The Beautiful Billionaire

ESTELLE

I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the man sitting next to me had been in love with me. If what Linden said was true, then I was not that observant of the people around me.

The Jeep drove smoothly to the main road, and Quinn hadn’t said a word since I got into the passenger seat, but I could feel he

“You know him, don’t you?” I turned my head to him.

“We’ll talk in the villa,” he said calmly. I thought so.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

“I wanna know who he is, Quinn.”

“You will.” His focus remained on the road. The villa wasn’t far, so I patiently waited until he dropped the bomb on me.

“Don’t you think he’s old for you?”

“Judgy, aren’t we?” I raised an eyebrow. He was probably right. I didn’t care. “It was just a boat ride with a friend. Nothing more.”

“I saw how you looked at him and kissed him, so there’s definitely a second date.”

I drew a deep breath. “He’s maybe thirty-two or thirty-three.”

“Thirty. From what I heard, he’s quite a lady’s man.” Suddenly his phone vibrated. “Hold on a sec. This call is maybe from Brodan.”

When he answered the call, I picked up my phone and went to Instagram. I searched for Gabriel Linden. Before I could click the profile, Quinn stopped me.

“You can’t know the person by his Instagram or X posts. Before things get serious between you two, think about the reason why we are here, Estelle. And I don’t think your father will be thrilled to know-”

“That I’m sleeping with a contractor? I’m an adult, and I can decide who I want to sleep with, even choose a man to marry. He won’t, and no one can dictate my life. This is my body, my soul, my life, and I do as I please. If anyone can’t accept my decision about how I live my life, then they can go to hell. If I fail, at least I try.”

“You’re right.”

He pulled up in front of the villa.

“I need a shower,” I told Quinn before entering my room and stripping off my clothes.

I could still see the wetness in my panties. I grimaced at my boldness and recklessness. I stepped into the shower room and felt the soreness between my legs and muscles- a reminder of what we did in the boat. My body instantly craved him, his touch, and his lips against my skin. I felt the instant ache between my thighs but tried to suppress it.

I turned the shower on. The warm water soothed my aching muscles. Once I was done, I wrapped the towel around my body and found my bag on the bed. I quickly put my pajamas on and dried my hair.

A soft knock on the door interrupted me.

“Come in.”

Quinn walked in. “Can we talk?”

“Of course.” I faced him.

He showed me the picture on his phone. It was my father and a man talking on the golf course.

I swallowed hard. I felt a knot in my stomach the moment I instantly recognized that stance, the figure, the height, the hair, and he was wearing a dark Italian blue suit. It became clear to me that they knew each other. He knew me before we met. The question was why he didn’t tell me he knew me. Why he pretended he didn’t know me?

“Is that a real picture?” I didn’t have to ask. I knew real and manipulated ones.

“Taken two weeks ago.”

“What did they talk about?” I asked, waiting for the uneasiness telling me I screwed up.

“I’m not sure. What did he tell you exactly? About himself. Do you think he lied or hid something intentionally?”

“I don’t know. He likes to cook. He works in a private military contractor company.”

“Clearly, Gabe Linden missed telling you the vital detail of his work.” Quinn scoffed. “He runs Osmium Resource Group with a half-a-billion-dollar contract, Estelle. He started that company, The Firm, years ago from the ground. He’s kinda a legend, a respected man, and sets a pretty high bar in security agencies. What doesn’t add up, though, is why he didn’t recognize you. Or why he pretended not to know you.”

“I don’t know, Quinn.” My answer came out defensive. I could feel my skin burning, my blood boiling with anger. What was his intention? I thought Linden was a good man, and what we had was real. I felt it was real. Or so I thought.

“I’m sorry, Estelle.”

“Don’t be. I did it to myself. I don’t think my father hired him. I mean, he runs the company. Why would he come and barge into my boring life and gain my trust? Why hasn’t he called my father? Because I am sure, Dad is here right now the moment he found me.”

“Mr. Linden is also close with Moses Braddson. I heard the reason why he got the deal with the Hover and other military contracts because of Striker Cade.”

“Moses Braddson? The aircraft magnet? The Hover?” I asked in disbelief.

“Braddson’s son, Striker Cade, is his best friend.” And London? The sweetheart. God, I wanted to hit my head against the wall.

“London Vanderford’s husband.”

“Yes. Do you remember the kidnapping? They rescued her.”

“I see.” I sighed. Apparently, hearing the truth took all my strength. I wanted to slap myself so hard. Gabriel Linden was almost perfect. That should be a red flag. I thought I was just lucky to bump into someone like him. It was all but a setup.

“Did he say something else?”

“We didn’t do much talking, Quinn. But one thing that shocked me more was when he said you’re in love with me.” I watched his eyes grow big. His face blanched. He swallowed hard and was about to say something but shut his mouth close.

“You’re-”

“He’s wrong.” He swallowed hard again. “He’s lying, Estelle. I have a moral code. Yeah, I care about you because you’ve treated me like a friend than your employee. You make my job easier-”

“So you’re also going to lie to me? I just saw how you reacted, Quinn. Everyone is lying to me, and I expect the last person to lie to my face, are you? I trust you with my life. That’s why we are still here together.”

“It’s a useless feeling, Estelle. You’re my client. That’s what’s always gonna be. I will always protect you with my life, even if you are not my client anymore. But you and I are impossible. You’re beautiful. You’re a star and unreachable. There’s no way you’d feel the same way for me. I’ve been in love with you for almost two years, and you didn’t even know it.”

I rose to my feet, feeling guilty. “I’m so sorry, Quinn.”

He smiled sadly. “Don’t be. I was stupid. I should have-”

“It’s alright, Quinn. I hope you won’t make it awkward between us. You also mean a lot to me. You’re my best friend, my big brother.”

“Ouch.” He grimaced.

“Come here.” I opened my arms for a hug. We both needed it.

“I’m so sorry, Estelle. I wish he didn’t tell you that.” He wrapped his arms around me instead.

“Thanks for telling me, anyway,” I said as we pulled apart.

“Well, I don’t wanna lie to you. So what’s your plan?”

“I’ll see him again and won’t tell him what I know.”

“That’s not a smart plan.” He shook his head in disagreement. “In fact, that’s the worse idea.”

“Why not?” I pressed. “I want to know how far he will lie to me.”

“You know a relationship starts with a lie that doesn’t last long.”

“What made you think that there’s a relationship?”

“You’re smitten the night you went home. You like this guy, Estelle. You even went on a boat ride with him, not knowing who really he was. And tonight, you’re glowing until I told you who he is.”

“Well, that’s all. He lied to me.”

“Or maybe he has reasons.”

“Which team are you, Quinn?” I snarled, beginning to get annoyed.

“I’m sure he has reasons. He wouldn’t just come here to find you. Maybe he’s here on vacation and has to lie because your father once approached him. I mean, he could have come to you weeks ago. Why now? Maybe he just didn’t want it to get into your head that he recognized you. And to be honest, I’d rather you date him than marry an asshole like Klayton Weston. He’s a little bit ordered, though.”

“Get out.” I rolled my eyes.

He just laughed before he went towards the door and paused. “You’re going to meet him, aren’t you?”

“If he calls.”

“He didn’t give you his number?”

“You know what he said? He’s done gallavanting. He isn’t looking for a one-night stand. Since he knows my father wants me to marry the jerk, I doubt if he calls me.” It hurt to admit that I like Linden very much despite how he lied to my face, and it also hurt knowing that he wanted nothing from me.

“Well, maybe you two are just perfect.”

“What do you mean?”

“He wants more than a girlfriend, and you’re running away from your future husband.”

“So you want me to date him even if he lied?”

He shook his head in disappointment. “Ask him why he lied. Jesus, Estelle. If you’re so interested in this man. You’re tenacious, strong-willed. Go after him if you like him so much. Prove to your father that you can have a sensible husband without him serving you on a silver platter.”

“You can get his number, right? If he won’t call me tomorrow or the next day.”

He tsked and shook his head. “You sound desperate.”

“I am, Quinn. I wanna get rid of this arrangement.” He may be my bodyguard, but he didn’t know the whole story.

“Think where he would be tomorrow. Pretend that it’s an accident.”

“Then I’ll go find him tomorrow.”