CHAPTER ONE

TEXAS, USA.

*****BILLY'S POV*****

Standing at one corner of the grand ballroom, my eyes swept over the room, scanning for anyone who would signal for a drink and then suddenly, they landed on a man who stood far away, across from where I was. As our gazes locked, I could hear my heart racing very fast as if I had been entranced by something and for some unknown reason, the stranger whose gaze was locked with mine looked strikingly familiar. I could swear that I had seen him before, but I just couldn’t pinpoint where or how exactly.

His stare was intense, almost intimidating, and yet something about it just kept pulling me in. Well, I’ll admit that he was really good-looking. No, scratch that. He was damn hot. Have you ever seen those tall guys with well chiseled bodies and faces who make every woman swoon around them? Yeah, he’s exactly like that, and my stomach twisted with discomfort as I just got the attention of someone of that kind. I wasn’t really used to being the center of anyone’s attention, let alone someone who looked like he’d stepped straight out of a magazine. Guys like that already had women dripping off their arms, not servers carrying trays of champagne at one of the parties they attended.

Coming out of my thought, “Hey,” I nudged Maria, one of the other servers besides me and she's also my best friend. “Do you know that guy?” I asked, lowering my voice while still looking at the stranger.

“Who?” Maria leaned in with a conspiratorial grin.

“Sixty degrees to your right,” I said, tilting my head subtly in his direction. “The one who can’t seem to stop staring at me.” I described and Maria’s gaze swept the room, trying to find the person I was referring to and when her eyes landed on him, she let out a low whistle.

“Wow! That one’s a dark horse.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“But he really do seems like one’s trouble wrapped in a perfectly tailored suit. Not him though but all this pimp who is all sending winks at him.” Maria said.

My eyes scanned the room, trying to see what she was talking about, and that’s when I realized that many ladies in the room were also trying to get his attention. I even saw a lady seductively approaching him, but he courteously excused himself, making the lady feel embarrassed by the public rejection.

“ Well…those ones aren't really my problem but his. It's just that… don’t you really think it’s a bad idea to get involved with guys like that? Trust me, I’m done with heartbreaks.”

Maria raised her brow. “You? Heartbreaks? Sweetheart, I think you’re just getting started because as long as you continue to play that virgin-girl type, you’ll definitely keep getting more of it.”

I groaned. “That’s not fair—”

She cut me off, laughing. “Come on, you’re practically a walking cliché of ‘the one that got away’ for your ex, and I won’t really blame the poor guy since his girlfriend refused to let him touch her. Speaking of which, I still can’t believe you dated that loser but at least he didn’t invite you over to watch him screw another girl like the one before him.”

“Maria!” I hissed, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as I swatted her arm.

Maria was referring to my last ex-boyfriend and my second-to-last ex-boyfriend. Well… I’ve got a lot of exes after my first breakup with Ethan, the first guy I actually gave my heart to.

“Could you not remind me of that disaster? I’ve tried really hard to forget it.” I said, still remembering how my second-to-last ex-boyfriend called me over to his house and made me watch him screw another girl, all because I refused to give myself to him.

Well..i'm not that kind of girl that has any issues getting guys’ attention. Infact, I’ve had plenty of them head over heels for me. But when it got to that certain point where I said, “No sex.” That’s when the problems started.

It’s not that I was still a virgin, but after my first heartbreak with Ethan; the guy I thought was my soulmate… I decided to keep myself reserved as the reasons for the breakup were just too ridiculous to even believe.

“I tried, Billy. I really tried so hard, but I… I just can’t do this anymore,” Ethan had said, his voice trembling, yet somehow still managing to sound condescending. “You screaming and telling me to go harder when I was already at my full limit? Having sex almost every day? And even then, you weren’t satisfied after fewer rounds. I can’t do it. I think it’d be great if you got your libido checked.”

Those were Ethan’s last words to me and this conversation also happened on the same day my father died. The sting of his words had stayed with me long after and that wound had refused to heal. Those words kept ringing in my head everytime I tried to get intimate with a guy and so, I made a rule—no sex for anyone. And yet, even with that rule, things never worked out with my other exes and I thought maybe it wasn’t them. Maybe it was really me.

But thinking about that time with Ethan now, was I really like that? Like someone with an uncontrollable libido? Or he’s just trying to get away from me back then as he had found out that I had hit rock bottom?

I sighed softly, trying to forced my attention back to the guy at the party, thinking if he could really be different from all other men but I don't really think so…all men are the same.

“I think he’s totally smitten with you. I mean, it’s written all over his face.” Maria's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

“Maria,” I groaned, rolling my eyes.

“I’m serious!” she whispered, her voice brimming with excitement. “And honestly? You should congratulate yourself because you’ve got a catch. Men like him? They’re on a whole different level! And If you miss this chance, I swear you’ll never get another opportunity like this again. So, you need to flush out all that baggage. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

I shot her an incredulous look. “Oh my God! Are you seriously suggesting I just… bang some random guy I only just saw?”

She shrugged. “Why not?”

“Hell no! I can’t do that,” I retorted, my cheeks flushing. I shook my head at her ridiculous idea but on a second thought, there was another reason. “Besides, you know the rules here. I can’t afford to lose this job. Even if I wanted to, he probably wasn't worth the risk of losing my pay.”

Maria raised a knowing brow, clearly unimpressed by my reasons. I bit my lip, already flustered by her advice. Well, her idea sounds quite convincing but am I really ready to go all in once again? No, I don't think so.

I shook my head, telling her that I wasn't interested and then she said nothing further.

My name is Billy Saltzmanta, the second daughter of the Saltzmanta family. I grew up in what many would call the perfect life—a family full of love and privilege, nestled in the heart of Italy and my dream was to become one of the most famous doctors in the world. But six years ago, everything fell apart, Including my dream.

My father suddenly got in a hit-and-run accident and died instantly. The culprit hasn't been found till today. And that marked the beginning of our downfall as It turned out that Dad had taken a massive loan, and when he passed, everything was seized. We were left with nothing but a few boxes of clothes and weren't even allowed to take a single thing out of the house. Mom has changed since then. All she did was drink and gambling but I really couldn't blame her as she lost a part of her heart.

I dropped out of school and we moved back to America. Now we live in one tiny house in Dove Springs and I am now carrying on the role of breadwinner for my family. I’ve done every gig imaginable—waitressing at diners, cleaning jobs, and now serving at events like this one. Tonight’s job, however, was different as it pays more in one night than any of my other gigs combined. If Maria hadn’t recommended me as a last-minute replacement for another server who got sick, I’d never have gotten this opportunity.

And now I couldn’t afford to lose it over some hot stranger—not with my sister’s tuition looming and bills piling up like an avalanche.

Tearing my gaze away from him, I forced myself to focus on my job. But I could still feel his eyes on me, an unnerving heat that made my skin crawl and tingle all at once.

“You’re here to work, Billy, not to get distracted by some hot stranger.” I mentally scolded myself.

“Excuse me. A drink,” an older man called out, his voice gruff and impatient and I quickly walked over to his corner.

“Here you go sir,” I said politely, handing him a flute of champagne.

But as I extended the glass to him, I felt his hand brushing against mine, sending some irritating sensation. At first, I thought it was an accident but when I raised my gaze up to him, I caught the disgusting smirk on his face as he winked at me and flashed me his crooked teeth.

What the hell!

My grip tightened into a fist and I felt like slamming a glass cup on his shining bald head. It took my all to calm myself down as I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention or cause a scene at this exclusive party. I also remembered that I really need this pay more than anything else.

So, I took a deep calm breath before giving him a forced smile and slightly bowed my head. But as I turned away to take my leave, I felt a deliberate brush against my bare hip as I was wearing a short uniform skirt. This made me freeze and the tray in my hand wobbled. My stomach churned with a mixture of disgust and rage by his touch. Instinctively, I flinched, pulling away from his unwelcome touch, but the motion caused the glasses of champagne to spill, drenching his pristine white shirt.

Seeing the damage that I had done to his expensive shirt, a low gasp escaped from me.. “ Oh no! I'm in trouble.”

“You…” he raised his shaky finger at me and I quickly move away from him, “ You this clumsy little—!” the man bellowed, his voice carrying across the room. Immediately, there came silence everywhere, and all heads turned in our direction.

I could feel all eyes on me. An attention which I hate more than anything. Knowing that I might be blamed for what happened, I quickly tried to defend myself, “ But you are the…” I wanted to yell back at him but I met with Maria's gaze who was already sweating profusely as she nodded her head mouthing ‘ don't’ to me.

I bit my tongue hard as I swallowed whatever I wanted to say along with my pride. My shoulder slumped and tear laced my eyes as I had no other options than to give in. “I-I’m so sorry,” I stammered, bowing my head as mortification burned through me. I wasn’t even supposed to be apologizing as he had caused this—but in this line of work, “the customers are always right.” And moreover, Maria would be in much trouble as she was the one that recommended me.

“Sorry?” he sneered, towering over me. “Do you have any idea how much this shirt costs? Do you even know who I am?”

“I'm really sorry, sir. Please forgive me for this once.” I repeated, but my words seemed to irritate him further and he kept ranting.

I felt embarrassed as all eyes were on me as the man kept raining insults as if all this was my fault and I knew the reason why he was like this. He didn't want people to know what he did to make me spill drinks on him and he knew that someone like me would dare not make any accusations.

Trying to escape from the unwanted spotlight, I quickly dropped to my knees, to clean up the mess of the broken glass. But as I picked up a shard of glass, I felt a sharp sting through my palm. I hissed in pain and looked at my palm only to see blood pooling around the cut.

The man didn’t even flinch after seeing me in this condition. “Save your filthy apologies. And how exactly do you plan to fix this?” he snapped, his voice dripping with venom. “Embarrassing me in public like this—do you think you can just walk away?”

Tears pricked at the corner of my eyes as the cut on my palm throbbed. I opened my mouth to apologize once more, “ I told you not to give me that filthy apology again!” but instead his hand shot up, poised to strike me.

Insulting me wasn't enough and now he wanted to hit me. My heart raced as fear rooted me in place. I squeezed my eyes shut while bracing myself for the hit and then came a voice.

“Stop.”

The single word was like a whip crack, freezing everywhere as I felt no hit on me. I slowly opened my eyes only to see the old man's hand mid air as if he was commanded to hang his hand. Turning my head slightly to see the person who had just spoken and then my gaze landed on him again.

The guy who had been staring at me earlier was now walking toward us. At that moment, it felt like an angel had descended, coming to my rescue. In my mind, I could almost see ethereal wings unfurling behind him as he moved with quiet, commanding grace. From across the room earlier, I’d thought he was simply attractive, but seeing him up close—I realized he was nothing short of perfection.