Her Forbidden Billionaire

Raina struggled with wearing something casual, formal or something in between. Knowing Dean (and her knowledge of him was quite limited to two phone calls and social media profiles), he would probably wear a tuxedo. Men like him always wore tuxedos. Or maybe he was going to surprise her and come in a Christmas sweater with a huge reindeer with a red nose on his chest. Instantly she chased away the image as her eyes darted to the red dress she had worn to an employee’s wedding.

“How about you, fella?” She took the hanger and admired the fabric and the attractiveness of the dress.

She immediately put it on and checked herself out in the mirror. It still fit her like that day. It was a wonderful thing to learn that she hadn’t gained weight, even a little.

She went sideways to see her bottom and then the other side and even from the back. The dress was blood-red, strapless and simply put, pronounced her attributes. Standing like that, she was wondering if it was the right choice.

A faint sound came from the living room. Right choice or not, Dean was calling her and she had no time. Sprinting to the sofa, she managed to press the green button after the fifth ring.

“Hey, Dean.” She took a deep breath. “How are you?”

“Awesome! This city truly puts me into the Christmas mood. Just called to let you know that I am leaving the hotel. See you in a few minutes.”

“Okay. See you.” She nervously giggled and pressed the red button.

Hurrying to her bedroom, she zipped the dress and looked at the shoes. This dress required only high heels and nothing else. Her fingertips got a hold of her black stilettos. Putting her feet into them, she put some red lipstick and mascara. The mirror showed a very different Raina. An elegant one. A classier one.

She didn’t even have time to look at herself one last time in the mirror when the doorbell rang. It was him. Dean Franklin was at her door.

Her stilettos clicked on the floor as she went toward the door with clumsy steps. She didn’t know why she was feeling all of it. Nervousness. Anxiety. Excitement. All mixed and tied into a knot in her stomach. Raina broke her fingers before she placed them on the doorknob.

The door revealed a tall handsome figure belonging to the entertainment billionaire, Dean Franklin. He wore black pants, a white shirt and a crimson sweater flung across his back with the sleeves tied under his neck. Her eyes stuck on a red rose in his hands.

“Raina, so nice to see you! Merry Christmas,” he spoke and hugged her. That almost took her aback, however she steadied herself. His hands were on her shoulder blades and his powerful cologne hit her nostrils. He smelled somehow exotic, which reminded her of a palm on a deserted island with the blueness of the ocean stretched as far as the eye could see. His cologne was precisely that. Leaving no other option, she put her hands across his broad shoulders as well; her fingers sensed the strength in the muscles lying beneath the sweater and the shirt.

“Merry Christmas, Dean. I still can’t believe that we are celebrating Christmas together,” she blurted out.

“Yeah… If a month ago someone had told me that I would be standing in Raina’s apartment, I would have told him that he was nuts. But don’t get me wrong, I really like this place and spending some time with you.” Dean showed her his best smile he apparently saved for the female population of his friends, acquaintances and relatives. “Here…” He handed her the rose. “A little sign of attention from my side.”

“Thank you so much,” she said, admiring the bright red petals. “It is truly beautiful.” It came spontaneously, but she raised herself a bit to kiss him on the cheek. The shaven skin was soft under her lips. Dean put his hand on the small of her back when she did that.

“Oh, it was truly the least I could do. By the way, you look marvelous tonight. I feel kind of under dressed.” He chuckled.

“Thanks, Dean. Well, as a matter of fact you make me feel overdressed.” The both of them chuckled. “Come on in. Please feel like home. I am not your host and you are not my guest. We are just two young people who came together for Christmas,” she said.

“I like that,” Dean replied and went into the decorated apartment. “This is truly magical. I have never sensed such a strong Christmas spirit in any house before. Amazing!”

Pride started coming up Raina’s cheeks. “Thank you. You can have a seat and make yourself at home while I bring in the first course.”

“You know that I asked you not to torture yourself. We would be fine with a cheeseburger and Coke.” Dean was a true gentleman, Raina observed. He knew his way with people and she supposed that one must be a people’s person when running a multi-billion-dollar company in the entertainment industry. The toughest type of industry in the whole world.

Raina looked at herself in the kitchen mirror. She wasn’t looking like herself at all. But she liked this new Raina. She was more confident, more beautiful somehow. As if she belonged in the high circles of the society. Taking hold of the plates, she saw her hands shaking. What’s wrong with you? Compose yourself! This is not you! She scolded herself. Placing her hands on the rim of the sink, she breathed in and out several times. Her heart was beating extremely fast and she was sure that it would come up her throat any moment now and then it would come into her mouth and she would spit it out and the heart would still beat loudly. She sensed it even in her temples.

Her heart wasn’t the only organ with issues. Her stomach was strangely rumbling. As if hundreds of fireflies were flying in there, each and every one of them fluttering their wings to find some more space. I am hungry. That is all. Hunger makes peculiar things happen to people, Raina thought to herself. Yes. Hunger. Absolutely. Definitely. Utterly. She was hungry. That was all. Her hand dismissed her wild train of thoughts as she grabbed the two bowls containing the dense liquid of the apple and celeriac soup.

Getting to the table, she threw a glance at Dean who was still in awe of the whole apartment and the ornaments she and Veronica had placed the day before. Almost soundlessly she put down the bowls each with a spoon and went hastily to the kitchen again to bring the roasted squash and beef carpaccio. It was placed on two white porcelain plates that she had bought for a special occasion a few years ago, but couldn’t remember what it was.

Finally she sat down and saw that Dean had shifted his focus from her apartment onto her.