Protecting Maya

by Nicole Casey

  “Ms. Bishop,” Doctor Melissa Carmen said as soon as she saw me come in. “We need you to attend to the patient in the emergency operating room. We’re still waiting for the cardiologist to come in and operate on him.”

  Operate? What happened to Preston?

  I pushed passed everyone and rushed into the operating room… to find Preston seated on the bed, perfectly well and healthy. His friends were around him and so were mine. My father was there too! Why were they all here? Not only that but the whole room was decorated with flowers – roses and carnations mostly, which were my favorites – and Preston was wearing a patient’s robe.

  As I stood there, awestruck and confused, Mikaela and Doctor Holland came in and with them were the emergency room staff.

  “W-what’s going on?” I asked. I looked at Preston, “What’s all of this?”

  Preston chuckled and slid his hand underneath his pillow. When he took it back out he was holding a shiny ring with a big diamond in the center. “I wanted to take things back to that special moment when I first met you. I wanted to remind us all of where it all began. You and I first crossed paths in a hospital room and back then I only suffered from a sprained wrist. Today, I’m suffering from an aching heart that only you can mend.”

  “You’re being corny,” I told him and laughed. I was blushing from cheek to cheek, seeing as everyone was here with us. “You better make this speech good, babe.”

  He laughed and we all laughed with him. Preston then beckoned me to come closer and he held my hand when I did. “Lyla Bishop, you changed everything in my life. I thought I would be one of those wealthy loners who rely on money to get whatever pleasure I can imagine but you taught me the real meaning of love. You proved I didn’t have to be alone for the rest of my life. I want to spend my life with you… Lyla, will you marry me?”

  “Oh my god, yes!” I quickly answered and everyone cheered. “I thought you’d never ask!”

  He pulled me in and gave me a long, passionate kiss and everyone around us cheered. It was one of the happiest days of my life.

  * * *

  Our wedding took place about a month after he proposed. It took a lot of work since we had to get a certificate, go through all the wedding counseling and other legal requirements. We had a big church wedding and celebrated at a vacation home he and his friends co-owned. Over a hundred people came and to our surprise, Preston even invited his siblings to come over. It was not just a wedding but a reunion and it brought us both to tears.

  Every wedding must be followed by a grand honeymoon and Preston spared no expense. He scheduled for a two-month trip across Europe and another week cruising the Caribbean. I thought it was all a little too much but he insisted we have fun because when we’d be back it’d be back to work. He had two new companies to acquire and grow and I became even busier now that I had more administrative responsibilities in the medical center.

  Life turned out great. I was married to the man I loved and it was just a bonus that he was good-looking, a sexual beast and a hard-working billionaire too. Now that I think about it, maybe it was fate that we met that day in the hospital. Maybe it was fate that when I got so desperate to sell myself at an auction he was there too. I’d gladly sell my pussy to him again and again and again as long as our love story could go on.

  I finally got to spend more time with Jasmine too, Trevor Wild’s wife. She was responsible for Trevor’s success and in many ways responsible too for Preston’s decision to marry me. Preston told me that when he saw Trevor and Jasmine together, he wanted something similar, something that money cannot buy. He found that in me and I found it in him.

  That is our love story.

  The End

  The Billionaire’s Proposal

  Mercury Billionaires Book 3

  Book Description

  "Marry me, so I get to keep my family’s wealth, and you will have unlimited access to all that money, too."

  My life is perfect.

  Endless parties, different chick every night, and unlimited cash. What more could a billionaire playboy want?

  Until one day, a cruel twist of fate threatens to end my freedom. Fate has another trick up her sleeve, one by the name of Noelle Stanley.

  Shy, mousy little Noelle Stanley sure has grown into a hot piece of a$$.

  Buried in debt, Noelle is one step away from selling her flesh to rich perverts.

  A marriage in name only could help both of us.

  It’s a win-win, until the game threatens to come to an end and I’m not willing to let her go.

  Prologue

  Daxter

  “This is exactly the drink I need,” I said as I leaned back on my seat and sipped my beer. When I turned to my right, there was Jessica, a beautiful young blonde with the most devilish smile I had seen, and to my left, there was Tatyana, an exotic Russian with an erotic accent that sent chills up my spine each time she spoke.

  “What drink?” Jessica teased as she took my bottle and gave it a sip. As she did she wrapped her leg around me and then gave a soft kiss on the cheek. The dim lights of the bar accentuated the sexy curves of her hips and the edges of her long hair.

  Tatyana giggled and took the bottle from Jessica and pressed it against her neck. She cooed at the cold touch and then looked at me, “Why do you need cold drink? Are you exhausted? Is modeling work too tiring?”

  I felt the sarcasm in her tone but even I admitted I was complaining about trivial things, “Okay, you got me there. I just stood around and let people take photos. It is tiring though, especially when they ask me to stay in position for so long. Today’s shoot took three hours you know.”

  “Oh, look at me,” Tatyana did a whiny impression. “I work three hours a day and all I do is stand while people take photos. My life is ruined.”

  Jessica laughed and glided her hand across my muscle-bound chest, right underneath my shirt, “Oh, don’t be too mean on him, Yana. He’s like a baby and he needs some kisses.”

  Both girls giggled and simultaneously kissed my cheeks.

  “Looks like you’re having fun,” a male voice cut in.

  The girls and I looked up to find a tall, lean and dashingly handsome man putting a bucket on their table. The man then slid onto the seats and took his place beside Tatyana.

  “Wow, you’re a cutie,” Tatyana said as she got a better look at the man.

  “Baby girl, you won’t get anything from him,” I joked as I pointed at the man. “That’s Trevor Wild, the owner of this joint. He’s married.”

  Jessica’s mouth went wide with awe, “You own Mercury Wild?”

  Trevor nodded with a smile as he handed us our drinks. He then turned to me, “So, what’s new?”

  I shrugged, gulped down on my drink and placed it on the table. I then wrapped my arms around the girls and said, “You know how it is – just another boring day doing nothing and then spending a few hours looking handsome in front of a camera.”

  Trevor shook his head and chuckled, “You lucky bastard. Well, Preston and Lyla are hosting a party at their place. Are you coming?”

  “Sure,” I said. “Formal party? Something fun and casual?”

  “Formal,” Trevor answered. “They’re launching a new business, I think, and the party’s to attract investors and endorsers.”

  “Got it,” I said.

  I found this kind of business talk boring. While Trevor was a really close friend, all I wanted to focus on right now was getting busy with the two girls in my arms. I felt especially anxious because of how sweet they smelled. I just couldn’t wait to get their clothes off.

  Even Trevor could feel my excitement to get down and dirty. He got up from the table and said, “Well, I got to go. Just update me all right?”

  I just gave a nod of approval and watched as Trevor headed off to greet other guests in the bar. With Trevor gone, I spent the rest of the hour flirting with my girls. I particularly felt excited whenever they’d touch me or give me a slow, luscious kiss on the lips.


  Everything was going fine until my damn phone buzzed.

  “Hold on,” I excused myself when I saw who was calling. “I need to answer this.”

  Jessica and Tatyana gave me some room to stand up. With my phone in hand, I walked to the back of the bar where it was not so loud and I could concentrate on the conversation. I put the phone up to my ear and answered the call.

  “Hey, what’s up sis?” I greeted. It was Sonya, my elder sister.

  “D-Daxter,” my sister stuttered and I could hear her sobbing.

  Almost instantly my mood shifted. I could tell something was wrong. Sonya was a strong woman, one who wouldn’t cry for even the most serious problems. She was the one I looked up to the most, even more so than our older brother and our parents. If she was crying, then something was up. I could feel the knot just getting heavier in my gut.

  “Are you crying?” I just had to make sure. “What’s wrong?”

  “Gary’s dead,” she replied and her sobs became loud wails. Even though I couldn’t see her, I knew the tears were flowing down my sister’s cheeks.

  This came as a heavy blow to me.

  Gary was always the one our parents looked to inherit the family’s wealth. Gary was the one who would carry the family business. He was the one they adored and loved the most. Sonya and I were just the “background” kids, the backup to fill up a family photo.

  I pursed my lips and forced myself to ask for details, fighting back the tears as I did, “H-how did he die? What happened, exactly?”

  “He was driving home when a drunk truck driver lost control and slammed into his car,” Sonya replied. “It was a head-on collision. The guys at the morgue said Gary’s face was pulverized by the sheer weight and pressure of the truck. Oh, God!”

  Fuck. I could feel the rage boiling in my gut. I wanted to find that driver and break his neck. “Where are you? I’ll meet you.”

  Sonya sobbed and told me, “I’m at the morgue, the El Fariza Royal Morgue.”

  “Okay, just wait for me there,” I said. “I’m a little drunk, though; just letting you know. I’m here at Mercury Wild.”

  “Can you drive?” Sonya asked. “Do you want me to send one of our drivers?”

  I vehemently refused that offer, “No way. I can get there by myself. Just wait for me there.”

  “All right, you take care,” my sister said and ended the call.

  There was a lot to handle now.

  I had to deal with my brother’s funeral, with the case against the truck driver, I had to reschedule everything I had planned with Jessica and Tatyana and I now had to do the one thing I hoped I could postpone indefinitely: facing my parents.

  1

  Noelle

  The darkness was my friend and the music was my heartbeat. As my hips swayed and my body swerved, I felt nothing but the heat of the moment and the thrill of the night. Though I wore little more than a revealing pair of shorts, my breasts exposed for all to see, I felt secure, as I owned the spotlight.

  Dancing on top of a bar table was my corner of the world. In that corner, no one could touch me, and no one could harm me. If they wanted more of me, they had to pay and even then all they’d get is a kiss and a closer look at my body.

  When the music had died and the dance was over, I took my bra and strapped it back on. The show was over and it was another girl’s moment to shine. It didn’t matter; for the fifteen minutes of fame, I had garnered well over a hundred thirty bucks. It wasn’t much, but I could stretch it until the next night.

  I headed to the backstage area of the nightclub, where the girls could rest between their shows, and slumped down on a big leather couch.

  “Damn Noelle, you look exhausted,” Krystin said when she took a seat opposite me. Krystin was one of the new dancers but she definitely had a lot going for her. She had wild short hair, seductive dark eyes and a figure most girls would die for.

  It wasn’t like I didn’t consider myself hot, though. With a perfect 32-26-32 figure I knew I had the ideal curves and form and I had the long, auburn hair that lots of guys dig. It was just sometimes I felt like being hot wasn’t enough because to this day, I’ve never had a long lasting relationship.

  “I am exhausted,” I answered. “I danced three times tonight and I waited tables. It’s still not enough.”

  “Yeah, I hear you,” Krystin said. “I got a little boy, he’s going to go to pre-school soon. Can you imagine what I’ll have to do to get the money to support all that?”

  I shook my head and sighed, “Fuck this, you know? We’re young, hot and gorgeous… I bet we can get a better job out there somewhere.”

  “Do you have a college degree?” Krysten asked, with a sarcastic note but even without it, the joke was all over her face.

  I shook my head.

  “Then don’t dream too big,” Krystin told me with a wag of her finger. “This is about as good as it gets. At least we’re just waiting tables and strip dancing. I heard about a club of rich billionaires where girls can auction off their virginity; too late for me, I guess. I lost my virginity back in high school.”

  “Would you believe I’m still a virgin?” I asked with a naughty smile.

  Krystin laughed, “You? Girl, you wave your tits at every customer that walks through the front door.”

  “Oh but I am,” I admitted. “Virgins are always the naughtiest, kinkiest bunch. Sure, I strip and dance and let them cup a feel every now and then, but not once have I ever really tried fucking. Well, I almost did back in high school but a teacher walked in right while we were making out and I had the guy’s dick in my hand.”

  We both laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. Krystin offered me a drink – a nice, chest-warming cocktail that had a sweet taste but a strong alcoholic punch to it – and then moved over to sit beside me. She smelled of chamomile.

  “I’m buried in debt,” Krystin admitted. “I don’t even know if I can pay rent this month. I didn’t pay last month either.”

  I sighed, drank and nodded solemnly, “Me too. I’ve got a big credit debt to pay and my rent. I also have an outstanding salary loan I need to pay. I’m like inches away from sucking some old guy’s cock just to get the cash.”

  “You naughty little bitch,” Krystin laughed at me. “You don’t even know the first thing about pleasing a guy like that.”

  “How hard can it be? I open my mouth and let him slide it in,” I tried to reason out. “I can do that… maybe. I don’t know, who cares? We’re already doing everything we can in this stupid strip club and it still ain’t enough.”

  Krystin shrugged, “Life’s glorious, ain’t it?”

  We toasted to each other and drank the night away. I took care not to get too drunk, however, because I still had one more dance to do and it was the most energetic one for the night. I did my best not to get tipsy while juggling my breasts and swaying back and forth on top of the customers’ tables.

  For my efforts, I earned an extra thirty dollars. For a lot of girls, they’d consider this job enriching and could get wealthy. For me, who had a lot of debts to pay, even this amount wasn’t getting me anywhere.

  I needed something else.

  * * *

  By three in the morning, my shift was done and I took a moment to sit back in my car and relax, allowing the alcohol to swirl out of my system before I’d drive back home to my shitty apartment. As I rested, I took out my phone and logged in to my Facebook account.

  There were a ton of messages – mostly from strangers who just wanted a nude photo or for me to strip on camera for them. There were always those rude assholes and I learned how to ignore them all and just focus on chatting with my friends.

  I scrolled passed some of the usual posts. A lot of my high school batch mates were successful professionals now. Others were still in law school or medical school. It was amusing to see them post about their achievements in life while I was stuck here stripping for drunks.

  “Huh?” I muttered when I saw a post fro
m a friend I hadn’t spoken to in years.

  It was Daxter and his brother just died.

  Quickly, I sent him a message, “Hey, I just found out about your brother. I’m just sending my condolences to you and your family, okay? I hope you’re all right.”

  He probably wouldn’t even notice my message. I knew he was a big deal nowadays. Our batch was so proud when he became a firefighter but not even a year passed and everyone saw he became a big model. That made him even more popular.

  It didn’t matter though. I sent my thoughts and wishes and that was all that mattered. I then tossed the phone to the back seat and drove off home.

  2

  Daxter

  The morgue smelled like chemicals and wasted love. I paced around with my hands in my pockets as I waited for my sister, who was still talking to the doctor and to a police officer.

  It was another five minutes before she came out of the room. At thirty-three, my sister was just a year older than I was but she looked like she was just twenty. She had silky smooth black hair and bright green eyes. She was tall too and for a long while, she worked as a model until someone discovered she was a good writer and published her mystery-thriller novels.

  “Ugh, I can’t believe all this horse shit,” she said as she walked up to me and pushed me down to sit with her on the hospital seats. “The police officer said the truck driver might be able to walk away from this.”

  “What? Why?” I couldn’t believe it either. “He was drunk, Gary’s dead and it’s not like the crash site can be wiped away. That’s a whole lot of evidence right there. He should at least get in jail for reckless driving, a DUI and homicide.”

  She nodded and wiped away her tears, “That’s what I said too but the officer explained the driver hired a lawyer. Now they’re saying they have a defense and that the truck was at fault because it had unresponsive brakes. We’ll need to sue the company if that defense wins and a case against the whole company could take forever.”