The Birthday Deadline (Billionaire Brides) (3 page)

Later that night, I lay in the bed of my tiny apartment, staring up at the ceiling above my head.

In the adjacent bedroom, I could hear my roommate giggling on the phone with her boyfriend. They talked constantly, spending hours and hours fawning over each other. They’d been dating for almost a month and were desperately in love.

I wanted to mock them, but I’d known a man for less than an hour and was already engaged.

“You hang up!” Trisha squealed, “…you first!” She giggled wildly, bed creaking as she squirmed on it.

I rolled my eyes, trying not to groan aloud. It was obnoxious. Or perhaps I was jealous. Either way, I didn’t have the money to get a place all on my own, so I would have to deal with the quirks that come with roommates.

Would I be leaving this place before I knew it, to settle down in some huge mansion with my new husband? The thought of all that change made me nauseous.

“Stop being petty.” I scolded myself as I rolled onto my stomach, pulling the pillow over my head.

Inside the dark little pillow cave, it was much more quiet. Too quiet, actually, as it gave my mind time to whir to life. I’d put the conversation with the billionaire forcefully from my mind for the remainder of the afternoon after he’d left my shop, but now, in this quiet stillness, it was all I could think about.

I would be getting married within the week. I would be a married woman. I would be wed off to a billionaire who would save my shop like a gallant knight, or something.

Roughly, I pinched down on my arm, flinching at the pain. I was still awake, this wasn’t something that I’d hallucinated. Yet, it felt so unreal, so dreamlike.

Why had Sebastian picked me? What made him stumble into my shop? What did he see in me that made him want to propose? Was it just the fact that he deemed me desperate enough to go for it? Or was there another reason?

I suppose I would have the rest of our lives to figure that out.

Forever.

What a strange concept. I would spend the rest of my forever beside a man who I didn’t know. Did he snore? Did he leave his clothes in a pile on the floor? Could he cook? Would he hate that he most fancy meal I could make was tacos? Did he hog the pillows and blankets?

Would he hate me?

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force the questions from my mind. I didn’t want to think about it anymore. I didn’t want to imagine all of the things that could go wrong in making such a strange deal as this. I didn’t want to imagine how hard it would be keeping our wedding contract a secret from everyone.

I shook my head violently, squeezing the pillow harder over my head as though I were trying to smother myself. Outside my bedroom walls, I heard Trisha squeal loudly once more in laughter.

To the sound of her infatuated giggles, I managed to eventually fell into a restless sleep.

When my eyes blearily opened, I was on a boat.

It tipped and swayed beneath my feet while grey clouds swirled overhead, angry flashes of light darting between the clouds. I winced, covering my face with my hands.

“Where am I?” I asked desperately, whipping around to gaze at the people who surrounded me. They stared back at me blankly, as though they didn’t even see me.

“Where am I?” I asked again, reaching forward to grab at one of the people.

White sleeves lined my arms. As I gazed downwards, I took in a billowy, white dress that whipped back and forth in the violent ocean wind. My hair blew into my face, choking me, cutting out my vision.

I twisted around, staggering forward.

There, several steps in front of me, stood Sebastian. He stared down at me coldly, green eyes piercing the grey of the storm like a beacon. He was taller than I remember, looming over me like a giant.

“Come here.” He commanded, reaching out a hand to me.

Gingerly, I slid my fingers onto his, allowing him to yank me up to his side. His hand clenched down on my wrist so tightly it ached, no longer gentle.

“You’re hurting me.” I whispered, pulling at my arm, but his hold remained strong as a statue’s, unbreakable.

“Do you take this woman to be your wife?” An officiant suddenly asked, glaring at me, eyes dropping over me, “Even though she is poor and ugly and stupid?”

My mouth gaped open, eyes forming a glare at the man, “How dare you!” I said, yanking at my arm once more.

Still, Sebastian held me, “I suppose so…even though she is rather plain, don’t you think?”

“Sebastian!” I said, glaring at him now, though I had no argument for that one. I was rather plain, after all. Definitely too plain to be standing with a billionaire at the altar.

Several of the people in the audience began booing wildly, hissing at me in displeasure.

“Too plain!” They cried, “Too ugly! Too stupid! Too poor!” They chanted, again and again and again, until I tried desperately to cover my ears and close my eyes. I didn’t want to hear their cruel words any longer.

“Stop!” I gasped, staring up at Sebastian, “Stop this!”

“They’re right, you know.” He finally sighed as he looked at me in disappointment, “I’m afraid I was about to make a huge mistake.”

Suddenly, his strong, hard arms swooped out, picking me right up off my feet. I clung to him in surprise, my arms wrapping around his neck. His eyes stared straight ahead, stony and cruel.

“What are you doing?” I shrieked, as we approached the side of the ship.

All that surrounded us were grey waters, angrily twisting and lapping at the boat. There was no sign of land.

“Goodbye, Delilah.” He said with a careless shrug, throwing me easily overboard.

I screamed as I fell, eyes squeezing shut as I braced myself for the freezing, churning waters.

Instead, my body landed roughly on the ground of my bedroom, eyes popping open to stare up at the ceiling, where rays of morning light were just beginning to sneak across.

I gasped for breath, arms wrapping tight around my body as I shook.

All I knew, was that I was never setting foot on a boat again.

Before I could even reach the coffee pot, a sharp banging at the door pulled my attention.

I groaned, tugging the old t-shirt I slept in farther down my thighs as I headed for the apartment door. I squinted through the peep hole, unable to see anything but an angry flash of red hair through the dented, fogged glass.

With a sigh and a longing, last glance towards the coffee machine, I tugged open the door, hoping it wasn't our landlady here to yell at us for taking showers too late in the evening again.

The woman waiting at the door stared at me blankly, black eyes wide, red eyebrows furrowed into a deep crease.

"You've got to be kidding me." She groaned, "Delilah can’t be home, right?"

“I’m Delilah…” I responded hesitantly, unsure if I wanted to be the focus of this lady’s attention. Maybe I could bribe Trisha into pretending to be me for a day.

The lady was tall, though her sharp, looming heels made her even more so. I took in the tight red bun on top of her head and the tight black dress that squeezed her thighs. Her make up and nails were done perfectly, arms slowly crossing over her chest. Everything about her was so rigid and stiff it made even me uncomfortable.

"We've got our work cut out for us, then." She sighed dramatically, "Come on now, we have places to be."

"Um." I said slowly, "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"Juliet Peters." She began, sticking her hand out to shake mine instinctually. Before I could return the gesture, she'd snatched her hand backwards with a haughty sniff, "Sebastian Fox's personal assistant."

"Oh!" I said hastily in surprise, "Let me change. Can I get you anything? Come on in, make yourself at home."

She rolled her eyes, flitting her hand back towards my bedroom, "Go get ready. And make it snappy. It’s rude to make your guests wait." The redheaded woman did not step one foot inside the apartment.

I wouldn’t have made her wait if I’d had the slightest inkling that she would appear at my home.

How had Sebastian even figured out where I lived?

Though I was supposed to head into my shop today, I couldn't imagine very many people caring that I wasn't open. It was more likely than not that I would spend the day alone, wandering between the shelves and talking to the plants more than any customers. The flowers could handle themselves for one day.

Besides, Juliet Peters didn't seem like the kind of woman to take 'no' for an answer.

Quickly, I headed into my bedroom, not even sparing a glance at my waiting coffee machine. I flung off the old shirt and loose shorts I wore as soon I stepped behind the cover of my walls. Though I didn't have many options in my closet, I slid into a soft pink sundress that had loose, wavy sleeves and a billowy skirt. It was what I always wore when I was trying to be fancy, though that wasn't very often. On my feet, I slid some white flats. They were old and a little yellowed, but they were all I had besides flip flops and sneakers.

Hastily, I brushed my hair, throwing it up into a lazy bun on top of my head before rushing out of the bedroom door. Juliet glanced up as I came out, look of sheer pain crossing her eyes as she gazed at my outfit.

"Ah." She sighed, "Lovely." How she managed to speak through such harshly gritted teeth, I would never know.

"Where are we headed to?" I asked as I locked the apartment door, following her red hair into the stairwell.

She stopped abruptly, turning to face me. Even on the stair below me, she managed to tower over me. Every inch of the personal assistant was terrifying.

"Listen." She said firmly, in a way that told me that I was in trouble. Like when a principal or a teacher calls your name in the middle of class.

"I know all about your little deal with Sebastian." She added nose crinkling in sheer disgust, "And I think it's horrendous that you're using him for his money. You disgust me, Delilah,
disgust
me. I want nothing to do with you. I am only helping you because Sebastian asked me as personal favor. I don't want to make small talk with you and I don't want to spend any more time with you than I have to."

"If you know all about 'our little deal,' Juliet," I retaliated, trying to blink away the angry red that flashed in front of my eyes, "then you know full well that Sebastian needs me as much I need him."

I didn't want to spend any more time with the nasty woman than I needed to either, I shared those sentiments just as much.

She glared at me, nostrils flaring as though she were a wild tigress ready to pounce. Instead, she simply turned on her heel, stilettos clicking as she made her way down the stairs.

With a satisfied smirk at her silence, I followed her.

The sun was shining as we left my apartment building, heat of the afternoon lazily snaking its way through town.

Though I was curious as to where Juliet was leading me, I didn't press her for any further answers. I didn't want to end up in a back alley somewhere, hog tied and left for dead in the midst of her rage. I could already tell that her temper was as fiery as her hair, after all.

"In case you're wondering," She suddenly said, glancing over her shoulder to send me a scathing glare, "We're walking instead of driving so that you can work on the...stoutness of your legs." Just like that, she was facing forwards again, two steps ahead of me. Girl could really work those heels apparently.

I glanced at myself in a passing mirror, taking in my apparently appalling legs. I didn't think they were that bad, after all, I was constantly squatting and moving and lifting things in the store. I was rather fond of the firm strength in my legs. I wasn't thin and gorgeous like Juliet, but my body was strong.

'There's nothing wrong with you.' I told my uncertain reflection firmly, just as it vanished into the concrete of a passing wall. I faced forward again, frown tugging my lips, 'There's nothing wrong with you.'

"Here we are." Juliet said abruptly as she came to a sudden stop. She moved with the quickness of a hummingbird, flitting to and fro, capable of stopping on a dime.

Distracted, I plunged into her back, sending her staggering forwards. Her arms flew forward, catching herself on a bike rail as she steadied once more. She turned sharply, eyes blazing with anger.

"Watch where you're going." She said quietly.

Though the assistant didn't yell, the pure hostility in her words made a cold shudder run down my back. This was a woman who would make my life miserable, if she so desired. Which I’m quite sure she did at the moment.

"Sorry." I mumbled lamely, shrugging my shoulders, "My stout legs just couldn't stop fast enough."

Her black eyes narrowed, huffing as she turned back to face the huge building looming over us. I recognized it instantly, squinting as I tilted my head far back to take in the letters shimmering along the front.

Burgendale's, the finest clothing store located in our city. I'd never even set foot in it, just walking in would probably cost you a fortune.

'This is where we're going?" I gasped, glancing back at Juliet.

She sneered at me, hands smoothing over her black dress, "Don't worry, Delilah." She said sourly, "This is a...wedding gift from your groom."

I wondered how hard it was for her to say anything directly related to the marriage between Sebastian and I. She looked like she wanted to puke, though I could tell it was for different reasons than the ones that made my stomach uneasy.

I wasn't good enough to marry her boss. I could see that plain as day in her obsidian eyes. No one was good enough for Sebastian, except for her of course. How long had Juliet been in love the sexy billionaire? Probably her entire career, probably before she even managed to become his secretary.

I felt sorry for her, for the pain that I was sure that she carried in loving a man who never noticed her in that regard. I felt sorry that Juliet felt the need to be so hurtful to someone she barely knew, just because I was stealing away a man who would never be hers.

It was rather pitiful really, though who was I to truly judge? After all, I was marrying for a rather pitiful reason myself. Money.

In Juliet's eyes, I was nothing but a rotten gold digger, and truth be told, there wasn't much I could do that would make the situation seem any different. There was no love between Sebastian and me, there would be no love at our upcoming wedding as we stood together at the altar. We would put on a show for all in attendance, showing off a romance that never truly existed, and may never exist.

Only the three of us would know the truth, only the three of us would carry that burden on our shoulders.

It wasn't Juliet’s fault that she hated me, it wasn't my fault that I was in this situation, and it wasn't Sebastian's fault that he had never noticed the affection in his personal assistant's eyes, or the way she worked extra hours just to be close to him. It wasn't fair that any of us were put in this position, it wasn't fair that any of us were forced to put aside our true feelings on such complicated matters.

In a world like ours, nothing was fair.