All Chapters of A Billionaire's Bargain: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Araceli's Pov The shrill blare of my alarm jolted me awake, my heart hammering as I scrambled for my phone. Squinting at the screen, I saw it was 5:00 PM. Three hours. I had three hours to pull myself together and transform from this messy heap under my duvet to the polished dancer my boss expected. I lay there for a beat, trying to shake off the sleepiness, but the ticking clock was a reminder that I couldn’t afford to be late. Throwing off the sheets, I stumbled into the bathroom. As the shower sprayed to life, icy water jolted me to full awareness. I mentally ran through my to-do list, pack work clothes, get some food at the drive-thru, feed Buttons, and drop off the salads for Mrs. Mackenzie. That last one brought a faint smile. Mrs. Mackenzie, my sweet neighbor, was a bright spot in this place that always smelled faintly of mildew. Showered and dressed in brown joggers, a beige sports bra, and my cropped hoodie, I tossed my essentials into a duffel bag, heels, makeup, perfum

Zayn's Pov I reached the office and dove straight into work. Meetings with the data analytics team awaited me, and I needed to go over last month’s performance. Still, as I reviewed files and interviewed candidates for an open position, my mind drifted. I couldn’t shake the image of the girl from the club. It was unlike me, getting distracted over someone I’d seen just once. A week had passed, and yet the memory of her lingered, the feel of her skin, smooth and soft under my hand, like silk. Her scent a warm blend of caramel, vanilla, amber, and a hint of cinnamon, had drawn me in like a magnet. She danced with an easy grace, each movement seamless and captivating. And for someone who hadn’t been to a club in years, I had to admit it was worth it. My day had started awfully, but by the end of that night, things felt different. **FLASHBACK** The clock read 4:00 a.m. when I woke up. I turned, reaching for Freya, wanting to pull her close, but my hand fell onto cold sheets. Her si

Aracelli's Pov My feets screaming in protest as I walked around the office in heels, dancing in heels,apparently, isn't the same as working in them for hours. Starting this Monday morning was rough. While Fiona, Zayn's former PA, did a great job getting me acquainted with the basics in just two hours, her training wasn't enough to prepare me for my boss's incessant yelling. He was so grumpy, arrogant and bossy, "Guess that's why he's the boss Araceli." I joked in my head to keep me from losing my mind. I stopped at the reception desk, Zayn had asked, scratch that, my boss had ordered me to hand a few documents to Valerie. "Hey," I smiled sweetly at her, "Mr Vanderbilt asked me to hand these papers to you, said you would know what to do with them." I placed the paper on the desk, pushing it towards her, she collected them, her eyes shooting daggers at me. "Of course I would. Some of us have competence in what we do and didn't get this job by sleeping around." You have got to be k

Aracelli's PovI chewed nevously on my lips as I looked at my outfit in the mirror, the awkward scene between my boss and I still playing in my head, the car had been filled with sexual tension, one can cut it with a knife, and here I am, preparing to face him at work.Today, I was dressed in a black dress that was pleated from my waist down and it stopped at knee length. I paired it with a black blazer and black pump heels. I could pass for someone going to mourn a dead person.My hair was in a loose bun, I let two strands fall freely down the front, though shrinkage was eating at them, preventing me from rocking the length of my hair.I took a cab to the office, my anxiety eating away at me as I got into the elevator.As I stepped out of the elevator, I looked sideways, wanting to make sure the 'coast was clear' before I tiptoed to my office, trying to make as less noise as I could, but my heels made it almost impossible.The sound of a person clearing their throat had my head spinn

Zayn's PovI stared at her as she opened her mouth but said nothing, my eyes followed the moment of her throat as she swallowed hard.She bent her arms at her back, hiding the pharmacy bag behind her as she took few steps away from me, the sharp click of her heels echoing against the floor."I thought I saw something dart under your car."Her eyes blinked, her long eyelids fluttering rapidly as she did. Liar."Pray tell, what was it you thought you saw?" I took a step towards her and she took one back."A mouse." She blurted.Really?. A smirk danced around my lips as I advanced towards her."A mouse, in my parking lot? Then it seems I need to find new set of janitorial staff. They clearly aren't taking their rodent problem seriously.""No, no, please, don't do that." Her hand shot out from behind her back in a desperate plea, then retreated just as quickly. The bag crinkled as she clutched it tightly. With every step I took towards her, she took another back, until her back was press