Cheating The Billionaire

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“He better give you something valuable, if not then just ask,” Zac reminded Taylor as she got ready for her date.

“Won’t that look too obvious? I don’t want to come across as a gold digger,” Taylor frowned.

“Baby you’re one! Don’t tell me you’ve caught feelings for him!” Zac grinned.

“Hell no! I’m not tearing my eyes away from you, not in a million lifetimes,” She ran and hugged him.

“Hurry up, the emotions can wait,” He sniggered and looked at her. “What are you even wearing?” He frowned seeing her choice of boring monochrome dress.

“You don’t like it?” She made a face.

“Dress like he’ll want to get in your pants, not some granny waiting with cookies and milk,” Zac rolled his eyes and picked a sexy bodycon dress for her.

Taylor reluctantly changed into it and stepped out. “Now we’re talking girl,” He smirked and pulled her neckline further down.

“Zac, that's too much!” Taylor pulled it back up and huffed.

“You don’t know the game!” He remarked.

“But I do know Chase, let me play it my way,” she smiled and walked out.

“Hmpf, as far as I know he’s dumb. Who takes a girl out for breakfast,” He sighed and checked his balance amount. He was still short of millions to repay Chase.

Taylor reached the sky deck restaurant by the sea and was amazed seeing the view. The manager guided her to where Chase was waiting for her.

“I thought I’m being stood up,” Chase greeted her with a sly smile.

“Patience will take you a long way, Chase,” Taylor smirked.

“Oh, so we’re on first name basis now?” Chase narrowed his brows.

“Shoot! What did I do?!!” Taylor froze and kept a poker face.

“I like your confidence, Taylor...It fits you well,” He smirked and ran his gaze over her figure.

“Phew! Crisis averted!” She thought and returned the smile.

Chase ordered a spread of mouth watering delicacies and they began conversing to get to know a bit more about each other.

“Is this the reward  for saving you twice?” She laughed. “I was expecting something more...Franshaw like,” She added.

Chase fixed his intense gaze on her and kept quiet. 

“Did the cat get your tongue? You suddenly turned quiet,” Taylor teased him.

“I'd rather watch you speak, you are quite amusing,” He smirked.

“Never met one like me before?” She looked at him mischievously.

Chase chuckled and leaned forward, “Let’s a play game, I’ll throw quick questions and you answer in 1 word,” He suggested and grabbed her attention.

“Sounds fun, Me first,” She smirked. “Your passion?” She started.

“Racing!” He replied.

“You live for?”

“Thrill!”

“Hmm...He’s quite like Zac...but still so different…” She got lost in her thoughts before Chase snapped her out of it.

“Okay...um...The most precious thing you own?” She asked and wondered what item it would be.

“Family!” He replied without hesitation and noticed the dumbfounded look on her face.

“You okay?” He asked and raised his brows.

“Um..yes..” Tylor wasn’t expecting his answer to make her this uncomfortable. “He could buy this whole restaurant right now, yet family is what’s precious to him…” She thought and looked away.

“My turn!” He crossed his legs. “Your fear?” he started.

“Snakes!” She replied.

“You miss?” He asked.

“Dates like these,” She teased.

“Hahaha...Smart!” He laughed, Taylor had to admit he sounded sexy.

“Your fetish?” He smirked.

“Veins…” She deliberately looked at the veins popping within his arm.

“Your desire?” He asked further.

“Love!” She replied and paused after realizing what she uttered.

Chase was taken aback by her answer too, he studied her expression as she tried to comprehend what just happened.

“Do you know what love is?” He asked softly, there was a certain calmness in his eyes when she looked at him.

“Of course...I do,” She replied and avoided his gaze. 

Chase wanted to ask her why she said she desired love if she knew what it was but refrained from asking. Seeing her body language he realized he had picked a nerve.

“Do you have a family?” He asked in the same soft tone.

The only face that flashed was that of Zac. “Um...No...I’m an orphan…” her voice trailed off.

“You were raised by your granny, right?” Chase asked and startled her. “Sorry you must be wondering how I found out,” He added sheepishly while Taylor wondered whom he was referring to.

“I do a strict background check on the people working under my name...even if it’s under Camila’s brand. She is the only family you have, right?” he explained.

“Granny??!! Must be Zac’s doing. I’m amazed he thought this far and created a false profile for me,” Taylor smiled internally. 

“Yes...She raised me up with what little she could,” Taylor pretended to act sad and shed a tear. “She made a lot of sacrifices to make ends meet...” She added.

Chase felt sorry for her and apologized. “I know how it feels...to be alone, I lost my parents too. Camila raised me and Gen. Though we are a big loving family that goes on vacation and stuff but the void remains..” He narrated and gently placed his hand over hers. Taylor saw his soft side, she was anticipating an emotional moment like this but something inside made her sympathize for him.

Taylor held his hand and gave it a squeeze, “So we have something in common, huh?” She smiled.

Chase smiled and withdrew his hands, Taylor felt awkward with his reaction but continued smiling. “Let’s drop you to Camila’s design studio or she’ll have my neck,” he said and lead the way out.

“I heard you took permission from her to see me…” Taylor teased.

“Well you're one of her star designers now, thought I’d take a progress report of Camil’s new collection for the investors,” He winked and drew his fancy car.

Taylor kept thinking about what Zac had asked her to do.  “Shall I drop hints that he needs to do more to impress me? How can I outright ask for something expensive?” she deliberated in her mind before her destination came.

“It was nice knowing you..a bit more,” Chase commented as he opened the door for her.

“Fancy watch you’ve got there…” She blurted and glanced at his watch.

“Thanks, that’s my pop’s,” He replied and drove away,

At Camila’s studio Taylor’s face lit up when she saw a tiffany box with a note on her desk. “OMG!” She opened it and found a delicate emerald bracelet gifted by Chase.

“Finally!” her joy knew no bounds as she hurriedly texted Zac.

“I see you’ve become quite the favourite of Camila, huh?” a junior designer remarked after seeing the bracelet on her desk. 

Taylor slipped it in the drawer and pretended to check her mails on the laptop.

Zac was over the moon seeing the bracelet. He took it from her and head out to sell it in the black market for a good price so he could continue repaying the amount to Chase.

The next day while Taylor was busy working on the new collection, Chase dropped by and surprised all the employees in the studio.

“Gawd! It’s Chase!” One of the designers exclaimed and alerted everyone.

“Wow! He definitely looks hotter in person,” Taylor’s assistant gasped and looked at her.

“What is he doing here? Camila’ isn’t around,” another staff whispered.

“Hey!” Chase spotted Taylor near the mannequin and gave her a bright smile.

“Hey! You are for Camila?” Taylor asked quizzically while the other watched in amazement as the two casually interacted.

“Oh please, I see her every other day,” Chase chuckled and moved closer to her.

“Then what brings you here?” Taylor asked with a grin.

For a second Chase didn’t know what to answer. “ Nothing in particular….I thought I'd just see if everything is fine…” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked around.

“Don’t you worry Mr. Franshaw! I have everything under control in my den,” Selma interrupted and tried to take him away to where she and her girls were working but Chase politely refused.

“Maybe some other time ladies, I’ll not disturb you all any further,” He smiled and glanced at Taylor before leaving.

Hereon, Chase would drop in unannounced and give silly excuses just to see Taylor and be in her presence. Taylor found it amusing and knew exactly why he was visiting her. It wasn’t long when the staff started noticing Chase bring in flowers and gifts for Taylor. 

“I think he’s falling for me,” Taylor stated as she dug into some excessive Sushi with Zac.

“Correction, Fallen….He’s already fallen hard for you, Taylor,” Zac waved his chopsticks in the air.

“I’ve become a topic for gossip at work, I hope they don’t sabotage my designs or something,” Taylor looked tense.

“Designers ar dumb, ignore them,” Zac laughed.

“Um...I’m one too, Zac,” She frowned. “Anyway I can’t wait to see my designs on the runway-,” Taylor was cut mid sentence by Zac.

“We'll have some more champagne!,” He called the waiter for more.

Taylor was used to him ignoring her achievements, she had learned to suppress her desirs and joys because she was living for him.

 “Zac...did you use the money from the watch Chase gifted me,” She asked as Zac looked at the sparkling champagne.

“Ya how does it matter, you love Sushi, don’t you?” He replied.

“Zac, you can’t spend it on fancy things, we are in a crisis , remember?” She closed her first and got annoyed seeing how chill he was about it.

“Calm down, love! I have our accounts under control, just keep the gifts roling,” He smirked and clinked the champagne glasses.

“You shouldn’t even be out in public, especially in fancy places like this,” Taylor looked around.

“Ugh, plz don’t spoil my mood tonight, Taylor. I came out after nearly a month of hiding in that cramped space we call home. Let me enjoy this,” he complained.

A few tables away, someone noticed Zac and recognized him immediately.