Her Forbidden Billionaire

“Yeah. Thank you, too, madam. I’ll tell my mistress what you said,” he replied waving on his way to the van. After exchanging thanks and goodbyes with the other four catering service workers the van took off leaving the ecstatic faces of Raina and her employees behind.

“I think it’s time to plan a new purchase of goods, Miss Barnes.” Andrew spoke from next to her and she chuckled.

“Right you are, Andrew! We should go shopping and stuff this baby again.” She spread her arms toward the store and the employees cheered. Joking and laughing they decided to close the store for the day and she gave all of them a free day to do what they pleased. She intended to join them later for a cup of coffee downtown but the ringing of her cell phone and the sweet name ‘Dean Franklin’ blinking on the screen changed her plans.

“Honey?” She answered after locking the door and heading down the sidewalk. Her employees were already gone.

“Where are you, dear?” He spoke back and she couldn’t sustain herself from telling him.

“I have massive news for you. I mean like the biggest, best, over the top news!” She said and he laughed.

“What? You’re not going to the moon, are you?” He joked and she laughed with him.

“No, silly! Even better than me becoming the first woman to have stepped on the moon! I sold out of all of the goods from my store. Bye, bye debts!” She shouted joyfully attracting a few curious looks from a group of men passing on the street.

“Wow! Really? Congrats, dear! I am so happy for you! You deserved that completely. After all of your hard work…”

She interrupted him. “Some catering company is organizing a party for tonight and they obviously took everything! I’m so excited!”

“Great! Really great! Speaking of parties… I want to invite you to one. It’s tonight at eight and I really want you to be there,” he said and she stopped walking.

“Tonight? It looks like a lot of people are having parties tonight!” She doubtfully replied while the gears in her mind were spinning. All of it sounded a bit too much of a coincidence. “Dean? You’re not behind this, are you? Dean? Answer me! I told you…”

“Can you please just come and not ask me hundreds of questions, sweetheart. All of the celebrities will be there. They’ll give an award for special recognition to my company. And I know that we can’t appear together publicly but still… Stand there as my guest. I want to see you cheering for me. Please, Raina.” He insisted and she knew him that well to smell that something was cooking behind it all.

“Okay, but on one condition! Tell me about this catering company… I know you’re behind this. Of course… How did I not see it? From the whole city they chose my grocery store like it’s the best of them all. Oh, Dean, I told you that I don’t want mercy from anyone!”

“Stop right there, young lady! Don’t you ever mention that word again! You sell goods right? And the catering company needed goods for the party right? So they took what they needed and you provided them that, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, but…”

“They didn’t give you more money than you deserved or did they?”

“No… It’s just that…”

“Raina Barnes! You should really learn to cherish yourself more. And believe in yourself as much as I do. You don’t need anyone’s mercy, you hear me? You are strong enough by yourself! And those products… They needed a new home and they found it. That’s all!” He spoke gently, finally making the tears slide down her cheeks.

She remained silent for a moment or two hearing his breaths and imagining them close to her face. Before she opened her mouth to answer, he was first to say.

“Just so you know, I might have mentioned your store to a colleague once or twice. His cousin works in the catering service so he might have recommended you there. In any case, it’s not directly my fault. I’m innocent by all the laws in this country, so please don’t judge me and come tonight! At least we know that all the products and organization would be superb as they come from the best grocery store in town!” He said joyfully and she couldn’t resist anymore.

“Dean Franklin… You are one tricky man, but I love you so much!”

She heard him exhale from the other side. “Phew! So does that mean you are coming?”

“Yes I am coming. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. And plus at least I’ll get to try the lobsters as I never really had the chance while they were back on the store’s shelves.”

The both of them laughed.

“I’ll pick you up at eight then!” He told her happily.

“No. What if someone sees us? I’ll come by myself and meet you there.” She said and he mumbled something she didn’t catch but guessed it was something connected to curses for the press and his family. Everyone thought of them as relatives so it was impossible to announce their relationship publicly, yet.

“Okay,” he said resigned as she caught a green light and ran across the street. “I will wait for you at my company’s building then! I can’t wait to see you!”

“Me, too, honey. I have to get ready now. Go downtown, buy something…” She replied and he chuckled.

“Just don’t panic. You’re beautiful to me the way you are.” He sent her a kiss through the speaker and she returned it hanging up.

“Veronica!” She said aloud and dialed her savior’s number.

Five hours later the both of them were sitting in Raina’s bedroom, exhausted and sweaty to the bone. They had gone in and out of more than ten stores and Raina had tried on maybe fifty dresses before she had finally decided on a silver gown with an elegant opening in the back. The moment she had put it on, Veronica’s jaw had fallen and they both had begun jumping on the podium clearly indicating that that had been what they had been looking for. Then the black heels and the black handbag to match them, the necklace which they had borrowed from Veronica’s acquaintance in the jewelry store with promises to bring it back safe and sound and finally to the hairdresser’s from where she had come out a completely new woman with her hair lifted in an astonishing bun. Raina Barnes was ready to enter the world of the rich.