Leave Me If You Dare

“Hey! What are you doing? Put me down.” Arabella shoved her face to his chest as she tried to cover her identity from the eyes of the crowd. Hospital’s staff were astonished to see their most handsome cold president carrying a woman in the hospital. They were very curious and envious of the girl who was in their president's arms. That girl had a very excellent strategy to melt their iceberg president as no one in the hospital could ever get his attention.

“Going home,” Bill answered with a playful grin.

“What???” Arabella was shocked as she punched his chest in annoyance but it had no effect on him as he just smiled at her.

In her dressing room, Trishia was facing her vanity mirror admiring her excellent beauty while her make-up artist busied putting cosmetics on her face. Today, she was invited for an interview with one of Capital Z’s prestigious entertainment tv programs. It was about promoting her upcoming movie.

“It’s our pleasure to have Ms. Trishia Meyer today. Welcome to our show!” Ms. Davis, the most influential voice in the entertainment media, sounded. She was known to be an outspoken and straightforward host in her own entertainment tv program.

“No. It’s my pleasure being here.” Trishia with her most melodious voice cooed.

“First of all, what can we expect in this new movie?” Ms. Davis straightly asked the topic.

“Well, this is a love story about fate. We are all destined to meet someone in our life and that’s our soulmate. When he or she comes, you have to embrace him tight and never let go of the chance.” Trishia answered the question with a smile so dearly as she remembered the time when Bill kissed her in front of his wife. The time when they were together, she felt like the most beautiful girl in the whole world as every girl envied her. The feeling of satisfaction was an understatement when she’s with him. It’s more than everything.

“Oh, it seemed that this movie will be a great hit as the leading character can greatly relate to it.” Ms. Davis remarked with an intriguing smile.

“If I may ask, I know this is out of the topic, but since we already tackled it here, how’s your wedding preparation with CEO of Sky Corporation, Mr. Bill Sky?” Ms. Davis added as everyone knew that they already held an engagement 3 years ago. All entertainment tv programs in Capital Z and abroad featured their engagement as Bill was the richest and influential man in the business world. There were many speculations that came out since it was already too long for them to announce the date for their marriage.

“Well, I am glad that you asked about it. Since it’s Bill Sky, he wanted to give me the grandest wedding and we are actually making it happen this year.” Trishia let go of a very sweet smile at the camera but deep inside her, she was extremely nervous and hopeless. She had to make a quick plan to succeed in marrying Bill. She could not allow her name to be the laughing stock in town. For now, she had to put all the speculations to end. On the other hand, if people would be expecting their wedding, Bill would be put under pressure and be responsible for marrying her as she had already announced it to the public.

“Yes. Got it.” Ms. Davis murmured softly in her Bluetooth earphone. She was talking to someone while Trishia was giving her an answer.

“That’s good to hear Ms. Meyer.” Ms. Davis ended the call urgently after Trishia’s words and her attention focused on the girl who was still wearing a sweet smile to everyone.

“But a reliable source just called me. I want to know what’s your opinion on these pictures and videos taken as we are conducting this interview right now and I hope you can clarify this matter first in our show.” Ms. Davis said while pressing a button on a small remote of a big screen. Pictures and a video with Bill in the hospital carrying a woman popped out. It was said that Ms. Davis' show was always on top of the rank as she always managed to take the opportunity to expose the latest updates of celebrities in the entertainment circle.

Seeing the pictures, Trishia’s smile didn’t leave instantly as she tried her best to wear it even if her lips shivered forcing it hard to stretch wide. Inside, she was burning in rage like she’s going to explode. Her scorching eyes pierced to the girl who was hiding in Bill’s chest.

That girl….

The girl was very familiar to her.

That girl…

She tried very hard to remember the unscrupulous girl in her man’s arms.

‘That girl is the same girl in his office.’ Having made her conclusion, Trishia’s smile instantly vanished. She couldn’t withstand her anger anymore but she still suppressed it for her image.

“That girl... That girl is Bill’s younger cousin from abroad. She was admitted yesterday due to food poisoning so her cousin Bill came to the rescue.” Trishia smiled pretentiously maintaining her perfect posture to the audience but deep inside, she wanted to kill someone just to release her anger or it would give her great satisfaction if she could kill Bill’s new girl. She swore, she would do anything to find the girl and kill her.

No one should touch her man.

Bill only belonged to her.

“Well, people you heard it straight from the mouth of Mr. Sky’s fiancée. Thank you, Ms. Meyer, for guesting in our show today.” Ms. Davis ended the show by giving her a bouquet of flowers. Trishia maintained her smile at the camera until she reached her dressing room.

“Ahhhhh! Die! Die! Die!” Her anger exploded as her roar resonated the room. She broke the huge vanity mirror and wiped out all the things on her table including her expensive branded make-ups while repetitively stamping the bouquet of flowers on the floor. At this moment, she didn’t care about her calm. All she wanted to do was to release her anger.

“Where are you?” Trishia called someone on the phone.

“Miss me?” A man on the phone sounded.

“Rm. 2308, Gateway Hotel, don’t make me wait!” Trishia ordered hastily then hung up the call without waiting for the other person’s reply. She strode out of the room leaving her personal assistant to clean up her mess.

At Sky Medical,

Bill put Arabella back to her bed. She didn’t say anything as she was analyzing everything and condemning herself from feeling anything.

Why he’s always there to save her?

Why he’s taking care of her?

Why he’s sleeping beside her at night?

Is it a ritual of him feeding her with kindness before killing her?

Whatever his real intention, this should stop. She should stick to her plan and not be affected by his show.

“Stay here. I have to go back to my office.” Bill imposingly said.

She didn’t reply.

Bill looked at her seriously. His dark eyes met hers.

“What?” She asked with annoyance. She didn’t want him to stare at her especially the kind which sucked her soul out of her.

Bill walked towards her with a serious expression then without any word he kissed her quickly without giving her a chance to refuse.

“You!” Angry and speechless with his sudden attack, she exclaimed.

“Be right back tonight.” Bill slightly smiled and strode out.

Arabella heaved a sigh of relief while unconsciously touching her lips as her mind was back in a mess again.

When she agreed to be his contractual wife before, Bill never missed going home and sleeping with her at night. Now, he was doing it again and she couldn’t decipher why.

Night came and Bill entered inside still wearing his business suit. Obviously, he went directly to the hospital after his work.

Seeing him, Arabella pretended to sleep as she wanted to avoid him. After a while, she could feel someone was climbing up to her bed. She knew it was him. Still, she continued her acting until she felt his lips land on hers. It was quick but she could feel undeniably intense hotness in her body.

She opened her eyes and turned to the side but Bill hugged her from behind until his phone rang. He sat down and reached his phone on the bedside table.

“Trishia,” Bill answered lazily.

Arabella was all ears hearing the caller’s name.

“Bill I am drunk. Please help me.” Trishia sounded really drunk.

“Call your driver. I’m already in bed.” Bill replied.

“Where?”

“Are you in the hospital now?”

“Is that girl beside you right now?”

"Who's that girl Bill?"

"Answer me."

“Bill, remember that I am your fiancée.”

“You can’t sleep with anyone except me.” Trishia bombarded him with questions and jealousy.

“Go home and sober.” Bill ended the call without waiting for Trishia’s reply.

Bill went back to bed and hugged Arabella.

“Bill, why are you doing this?” Arabella couldn’t help herself asking the thing that bothered her mind the whole day. They say, talk could resolve some issues but with him, Arabella would not expect anything. He’s a man with few words and schemes.

“Doing what?” He bounced the question back to her with a lazy tone.

“Why are you kissing and sleeping with me?” Her tone wasn’t plain but annoyed.

“I never sleep at night until you came.” His words were brief but contained deep meaning as he hugged her tight.

She was stunned by his answer.

After he answered her, Arabella could feel his breathing change. He was already asleep. She didn’t expect that he would answer her.

Could it be true?

It may be true or not but she didn’t care at all. Those days when she felt her heart was overwhelmed with joy and nervous at the same time with him was over.

Morning came and Bill woke up early to prepare for work when his phone rang again. Arabella was already awake but she pretended to still sleep soundly as to avoid talking to him.

“Marcus.” Bill sounded in the other room. Arabella slowly opened her eyes as her ears were all to him again. She didn’t intend to do eavesdropping but her instinct was urging him to listen to all his words. She remembered Marcus, one of Bill’s close cousins. The playboy in the cruise even though he was already married.

“Yeah. I'm with her.” Bill uttered.

Arabella felt he was talking about her.

“Come on man! That will not happen.” With a strong refusal in his voice, he said.

“What are you thinking? Love? Huh!” Bill’s voice was disgusted when he uttered the last word.

Hearing Bill’s words, her curiosity heightened. What about her? Why it has to do with love?

“No rush. We will get there. I'm just doing her a favor. I will dump her soon.” Bill sounded again.

"Hurting her was always my greatest pleasure," Bill said with a very firm voice.

“So, prepare all your shares to be transferred to my account.” He added.

“Deal.” Bill hung up his phone after his word.

After hearing him, her heart jolted as she froze on her bed. Her mind went blank for a while but when it recovered her thoughts crazily messed around. Her thousand thoughts came in at the same time that made her feel dizzy. She seemed to find all the answers to all her questions. This man didn’t change at all. He was still the monster she once knew 6 years ago. So, she was right all along. She was the center of their fun again. Saving her and taking care of her for days were just part of his show. His sweet words last night were also part of his show.

What a scheming man!

But why her?

When all she wanted was to have a peaceful life and she didn’t come back to Capital Z just to be played.

No!

She was not going to allow herself to be played with him and with them again.

‘F*ck those billionaires!’ Arabella could not help herself but curse them.

How could they just play people just like that?

Don’t they have morals left because they have lots of money?

She hated Bill a lot.

She hated him even more.