The Wager: A Billionaire Romance

by Kyle, Calista

  Roman arrived a moment later. I heard the doorbell ring just as I sat down and tried to relax for a bit after the hectic afternoon I'd had. Getting back up, I headed towards the door, a smile pinned to my face. I wanted to see what his reaction would be once he saw me. My confidence was stratospheric; I knew I looked good.

  I wasn't disappointed by Roman's reaction. He looked like he'd been struck by lightning, with his mouth hanging open slightly and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of me.

  "Well? What do you think?" I asked, turning around so he could get the full view.

  He regained his composure and stepped up to me, pulling me against him. "Stunning," he said before placing a soft kiss against my lips. "I'll be the envy of every man there."

  "You can thank Mel for that," I said. "She saved my butt yet again with the wardrobe situation. Oh by the way, thanks for letting me know what a big deal this ball is," I added a bit harshly as I remembered my earlier annoyance with Roman.

  He at least had the grace to look sheepish. "Sorry about that," he said. "I didn't know if you'd agree to go if I told you what it actually was."

  "You'd probably be right. So I guess your little plan worked out well for you," I said.

  I sounded more annoyed than I really was. Honestly, I'd been actually looking forward to the night. It was the first time I'd meet anyone from his family and even though I was full of nerves, I was also secretly pleased. I figured Roman didn't usually just introduce any random girl he was seeing to his family, so that must make me someone special in his life. At least, that's what I tried to convince myself of.

  "Darling, let's not argue," he said, grabbing my hands and rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. "I want tonight to be special for us. You're the only one I could imagine going with and since I'm sort of required to attend, I thought I'd have to find a way to get you there too."

  "Ok, it's a truce for now, but don't think you're getting off the hook that easily," I said.

  "I'll take whatever punishment you dish out," he said.

  "I'll remember that for later," I said, giving him a sly wink.

  Chapter Ten: Roman

  From the moment she opened the front door, I couldn't take my eyes off her. It was like I was looking at her for the first time and I wondered how on earth I was so lucky to have this beautiful creature on my arm. I knew I wasn't the only one awestruck by Lily's presence. The murmurs and whispers that accompanied our arrival was sure to garner us extra attention. I could almost feel all their eyes riveted to Lily standing beside me as we walked the red carpet into the venue.

  Lily tensed beside me as soon as we exited the car. I squeezed her hand and the grateful smile she sent my way made me feel overprotective of her. My cousin Rob was the first to greet us as we walked into the ballroom.

  "There you are!" he said jovially. "I'd begun to think you wouldn't make it."

  "Hardly. I'm perfectly on time," I said.

  Rob looked at me pointedly before he held out his hand to Lily. "I'm sorry my cousin's so rude. I'm Rob Benedict, Roman's cousin," he said.

  "Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Lily Hayward," she answered.

  "I've heard about you, and it's so glad to finally meet you in person," Rob continued.

  "Good things, I hope?" Lily said.

  "Why of course. You don't think my cousin would trash you behind your back, do you?" he laughed.

  "I hope not!" Lily smiled. "That'd be a pretty shitty thing to do."

  "I can see why Roman is so taken with you. You look beautiful," Rob said.

  "Thank you," Lily said.

  I didn't even have to look at her to see the tell tale blush of color rising to her cheeks. Her inability to accept compliments was one of the things I liked about her.

  "So what exactly is it that you see in my cousin? I'm surprised he hasn't scared you away yet."

  "Don't you have other guests to bother?" I cut in.

  Rob looked at me with a twinkle of mischief in his eye before turning back to Lily.

  "I can see when I'm not wanted, but may I ask for a dance this evening? Don't let Roman keep you to himself all night," he said.

  "Of course. I'd love to," Lily said.

  Rob left, not before shooting me curious glance. I knew I wouldn't escape his interrogation later on, but put that out of my mind for now. Sometimes he could be worse than a tabby.

  "Sorry about that. He can be somewhat...annoying," I said.

  "Don't worry about it. I thought he seemed really nice and funny," Lily said.

  "You say that now, but when he finally gets you alone and peppers you with questions, I have a feeling you'll be changing your tune."

  "I doubt it," she said. "I have a pretty good people radar. Besides, he's your cousin. How could I not like him?"

  "Very easily," I muttered.

  I led her into the middle of the room where we were accosted by more acquaintances. Lily handled herself with poise and grace even though I knew she hated these types of events. I laughed to myself thinking about that first night I spotted her at the Eichendorf Gala and the way she stood so combatively with that fiery look in her eyes, daring anyone to approach her.

  "What's so funny?" she asked, looking up at me.

  "Nothing. I was just thinking how much can change in three weeks," I said.

  She waited for me to say more but we were interrupted before I could get the words out.

  "There you are, Roman." I turned around to find a pair of large grey eyes staring at me behind a bright pink mask embellished with crystals and feathers. It was a startling sight and took all my will power not to look alarmed. Even though she was hidden behind a mask, I recognized that nasally voice.

  "Helen," I said, less than enthusiastically. "I'm surprised you're here tonight." It was true. I was almost certain her name was not on the guest list. She shot me a sickly sweet smile and tried to grab my arm.

  "Of course I'd be here," she said. "What kind of friend would I be if I missed supporting you on your big night?"

  The way she said friend and her possessive attitude was getting on my nerves. I could tell by the way Lily stood stiffly beside me that she was not pleased with Helen either.

  "Thank you for your support," I said. "If you'll excuse us, we were just headed over towards the bar."

  Before we could move past her, her eyes shot to Lily and the recognition lit her face. "You're that girl from the Eichendorf," she blurted out.

  I didn't like the sly patronizing smile that crept across her face as she looked at Lily. "I didn't realize you were still so intent on winning, Roman," she said.

  I glared at her, hoping the hostility radiating off of me would penetrate her thick skull.

  "I don't know what you're talking about, Helen. Now if you'll excuse us," I seethed.

  I pushed past her not even waiting for her response. I grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her forward, heading straight for the bar. My body was rigid with anger and annoyance. I knew I'd have to have a word with my friend Ryan about keeping his sister, Helen, far from my presence. I thought she was merely shallow and irritating before, but now I couldn't even stand the sight of her. The way she so casually brought up that stupid wager right in front of Lily got my blood boiling again. Lily stood beside me looking confused and I could tell she was trying to puzzle out Helen's words and my rash reaction to them.

  "I'm sorry about that. I honestly didn't think she was on the guest list," I said.

  "Who is she?" she asked.

  "She's the sister of one of my friends," I said.

  "Oh, she seemed awfully friendly with you."

  "Trust me, Lily, you have nothing to worry about in that quarter. I can barely tolerate her company," I said, a little harsher than I intended.

  Instead of being reassured by my words, I could see a frown of worry crease her brows. I wondered if my reaction made her suspicious that something had happened between Helen and I. "Let's forget about her," I said, trying to change the subject. "I could do with a d
rink. What would you like?"

  Lily continued to survey me behind unblinking eyes and I could feel myself getting hot under the collar. Perhaps it was my guilt over the bet and the fear that she'd somehow find out about it that made me so uncomfortable. I'd never felt this awkward and unsure of myself before. I was almost certain my rash behavior wasn't helping Lily's confidence. She probably suspected that I was hiding something from her.

  "Excuse me for a moment, I just have to use the restroom," she said.

  "All right, I'll be waiting right here," I said.

  I watched her walk away towards the other end of the ballroom where the doors were. Her graceful figure weaved effortlessly throughout the crowd before she disappeared behind the doors.

  "She looks almost unrecognizable from the first time I saw her," I heard a voice say to my back.

  I turned around to find Warren Peters standing there with a smug smile on his face, watching me curiously.

  "Peters," I said in greeting. Deep down, I was cursing my damn luck. Of all the people in the world, Warren Peters was probably the last one I'd wanted to see right now.

  "Roman," he answered. "I must congratulate you on transforming our little caterpillar into a butterfly. I didn't think she had it in her."

  "What do you want?" I asked rudely. I was feeling my temper reach its breaking point and had no patience to stand around and talk to this man about Lily. Just looking at him reminded me of that stupid bet I'd made all those weeks ago and it smote at my conscience.

  "There's no need to be so feisty," he said. "I simply came to check on your progress with the lady. Our wager ends in one week and I've already had space cleared out in my townhouse for the Cézanne."

  "I'm sorry, but the bet's off," I said.

  "Oh?"

  "It's been off for weeks now."

  "No one informed me of that," he said.

  "I called you personally to tell you," I replied.

  "I must not have gotten the message," he said. I could tell by the look in his eye that he was lying. He got my message all right; he was just choosing to ignore it.

  "The fact remains that I'm no longer interested in winning the bet."

  "So you couldn't do it then? She proved harder to woo than you anticipated?"

  "Don't be ridiculous. The bet was stupid."

  "Oh, don't tell me you actually have feelings for the girl?" he said derisively. "I had wondered why you bothered to bring her tonight as your date. I thought that was laying it on a little too thick, but now it makes sense."

  The way he perked up and the sly smile he shot me made my hackles rise. I didn't like that look at all and it told me he was up to something. If there was one thing I had learned about Warren Peters, it was that he was not one to write off lightly. I mentally kicked myself for thinking the voicemail I left him would be enough to end the bet. He was as competitive as I was and I just knew he'd savor the opportunity to put one over me.

  I knew the easiest way he could get to me was through Lily and the last thing I wanted was for him to make her his next target. He was like a child with a toy. If he knew I liked her, he'd go after her somehow, but if he thought I cared nothing for her then he'd leave her alone.

  I didn't know what he had in mind but I wanted to protect Lily from his attentions. I especially didn't want her to find out about the bet tonight. I knew I had to tell her about it sometime, but this was just not the time or the place. I needed to do something fast before Warren decided to cause a scene or worse, let it slip about what I had done.

  "Now you're really letting your imagination run away with you," I said in a bored voice. "It was too easy to make her fall in love with me. There was no challenge in it. And it seemed almost too cruel to take the Bugatti from you for that."

  "Why should I believe you?" he asked. "Maybe you just couldn't do it and now you're trying to backtrack so that you don't have to part with the Cézanne."

  I shrugged my shoulders, the picture of nonchalance. "Believe what you will," I said. "But I'm sure you've already seen the way she's clung to my arm all night. Does that strike you as someone who has no feelings for me? But if you're so intent on losing the Bugatti, I can arrange it easily and you can see for yourself how I've got her wrapped around my finger."

  "If you're as bored as you say you are, then why are you here with her tonight?" he asked, still suspicious. "Why not just ditch her when you knew she was easy prey?"

  "Let's just say I felt sorry for her," I lied.

  I relaxed a little as I saw the calculation and skepticism recede from his eyes. He must have realized there was nothing he could use for ammunition, and I hoped my little act was enough for him to turn his attention elsewhere.

  "I guess I should thank you for saving me the trouble of parting with my Bugatti then," he said. "I must say, when you told me you could make her fall in love with you in a month's time I was sure she'd prove a challenge to you. But I guess she's like all women, eh?"

  "Exactly," I said. I was getting anxious thinking Lily would be back at any moment. The last thing I wanted was for her to come face to face with Warren. I decided I needed to end this conversation, and quite possibly leave the ball earlier than I anticipated. There was just too much danger in staying longer. The evening was rapidly losing its appeal, and I shuddered to think how it would be if Lily was somehow made aware of the bet before I could break it to her myself.

  "It's a shame though. I was looking forward to hanging that Cézanne in my office."

  "Just be glad you've still got the car," I said before excusing myself.

  Chapter Eleven: Lily

  "It was too easy to make her fall in love with me. There was no challenge in it."

  I slumped against the pillar I'd been standing behind. My knees felt weak and I thought I would collapse at any moment. Hearing those words come out of Roman's mouth felt like a sucker punch right to my gut. I was in shock at first, not believing it, but the more he talked about this "wager", the sicker and more horrified I felt.

  I hadn't meant to eavesdrop on their conversation. Coming out of the restroom, I had headed straight for the bar where Roman said he'd be waiting. He wasn't there, but I spotted him almost immediately. He stood by the side of the dance floor talking with some man I'd never seen before. I managed to work my way towards them unnoticed. As I was about to make my presence known, I caught a snippet of their conversation and paused behind the pillar.

  "I simply came to check on your progress with the lady. Our wager ends in one week..."

  "Oh don't tell me you actually have feelings for the girl?"

  "Now you're really letting your imagination run away with you..."

  "Let's just say I felt sorry for her..."

  I clutched my stomach as a wave of nausea hit me. Everything had been a lie, a cruel bet to see if Roman could make me fall in love with him. And it was all for a stupid car. I was angry, humiliated, hurt and devastated. Here I was, stupid naive Lily again, believing someone like Roman actually had real feelings for me. But all this time he'd been playing some cruel game with my heart.

  It felt like high school all over again. I had a sudden flashback to prom night, and standing on my front porch as my "date" not only stood me up, but drove by my parent's house with his friends taunting me and laughing at how stupid I was for thinking anyone would want to go out with me. The pity in my parent's eyes as they looked at me was too much to bear. I felt like an idiot for not realizing it was a prank earlier. For eight years, they'd done nothing but make my life miserable, and all of a sudden, one of them says I was pretty and wanted to take me to the prom, and I was so desperate to believe it that I just forgot all the torment they'd put me through.

  I'd closed myself off after that, never fully trusting or believing whenever anyone showed interest in me. In college, there were guys who liked me, but I never really gave them the chance to get close. But all of that was nothing compared to how I felt now. This was a special, extraordinary kind of pain I never knew exis
ted. My early suffering looked like a paper cut in comparison to the huge gaping wound that was my heart being ripped out of my chest.

  My instinct was to flee and run out of the ballroom and never look back, but my legs wouldn't move. I felt rooted to the spot, forced to listen to Roman's cool dismissive voice say how he'd felt sorry for me. Suddenly Helen's words made sense now. She had known about the bet! Roman had dismissed her so quickly and I thought it was because he was trying to put me at ease, but it was because he didn't want her to reveal the wager.

  I wondered if everyone there was in on the joke. Did they all know Roman and this man, Warren, had made a bet to see if I'd be stupid enough to fall for Roman? Were they all laughing at me too? Feeling pity for me? I had to get out of there. The longer I stayed, the harder it was to breath.

  I pushed myself off the pillar and forced my feet to move. There was no way I would break down and cry in front of all these people, and especially not in front of Roman. I'd never let him know how much he hurt me, the bastard. He didn't deserve my tears. Oh, I knew they'd come eventually, but no one would ever witness it but me.

  "There you are darling."

  I stopped walking, my body stiff with anger and tension as that familiar and once so beloved voice called out to me. Now all I felt was hatred. I composed my features into some semblance of calm before turning around. There'd be no scene here tonight. They'd all have to find some other chump to entertain them. I was done playing the part of the fool.

  "Are you all right?" Roman asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost and you're shaking." His face took on the mask of concern, and if I didn't know better, I would have thought he really was worried about me. But I did know better.

  "I'm actually not feeling well," I said, through gritted teeth. "I'm going to go home now. I don't think I can stand to be here one more second." I turned back around to head out the doors, but I heard Roman's steps behind me.