Becoming The Billionaire's Desire

I can't sleep with you...

Emily’s POV

I stared at Austin trying to search his face for a trace that what he said was a joke.

“You can’t really be serious,” I managed to mutter after I found my voice.

“Well, I am a man of few words, Emily and you know that. I’ll help you if you come as my plus one on the day of the movie premiere and of course tomorrow I need you to help me play hostess in my house, I hate repeating myself,” he added with a smirk.

“But you know that is impossible,” I crossed my hand in frustration scared that I may lunge at him and give him a punch on his face – anything that will wipe out the smirk.

“What is not possible, donna?” his eyebrows wiggled in amusement “You should be glad I am not asking you to sleep with me,”.

“The ne…” I trailed off biting off the sarcastic remark at the tip of my tongue, more than anything, I need to keep my emotion in check. My future was at stake here and Austin seemed like my only saviour now.

“Oh!” he threw his head backwards and howled in laughter “I never knew this day would come. I can’t believe you decided to hold your emotions in check, I am so proud of you and perhaps, we need to try this method often so you can put that temper of yours into check,” he chuckled.

Trying to control the urge to drive my fist on his face I said instead “I appreciate your concern and care towards me and I am so grateful that you chose to help me but you know I have a boyfriend who I plan to attend the premiere of the movie with. How can I explain to Jack that I won’t be going with him? How can I even say that? He’d be mortified and he would want explanations,”.

“Unfortunately, I am not interested in your relationship crisis,” Austin shrugged “As for letting him on, you can’t tell him because he could be a part of them and the fewer people know, the better my plan would work,”.

“Then how can I explain this situation to him?” I cried out in frustration hating the way I was beginning to sound.

“You alone, honey can figure it out. You’ve got 24 hours to get back to me with a reply and I hope you will make the right decision. Remember, your future is at stake here,” he snickered.

“Austin,” I took restorative breaths trying to calm the storm brewing inside me “Please, give me something else, ask me to do something else, anything, please…I am willingly and ready to do it, Please?” I rubbed my hands together in a plea.

“Okay,” he nodded “Will you sleep with me then?” he announced with a belligerent smile on his face.

“What?” the blood drained from my face as I frowned at him “H-how can you ask me that? You know I am with another man,” I whimpered.

“I know, Emily but you asked me to give you something else,” he shrugged nonchalantly “I’ve always wanted you, Ems but I thought we were going to be an item and I was willing to wait till whenever you’re ready,”.

“I can’t sleep with you,” I grumbled.

“Then that’s the best I can do for you, I’m afraid,” he admitted “You know you can always let this go and wait for other acting opportunities and trust me, there’ll be so many that you can think of and to choose from. You don’t really have to do what I asked you to do and sit this one out,”.

“I put in so much time and effort, Austin,” I screeched in anger “For three good months, I had to put my life on hold for this movie so, if you think I will be willing to let go, then you must be mistaken. Please help me, I beg you,” I pleaded shamelessly.

“Before,” He scoffed “I would have been carried away by your pleas and probably go running to do what you want but then not anymore, Ems. You’ve got to work and earn every privilege and merit because life is not fair at all and I think I need to put a lid on the way I handle things especially to people like you who do not appreciate good friendship,”.

“That’s not true,” I protested stamping my foot “I have always appreciated you, our friendship – yes, we had a falling out but I never took you for granted, Austin. Believe me!”.

“Emily,” he grunted quietly and for a moment, the amused look on his face was replaced with pain that went away as quickly as it appeared.

“I’ll be waiting for your response in the next 24 hours. Do have a lovely evening, Miss Emily,” with that, he walked out of the bar leaving me to my scattered emotions.

***

By the time I got home, I was emotionally and physically tired.

Jack appeared at the door as soon as he heard the key in the lock “Hey babe,” he dropped a kiss on my lips and pulled me to him “I’ve missed you so much darling,” he added.

I could inhale the rich scents of his aftershave and his familiar comforting smell.

Suddenly, I became nostalgic, as I pressed my body deeper into his arms, Jack has been the best thing I’ve heard in all my history of relationships. He was caring, kind and completed me, the thought of going to a movie premiere in the arms of another man, made my heartbreak completely. I couldn’t do that to him.

“Hey,” he pulled away from me and stared at me with grey eyes filled with worry “What’s wrong?” he asked gently.

I opened my mouth to tell him everything including Austin’s offer but then, Austin’s face flashed into my mind and I wondered if I could completely trust Jack. True, we’ve been going out for a couple of months now but we’ve never talked about each other and somehow the arrangement seems to work perfectly.

“Nothing,” I said instead “I am just so tired and hungry,” I yawned.

“Oh dear,” he relieved me of my coat and hung it on the coat rail and took my handbag “the person you went to see didn’t at least feed you?” he queried with a frown.

“There was no time for that,” I patted his hand comfortingly “we were so caught up in the conversation that we didn’t realize that it was night already,” I lied.

He regarded me for a second before shrugging “I started dinner already and I am almost done save the salad,” he informed me “Go freshen up and come down,”.

“Thank you,” I stood on my toes and placed a kiss on his lips “I’ll make it up to you, darling,” I kissed him again.

He smiled and had to rush into the kitchen, he had food on the burner.

I trudged my way wearily to the bedroom and straight to the bathroom where I peeled of my clothes and filled the tub with water. As I entered the tub, I couldn’t stop thinking about Austin’s proposal and wondered which one would be perfect. If I slept with him, I would be sure that he won’t tell anyone since he wasn’t a kiss and tell but do, I really know? And then, there was going with him for the premiere, it would break Jack’s heart as he had big plans for that night and had already chosen our outfits. On the other hand, I could just forget about everything and try again, somewhere…

I shook my head in disgust…I can’t just let go. When I was done, I quickly dried my body and went downstairs.