Becoming The Billionaire's Desire

Billionaire Austin Miller

Emily’s POV

I tried to ignore Austin. I was doing my best to make sure that my body didn’t respond to him but my eyes were ignorant of our quarrel and I found myself staring at him more than once. Austin looked so different; perhaps it was because I had gone months without seeing him or maybe it was just my body reacting to how handsome he truly was. Around him, tons of ladies gathered like bees, Austin had always been a player.

Suddenly he started walking in my direction, my feet wobbled under me as I leaned against the bar for support sipping from my champagne glass.

“If that isn’t Emily,” He stopped at the table and gave me a cursory glance with a patient smile painting his face.

“And if that isn’t Austin Miller the Billionaire ladies’ man,” I retorted with a calm smile.

“You know, you could have just said hi back to me but Emily would be Emily even in the next thousand years; always looking for faults where there’s none,” he replied.

I stared at him, shocked to my marrows, how dare he even insinuate? I tried to remain calm but I heard myself answer in an icy voice “Mr Miller, just because you’ve got cash to throw around doesn’t make you a god,” I clucked my tongue why shaking my head from side to side “it doesn’t even bring you closer to the Egyptian gods,” I added.

Austin busied himself with placing a drink order and when the bartender was done making it for him, he raised his glass in a half cheer and walked away without saying another word to me.

"What!" I choked on my drink as I watched him walk away without another word to me "How dare he?" I murmured feeling my face flush in embarrassment.

I wanted to run up to him and grab him by his tailcoat and demand why he left me like that. No matter what, I am a woman and I didn't deserve to be treated that way. Still, I kept my cool. I picked up another glass of champagne from a server trying to ignore the picture-perfect picture, Austin was creating with a skinny blonde who was awe-struck by him. She was telling him something and was also giggling in return. From the way she was all over him, I knew they were going to end the night on Austin's bed and that irked me the more.

If I had known he would be attending the Awards ceremony, I wouldn't have bothered with coming here. I pulled myself together, promising to stop thinking of him. Besides, I was in the perfect place to mingle and network with people from the entertainment industry, I might as well do that.

I left the bar area and strolled casually to a group of women in their early thirties. From afar, I recognized Meryl - she was a veteran actress who retired earlier this year. With her were some big wig actresses and they all looked like they were enjoying themselves.

As I approached them, I contemplated whether or not I should make a stop but at the last minute, I decided against it... I was not in their league and I didn't want to embarrass myself. I successfully walked past them when someone called my name.

"Emily?" a soft voice called out.

I did a 360 hating myself at that moment. I could practically picture how I looked right now; like a dog who has not seen its, owner, after many days.

"Yeah!" I said brightly retracing my footsteps. The voice who called me was Karen McCarthy. We once shared a set.

"Of course, I knew it'll be you, darling," she chuckled as she came to take my hands giving me a warm smile and without giving me a chance to recover, she pulled me towards the small group of women.

"Ladies, this is Emily. She's a newbie but she's got some talent. I've seen the girl in action," she informed them.

"H-hi, Pe..." I trailed off in embarrassment noting with disdain that my palms were sweaty which could only mean I was nervous.

"I mean," I reiterated with another smile "Good evening, ladies. I'm sorry I'm a mess I just didn't think you would want to talk to me," I added.

"Oh!" Meryl placed a hand on her chest as her lips rounded into a surprise "Why would you think that of us, darling? We're humans just like you,".

"Oh my God!" excitement crept into my voice "I'm your biggest fan, Meryl and it's such an honour to stand and talk to you like this - all of you..." I added quickly.

"Of course, darling," Karen chuckled as she went back to join the ladies so I was standing in their presence while eight pairs of eyes were fixated on me.

"So tell me, dear," Meryl started "How is acting like?".

For the next few minutes, I sounded like an overwound tape that won't stop. I began narrating all of my experiences. My first set and all the difficulties I'd faced. The women just continued staring at me, nodding and making small noises from their throats. I was almost going to tell them about how I confused my monologue for a TV commercial for something else when something caught my eye.

It was Karen pointing a phone at me. She had a glint in her eyes - that glint someone would have if they were mocking you and so did the rest of the women. Then, it occurred to me that whatever it is that they called me for, complimenting me wasn't a part of the plan.

They were mocking me, making fun of me and probably recording me since Karen's phone was pointed in my direction.

"Go on sweetheart," Meryl urged.

"What are you doing?" I asked quietly still staring at Karen.

"Oh!" she dropped her phone picked up her glass of champagne and took a sip "Nothing my dear, just having fun," she said.

"Having fun at my detriment?" my eyes filled up with tears. "You deceived me - all of you," I accused.

"No, we didn't," Meryl c****d a brow at me "You just looked really funny telling us about your life and all that. Anyways, I wonder what my cousin saw in you. If this is how you act on set then darling, you might as well stop acting,".

Yes, Jack, my boyfriend had mentioned Meryl. They were related.

Trying to calm my nerves which were in tatters now, I turned to Karen "Please delete that video,".

"Why should I dear?" she snorted "You looked so cute in it, didn't she, Mel?".

"The absolute best," Meryl replied "Just leave, Jack alone. You and he are not in the same category and you dating him would cause a setback in his career and his at the peak. So, please,".

"Wow!" I huffed "So, this is all about, Jack.

"No," Karen said "It's about you trying to act like the queen in this industry. You don't pay obeisance to us and I hear how demanding you are on set. You stole a role right from my daughter because you feel you can go around shagging the entire...".

"I would watch my words, Ms McCarthy," a strong baritone voice interrupted her. It was Austin.

He came to stand near me as his hands settled on the small of my back. "Watch what you're saying, ma'am... we won't hesitate to sue," he added.

The shocked look on the faces of the women gave me a moment of victory as they saw Austin. They were not prepared for his entrance but since they were seasoned actresses, they recovered quickly enough to take a sip from their glasses before giving their attention to us.

"Oh, Mr Miller, right?" Meryl was the first to speak "We didn't know you are an acquaintance with Emily,".

"I intentionally used the words 'sue' in my sentence now. Isn't that enough proof to show we are no mere acquaintance?" Austin's voice was cold.

"Oh, that's wonderful," Karen said with enthusiasm. "Don't worry, Mr Miller...we were just getting acquainted with Emily, right dear?".

Karen's tone was pleading as she looked at me.

For a moment, I contemplated playing alongside them but it was already too late. They were going to bully me anyways and as far as I am concerned, they didn't want me to be in their good graces...so... nothing mattered.

Turning to Austin for the first time, I whined "She took embarrassing videos of me," I told him pointing at Karen whose eyes widened in shock.

"C'mon now, child," her lips trembled "I would never do that,".

"They're picking a fight with me because they think I want to take them out of their throne. Something about Queens and that stuff," I continued ignoring her.

"You should be a perfect mentor in the industry now but look at you trying to intimidate a young, aspiring actress. You all should be ashamed of yourselves," Austin hissed.

"Which of them made the video?" he asked me.

Without saying a word, I pointed at Karen.

"Can I have your phone, Ms McCarthy?" he stretched his hand towards her.

"Why would I give you my phone?" Karen raised her voice a notch higher which made me begin to look in our direction "You can't intimidate me and ask for my personal effects like you own them," she continued attracting people to us now.

"Very well," Austin nodded "Then I guess we'll meet in court then,".

"Really?" Karen was bolder now "And what evidence do you have?" she asked.

"Oh, lots of evidence," Austin shrugged and reached inside his suit pocket and produced his phone. He scrolled through it for some minutes and then pointed the phone at Karen's face.

She froze and her face turned white.

"It's up to you," Austin replaced the phone "You can choose the hard or the easy way... but don't worry...you can always choose the easy way. I think you would want that,".

Whatever it is that Austin showed Karen seemed to be potent because she handed Austin her phone and he puttered with it for a while before handing it back to her with a smile on his face.

"Thank you for your cooperation," he smiled "Have a wonderful evening, ladies," he took me by the shoulders and steered me out of their presence.

We continued until we got to the other end of the room before he stopped and glared at me. "For one small human being, you're one big pack of trouble,".

I had a ready retort on the tip of my tongue but decided against it. For what's what...Austin came through for me at the dying moment and I should be grateful.

"Thank you," I murmured beaming a smile at him.

I watched as his eyes widened in surprise that he quickly replaced with a smirk "Don't thank me," he said gruffly "Those women are people you wouldn't want to mess with. So, you're dating, Jack?" he asked.

"Yeah," I nodded suddenly feeling awkward.

"Good luck to you," he straightened. "I've done my little bit, Emily. Try to stay away from trouble... enjoy the rest of the evening," he patted my arms and disappeared leaving me wondering if he didn't hate me as much as I thought he did.