A billionaire’s kiss

“We already went to many cafes Miss Evans” Daniel said as he slowed the car.

“Just be patient Daniel. We’ll find the right person soon” I scanned the side of the road, searching for more cafes. This was the third day of our mission and we found none that would match a book description.

There were plenty waitresses that would want one million dollars hell even I would love to have it. But all of the young waitresses we found either had a boyfriend or they were college part timers.

“Stop here”

Daniel pulled the car to the side and parked it in front of a cafe. I quickly jumped out and sprinted inside in a hurry. I heard Daniel let out a heavy sigh before following me inside.

Inside customers were crowding the cafe, the room buzzing with chatter. Clatter of utensils rung in my ear, the sweet aroma of food invading my nostrils. Three waitress were serving the tables. One blond haired and the other two brunettes.

“Let’s go” I grabbed Daniel by the hem of his suit jacket and dragged him to a table near the counter.

I took a seat and impatiently tapped my fingers on the table, waiting till one of the waitresses approach us.

And it was the blond one. “What would you like to order?” She asked politely.

“Umm” I smiled. “Can we order later?”

“Sure” She nodded and went on her way.

Daniel’s narrowed eyes followed her until her figure disappeared behind the kitchen doors. “Are we gonna check on her?” He asked, returning his gaze back to me.

“Nah. She’s blond”

Daniel raised a confused brow. “What’s wrong with being blond?”

“Well” I leaned back in my chair and sighed. “There’s nothing wrong with being blond but it’s a stereotype in books. Blond girls are always portrayed as the bitches of the story. I mean it’s kind of sad because there are really nice blond people but I’m gonna stick to the books. So I can’t have her play the main character”

“But-” Daniel opened his mouth to say something but I shushed him as the other two waitresses walked past us to the counter.

One of them sighed, setting down her tray on the counter. “I don’t know how I’m gonna pay my rent this month”

Yes yes yes.

“Even loan sharks are hunting me” She slumped her shoulders in exhaustion, her eyes showing weariness. “How am I supposed to pay back my dad’s gambling debt like this?”

Yes!

The other girl frowned. “Your dad is an asshole”

Yessss! The feisty best friend.

“Why did he leave it all to you and die?” She shook her head in dismay. “Sometimes I just wanna-” She took a fork from a tray and stabbed it on a half eaten burger, her nostrils flaring in anger. “So now what are you gonna do? You can live with me if you want”

The other girl gave her a faint smile. “I can’t live with your forever Tess”

“Well” Tess shrugged. “I just wanted to help you”

“Thank you Tess. But I have to find another job soon”

Tess scoffed. “You already do three jobs Emma. You can’t keep living like this. At least get a boyfriend”

Yes she’s single!

Emma chuckled. “I don’t think a guy would want to date a 23 year old who didn’t even graduate from high school”

Hurray!

“But you can’t-” Tess was interrupted as one of the tables called for a waitress.

Emma gave her friend one last glance. “This is my life Tess” Then she took a deep breath and forced a smile onto her lips before approaching the customers.

I turned back to Daniel with a wide grin on my face. “That’s our girl” I pointed to Emma. “That’s Ian’s future wife”

Daniel rolled his eyes.

“Mrs. Emma Kingston” I clapped my hands excitedly.

“Or Mrs. Hailey Kingston” Daniel muttered and I shot him a glare.

“Say that one more time and I’ll stich your lips” I huffed angrily and turned back to stare at Ian’s future wife.

She was smiling to her customers, talking with the children, laughing to their jokes but in her eyes I could see all the pain she was holding in. And in my case, perfect.

I could picture Ian taking care of Emma, supporting her, providing for her then marrying her and having children.

I smiled at that thought. He better give me that million dollars because he just won a lottery thanks to me.

I loved these types of stories. I don’t know what others say but for me these types of romance novels are beautiful. Always loved reading them but now I get to see one for real.

I sighed dreamily thinking about them.

“Excuse me miss”

I glanced up and saw the blond girl towering over me.

“Are you ready to order?”

“Umm…” I could’t say the same thing again. “We came here to see Emma”

The girl raised a brow and she looked at Emma then back at me. “You didn’t come here to order?”

I shook my head and the girl’s face twisted into a scowl. “Then get out of here”

I gasped in shock. “Oh my god! I think I was wrong” I turned to Daniel. “Blondes are bitches”

Daniel rolled his eyes and grabbed the menu off the table. “We’ll order” He then ordered both of us hamburgers and the girl wrote it down before walking back to the kitchen.

Till our food arrive I watched Emma. She was hardworking and dedicated. No matter how exhausting her work can be she endures it and keeps a smile on her face. She stands up for herself when customers are rude and that made me wonder what if I employed her?

I straightened up as an idea popped into my mind. “Daniel, what if we hire her as a maid?”

“To where?”

“Ian’s house”

Daniel eyes widened and he shook his head. “No, you can’t. You didn’t ask for Mr. Kingston’s permission”

“I will ask it later”

“Ask it now”

“Later”

“Now!”

I scoffed. “Are you serious?” Daniel didn’t answer and kept glaring at me until I took my phone out and dialled Ian.

He picked up in three ring. “I’m in a meeting. Tell quickly”

“Uhh… Can I hire a maid?”

“Do as you please” Then he hung up.

I pulled my phone away from my ear and stared at it, blinking rapidly. Is that permission? Yeah it is.

I returned my gaze back to Daniel with a grin of my face. “He gave permission”

“Really?”

“Yes. Now” I slammed my hands on the table and stood up. “I’m gonna make a move. Follow me if you want to witness this great moment”

I sauntered to the front of the cafe and leaned against the counter, grinning widely.

Tess raised a brow. “You like to order anything?”

“No. But-” I curled a loose strand of my hair. “Can I talk to your friend please?”

“Emma?”

“Yes”

Tess narrowed her eyes. “Uhh…She’s straight by the way”

I blinked. “WHAT?” I heard Daniel make a choking sound behind me. “No that’s not-” are you serious right now? “Can I talk to her please?” I repeated more urgently.

Tess hesitantly nodded and called Emma. Emma came back from the tables and set her tray down before approaching us with an innocent smile on her face. “What can I do for you?”

I smiled awkwardly, already thinking this was a bad idea. “Hi umm… I’m Hailey Evans” I fished out my ATC ID badge from my purse and showed it to Emma. “I work in the marketing department at ATC. And this is-” I gestured to Daniel. “Daniel Collins. He’s our CEO’S secretary”

Daniel gave his business card to her and she observed them intently before giving back to us.

“I mean this can sound rude and kind of privacy invading, sorry about that” I bit my lip anxiously. Hailey say it! “But earlier I heard you talk about some kind of gambling debt”

Emma’s eyes widened and she took a step back in fear.

“Please don’t go. Let me explain first” I said hastily. When Emma calmed down I took a deep breath and continued. “I know you have a lot going on but what if I told you that you have a way to earn money easily?”

Emma shook her head in horror. “No. I won’t sell my body”

“No no no that’s not what I meant” Uhh why the hell is this so hard? Guys in books do it easily. “I meant as a maid”

“A maid?” Emma asked in puzzlement.

“Yes, uh…a temporary one”

“H-how much will I get p-paid?” She blushed asking the question.

I gulped anxiously, knowing she’s gonna have a heart attack to my answer. “One million dollars for six months”

Emma gasped covering her mouth with her hand, her face showing pure shock. “Why would you give one million for a maid’s job? That’s absurd!” Then she narrowed her eyes at me in suspicion. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, bracing myself for my next words.

“You need to break a man’s heart”

“WHAT?” She suddenly yelled.

“Calm down. No need to panic” I said while panicking myself. What if she says no? “I’m not asking you to seduce a man and or sleep with anyone. You just need to do what I say and I guarantee-” I kept a hand over my heart as a promising gesture. “I won’t force you to do anything you don’t like. Everything I ask you to do will not cross any of your boundaries”

Emma looked puzzled.

“All you have to do is be the maid of that man’s house and I will take care of the rest. I will buy you new clothes and pay your monthly rent for the next six months with my salary. Then if you manage to break the house owner’s heart within those six months, you’ll be going home with one million dollars. How about that?”

Except, there won’t be any heartbreaks and they’ll eventually fall in love with each other for real and get a happily ever after. It’s a win win situation for me and them.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

And I need to win this challenge. I have to get out of this engagement. I can’t be with someone I’m not into. And I’m not into Ian.

Really?

Yes!

“Who’s that m-man?” Emma asked hesitantly.

“Ian Kingston. He’s the CEO of ATC”

Emma’s jaw fell. “A CEO?”

I nodded.

“Umm-” She bit her lip anxiously. “May I know, who asked you to hire a maid to break his heart?”

“No one”

“So you did all this?”

I nodded again.

“W-who are you to h-him?” She asked nervously and I gave her the most awkward smile ever.

“His fiance”

Emma’s eyes bulged out of her sockets. “WHAT?” She yelled in shock. “Why do you want me to break your fiance’s heart?”

I grinned inwardly. Time to turn on all my acting skills!

I took a handful of tissues out of my pocket and sniffled. “I don’t know how I’m gonna say this but-” My voice broke, eyes filling with fake tears. “Ian-” I blinked back my tears dramatically but they kept falling just like I wanted to. “He-” I gulped and wiped a tear from my cheek. “He cheated on me”

Emma gasped and Daniel looked at me as if I’d grown two heads.

So sorry Ian. This is the only way to win your challenge. When she agrees to this, I’ll tell her what a good person you are. Sort of good or maybe… Very good. Shut up Hailey!

“S-so that’s why you want me to break his heart? To make him feel the same thing you did?”

I sniffled. “Yes”

Pity crossed over her face and her hand reached out to console me. “I’m sorry”

“Thank you” I looked at her with blood shot eyes, tears staining my cheeks.

“So will you do it?”

Emma bit her lip and then nodded.

Yesssss!

I grinned like a mad woman. “Come to the Prescott’s, tomorrow at seven”