Chapter One

THE YOUNG BILLIONAIRES SERIES

A VERGARA WEDDING

Five young Billionaires. They are the best of friends. They are used to getting what they want. They are arrogant as well as breathtakingly handsome and they love fiercely.

Dylan Vergara: He belongs to one of the most affluent families in the country. This is his story.

After he was betrayed by his best, friend all hotelier Dylan Vergara wants is revenge but resourceful and feisty Ella came as a surprise and the feelings he once had for her that were beginning to surface hadn’t been part of his damn plan.

Blackmailed into a marriage of convenience to pay her family's debt, Ella loathes the arrogant young billionaire who thinks the entire world revolves around him. Caught between her feelings for her first crush Jason Dylan’s best friend Ella didn't plan to find herself caring for her husband to the point she was willing to risk everything.

A VERGARA HONEYMOON

Getting married was the easy part, a honeymoon on the other hand was another thing entirely and Ella isn't ready for the immense feelings she has for Dylan but even a fairy tale has its ups and downs. When she thought she was ready to face whatever curveball their relationship might throw at her, all the lies, deceit and manipulation stared her right in the face and Ella realised that she was just a pawn in a game of revenge.

A VERGARA'S LOVE

Whoever said falling in love was a piece of cake had never been pricked by its thorn.

Ella made it into a culinary school in Paris and is one step away from achieving her dream. Then Savannah, Dylan’s ex showed up out of the blue and threatened to ruin everything they had. Ella ended up being kidnapped by Eileen, Dylan’s secretary who's obsessed with him.

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Dear reader I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Ella and Dylan hold a special place in my heart. Their love is filled with many ups and downs, countless misunderstandings but they were able to fight and come out on top.

*****

A VERGARA WEDDING

                 The Young Billionaires

                    Maricruz Rosales

Ella was frog marched up a series of spiral stairs into a large office kicking and screaming, and demanding who they were. When her legs finally touched the tiled floor, she swung her fist at one of the men but ended up on the floor instead

. She winced, rubbing her butt, but froze as her eyes landed on the large screen TV across the room. She let out a gasp of surprise.

There before her was a recording showing her taking an envelope from a desk.

    Slowly, she carried herself off the floor swallowing hard and suddenly feeling her throat had gone dry. What the heck is going on? What does this mean? Ella remembered that day vividly and how Doña Bianca had presented her with the envelope. That witch… She balled her fist, her body trembled from sheer anger.

    She should’ve known that nothing was free even in free town. The video was made in a way that it appeared incriminating, like she was the thief.

    Ella sensed a presence in the room, she gulped nervously before reluctantly turning around in her bewildered state. Dylan was sitting supine behind a huge mahogany desk studying her closely.

     ‘’I knew you’d prefer coming in kicking and screaming.’’ He drawled.

     ‘’What is the meaning of this?’’ Ella managed after finding her voice but all efforts to make it sound normal was futile.

    Dylan sat straight, his face devoid of emotion.

   ‘’I don’t know, you tell me because frankly all I can see is a con artist masquerading as a saint.’’ Ella could feel the disdain in his voice, enough to make her flinch. The video was incriminating enough.

   ‘’Something is wrong with that video because your mother personally gave that money to me–’’

   ‘’Really? Because that’s not what’s in the video, unless my mother magically transformed into a desk.’’

    Ella really wanted him to believe her but from the looks of things he’s already made up his mind about her.

    She swallowed, clenching her fist to keep her from trembling. And then she went on offensive.

   ‘’What kind of game are you playing Mr. Vergara because this isn’t funny at all.’’

Dylan smirked. He stood up from his chair and rounded the desk to perch on it, facing her directly.

    ‘’I believe you know the consequence of that video Ms. Elenora Garcia.’’ She went rigid, and it’s not because he knew her full name, it was the sleek way he said it.

     Ella couldn’t believe she fell for Doña  Bianca’s pretentious intentions; if only she’d let her pride take over that day, she wouldn’t be in this mess right now having Dylan think her a gold digger and a con artist.

     Looking in his eyes, Ella couldn’t see the warmth that it had held before.

    Of course there was nothing like that because this was reality and not some goddamn lovers’ creek! In reality, Dylan Vergara was a ruthless person triple times his mother. Ella couldn’t believe she had liked the way he made her feel whenever he touched her or when he’s so close she could feel the heat radiating off his manly body and she felt so disgusted with herself right now.

    Her insides churned and she could feel the bile coming up.

    ‘’What does your family want with me because I can’t remember doing you any wrong?’’ she heaved, blinking back the pin prick of tears in her eyes.

     ‘’My mother wanted to send you to jail, but I had a different plan for you.’’ He informed.

    ‘’ How very typical of her and considerate of you,’’ Ella bit out sarcastically. ‘’You’re both a bunch of vultures.’’ She glowered furiously. ‘’I will not be bought by your family again!’’ Ella’s chest constricted and she felt like she was going to burst from all the anger.

    ‘’Oh you already have.’’ That made her blank in horror and confusion.

    ‘’What does that mean?’’ she met his burning gaze squarely.

    ‘’The five hundred thousand has already made you my wife.’’ Ella gasped, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, she nearly threw back her head in laughter but she snorted instead in stark horror and bewilderment at the absurdity he was implying.

   ‘’I am not your wife!’’ she gritted arrogantly. Was this some kind of a sick joke?

She waited for him to say ‘got you it was a silly prank’ but instead she got a reply far from that.

   ‘’You will be,’’ he stated bluntly like he was so sure of what he was saying. ‘’Soon of course.’’

   ‘’Are you crazy?’’

   ‘’I think I might be because I can’t believe I’m even saying this.’’

    ‘’I will not marry you not in this lifetime or any lifetime to come.’’ She flared, throwing up her arms dramatically.

   ‘’Oh you will, not if you want to go to jail.’’

       This time a tear did slip; because she didn’t know how else to hold it back any more. Ella bit her lips to stop it from flowing like a canal.

She wasn’t going down without a fight. And she wasn’t going to let the Vergaras walk all over her not if she had anything to say about it.

     Dylan didn’t think he would resolve to this, and he wanted to close the distance between them and embrace her tightly and tell her he didn’t mean any of it, but he reasoned that he was doing it partly for her own good and she’d see it too if she wasn’t so busy making a point of how much she absolutely loathed him.

     He couldn’t tell if this intense emotion was after seeing her in Jason’s arms–being kissed by him when it was all he’d ever wanted to do since he set eyes on her again– or if it was something else entirely.

    It was the latter he knew and that made his blood boil with fresh anger because he didn’t want her in any other man’s arms least of all Jason’s.

    ‘’I don’t know what you’re trying to achieve by doing this but I have three words for you–GO.TO.HELL!’’ Ella made for the door.

     ‘’I heard your family’s neck-deep in debt,’’ Ella paused midway with her fingers coiled over the knob. She licked her lips nervously; how dare he use her family against her? ‘’It’s why those men abducted you that day isn’t it?’’ Ella looked away, a bitter taste in her mouth as she recalled vividly the events of that fateful day. ‘’You know Ella if I hadn’t been there who knows what those thugs would’ve done to you if they’d managed to catch you again.’’ He was right but that didn’t mean she’d just jump into an ocean without first learning how to swim and what he is proposing is simply outrageous on many levels.

     ‘’You going to jail would be inevitable should you refuse my offer.  He explained. ‘’And imagine what those loan sharks would do to your father if they get a hold of him, I hear those underground bosses can be very ruthless.’’ Ella felt the chills run through her; not her father she thought.

    ‘’You must be feeling proud of yourself now that you think you’re winning.’’ Ella turned away from the door and walked back into the room, she could clearly see how much he was thoroughly enjoying himself. Damn the arrogant bastard!

    ‘’Stay married to me for eighteen months and all your debts would be cleared, and you can be sure that there would never be a repeat of what happened that day.’’

Ella pursed her lips, it sounded tempting enough.

     Dylan folded his arms across his broad chest while studying her through half-closed lids.

    ‘’I don’t even like you!’’ Ella countered half surprised.

Dylan arched an amused brow. ‘’You don’t have to like me to want me, and I know you want me.’’

He’s so full of himself!

    ‘’No I don’t.’’ She denied pointedly, or maybe that was before she found out what a jerk he was. All that’s left now is anger.

    ‘’Really?’’ he left the desk and took a step towards her. ‘’Mind if we put that to test?’’

    Ella cowered at his challenge, taking a step back as he advanced.

    She gulped.

    ‘’Don’t you dare come any closer.’’ She threatened defiantly but her insides were screaming murder. Even that didn’t stop him from matching his steps with hers and she knew for certain that she wouldn’t be able to resist him if he came any closer.

   Dear God what was she going to do?

   Dylan’s hands shot out in a split second catching her before she hit the ground.

   She let out a startled scream before a low gasp escaped her delectable lips. She looked up and was lost in his eyes; she could hear her heart thumping hard in her ears, a sense of déjà vu swept over her and she knew she was lost the moment his smouldering eyes took in her half-parted lips before he leaned in.  

    Dear God she couldn’t resist him.

    Ella was momentarily frozen as his luscious lips grazed hers lightly and lingered; then he began to move, slowly, sensually and erotically, filling her senses as liquid fire simmered in her veins.

   Dylan teased her lips apart; a gasp barely audible was muffled by the bold thrust of his tongue. Ella welcomed the passionate possession by wrapping her arms around his neck.

   Her reaction to him was just like he remembered: passionate and bold. The fire between them was like a raging inferno begging to be quenched.

    She was like a drug, so addicting he didn’t think he could get enough. The temptation of making love to her across his office desk was so great he felt himself hardening.

      It was heavenly; this feeling she could not explain, Ella found herself inadvertently comparing the kiss to that one heart stopping kiss from five years ago.  

   Ella was so lost in his arms that she had no idea Dylan had pulled back, she was standing there with her eyes shut, her lips parted and her chest rose and fell in rhythm. Dylan smirked in satisfaction.

   ‘’Point taken,’’ He murmured huskily, successfully masking his arousal, glad that his voice didn’t give away how affected he was by her.     

     Ella’s eyes flew open, her mouth parted in protest but nothing came out. She looked away her face flushed with embarrassment, he was using her attraction towards him to his advantage but she wasn’t going to let him get away with it so she countered, ‘’oh it was easy considering the fact that it wasn’t you I was imagining all along.’’ She was satisfied to see his smug expression replaced by a dark scowl.

      ‘’That is not funny.’’ He gritted.

     She cleared her throat and asked, ‘’what do you intend to get from all these?’’

  ‘’Don’t worry, it’s pure business, you get your family out of debt and I get to keep my inheritance.’’  And have my revenge. He added quietly.

   How did he know that her father was going to be taken apart by the loan sharks? This was the first question that popped into Ella’s head after she came home later that night to find her father gone and her mother sniffling. Did Dylan take her father so she’d have no choice but to give in to him? She knew he was his mother’s son but she’d never expected him to go that far. She took out her phone and dialled his number.

      ‘’Did you do this?’’ she demanded hotly her hands fisted furiously at her side. They were standing in front of the café.

      ‘’Do what?’’

       ‘’Did you have my father taken so you can prove your point on how vile the loan sharks are?’’

       ‘’What are you saying?’’ he demanded incredulously. ‘’How vile do you think I am?’’

        ‘’Says the guy who’s blackmailing me into marrying him. I swear to God if you have anything to do with…’’ she choked, unable to go on.

Dylan sighed, his eyes softening. ‘’Calm down okay? I didn’t do anything I swear to you.’’ He assured. ‘’Hold on, I’ll make this right.’’ He fished out his cellphone and dialled someone. Ella had no idea who he was talking to and she didn’t bother with what he was saying either because she was so distraught she couldn’t see past her tears and her fear of something happening to her father.

     ‘’My people are taking care of it now.’’ He said to her after putting away his phone.

      ‘’I don’t know what I’ll do if anything happens to my father.’’ Ella sobbed.

      ‘’Trust me, nothing will happen to him.’’ Dylan assured her firmly pulling her to him. She sobbed into his chest.

      Dylan held her like that for what seemed like eternity and only when his phone rang did they pull apart. Ella waited with baited breath as he spoke rapidly to the person on the other end. When he disconnected finally she looked at him expectantly, ‘’your father is safe and on his way home.’’ Her sigh of relief came out in a tremulous whoosh.

     ‘’Thank you.’’

     ‘’I’ll be frank Ella, I’m running out of time so you’ll have to make a decision. You have until tomorrow.’’ he told her and then he left.

  

     Eighteen months. A year and half, Ella cogitated.

   She felt like she was suffocating. She made for the window and threw it open, a gust of wind kissed her flushed face. She let out a shaky breath telling herself over and over again: I can do this; I can do it for my father.

    Ella didn’t want to think of what might happen anymore.

   The lawyer Mr. Chen had gotten her told her she stood zero chance of winning the case, and it’s not because the video itself was overwhelming evidence but because the Vergaras were involved.

    There’s only one way to get yourself out of this mess; marry Dylan Vergara. A voice in her head kept nagging at her. She had spent the better part of that evening weighing her options until finally before she could change her mind she reached for her cellphone and dialled Dylan. ‘’I accept.’’

   

                            

******

CHAPTER ONE

‘’Take the money and leave. And never breathe a word of this to anyone.’’

Ella glanced from the woman to the brown envelope she’d so carelessly tossed across the huge rose wood desk. She bit her lips before her eyes met the woman’s uncaring ones.

Unbelievable.

    Instead of feeling remorseful she’s bribing her to stay quiet.

Doña Bianca sat back on her chair studying a speechless Ella with chocolate brown eyes underneath thick long lashes.

   ‘’Is the amount too small? I can double it if you want.’’ She said oh so suavely.

      Ella’s lips tightened grimly in suppressed fury at the blatant insult, she had never been this furious with anyone in her entire life and this woman was picking at every shred of nerve. Ella fisted her hands to her side stiffly, afraid that she might do something she’d regret if not for the rest of her life and Doña Bianca didn’t look like she was one to let an insult go unpunished.

      ‘’I’m sorry madam but I did not come here to be insulted.’’ Ella grated between clenched teeth.

   ‘’Oh! So what are you here for then?’’ Doña Bianca tilted her head to the side,

 ‘’I am here to demand a compensation—’’

 ‘’Demand?’’ Doña Bianca thumped her fist against the rose wood desk, her eyes flashing with unadulterated fury. ‘’Who do you think you are to demand anything from me? That land wasn’t yours to begin with and I will not stand for your impertinence.’’

   ‘’My father nearly died! The least you could do is pay for his medical bills and I haven’t even started on those poor people who’ve lost their loved ones.’’ Ella blinked back as tears threatened to blind her.

   ‘’You common folks are so obstinate,’’ Doña Bianca stated grinding her teeth. ‘’If only you had listened to me and taken the money I offered then things wouldn’t have gone this far.’’

 ‘’Are you kidding? You never negotiate you always take things by force.’’

Doña Bianca got up from her chair and sauntered to a low table where she picked up a bottle of red wine and poured herself a sufficient amount; taking a sip before turning to face Ella again, this time she smirked. ‘’You’re right, I underestimated you. You’re smarter than I thought.’’

   ‘’What compensation are you going to give to the family who lost their loved ones?’’ Ella felt her chest become heavy; she’d marched to this grand house the same way she had when she heard that the place she called home was about to be turned into a resort only to be dragged out by security. Here she was again without thinking.

She must’ve lost her mind.

   After what had happened fifteen hours ago she was prepared to give the tigress a piece of her mind; but now that she’s here, she found herself chickening out and lacking the courage to vent.

Her father was right, she admitted, she was no match for this tycoon who had everything including the law wrapped around her fingers.

   Ella pursed her lips; never in her life had she felt so helpless, so belittled, and so worthless.

    Fiften hours ago, five people had lost their lives because they were fighting for their rights and their homes.

   ‘’What do you think I am, a charity organisation?’’

     Kids are left without their parents and this is what she could afford to say? The uprising started after her workers had begun to demolish the shanties at the dump site without a forewarning. That land belonged to the people and not just an organisation like Skyline Hotels, the least she could have done was issue out a forewarning but she couldn’t even offer them such courtesy. ‘’Everything that happened was your fault Doña Bianca and you know it, your money isn’t going to bring back the dead but at least it’ll sustain the living and help them get back on their feet.’’

     ‘’You are a delusional young lady and you have the nerve to come into my house and insult me.’’

     ‘’With all due respect Madam I did no such thing but merely stated a fact.’’ Ella shot back.

     ‘’You are one mouthy young woman. But, I’ll let this slide because I am in a good mood today as I am seeing my son for the first time in a long while. Take this money as an act of benevolence on my part.’’

   Ella felt her throat dried. ‘’You’re heartless Doña Bianca.’’ She said between clenched teeth.  And to her surprise, Doña Bianca let out a throaty laugh before settling back down on her chair.

   ‘’Aren’t we all?’’ she swayed the glass effortlessly, and as elegantly as she was.

   Doña Bianca had power every woman would love to have but she was far from being a role model to anyone.

Ella frowned.

   ‘’I am not like you.’’

  ‘’That’s what you common people always say. But you’re worse.’’

  ‘’What’s wrong with being poor?’’ Ella felt herself growing angrier.

  ‘’Because the sight of you alone makes my skin crawl.’’

Ella opened her mouth to retort but was cut off by a knock on the door then a man eased himself in.

  ‘’Doña Bianca, the guests are starting to arrive.’’ He informed.

  ‘’Thank you Steve.’’ She muttered and the man excused himself.

   And then she turned to Ella, ‘’so what’s it going to be young lady?’’ Ella gazed at the floor conflicted. ‘’Take the money and go before I change my mind.’’

   ‘’And if I don’t?’’

Doña Bianca let out a low chuckle. ‘’You have no choice anyway.’’

   Ella bit her lower lip nervously, she was right she had no choice and if Ella didn’t take the money, it’ll be her loss and even if there was a law suit, they’d only end up spending more money and the court might just rule in favour of Doña Bianca because she had legal proof to claim the lands.

   ‘’Take the money or not, it’s your call.’’ she said finally before grabbing her purse and heading for the door.

    Ella sighed as soon as she heard the door clicked shut, her shoulders sagging in tow. She hated being left with no choice and the anger she’s feeling right now is like nothing she’s ever felt before.

    Doña Bianca is really a manipulating witch, she thought. Ella glanced at the brown envelope once more before she reached out and grabbed it.

     This was not the moment for her pride to take over.

   She stepped out of the room and into the hallway, her face devoid of any emotion but her insides were rioting at that moment and  she felt like she could murder someone right now…

   ‘’Hey you there!’’   

   ‘’What!?’’ Ella snapped, spinning around to see a young man probably in his early twenties standing halfway outside the hall. Ella could see the white shirt he had on, the top buttons undone giving her a glimpse of his chest.

    ‘’Come over here.’’ he beckoned to her with a crooked finger.

    ‘’Huh?’’

    ‘’Have you gone deaf or something? I hate repeating myself.’’ He said with a frown.

Dylan doesn’t take too kindly to being disobeyed and he didn’t come all the way to The Philippines to have a maid look down her nose at him. He decided indignantly that she was fired. But not before she’s done what he would ask her to do.

Dylan was a tad bit suspicious seeing as she’d just come from his mother’s office and is carrying an envelope but he reasoned out that perhaps Doña Bianca has sent her on an errand– she wasn’t even wearing her uniform–he wondered why though seeing as there’s a party in less than an hour. And he was yet to get dressed…

This reminded him of the reason he was out here in the first place speaking to the impertinent maid who didn’t know her place.  

      Before she had the chance to give a fitting reply he had disappeared into the room he had been standing halfway in. Ella shook her head, what arrogance who does he think he is? She huffed in frustration.

In her chagrin Ella still went but that was purely out of curiosity.

   Her eyes widened at the space even though she didn’t want to react that way. The room had two compartments; one was a sitting area with four black leather chairs and a coffee table in the middle with a flower vase filled with sun flowers; a large flat screen TV stood on the wall, she smiled as she suddenly thought of her friend Lani, she would surely love to watch her favourite soap opera on it.

   The other compartment was where the bed was and at the far end of the room, there was glass in place of a brick wall.

   ‘’Over here,’’ she heard him say. Her frown deepened, and she couldn’t help but wonder who he was.

    Her question was answered when she spotted a framed photo of him and Doña Bianca, she furrowed her brows to place him, it was at a convention where some guy with really weird manners bumped into her knocking her to the ground and went off without  a word of apology.

Dylan Vergara, it ought to be him.

  Dylan Vergara was a name she’d heard so many times on the news who was involved in his family’s Hotel and Condos since he was seventeen. He was one of the infamous Young Billionaires who come from the most opulent families in the country, she had a feeling that  now that he’s twenty-two, he would probably be Skyline's president.

   Ella frowned at the irony, as if it wasn’t enough that she had to face Doña Bianca, must she face her son too? Without thinking much into it, Ella decided there and then that she disliked Dylan Vergara.

     She climbed the mini steps to his bed compartment and saw him standing before an open door.

   When he shoved her in Ella’s jaw dropped to the floor and her eyes widened before she blinked once, twice then she let out a silent gasp, is this a boutique or something?

   The room was his closet and there was a stunning display of shirts, tuxedoes, ties and shoes; the best of the best.

She clicked her tongue and regained her composure before turning to face him.

   ‘’Why did you bring me here?’’ she queried raising a brow.

   ‘’Find me an outfit for tonight’’ Ella blinked rapidly, didn’t think she heard him right but who was she kidding?

She frowned, her mouth twisting in distaste.

   ‘’Can’t you get a maid to do it for you?’’

   ‘’Well aren’t you?’’

   ‘’And what may I ask gave you that idea?’’

    Dylan thought she was joking and so help him God his patience was already wearing thin but he resisted the urge to do something desperate. But as the question lingered he realised she was serious.

    If Ella had been fuming before, she was seething now. How dare he? Just because she’s wearing a cheap blue gauzy dress she got from the flea-market.

     ‘’Just because I’m dressed the way I am doesn’t give you the right to look down on me or order me around like I’m one of your servants!’’

      ‘’Listen—‘’

     ‘’No you Listen to me,‘’ she poked him across the chest coming unto him with bold strides until they were practically nose to nose. She saw him visibly flinch.

     Ella was too angry to acknowledge her victory no matter how short lived it had been but her heart was flip-flopping across her chest, and somewhere a tiny voice told her not to mess with a Vergara but she was too far gone to care. ‘’I may not have a room full of designer clothes but I am proud of who I am and where I come from. I know that you might be used to giving orders to whomever you come across but I will not be ordered around, plus I’ve had enough of Vergara arrogance for one day.’’

     Dylan was dumb-struck to say the least as he watched her rant, she actually looked down her nose at him.

    This was outrageous! And unbelievable even to him. Never in his life had he been rendered speechless and immobile, his brain had automatically shut down and he found himself conceding that this was just a dream, that this mischievous little brown head imposing on him was a mere figment of an illusion.

    But alas! It wasn’t and only when the door slammed hard enough to rip it off its hinges did the wall that seemed to have been around him shatter into tiny shards of glass.

  Had she just slammed the door in his face?

   Yes, she actually dared.