The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 1: Be My Bride

What…did I do?

I stared at Alvarez, trying to process everything. And when it finally sank into me, it was too late. Oh, what have I done...?

Last night, I didn’t do it with him just because I was drunk. It happened because I gave him my full consent, and without hesitation at that. Everything that transpired last night…I remember them.

I’m in trouble, am I not?

Fuck, I have to get out of here before he wakes up. Knowing him, he'd tease me until I end up punching him in the gut. I sure hope he doesn’t remember because I’ll never look him in the face ever again otherwise.

Sapphire: Hey, Vin? Please pick me up. I’m in the Alvarez asshole’s den. I don’t know which one.

Vinchester: What the f**k?

Sapphire: Hurry up.

Vinchester: Turn on your f*****g location. I’ll be there in 5.

I carefully got out of bed while making sure he wouldn’t wake up. After doing so, I quickly picked my clothes up, only to find out that they'd been ripped to bits. And so I ended up stealing his clothes. It’s his fault, anyway!

Before he realized that I was gone, I had already gotten out of his house. Thankfully, Vin was already outside, waiting for me. Oh, boy. He’s going to tease the hell out of me.

He stared at me, wearing that condescending smile of his. “I thought you didn’t like him? Why did you sleep with him?”

“Why do you care? And what are you implying?” I tried to play dumb as I entered his car. “He just happened to be there, that’s all.”

Vin let out a scoff as he went inside the car as well. “And you just happened to f**k him?”

“Don’t make me want to beat you up.”

“Ooh, you’re in a foul mood so early in the morning.”

I’m already annoyed at myself for letting my desires take over instead of thinking rationally. There were other guys there! Why did I have to choose him?! And what’s making me feel worse is the fact that Alvarez didn’t even have to try, and I was already practically begging! Ah, this is making me feel s**t.

“Maybe it was s****l tension, after-”

“Vin.”

“Alright, alright! I’ll stop!”

He knew I was in the middle of processing everything, so he quietly drove me back to the mansion, careful enough to make sure no one would be able to see me looking like a mess. Why? Because I’m wearing clothes that are obviously a man’s. They’d think I did it with Vin, and that’s the last thing I want right now. Once they think I’m frolicking around with men, especially with Vin, I’d get married off sooner than expected.

“Sapphire, my dear Sapphire. You know the consequences of what you did, do you not…?” Vin muttered as he guided me to my room.

“I do.”

“He’s gonna come knocking sooner or later. Worst case scenario, you’d end up marrying him. Oh, I think it’s the best outcome, though.”

I shot him a glare, enough to make him step back. What he just said…might not be a worst-case scenario. On the contrary, it might just be able to save our company. But I would rather jump off a building than agree to marry him.

Maybe I won’t, depending on how it’s going to benefit us.

A sigh escaped from my lips as I jumped on my bed. I feel a little less tense right now, but I’m not going to say that I owe it to Alvarez. Just no way.

Ah, I feel sore all over! Honestly, I’m amazed I was able to walk after all that. He’s good, okay! I admit that much!

But right now, I’m back at worrying about getting married off to someone I barely know. I’d like to talk to Dad as soon as possible, but I feel like he’d find out about what I did last night. He’s used to me being like this, I know, but I know he’s going to be more disappointed than ever.

“Hey, Sapphire!”

Why won’t he leave?!

“What do you want?!”

“You’re being called to the office!”

Oh, no…

It’s too early for this! I don’t think Vin sold me out to Dad because he was with me last night. Both of us would get chewed out if he did, and he knows that. Maybe this is about the marriage proposal of the Leviste family?

Although I was having trouble walking, I quickly tidied myself and hid the clothes I stole from Alvarez. The maid might come to take my laundry, so it’s better to make sure she wouldn’t find his clothes. I’m f****d if she saw them.

“What took you so long?”

Dad…doesn’t look like Dad. He has those deep eyebags, and it doesn’t seem like he’s had a good sleep. Instead, he looked like he hadn’t been eating at all. Oh, no…

“I’m sorry, I just woke up.”

“You used to wake up earlier than this…” he trailed off as he stared at me. “Anyway, the Levistes are awaiting our response. Please, Sapphire. I’m begging you…”

I shut my eyes tightly as I pulled on the hem of my shirt. “Can…can you give me two days to find a different solution? You can start preparing in case I don’t find any. But two days...”

Dad sighed as he leaned on his office chair, stressed. “I can give you that much time, but please…”

“I promise I won’t disappoint you by running away or anything. Just please wait for me.”

Surprisingly, he told me to go without saying anything else. Perhaps he’s also hoping that I’d be able to do something about this situation. I sure wish I could, but at this point, I feel like I’m just asking for time before I get into that marriage bullshit.

I said I wouldn’t run away.

Yeah, I said that.

But right now, the one thing I want the most is the easiest way out of this. I have gotten tired of having to deal with all the mess that we’re in.

I know damn well there was someone behind this because it was too sudden. There’s no way our stocks would plummet this fast otherwise. My father is very meticulous! Besides, this has never happened before.

Ah, if I find out who’s behind this…

“You’ve got a scary look on your face,” Vin told me, raising a brow.

I rolled my eyes at him. “Why are you still here? Don’t you have other things to do?”

“Other than guard you? Nope.”

I gritted my teeth as I walked outside the mansion, with Vin tailing me. Right now, he’s probably not planning to leave me alone, especially after what I did with Alvarez. If anything, I’m pretty sure he’s waiting for me to meet up with him so he could spy on me.

At a time like this, it’s no wonder they’re keeping a close watch on me. The Levistes are sure to drop us as if they weren’t the ones to offer the marriage proposal to us once a scandal involving me makes it to the headlines.

As I made my way to the garden, that guy’s face flashed inside my mind…

Possibilities of him being able to save our company began to cloud my head as if doing it with him wasn’t enough to mock myself. He could, that’s for sure. But I refuse to give him the satisfaction of being able to make me grovel beneath him for help.

A sigh escaped my lips as I sat on the bench in the garden. “Now, what do I do?”

“Ask Alvarez for help, perhaps?”

I looked back at Vin with a scowl on my face. “You know, I think I’ve been too lenient with you. You’re starting to get comfortable with me.”

“Now, now. Don’t say that…” he trailed off as he sat beside me, grinning like the devil that he is. “I’m just saying you should ask him for help while you can. We both know he'll come when you call for him.”

“Stop talking like you really know that bastard.”

Gray Alvarez is nothing but trouble. Sure, he’s some sort of VIP wherever he goes, given that he’s a multi-billionaire. However, make acquaintance with him and you’re up for a hell of a ride.

He sees no one as an equal. More like, he sees himself as someone superior to most. To him, everyone else is a plaything. That’s the true nature of Gray Alvarez.

And that’s why I messed up real bad. I basically played with fire last night, literally and metaphorically speaking.

I say this, but I don’t really regret it…

“You’re thinking he’s not that bad, are you not?” Vin asked me, making me snap out of my reverie.

“If I could sew your mouth shut, I would have done that long ago.”

Anyway, if there’s something I need to do right now, that is to make sure I don’t get married off to that Leviste. That man is the rudest person I have ever come across, even worse than Alvarez. He thinks he could just take me to his bed with one look.

Ah, just remembering how ill-mannered he was when he spoke to me irks me…

I shook my head as I stood up and snagged the car keys from Vin. He gave me a questioning look, but I didn’t say anything. Honestly, I would prefer it if he left me alone, but there’s no way he would just let me go.

“Where are you going? Gonna meet up with Alvarez?” he asked as he followed me, obviously ridiculing me.

I stopped in my tracks as I looked back at him. “Alvarez here, Alvarez there! You’re getting on my nerves!”

He pursed his lips as he raised his hands in surrender, holding his laugh. “Sorry, I’ll stop now.”

This guy would never stop until he gets tired of making fun of me and my bad decisions. That much is obvious. But I don’t really mind at this point. Maybe I’ll snap out of it soon if he keeps doing this until I give in to getting married off to that guy.

I entered the car, but I had no idea where to go. Vin was also just staring at me with his arms crossed over his chest, confused.

The feelings of frustration and anger kept on growing inside me, and I was afraid it would come to the point where I could no longer stop myself from running away. There’s no way out of this situation aside from that…

How I wish I could, though.

I can’t do it.

I can’t betray my family.

I have to put up with that Zenon Leviste guy just so I could be of some use.

That’s simple enough for me to understand. But is this really the only way? Do I really have to suffer in a marriage I didn’t want?

All these questions are running inside my head, almost as if they have no plans on leaving me. I feel this strangely murky feeling clouding my judgment.

Come on, I haven’t even had a single drop of alcohol, and I’m already like this?

“You know what,” Vin finally spoke as he handed one of the guns he was carrying to me. “Go and do your thing.”

I tilted my head to the side in confusion. “What? This isn’t like you. What are you planning?”

He laughed as he gave me a pat on the head. “Nothing. I’ll just have you know I’m still a decent human being.”

“You don’t seem like one.”

“Rude,” he muttered as he got out of the car.

I wonder why…

Did he sense that I wanted to be left alone right now? Or did I seem too depressed for him to feel like he should leave me like this? Either way, it’s a good thing that he’s finally left me here.

Now, I might just be able to think rationally without a devil whispering tempting words to me from behind. If he stayed longer, I might have called Alvarez for help or something. That’s how much influence Vin has on me.

Fuck, that’s why I’m scared of him.

Anyway, I’ll go ask Vienna for help. That girl somehow knows everything there is to know around here, so I figured I should turn to her right now. She might be able to pinpoint whoever was scheming behind our backs.

I don’t know much about Vienna, but I briefly saw a folder of hers that had the label of a wanted organization. That said, she seems to be a part of some networking organization. I couldn’t care less, though. The aforementioned group has long been forgotten, perhaps even by the government.

But before I could even start the engine of my car, my phone started beeping. I was about to ignore it, but I had a strange feeling that I might regret it if I didn’t check the text.

“Ah, what now?” I grumbled as I took it from my pocket.

Alas, it was Alvarez.

For the record, I never intended to save his contact details. However, things happened around two years ago and I had to keep in contact with him. It was something about a joint project.

Oh, now that I remember it, it seems it’s been two years since I saw him in person. After that project, I never bumped into him. It’s reasonable considering how huge the world is. I’ve only seen him in TV interviews before last night, so it came off as a surprise, too.

Anyway, that’s not important!

I’m not sure I want to read the text he sent me. I mean, I just left him there after what happened! That’s why I’m not really surprised that he’s contacting me.

Ha, did I wound his ego? I sure would love to see him looking pissed off after finding out that I had disappeared after getting him all worked up.

Ah.

I remembered everything. Again.

“Stupid Alvarez…” I muttered as I covered my face with my hand.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I unlocked my phone, preparing myself for his text. I thought it was going to be some sort of harsh message, but I was wrong.

Sapphire Diaz, this is Gray. Can I see you? I’d like to talk about what happened.

Wow.

That took me by surprise.

Seriously, I didn’t take him to be some sort of formal guy who would even be asking. I was astounded when he asked for my consent last night as well.

He just…seemed so different after two years. I’d like to say he has gotten mature since the last time I saw him, but I feel like it’s a little too early for that.

I should not be deceived by such poor acts of gentleness. Despite his actions, I’m almost certain he has ill intentions of any sort. That’s the kind of person he is. Even Vinchester warned me to stay away from him.

Ha, I wish I had followed his advice…

I leaned back and rested my head on the headrest of my seat. I could only stare at my phone, wondering how I should reply to his message. He probably knows I have already seen it, and is patiently waiting.

I don’t know. I refuse to talk to him.

I’ll call you if you don’t respond.

Hmm, is that a warning? As if I give two shits.

I smirked as I threw my phone on the passenger seat. Maybe I’ll make him the last resort if Vienna won’t be able to help me. But for now, I’ll focus on finding the root of this very problem. I’ll do it even if I have to hide it from Vin.

Just as I was about to leave the house, my phone started ringing again.

“Why is he so persistent?!”

I ignored it, but it rang again. Alvarez is an impatient type of person. Right now, he’s probably fuming at the thought of me ignoring him. I don’t have the time to deal with an i***t like him! He knows what happened last night was nothing more than a one-night stand, so why the hell is he being like this?!

Because I was already annoyed and had lost the energy to go and meet Vienna, I got off the car and answered the phone. Alvarez wouldn’t stop pestering me if I refused to answer him. I can’t have him get in my way.

“Look, I’m busy right now, so I’d appreciate it if you refrained from bothering me.”

“I know what’s happening right now, Sapphire. But what I don’t understand is your actions last night. It’s not like you.”

I was taken aback, alright. We were never close enough for him to be able to tell how I feel. Ah, I feel anger welling up within me.

“You’re acting like you know me,” I muttered as I gritted my teeth. “Stop being so familiar with me, Alvarez.”

“Diaz, calm down. I’d like to offer my help. Perhaps a business proposal could help your Dad out?”

Vin was right. Alvarez could indeed be the best option to pick during a time like this. Still, it irks me to the core. I can feel his hidden intentions reeking even from this phone call.

Alvarez would never play fair, even with me…

I went silent for a while, weighing my options. Alvarez gives me a guaranteed win, but everyone else is nothing more than a bet.

Ah, this is annoying…

“You’re going to help us? At what cost?” I spat out, still hostile.

He snickered, and it was enough to give me goosebumps. I knew it. He’s trying to benefit from me. But knowing him, I’m sure this is going to be one shady deal. I have to be careful or I’ll end up stepping on the landmine he set.

“You seem to understand how I work, huh.”

I gritted my teeth. “Just tell me!”

“It’s simple, really. Be my bride…”