Her Forbidden Billionaire

At 7:00 pm, she left the house, glitz and glamour shining from her and with Veronica’s blessings and wishes for a magical night, she entered the cab.

“Where to, miss?” The driver asked.

“To Franklin Inc.” She proudly told him and comfortably shifted in the backseat.

The cab drove out of her neighborhood and took her across the center of the city to the massive glass building with more than thirty floors that bore the huge sign ‘Franklin Inc.’ in the middle. It was marvelous in the night with all the lights inside turned on and the parking lot before it flocked with the most beautiful cars she had ever seen and even more beautiful men and women heading inside through the open glass door. The place was overcrowded with security guards, too, as the safety of the celebrities was of course the top priority and Raina smiled at that. She was some kind of a celebrity that night, too. With that thought, she tipped the driver and stepped out on the lot.

Left and right she was surrounded with chattering businessmen and their female companions for the night blocking her view of the entrance.

“Excuse me… Sorry…” She was slowly making her way on the asphalt, taking care not to step or bump into someone. It was not until then that she noticed names being called out in the air.

“Mary! Leo! Cindy! Riri! Lauren!” People gathered around the building and separated from the parking lot with a wall of bodyguards, were shouting after their favorite singers, actors, actresses, sportsmen and women excitedly waving and taking pictures. How lovely, she couldn’t help it but think. So many people to admire you and wait for your appearance.

“Miss Barnes! Raina Barnes!” She suddenly picked up her name and at first she got the impression that it was the crowds of fans calling it but then it became clear that it was some man. He was motioning to her to approach the entrance and she obeyed.

“Come, madam. Mr. Franklin is waiting for you!” The man whispered in her ear and led her inside through the wide open door. The red carpet below her feet made her feel like a super star and she enjoyed every single bit of it. Even the photographers snapping pictures from all around the hall of the company didn’t bother her at all.

“Over here!” The man led her in the elevator and pressed the button to the fifth floor. “The party is in the hall so the rest of the building is closed. Don’t worry! No one will follow us or take a picture of you here.” He seemed like a very close colleague of Dean’s. Like one who knew plenty about her and Dean.

“Thank you, sir!” She told him when they reached the fifth floor.

“Mr. Franklin is expecting you. There’s his office at the end of the corridor!” The man kindly pointed toward a door and she followed him. They parted ways before a brown leather door which was supposedly Dean’s office and she joyfully grabbed the knob, pushing it open.

The absence of the door revealed a spacious office with cream walls and huge paintings and flowers and a wooden desk, sofas, even an enormous bookcase. However, the most astonishing part of it all was the man standing before the glass floor-to-ceiling windows, his lips curved up in a gorgeous smile.

“Am I seeing clearly or are my eyes are failing me?” He looked shocked and at the same time, astonished. “Is this Raina Barnes or you got the office mistaken, madam?” He joked stepping toward her in his drop-dead amazing black tuxedo.

“I thought you said I was beautiful the way I was, Mr. Franklin,” she replied smiling and he grabbed her waist pulling her against him. His strong perfume and cologne filled her nostrils as she kissed his neck.

“I meant every word. Only… Wow! I mean… You’ve outdone yourself tonight, dear!” He kissed her lips gently fondling her back down to her bottom.

“No, mister! Be obedient tonight!” She teased him bringing his hand back up. “Now tell me! What’s this award about? You have your speech?”

“I am ready! Completely ready! This award is one of the biggest recognitions for our company. The entertainment committee gives it to us this year for special contribution in the entertainment industry. That’s why all of my clients aka celebrities are here tonight!” He answered evidently excited.

That award truly meant a lot to him and Raina was sure that it wasn’t significant only for the company but for himself, as well. He finally got the chance to prove his worth and put everyone’s doubtful words under the carpet. Something similar to what Raina had felt earlier in the day.

“I am so glad for you, honey.” She kissed him back when they heard a knock on the door. As if burned, she jumped away from him and he coughed clearing his throat.

“Yes?” Dean called out.

“Mr. Franklin, they’re expecting you down in the hall. Everyone is already inside and the guards locked the entrance door.” A female voice explained.

“Okay, Lydia! I am coming!” He said as the sound of the woman’s heels went further and further away until it eventually disappeared.

“It’s time!” Raina fixed his tie moving her hand down his sleeve.

“Wish me luck!” He said on his way out of the door before she pecked him on the cheek for good luck. He let her go before him in the elevator so that they arrived to the party separately. Standing in the elevator, the sound of ticking as the floors changed, Raina once more fixed her dress, checked her hair and put on some more of the red lipstick in her bag as most of it had painted Dean’s lips a few moments ago. Ready and confident she waited for the door to open and once it did, her heels hit the marble floor of the company’s hall.

It was even fuller than she thought it would be with all of the celebrities from outside and their managers flocking it. Waiters were walking all around, trays swaying in their hands with glasses of alcohol, while they were trying to reach the chattering groups around the high cocktail tables and serve them. Everyone was dressed in their best possible clothes spreading an aroma of mixed male and female perfumes which made Raina grateful that she could blend in among those people with her own silver dress.

“Anything to drink, madam?” One of the waiters approached her, startling her a bit. It was not until then that she noticed that she was standing in the middle of the hall like a frozen statue.

“Champagne!” She raised her voice so that he could hear her over the loud noise from the talking and the instrumental music playing in the background.

He nodded handing her a glass full of cream liquid from the tray and going away into the crowd again. She looked around in search for an empty table but seeing that there were none she satisfied herself with leaning against one of the pillars facing the podium. She wouldn’t miss Dean’s excited face for anything.

Sipping from the champagne, she let the bubbly liquid burn her throat and fill every fiber of her body. She needed that relaxation so much.

A sight of a woman, supposedly some singer or actress, crashing into a waiter and spilling all glasses on the floor caught her attention and she didn’t notice when someone had arrived next to her. It was a man dressed in a blue suit and a red tie hung around his neck. He looked somehow joyful with a wide grin across his brown face.

“Good evening, sir! How can I help you?” She spoke turning to look at him.

“Oh… Hi, dear! I just saw you standing here all alone and thought to make you some company! It’s a shame with so many guests…” He began, but Raina interrupted.

“Thank you but I am not alone at all. In fact I am waiting for my boyfriend right now!” She proudly answered seeing the grin on the man’s face getting even wider.

“Is that so? Because by the looks of it you don’t know anyone from here. Otherwise why would such a beautiful young lady stand alone?” He said smiling.

“Excuse me, sir, but why do you care? Besides who do you think you are coming here and showering me with questions?” She snapped unable to tolerate his flirting anymore.

“A journalist, madam. Now… What’s your connection to Dean Franklin?” He answered.

Just like that the scandal she feared of so much knocked on her door.