that came in through the window. Her voice choked when she noticed a man seated on the edge of the bed with his hands over his head. 

Doubting it was her father, she walked up to him only to realize he was none other than Chase. His face was grim with sorrow, his eyes fixed to the floor like he had lost something dear. Hesitant she looked in the direction he was looking at and gasped seeing a bloody hand from under the bed. It wasn't hard to make out whom the body under the bed belonged to. Feeling the bracelet she had been wearing, she stared at the very same bracelet around the bloody hand and quivered.

"Taylor!" Zac called her angrily and grabbed her attention.

Surprised to find him in the same room, she rushed to him, before he stopped her. "You cheated on me!" He complained and stepped out and back into the flames.

"Zac, no I didn't..." She screamed and woke up with a start.

Seated beside her, Zac calmed her down and assured her she was just having a nightmare. Relived to see him safe and near her, she buried her face in his bare chest. Holding her tight, he caressed her hair and enquired if it were the same dream that often recurred ever since she had walked into the orphanage. Nodding her head in response, she decided to keep the details of the nightmare to herself. After all Chase and her own body under the bed was an unexpected addition to her terrorising nightmare.

When dawn broke, he took charge of the laundry and advised Taylor to freshen up. Aware of what was coming ahead, she reluctantly obeyed and anticipated his prep talk at the table. "Today is the day you enchant him..." he addressed her and pulled a chair. "Remember what I told you, you have to do this for us...for me," he added and studied her expression.

"And if I don't..." she replied somberly.

"Then you lose me...and I'll lose you..." he whispered and stared deep into her eyes.

"You haven't told me the purpose behind it all, Zac. What will you accomplish making me do this?" she grimaced. "He's not going to fall for my pleas and have mercy on you if that's what's cooking," she added.

"I don't need a billionaire's mercy, what I need is his treasure," he replied and startled her.

"What do you mean?"

"You're not doing this to beg for mercy...you will be doing this to pay our debt," he explained and began cutting an apple into half. "I either pay the debt or die, hence I chose the first. Now paying the debt isn't going to be possible for a nobody like me, but with a little help we may just be in the position to pay it all. This is where you come into the picture. You trick the billionaire into falling for you and in the process milk as much as dollars as you can, while I pay our debt. Funny isn't it? He won't have the slightest clue that I'm paying my debts with his own bloody money," He smiled and pushed a slice into her mouth.

"Zac...This is wrong, this is like..." 

"Like cheating the billionaire..." He smirked and bit into another slice.

"Zac...I don't know...this is too dangerous. What if he finds out about the truth...I'm not good at pretending...what if he see right through my lies..." she protested and felt jittery.

"Then we both die...it's up to you how well you play the game," he instilled her with guilt and fear. "I'm waging on you, Taylor...only you can help us both escape this tricky situation," he held her face and made her face him.

"I know you can do this...do it for me...do it for us Taylor...Cheat the billionaire," He brushed his thumb against her cheekbone and smiled when she responded with an embrace.

It was midday, the scorching heat raised the temperature in Florida. But what raised it even more was Taylor stepping out in an ultra sexy bikini. Standing by the pool, she adjusted her shades and watched the inviting water shimmer under the sun. Not far away was Zac's watchful gaze. Counting the minutes like her, they anxiously waited for their prey to step in and so he did, dot at 3.

looking Dapper in white casuals, Chase walked in alone. He took a table by the pool and searched for her until he laid his eyes on the woman approaching him. "Chase, how are you? It sure has been long since I last saw you," She greeted and embraced him.

 "Louise! I had a feeling I had seen that face before, how are you?" 

"I don't know, maybe you should ask Louise...I'm Mellisa..." she made a face.

"Ouch, my bad..."

"I don't blame you...men will be men," she commented and glanced at Taylor as she walked towards them.

Taylor had been having second thoughts when she noticed them together. Zac however convinced her to make her presence known and show Chase that she din't care a damn about his one night flings. Layered with a bath robe, she partly hide her modesty since it was her first time seducing someone other than Zac. Striding gracefully towards them, she uttered the words in her head, "You can do this, Taylor..."

"Hi, am I interrupting something?" she sounded like a fresh breath of desire as she flipped her hair and boldly gazed straight into his eyes.

Mellisa stared her down and gave her a not so friendly look. "Have fun with your new muse," she grumbled and stormed away leaving Chase red faced.

"My was she angry or what?" Taylor felt amused and took a seat across the table.

"I'm sorry about that, it wasn't intended for you," he cringed and apologized.

"You mean I'm not your new muse?" she commented and caught him off guard. "Don't take me seriously, I was just joking," she added.

"Seems there's also a funny side to you.." he smiled.

"I have more than what meets the eye..." She paused and crossed her legs. Somehow, Taylor felt confident holding a conversation with him, something she wasn't aware she could pull off so easily. "So was she your..." she paused to let him fill in.

"No, not what you are thinking," He cleared the air.

"Oh really! Is this what every successful businessman quotes when confronted?" she smirked and so did he.

"Apparently you're partly right...seems you haven't done your homework well," he leaned forward and signaled the waiter to get a drink.

"Isn't that why we're here...?" she leaned forward too and traced the brim of the glass with her manicured nails. 

Chase drew in a deep breath and recalled the exchange of mails between them. "I'm glad you decided to meet and clear things out, Thank you." 

"Isn't it too early to be thanking me?" She lowered her gaze. "I mean...i haven't forgotten what you did that night..." she gently raised her gaze up at him.

"Is that a threat...coz there's something oddly satisfying in the way you say it," he leaned back and had a good look at her. Her beach wave hair was let loose over her shoulder. The beads of sweat forming on her forehead, shimmered every time she wiped it. Her skin though wrapped safe inside the robe, exuded an alluring  fragrance that was hard to ignore.

Taylor noticed how his gaze ran through her figure, and quickly undid her robe so it partly fell off, exposing her moist shoulder to the sun. His eyes lingered at her shoulder but was quick to switch back to her focused eyes.

"Something tells me you aren't the same toffee nosed boutique manager I know,"

"It takes more than just one meeting to truly know a person,"

"It would be a pleasure to indulge in more such meetings if you like," he raised his brows and ran his fingers through his hair. "In fact you can join me tomorow at a friend's party," he added.

"Are you asking me out?" she smirked.

"If you trust me...yes i am.."

"I don't trust people easily..especially those with a dangerous track record," 

"If this is about me, I would love to clarify that your secret is safe and you have nothing to fear from me," he assured her again.

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that to you?" she scratched the back of her neck and shifted her gaze across the pool.

"Like I said, trust me....after all I've been wanting to payback for saving my life that night,"

Taylor recalled the horror of that night and quivered. "And you plan to do it by asking me out?"

"Apart from being funny you're also smart...I like that," he smirked while Taylor weighed the possibilities of convincing him to pay her in millions, that way she wouldn't have to go ahead cheating him. Would he really pay her that large sum for saving his life? What if he doubt something was fishy, worst what if he found out she was connected to Zac?

"So should I take that as a yes?" he said and pulled her out of her thoughts.

Taylor glanced at his expensive watch and decided it was best to take things slow, the way Zac had instructed. "I'll let you know tomorrow..." she responded without meeting his gaze and suddenly stood up. "Uh...I've got to go...b- bye," she hastily left.

"But how am I to know you're coming?" He called out to her before she rushed into the changing room.

Damn! Why didn't I outright ask for those millions! She pulled her hair and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She knew she had come close to ending the game then and there by claiming a good sum for saving his life, yet her own fears had held her back.

"Baby, are you okay?" Zac's voice echoed in the empty changing room as he rushed towards her. Making her face him, he enquired if she was successful enough in holding his attention.

"I'm fine...I just..."

"You just what? Don't tell me you messed up..." 

Taylor noticed fear in his eyes and pushed away the thought of revealing the opportunity she had missed. "I bought time to accept his invitation to a party tomorrow," she slipped out of the robe and proceeded to change.

"That's my girl...I knew you could pull it off!" He sighed in relief and took a breather. "Though the robe was a bit of a turn off, I'm glad he still found you irresistible," he chuckled and unknowingly annoyed her.

"I must admit you are a fine actress. You looked quite natural out there...I was beginning to think you really were flirting with him," he expressed his view and helped her change.

"Can we not talk about Chase Franshaw now? The last thing I want is to see him in my dreams," she frowned and moved out.

"I don't know about you, but Chase sure will be dreaming about that hot bod behind the robe," he held her by the waist as they left together.

The following day, Zac reminded her to accept the invitation and notify him. "I'm scared..." she whispered as she got ready to go.

"You're doing fine my darling," He brushed his thumb against her red painted lips and kissed her neck. "Lure him in so deep, that he finds it hard to escape," he whispered and lowered her little black off shoulder dress further below, so her cleavage was more prominent.

"And don't forget...be quick...I don't have much time. I've kept his men busy for a while...but not for long," he hooked the artificial pearl necklace around her delicate neck.

"So there, all set to go to prom with your date! I should totally record this moment, my girl is all grown up," He teased while Taylor cribbed.

"Ya whatever! Could you please cut it out, how do you even find this funny?" she complained and stormed out the door.

Zac followed her out and grabbed her wrist. "If you find me laughing it's only to hide my pain...I hope you understand that..." he said and dropped it. 

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Sorry for the delay in updating, my granny passed away so my mind was bit messed up.