A Billionaire's Burning Desire

Before The Exhibition

Maddie's POV

I was nervous and excited about the exhibition this evening. I didn't see Mariko for the entire day because he was in back-to-back meetings. I felt disappointed again that I didn't see him, but I knew that my feelings for him were growing and I'm not feeling afraid of being used when it comes to him. There are still some things that we need to know about each other. He needs to know my past too, and that part is what I'm dreading. It is not something that I like to talk about because I was deeply hurt by Ash and his father, not to mention my own life with my mother and my father. I shouldn't get my hopes up and just go to the exhibition with him and not expect anything.

The day was coming to an end as everyone else was going home and I stood at my desk patiently waiting for him to wrap up or to meet me at my desk. Lana was still busy in her office, so I just continued to scroll through my phone. I was scrolling through my personal emails. It was just a bunch of emails from my studies. I have a test that is coming up next week, so I had to study for that, but to be honest, I do not feel like it. I simply enjoy my work more than my studies and I hope that I don't mess that up. It would be foolish of me since Lana had given me the bursary, but is it normal to not want to pursue something any longer? Maybe I was just going through a phase. I should continue with it because I wouldn't know where it would get me in life and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I might not get again.

With a heavy sigh, I made the decision to push through it. "Is everything okay? Are you still up for going to the exhibition?" I looked up with my lips parted, and my breath hitching. Mariko was standing in front of me, he had on a perfect navy blue suit and a pastel black and navy blue tie with his white shirt.

"I am ready," I said as quickly as I could.

He took in my appearance."You look...stunning," he said, he looked at me with so much hunger, as if he craved every inch of my body. I was excited and I was craving him too. I was dressed in a black halter neck low chiffon cocktail dress, it was still formal for work, the front length was above my knees and the back length was a bit longer. Everyone had their eyes on me and no doubt that Miranda was eyeing me too. She is in fashion so I wouldn't be surprised if she was checking my dress out, but if she had to ask me to be a model, the answer would be a big fast no.

"Thank you," I smiled as I looked down at my dress. I was wearing black heels and my hair was in loose curls. I looked up at him again but he was smirking.

"I think that we can leave," he said as he placed his hands in his pants pockets. Do I detect a hint of nervousness from him? I won't read too much into it.

"Yes," I replied as I turned around and grabbed my handbag from the top of my desk, and then I turned around to face him. He was still smiling. I could feel the heat creep up in my cheeks.

We walked in step until we got to his car. The elevator had employees in too that were leaving to go home, so we weren't alone either and it was the first time that I was in a car. It was a black Jaguar. I almost rolled my eyes...rich people and my dislike towards them changed my mood slightly.

You gold digger.

You are good for nothing.

Social climber.

You are not good enough

You are just an old rug to be walked all over and that is all that you will ever be.

"Are you sure that you're okay?" I opened my eyes to realize that my breathing was quickened, the back of my head was resting against the back rest, Mariko's delicious scent filled my nostrils, bringing me back to my current reality, and that is when I noticed that his hand was on mine. I was clutching my handbag so tight that I slowly let go while his hand remained on mine.

I turned my head to look at him and he was genuinely concerned. Yet he was so close to me. I swallowed and nodded, "Yes, I am," I gave him a weak smile. "I just...have my studies to think about," I lied.

He removed his hand from mine and I let out a heavy breath. "We don't need to stay long at the exhibition or I can take you to your apartment. I will be fine on my own," he smiled.

"No, that is not necessary. I will go with you because it was already planned," I said. I didn't want to disappoint him and, besides, I might need this little break. Art is what I will make an exception for and...Mariko.

"Let me know if you want to leave sooner, then we can." he said as we pulled out of the Sternpoint parking lot, "A new artist is showcasing his work and I have to be there. As the director of Sternpoint, sometimes, I do not have much of a choice. Lana is constantly busy too, so I need to step in as second in command. She is still learning things in the business world as she progresses in the role of CEO," he said as he drove.

I didn't know if I should pry about his life and how he came about to be in business, but that was meant for another time. I just want to enjoy the evening ahead without the constant words that remind me of how pathetic I might actually be.