MEETING THE BILLIONAIRE.

EVANGELINE MILLER.

"Asher! Over here!"

Before I could begin the ask questions, I heard a voice call out from behind me, and both our heads snapped in that direction.

Asher. Asher. Asher? I recited in my head. I didn't know any Asher except-

It couldn't be him; I concluded, still confused.

I groaned at the sight of Mercury, my boss, as she walked closer with an ear-to-ear grin on her baked face. Her clanging heels echoed through the entire room, the skimpy skirt she had on showing off her typical model legs.

Mercury was beautiful in a maleficent kind of way, with red lips, seductive siren eyes, and a jawline that could cut paper. Every stride she took was coated in confidence and charisma. Mercury acted as though the world was her runway, and she owned it. A perk of being the daughter of one of the biggest fashion brands.

The Uber driver, who is certainly not an Uber driver, waved to her as she neared. Words were caught in my throat, and I was in the middle of finding an excuse to tell Mercury, also trying to figure out who the man was.

I couldn't possibly explain to Mercury that I had woken up naked on a stranger's bed. It became more frightening as she walked closer.

I was having too many encounters with strangers, and it was sickening. I braced myself when Mercury's eyes met mine, her condescending gaze summing up my entirety. I didn't dare to say anything, and leaving wasn't an option. Mercury wouldn't hesitate to create a scene at the reception.

"Oh my god, Asher! You finally came!" She chimed excitedly as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a big embrace. She took a few steps back, grazing his shoulders with her long acrylic nails.

I rolled my back, dreading having to wait. I couldn't leave without sorting out my business with this stranger, and neither did I want to interfere in their conversation/whatever it looked like that was going on.

Mercury didn't seem to have noticed my presence; she was far too immersed in talking with this stranger who still had his face covered like he was made of gold. The way her eyes beamed was questionable.

Could he perhaps be her boyfriend? I've heard rumors about Mercury having so many flings. Who knows—also, I didn't mean to judge— he could be fling number seventy-nine.

I stood, my hands dangling by my sides, like an unwanted plant waiting to be plucked by playing kids.

"The interior looks nicer than I expected. It's nice to be here. I'd appreciate a tour."

That was the longest phrase the stranger had uttered in the last fifteen minutes of our meeting. His voice sounded a bit familiar, but I brushed it off. It couldn't possibly be someone I knew. If it were, they would have said something rather than watched me linger like a vengeful spirit.

I was getting mad that my presence wasn't acknowledged, but it was also to my advantage. Mercury didn't have her claws in my hair yet. If anything, she was an absolute sweetheart to this stranger.

I never knew she possessed the ability to smile till now. She always looked as though she was in mourning every day of her life.

He ruffled his hair, smoothening some of the tendrils backward, and they listened to his hands.

That forehead-

His hands wiped the nose mask off his face, just a glimpse of his side profile, and I felt my soul slip out the door. A gasp hung in between my chest and my throat, coming out as a nasty squeal that sent them both looking in my direction.

Asher White.

Asher Fucking White!

My brain refused to work, and neither did my nerves. My mouth hung open as I bored my eyes into the man before me, his lips curving into a friendly smile.

Everything else blurred, making him the center of my admiration. The biggest, youngest, and most successful businessman in the whole of the USA stood before me, and I tried not to die.

Actually, I thought I was dead, but my sights still worked, surprisingly. My tongue wouldn't make words, and neither did my body move. I was way too stunned to do anything.

I had always said I'd act indifferent before famous personalities, but he caught me off guard. Asher White was the face of the White conglomerate, and they had their hands in every business sector.

Every!

His face had owned every magazine, every billboard all over! And I had addressed him as my Uber driver!?

KILL.

ME.

PLEASE.

"Do...you know her?" Mercury's voice snapped me out of my drooling episode, and I blinked repeatedly, happy to regain control over my body.

It felt as though my soul had just dived back in. Traitor.

He shook his head, "No, but we kinda...it's no big deal. Let's get to the tour now."

Should I be angry or happy about his response? My mouth still formed an O, and I only remembered to adjust my expression when Mercury's glare reached me.

"I am so sorry! I never intended to-. I'm sorry, how do I make up for this!?" I finally regained my ability to talk.

Mercury stared at me questioningly as I apologized. It was obvious that she was mad at me, but she could wait for her turn. Life was already fucking me so hard right now.

"It's no problem," He discarded it immediately, and I bit my bottom lip like a sad child. I didn't dare look into his eyes.

"I'm really curious what happened to make my 'employee' owe you so much apology!" She bit on the word employee to put me in my place. "Then again, she really is a clumsy one. Look at the time she's coming," she ended her sentence with a dry chuckle that spelled out an "I am going to end you."

I winced. Mercury wasn't someone to trigger. "I'm sorry, I was in a bit of a situation., I responded immediately.

Her condescending gaze didn't once waver. "Not now. I'd have this discussion with you when I am done." She turned to Asher. "Let's go make this visit worthwhile!"

She was going to kill me; I knew it. I was still basking in the embarrassment from the hotel room I found myself in, and now I had to add embarrassing myself before Asher White to the list.

This day really wasn't my own.

I watched her snake her arm around his, hopping happily as she walked beside him. I was glad it was over, but I wasn't forgetting this day anytime soon.

There was an almost irresistible urge to yell at the universe for throwing too much at me. How do I escape mistaking Asher White for an Uber driver!?

I reluctantly returned to my desk, only to find a pile of files waiting to be processed. My work as a production assistant for AULA was the same as climbing fences, only to be handed a burger when done.

Everyone thought working with such an influential brand meant making a lot of money, but I still microwaved my last night's McDonald's, so I wouldn't die of hunger. Also because Harper would never let me throw it out

I sighed, settling dejectedly into my chair. I shrieked when Dave's head popped up before me. He was my favorite coworker who always seemed to steal the limelight with his accents.

He waved at me, his fingers flicking as he slammed the laptop shut in his compartment. Dave was the definition of 'tell me you're gay without telling me you are.'

His bubblegum made smacking sounds that echoed through the office. I didn't mind since I was used to it.

"Girl," his tongue rolled the word, "I was so worried about you!"

Was it a compulsory thing for feminine men to roll their eyes at every phrase? I was beginning to feel sorry for his eyeballs every time they rolled backward.

He continued, "Did you forget she was going to be here today? Oh my god, I was so worried because I didn't want you gone!" His fingers tapped my shoulders slightly.

I groaned, "I was in an impossible situation, even though I was so scared.. luckily, something else piqued her attention for a while."

"I'm happy for you, girl," he observed my face, tilting my head with his index finger. "You look so pale. Did something happen? One would think you woke up on a stranger's bed!"

Wow. It's even written on my face now. How lucky was I?

I said nothing as he stared at me, his face growing from one height of shock to a higher one. It was no use denying it now.

"YOU. DID. NOT!" He covered his mouth with his hand after gasping. "That is so Hollywood! Eva, I didn't know you had kinks!" He slapped my arms gently.

"Well, I don't-" My phone vibrated, cutting off my words as I checked.

It was another message from Lucas' school reminding me of his unpaid fees. The Cherry on top. I refused to receive or participate in any mind-bugging activities anymore!

Seriously, what the hell??

Now, I needed more money than AULA had to offer.