Chapter 1
“What is it? You sighed.” Gabriel stared at Rosalind.
“I can’t do it ….” She shook her head. “It will be like I’m selling myself to you if I accept your offer. I’m not a whore, you know.”
“Rose, I know you aren’t a whore. I don’t need to offer a whore anything, nor will I be interested in one, either.” He took her hand and kissed the knuckles. “I want you, Rose, only you.”
“But why?”
***
Rosalind Miller (twenty-three years old) is an orphan and poor. She has double jobs because she wants to get a bachelor’s degree to improve her life. It devastates Rosalind when her boyfriend of five years cheats on her. She goes drunk, only to wake up naked the next day beside a naked guy too, her ex’s uncle.
Gabriel Da Costa (forty-five years old) is a transportation mogul in the five countries. Listed as one of the most eligible bachelors in the capital, including in the nearest countries, many women want to be with him, but he stays single for years. Knowing his nephew has been cheating on Rosalind for a long time, he feels sorry for her and brings her to his apartment when she is drunk.
What will happen later after that night? Will it be a one-night stand only or will their relationship continue afterward?
***
This is the second book of the series The Most Eligible Billionaire Bachelors/The Age-Gap Billionaire Series. The first book is My Beloved Billionaire. Despite being a series, readers can read both books as stand-alone.
Chapter 1: A Devastating Night
“Finally!”
Rosalind Miller walked to the front door and turned the mark hung on the restaurant door from ‘Opened’ to ‘Closed’. However, she bowed her head and smiled at the last few customers who would leave the restaurant. The bell’s sound rang a few times each time the customers left since the door movement hit the bell.
“Please come again and enjoy your night,” she said.
The closing time was something she was grateful for. Rosalind enjoyed serving people in the Premium Steak, one of the best steak restaurants in the capital. Her supervisor and co-workers were nice and considerate. Also, she appreciated the salary and tips from customers.
At 9.30 p.m., Rosalind rubbed her aching waist. The restaurant was closed at 9 p.m. So, for the last half hour she had already cleaned up the empty tables. The restaurant had over fifty tables. As she needed to comfort herself, she took a deep breath while closing her eyes.
Sometimes working at night was almost unbearable. Tonight was one of those. Because two servers couldn’t work—one because of sickness and another because of a death in the family—she had to work harder than usual to cover both co-workers. It wouldn’t be too much if the customers were nice and considerate.
Unfortunately, tonight wasn’t her lucky night as some customers were nasty and stingy. She would be lucky if her tips would be enough to cover the online tuition f*e.
When Lily Gweneth, the cashier, finished distributing the tips portion for each server, Rosalind could only groan inside her heart because it was what she already thought. Tonight’s tips were far from enough. She still needed $500 left to cover the next month’s tuition f*e.
Despite her despair, Rosalind waved and smiled at Lily and the other servers. She pulled the clip, held her long black hair, and soon, her hair cascaded over her back. Even after pulling up her black jacket zipper, she still shuddered because the icy wind blew in her direction. Then Rosalind rushed to the bus stop.
She was five minutes on the bus stop when there was a beep from her phone. After checking it, Rosalind got a text message from Lynnette Martin, her best friend. She smiled because usually Lynnette would send her funny or cute memes to brighten her day.
However, Rosalind was frowning this time. Lynnette only sent a quick text message. It was: ‘Rosa … I’m sorry, but I need to tell you this …. Jeremy cheated on you.’
She couldn’t believe her eyes. After taking a deep breath, Rosalind read the text message for the second time. It didn’t change the content, for sure. She immediately called Lynnette.
Her friend picked up her phone right away. “Hey …. I know you’re just about to go home ….”
“Lynn, what did you see?” Rosalind blurted it out. “Please tell me ….”
“Where are you? Have you been to your apartment yet?”
Rosalind shook her head. When she realized Lynnette couldn’t see it, she said, “Not yet. I’m at the bus stop.”
“I … I don’t know how to tell you ….” Lynnette was quiet for a few seconds, but then, she continued, “A half hour ago, I was at a restaurant across from the Hoffner Hotel. Since I was waiting for my friend, I kept looking outside to check if she had come. But then … I saw Jeremy with someone.”
“Did they go to the restaurant?” Rosalind asked, hoping Lynnette was wrong.
“No … they went to the hotel.”
Rosalind gulped and clenched her hand. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Rosa …. I even went to the hotel and checked it. The receptionist didn’t allow me to have any information or follow them, but I saw Jeremy and the woman clearly before they went inside the hotel. The woman ….” Lynnette stopped abruptly.
“Go on. Describe the woman, please?” She still hoped Jeremy might go to the hotel with Isabella, his sister.
“The woman was wow! She wrapped her arms around Jeremy’s waist. Her clothes ….” Again, Lynnette stopped midway.
“Lynn,” Rosalind warned her best friend, “you don’t need to be concerned about my feelings. Please tell me what you saw.”
Lynnette let out a long sigh. “Well … her clothes were tight, but I had to admit. She had a perfect body.”
“I see.” Then Rosalind was silent. After a while, she finally said, “Thanks, Lynn. I owe you one.”
“It’s nothing. What will you do?” Lynnette asked. Rosalind didn’t reply until she called her, “Rosa? Are you still there?”
“Yes ….” Rosalind gulped because her voice trembled badly. “I need to go now. I’ll contact you tomorrow.”
“Rosa ….”
“Yes, Lynn?”
“Please promise me you’ll be okay. He doesn’t deserve you.”
Rosalind nodded a little, but her tears started falling and dampened her cheeks. “Thanks, Lynn. I promise I’ll be okay,” she said with a croaky voice. Then she hung up the phone. Hugging herself, Rosalind took a deep breath. It was hard because her tears didn’t want to stop flowing from her eyes.
After five or ten minutes, she stopped sobbing and wiped her tears. A bus she had been waiting for came, and Rosalind entered the bus. However, unlike the usual that she would go home and arrive after a half hour, this time she pressed the button to stop the bus after it went on the road for fifteen minutes.
Getting off from the bus, she balanced herself and walked straight to a restaurant Lynnette said. Rosalind sat on a table beside the window and ordered a cup of coffee. While waiting, she kept looking across the street to the Hoffner Hotel. The hotel with white walls and silver granite floor was one of the best hotels in the capital, owned by a billionaire, Samuel Hoffner.
Rosalind glanced at her watch on her wrist. It was already a half hour from the time she ended the call with Lynnette. It meant Jeremy and the woman had been there for an hour. A server came with the coffee she ordered. Rosalind nodded and smiled at the server.
She was hesitant to wait further or leave as she sipped her coffee. But then, her eyes caught her five-year boyfriend with a woman. Her heart beat faster, but she couldn’t think straight. The hurt numbed her mind.
What Lynnette said was true. The woman’s body was spectacular. With lovely bosoms and a tiny waist, her body could attract any man. Her tight dress showed off her flawless body shape. Despite Rosalind being an attractive woman too, she felt she was under the woman in terms of physical attractiveness.
Jeremy kissed the woman on her lips, and the woman wrapped her hands around Jeremy’s neck. Their bodies were glued to each other, with no space at all to separate them.
As if it wasn’t enough to kiss her lips, Jeremy also kissed the woman’s neck and rubbed her bottom. The woman shamelessly ground her lower body part to his groin.
Rosalind could only watch everything from the window. Then the couple went inside Jeremy’s car and left. Rosalind let out her breath that she held for a few seconds.
There were no more tears this time. She only sat there for a while, doing nothing and gazing at random spots on the table, since it was quite a devastating night for her.
Chapter 2: Wasted
Rosalind did nothing and only gazed at some random spots on the table with an empty look. The server who had brought her coffee approached her.
“Miss, sorry, but we’re about to close. Do you want more coffee or do you want to bring the coffee home?”
Rosalind gasped and shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m sorry for staying too long.”
The server smiled and waved her hand. “Not at all, but since you came near our closing time, I’m so sorry to rush you.” He pointed at the earlier cup. “This one is free.”
“But—”
The server even brought her a packed cup of coffee. “Please receive this as our courtesy and apologize. I hope you will come again.”
Rosalind nodded. “Thank you so much.” She took the packed coffee and walked outside of the restaurant.
The chilly wind blew again. Rosalind shuddered and hugged herself. Yet she kept walking in a random direction. She didn’t want to go home. Alone at home would make her cry all night.
Five years! She wasted five years for someone who didn’t even have a nerve to tell her he didn’t want her anymore.
How long? Her mind kept repeating the same question. How long had Jeremy been cheating on her? How long had she wasted her life trying to be better for him?
The reason she worked so hard to pay her online tuition f*e was because she wanted to have a better life. However, the real reason for that was because she wanted Jeremy’s family to accept her well. She wanted Jeremy to be proud of her, but more than that, she was desperate to f*el equal to him.
For five years, she had met with Bianca Da Costa, Jeremy’s mother. Bianca was nice to her, but she knew Bianca also expected Jeremy to have a more accomplished woman to be his wife. Rosalind wanted to prove herself to Bianca that she deserved to be with Jeremy. But then, reality slapped her hard on the face.
She was too numb to think. The weather was too cold, and she couldn’t move farther. Her foot brought her to a bar, so she entered the place. It wasn’t packed. Maybe it was because most people would prefer to curl on the bed with thick blankets.
Sitting on a black stool and putting the packed coffee and her handbag on the table, Rosalind nodded at the bartender. “Tequila, please?”
“On the way, dear.” The bartender worked quickly, and soon, he served a glass of tequila to Rosalind. “Here you go.”
Rosalind sipped it a little, feeling her mouth and throat became warmer instantly. She gulped the rest and choked.
The bartender shook his head and chuckled. “It’s not how you should drink it, sweetheart.” Then he stared at Rosalind for a few seconds. “A bad night, huh?”
“Tell me about it.” Rosalind closed her eyes, but her tears threatened to come to the surface. It was too hurtful. After everything she had done, it was useless. Instead of happiness, she only got heart broken. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes, as she didn’t want to cry in a public place. “Another glass, please?”
The bartender nodded. After serving another glass, he said, “Dear, you can let it out. I’ll listen.”
Later, Rosalind told the bartender what had happened. She ended it with, “I just feel like a loser, you know. Knowing that you have struggled so hard to make yourself better only to know it’s for nothing.”
“I know how it feels. But you will find someone better, girl. He doesn’t deserve you!”
Rosalind only gave a dry smile and lifted a hand. “Thanks! Another glass, please?”
“Sweetheart, you don’t want to get drunk. Trust me.”
However, Rosalind shook her head and sobbed. “I have never been drunk before. There’s always a first time for everything, right?”
“He isn’t worth your tears! Get a better man and flaunt it before him! It will be a better way to pay back for what he has done rather than getting yourself drunk and ruining yourself.”
She said nothing. The hurt was too much, and she couldn’t bear it. “Another glass, please? I need it.” Then she closed her eyes, and tears trickled from the corner of her eyes. “I want to get drunk, only this time ….” Rosalind clenched her fist and punched her chest a little with the top of her fist. “It’s too hurtful …. I don’t want to feel anything at all ….” She sobbed and shook her head.
The bartender could only sigh and gave her another glass of tequila. Rosalind gulped it in a move.
“More!”
“Hey, you must stop!”
Rosalind held her head with both hands. “No! I need it.”
“Girl, you have been drunk. It’s time for you to go home.”
“Gi-give me that …. I need it …. Te-tequila.” Then she laughed aloud. “Ah, my new friend. Tequila.” She started singing. “Tequila, tequila, tequila.”
Then a man sat next to Rosalind and nodded to the bartender. “Give her another glass. I’ll pay for everything and bring her home later.” He smiled a little, showing a dimple on his left cheek.
The bartender gasped as he recognized the man as he already saw the man’s picture everywhere. With brown hair and eyes and moderate brown skin, the man was quite attractive. The bartender nodded and rushed to pour another glass of tequila for Rosalind. “Yes, sir. Whatever you said.”
“Good man,” the man said.
She took the glass of tequila before her with an unsteady hand. The man beside her held the glass for her and brought the glass to her lips.
“Sip it, baby.”
Rosalind nodded and sipped the tequila. She smiled at the man, though she couldn’t see the man clearly since her vision started blurry. “T-thank you!”
“You are welcome.”
After finishing her fourth glass of tequila, Rosalind closed her eyes and bent her head forward on the table. She fell asleep afterward.
The man stood and whispered in Rosalind’s ear, “Baby, can you walk?” Rosalind didn’t answer, so the man could only shake his head. He reached for his wallet and pulled three pieces of $100. Next, he put the money on the table. “I’ll bring her home. Keep the change.”
The bartender beamed to see so much money the man gave him. “Yes, sir.”
The man took his phone and called his driver. “Luca, I’ll go home now. Wait at the front door.”
“Right away, boss.”
Later, the man scooped Rosalind and brought her to the door as if he were carrying his bride. The bartender rushed to the door and opened it for the man.
“Sir … uh, I don’t mean to be nosy, but the girl is our customer too. Do you know her?”
“Yes, of course. She is my future wife,” the man said lightly.
The bartender gasped. “Oh! But she was drunk because of—”
“What she told you is another man who doesn’t deserve her. Not me.” Then the man gazed at the bartender right in his eye. “I’ll take care of her. That’s the only thing you need to know.”
Chapter 3: Say It, Baby
Rosalind sighed and tried to roll her body. However, something halted her movement. She was exhausted, and a hammer felt like pounding on her head. So she still lay on the bed, trying to figure it out what happened last night.
The pounding didn’t stop until she couldn’t take it anymore. “Oh, stop!” she shrieked. The ache in her head was too much until she promised to herself not to be drunk again.
Somehow, there was a move behind her. She felt a kiss on her left shoulder and that’s when she realized an arm wrapped around her waist.
“You’re awake?” The man’s voice was hoarse.
“Oh!” Rosalind tried to move her body to see who was talking. But the ache in her head was too much. “I promise I won’t get drunk ever again.” She groaned and rubbed her temples.
“It’s good, baby. I’m glad to hear that.”
The man’s words sank into her brain slowly. Then Rosalind gasped, trying to turn her body. It was already hard because the pounding in her head still continued. However, she strived to open her eyes.
It was dark. After a few seconds, her eyes could adjust to the low light, and she realized she was in a bedroom with a stranger.
“W-who are you?” she said, stammering because she could guess the worst had happened.
“Who am I?” the man asked. He raised his eyebrow and then reached out his hand to touch Rosalind’s waist. “I’m your man, baby girl. Don’t you remember anything?” He bent forward and caught Rosalind’s lips in a kiss.
Rosalind didn’t expect the kiss and froze as the man’s voice was familiar. She frowned and tried to stare at the man. “Your voice is so familiar. We must have met somewhere.” She tried to jog her memory about last night, but she didn’t remember the man.
The man chuckled and reached his hand to a desk lamp on the headboard. After turning on the light, he grinned. “Now, do you know me?”
Rosalind blinked for a few seconds, trying to adjust her eyes to a sudden light. Then she gasped and shook her head. She was too shocked to see who the man was with her. “You! It can’t be!”
“Why not?”
She sat on the bed, and that’s when the blanket that wrapped around her body fell. The cold air from the air conditioning blew into her body. Rosalind bent her face a little downward and then she gaped.
“Oh, no! I’m ….” She didn’t finish her words because she just realized what had happened. With a pale face, she grabbed the blanket to cover her naked body and gasped loudly. “Did we …?”
“Did we … what?” the man asked.
“You know what I wanted to ask.” Rosalind covered her mouth with a hand and shook her head. Her face was pale. “Mr. Da Costa, I remember nothing.”
The man, Gabriel Da Costa, who was no other than Jeremy’s uncle, only grinned. He removed the blanket that covered his body, and soon, Rosalind could see that Gabriel was naked too. His six-pack abs with no excess fat, wide chest, and fine-shaped muscles in his shoulders were built to perfection.
Gabriel didn’t show any shame or shyness with his nakedness. He even approached Rosalind and wrapped his arms around her waist again. “Since you remember nothing, we must repeat what we did last night.”
Then he kissed Rosalind’s lips. Sucking her lower lip and then nipping it, Gabriel rubbed her waist. He pulled her body until they were skin to skin. Later, he kissed her neck and sucked it intentionally to create a hickey there. His hand then touched her breast, and Rosalind moaned.
“Mr. Da Costa, y-you need to stop.”
“Are you sure, baby? I don’t like it when my partner remembers nothing of our satisfying time.” He played with her hardened nipple and grinned like a cat fed with milk when she squirmed. “You like it.”
“Mr. Da Costa—”
“Gabe.”
“Sorry?”
“You need to call me Gabe, baby. We have already passed the formalities after last night.” Then Gabriel swooped Rosalind’s naked body and laid her back to the bed.
While Rosalind was on her back on the bed, Gabriel kissed her lips, and let their bodies touch again from top to bottom. “You can’t avoid fate, darling.”
She couldn’t think straight. However, the sensation Gabriel had awakened in her body somehow was bigger than the ache of a hangover. She moaned when Gabriel moved downward and sucked the top of her breast.
Rosalind grabbed his hair and caressed it. Unexpectedly, his hair was soft. “Gabe ….”
“Yes, darling?”
“What are you doing to me?” Her heartbeat beat faster. “I feel like ….” She groaned and shook her head. “Oh, I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You are enjoying it, right?”
She looked away, blushing from her head to toe. Since she could feel Gabriel waiting for her answer, she finally said, “Well, I do, but ….”
“No buts, darling. You only need to enjoy it. I only want to pleasure you.”
Gabriel massaged Rosalind’s breast, and his other hand roamed and teased her feminine member below. It was wet already.
“Gabe … not there!” she protested, and tried to shove his hand away.
He grinned and clasped her hand with another hand to the side of her body so he could stop her from moving his hand. “You will like it, baby. I promise you.”
Then he inserted his finger inside her folds. She moaned, and he moved his finger faster. Her waist went up and down, following the movement of his finger. Next, he added another finger and made both fingers move faster inside her sensitive part.
However, that’s when his phone rang. Gabriel ignored it and continued to make love with Rosalind using his fingers. After a while, the phone didn’t ring anymore.
She reached her peak a minute later and lay limply on the bed. Her body was sated though it was exhausted. Then Gabriel removed his fingers from her body. Despite she didn’t have energy left, her body hummed with pleasure after the orgasm. The ache in her head was gone too. They lay side by side, and his arms wrapped around her body.
However, she was confused because Gabriel didn’t finish it. “Uh …. Why don’t you …?”
He lifted his eyebrow. “Why don’t I … what?”
“You know.” Her face blushed because she was too embarrassed to ask, but she was curious too.
Gabriel chuckled. Bending his body and capturing her lips with his, he didn’t rush and enjoyed them entirely until she let out a satisfied sigh. Then he grinned and asked, “Mine?”
“What?”
“Tell me you are mine, and I’ll finish it.”
Rosalind shook her head. “Gabe …. I can’t ….”
“Why not?”
She tried to rise, but Gabriel blocked her body so she couldn’t move. She pushed his chest a little, but as if she touched a solid wall. “Gabe, I need to move.”
“Not yet. I like our position right now.”
Then, he bit her lower lip and when Rosalind opened her mouth to protest, his tongue probed inside and danced within her mouth. After exploring her mouth and sucked her tongue, he kissed her earlobe. “Say it, baby.”
“Say what?”
“Say you are mine, and I’ll give you everything.”
Chapter 4: Do You Agree?
Rosalind took a deep breath and gazed into Gabriel’s eyes. “Everything? What do you mean by everything?”
He shrugged and rubbed her lower lip with a thumb. “Well, I can give you everything you want to buy. You won’t need to work anymore.”
“In exchange for what?” She raised her eyebrow. It was a tempting offer. After working so hard for years, could she rest now?
“Being mine.” He rubbed her cheek, jaw, and then back to her lower lip again. “You only need to be here, darling. I’ll pamper, protect, and satisfy you.”
“Being here?”
Gabriel nodded. “Yes, unless you want to stay elsewhere. I can buy another apartment or house if you prefer it.” Since Rosalind didn’t reply, Gabriel kissed her lips and then whispered in her ear, “I’ll even give a lesson to Jeremy. He doesn’t appreciate you.”
Gulping, Rosalind clasped her hand together. She took a deep breath because hearing Jeremy’s name opened a new, unhealed wound in her heart. Then she closed her eyes because she didn’t want Gabriel to see her hurt and pain. Her tears trickled from both eyes.
“Baby, don’t cry.” He kissed the tears away.
However, it made Rosalind even couldn’t contain her sadness. Her tears poured heavily. Her dream was shattered the moment she saw Jeremy’s betrayal. No more a nice little family in the future with two kids in a small house and a tiny garden. The future was bleak now.
“Rose, my darling,” Gabriel whispered in Rosalind’s ear, “forget him. I’ll make you happy. I promise. You only need to be by my side.”
Rosalind pondered about it for a moment. It would be nice if she could be with Gabriel. How he treated her just now was as sweet and nice as the thing she dreamed Jeremy did to her. But then, was it an answer for her?
She didn’t know Gabriel well other than he was Jeremy’s uncle. Yes, he was a zillionaire, a quite successful and powerful man in their country. She knew Gabriel was single, but if he wanted, he could choose any woman. She gulped because the last woman she read in the news attached to Gabriel’s name was an actress. So what was he doing to offer her to be his woman?
Since Rosalind said nothing, Gabriel kissed her shoulder. “A penny for your thoughts?”
She took a heavy sigh. “Gabe … I … we don’t know each other.”
“No, it’s not true. We know the basic things about each other. For now, it’s enough. I know you are a good and loyal girl who works hard every day.” He caressed her cheek. “You have my respect for that.”
Rosalind lifted her eyes and stared at Gabriel, smiling a little. “Thank you.”
“So, do you agree?”
“I—”
“Rose, I can give you everything.” Then Gabriel repeated it, “EVERYTHING.” He emphasized it while looking deep into her eyes.
It flared Rosalind’s emotion. She disliked him when he treated her that way. “And be what? Your plaything? Your mistress?” Her voice pitched higher.
Shaking his head, Gabriel clicked his tongue. “No, baby. You will be my lover.”
“Your lover? But if you give me everything, won’t I be your mistress?”
“No, it’s too harsh.”
“Really?” Rosalind raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms over chest. “Then, what should I do if I accept to be your lover?”
“Be by my side. Let me spoil and protect you.”
“But you want to … to ….” She couldn’t say it out loud. Her face was scarlet because it was too embarrassing to say it.
“To what?” He grinned. “You have a habit of saying something, but then don’t finish it.”
“To … you know? This!” Rosalind’s hand pointed out at Gabriel’s chest and then hers. Licking her lips, her face was crimson. “Sleeping together!” Finally, she could say it.
Gabriel chuckled and put his hand on her cheek, rubbing it with his thumb. “There you go! It isn’t so hard, is it?” He kissed her lips. “You are so adorable when you are shy. I like it when you blush.”
Rosalind pouted, but she was hesitant now. Gabriel helped her forget her sadness, and she was comfortable with him. But then, they were strangers …. She wondered if the hurt because of Jeremy’s betrayal made her want someone so badly to comfort her. Yet, Jeremy’s uncle? She sighed. It didn’t feel right.
“What is it? You sighed.” Gabriel stared at Rosalind.
“I can’t do it ….” She shook her head. “It will be like I’m selling myself to you if I accept your offer. I’m not a whore, you know.”
“Rose, I know you aren’t a whore. I don’t need to offer a whore anything, nor will I be interested in one, either.” He took her hand and kissed the knuckles. “I want you, Rose, only you.”
“But why?”
“You have more to offer. Other things besides your excellent character?” He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just feel you are the right person for me after last night.”
She clasped her hands together. For sure, she wouldn’t be drunk again for the rest of her life. It made her do something she didn’t want and didn’t remember at all! Placing her hand on forehead, Rosalind closed her eyes. Then, when she opened her eyes again, Rosalind gazed into Gabriel’s eyes.
“I need to take a shower.”
“Okay. Please take your time and think about what I said.” He bent forward and caught her lips in a long kiss before he released her.
Rosalind shook her head as she licked her lips. She had to be out of her mind because she enjoyed his advances, despite not wanting to be his mistress. Well, mistress, lover, what was the difference? It was only words, semantic they said, but basically, she would be his plaything. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to do that.
So, going to the bathroom, still naked, she took a shower quickly and then took a few minutes to soak her body in the tub with warm water. She moaned a little because it was quite a luxury to spoil herself like this. As it was Sunday, and every two weeks she would have a day off, she didn’t need to rush to go to work today.
After ten minutes, Rosalind got up and left the bathtub. When she wanted to dry her body with a wide brown towel, her eyes spotted a few hickeys on her neck. Then, she noticed there were some more on her chest, breast, stomach, and thighs.
She gaped because she didn’t expect to see those. Later, she covered her mouth with a hand to stifle her gasp as she could only stare at herself in the mirror. It was no doubt they had spent the night together. The hickeys on her body were the undeniable proof.
The question was only one now. What would she do?
Chapter 5: What about My Offer?
Rosalind wrapped her body in a wide dry towel and sat on a chair near the mirror. The easiest decision was to accept Gabriel’s offer. She didn’t need to work hard anymore, even no need to work again. He even promised her to give a lesson to Jeremy, though she didn’t know what he would do.
Her mind pondered the option. It seemed Gabriel was sincere with his offer, but how long would it be? She heard Gabriel’s reputation as one of the wealthiest people in the capital. Many feared him because they heard he wouldn’t hesitate to do anything to get what he wanted. But many women also sought after him because of his wealth, power, and impressive look.
Gabriel’s skin was tan, although he was a Caucasian since his business was in transportation. Despite he had been successful, she heard he still worked outside, checking his business in so many places regularly. No one dared to mess with him. Since she knew Gabriel and his family were immigrants in her country, his success was even more impressive.
More women attracted to him because of his perfectly shaped body, sharp eyes, pointy nose, firm jaws, and kissable lips alone, but he ignored them all. There was gossip he rejected and humiliated some of the sexiest celebrities who wanted to lure him to have a one-night stand with them. Some said he was a gay.
Rosalind shook her head. After this morning, although she didn’t remember what happened last night, with all touches and kisses, she was sure Gabriel was a passionate man who loved women.
He could get any woman he wanted as easily as snapping fingers. But then, why did he offer her to be his lover? Gabriel didn’t need to pay anyone for having pleasures in his bed. Many even voluntarily offered themselves for that.
She knew it would complicate things. Despite Jeremy’s cheating on her, she was still his girlfriend. Before ending her relationship with him, it didn’t feel right to start a new relationship.
Rosalind took a deep breath. This one couldn’t be counted as a relationship. It was more of a transaction, a business. What else could she think? Since he offered her so many things in exchange for her willingness to be his.
There was a knock on the door. “Baby, are you okay?”
“I … I’m okay. I just need time to think.”
“You can think elsewhere, darling. I don’t want you to be cold in the bathroom.”
Rosalind let out a sigh. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Sure.”
Gabriel sounded like a nice and thoughtful man. Would it be foolish to turn down a rare offer like this? But then, she knew she couldn’t accept it since being his lover meant she would lose respect to herself. What could be worse than that?
After deciding, Rosalind fastened the towel around her body. Then she unlocked the door and faced Gabriel. He sat on a couch. This time, he already wore a white T-shirt and black shorts.
When Gabriel saw Rosalind, he reached out his hand in her direction. “Come here, darling.”
Rosalind strolled to approach Gabriel. Before she could sit, he wrapped his hands around her waist and brought her to sit on his lap. She tried to squeal and remove herself from his lap, but his grip on her waist was like steel that clamped her tiny waist.
“Let me go,” Rosalind hissed.
Gabriel stared at her. “Before I do that, I want to know your decision. What is your answer?”
“The answer is no.” She shook herself. “Though I found it was a tempting offer, I must decline.”
“Why? Do you think I’m too old for you?” Gabriel rubbed Rosalind’s waist.
Rosalind tilted her head a little. “How old are you? I didn’t think of your age at all.”
He chuckled and wrapped her waist tighter. “You are good for my ego, baby.” His thumb stroked the small of her back. “I’m 45 this year. How old are you, darling?”
“Twenty-three.”
Gabriel nodded. “Still so young, but strong. Since you didn’t find our age difference a problem, what then?”
“Being a mistress isn’t something I want. It will make me lose my pride and respect for myself.”
“Ah, prideful little thing aren’t you?” Gabriel chuckled again. “But if you accepted it easily, I would be disappointed.” He bent forward and kissed her lips in a long kiss. “I want you more, baby.”
“Gabe, it’s not a negotiation. I want to go home now. About last night ….” She looked elsewhere and let out a long sigh. “I take it as my mistake to get drunk. Despite it was my first time, I wouldn’t be your mistress because of that.”
Gabriel raised his eyebrow for a second, but then his expression was unreadable. His hand moved to her chest and tried to untie the towel knot there.
She shook her head and grabbed the towel tighter. “Gabe, I said no.”
“And I want to change your mind.” He kept holding the towel.
“With sex?” She widened her eyes.
He grinned. “Why not? You liked it. I know you do.”
“It’s a bad idea. I …” Rosalind let out a long sigh. “I haven’t ended things with Jeremy, and I can’t start something with anyone before everything’s clear.”
“Even after he has betrayed you?” Gabriel whistled. “Damn! He truly doesn’t deserve you. Your loyalty is misplaced, darling. You should be loyal to someone who is also faithful to you.”
“Gabe, please ….”
“Okay, then how long must I wait? I don’t mind waiting as long as I know the time frame.”
“Let me wear my clothes first. Then we can talk about it.”
“Go ahead. I’ll wait here.” Since Rosalind looked around to find her clothes, Gabriel said, “Your clothes are on the table next to the bed.”
So, Rosalind picked up her clothes and went to the bathroom to wear them. As he said, her clothes were on the table, folded neatly. There weren’t many creases. She put them on quickly and felt much better after wearing the clothes.
Later, Rosalind faced Gabriel in the bedroom. He wasn’t sitting on the couch, but on the bed. When he saw her, he grinned. “So?”
“So, what?” Rosalind asked.
“Will you end your relationship with Jeremy?”
Rosalind nodded. “Yes, for sure, though technically, it ended the moment he cheated on me.”
“Good! And after that?” He stared at her, hoping she would come to accept his offer right away because waiting longer wasn’t what he liked.
She took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “After that, I’ll continue with my life.”
Gabriel frowned because Rosalind didn’t give him the answer he wanted. “And what about my offer?”
Chapter 6: Say It Now
Rosalind took a seat on the couch. After taking a deep breath, she stared at Gabriel. “Gabe, I told you. I didn’t want to be your mistress.”
“Why not?”
“We know nothing about each other.”
Gabriel shook his head. “Wrong! I know enough to want you. Be mine, baby. You know, I don’t ask this to many women.” He creased his forehead while thinking. “You are the second woman I asked. So it’s a compliment.”
“So I need to say thanks?” she said sarcastically since she didn’t like what he implied.
Gabriel shrugged, not be offended at all with what she said. “I don’t expect your gratitude. I want you to be mine.”
“Gabe, you can’t have everything you want.”
“Really?” He raised his eyebrow. “I’ll make you mine in three days.”
She shook her head and let out a long sigh. “The more you insist, the more I will refuse.”
Gabriel laughed out loud until his head bent backward. “You only make things more interesting, darling. Are you playing hard to get? Is this a challenge?”
“No! I don’t play any games and it’s not a challenge!”
“Then why?” He stared at her for a few seconds. “Do you prefer younger men?”
“I have never thought I have any preference about age.” She shrugged. “Also, I don’t think you are old.”
He grinned, satisfied with what she said. “Okay. So why don’t you want to be mine?”
“I’m not a toy. I’m not your plaything or anyone’s.”
“Rose, I have never thought of you as a toy or plaything. I always think of you as a sexy and beautiful woman that I want to cherish and pamper.”
“By making me your mistress?” Her voice rose higher. “Isn’t it the opposite of what you said?”
“Mistress? No. I don’t need a mistress.” Then he raised his eyebrow. “The opposite? How so? If you are my lover, it’s nothing wrong if I want to give you anything you want. You need money, don’t you?”
“Gabriel, I warn you!” Rosalind shook her head swiftly. “Don’t talk to me like that!”
“Like what?”
“Like ….” Her fist clenched because she was furious. She couldn’t say anything for a few seconds because of her emotion. “Like you treat me as a whore! I’m not a whore!”
“Oh, damn it! Should we repeat this again? I’m not treating you as a whore!” Gabriel emphasized the last sentence. “Giving you anything you want isn’t treating you as a whore, baby.”
“Stop calling me baby! I hate it!” She grunted, so upset to say anything else.
He clicked his tongue. “Fine! I won’t call you baby. What must I do so you will say yes?”
“Stop it! I won’t say yes!” She couldn’t believe it. Gabriel could be as stubborn as a mule. How she wished he would accept her decision and leave her alone.
“There’s where you’re wrong, darling. You will be mine. Mark my words.”
“What will you do?” She glared at him. “I’ll leave now. Let’s forget this conversation.” Then Rosalind picked up her handbag from the table next to the bed and walked to the door.
Gabriel didn’t move to stop her. Part of her felt a disappointment because for a moment, Gabriel’s offer made her feel he wanted her badly. But then, seeing how he did nothing to stop her made her think he wasn’t serious about his offer.
When she held the door and pulled it, the door didn’t move, even a bit. Rosalind frowned and tried to check the handle. She was shocked when she heard Gabriel’s voice behind her. He already walked at her without her noticing. Maybe because she was too busy with her thought until she didn’t pay attention to his steps.
“No need to pull anymore. You can’t leave the apartment.”
“What?! But—”
“It’s locked, and no matter how hard you try to pull it, the door won’t open.”
Rosalind turned her body, only to find Gabriel stood an inch from her. She tried to push his chest, but again, it was a useless attempt. He didn’t budge, even a bit. He even blocked her body with both of his arms and body to the door, caging her on the spot.
“Say yes first to my offer, and I’ll let you have access to my apartment.”
“No! I said no! Can’t you respect my wishes?”
He lifted his hand to rub her cheek. “Mostly, I always get what I want. So name your price, darling, and it’ll be yours.”
“I—”
Before Rosalind could say something, Gabriel already kissed her lips and touched her body. She couldn’t think straight when he did that. So he touched her more, and she moaned and panted.
“Gabe ….”
“Yes, darling?”
“You don’t play fair.”
“It’s all fair in love and war.” He grinned, inserted his hand into her clothes, and removed the hook of her bra.
“But we are not in love.” Her breath was faster because he touched the side of her breast. “Gabe ….”
“Don’t say no. I know you like it.” Then he unfastened three of her top buttons and bent his head to kiss her cleavage. Licking her breast, he massaged it until she squirmed.
“Gabe!”
Gabriel grinned. “Yes, darling. I will give you what you want, but you must say yes first.”
“No ….”
“I know you didn’t mean it.”
“I ….”
That’s when Gabriel opened all Rosalind’s buttons, yanked the black shirt, and pushed it from her body until she didn’t wear it anymore. He removed her bra too, and without wasting more time, he licked the bud of her breast.
She squeezed his hair while moaning. “Gabe … oh ….”
He brought her back to his bedroom and tossed her onto the bed. Later, he didn’t stop torturing her body until she pleaded with him.
“Please, Gabe ….”
“Say it, darling.”
“I can’t ….”
“Yes, you can. Just say it.”
This time, he unzipped the zipper of her black trousers and removed the trousers. It was only her tiny panties that covered her body. In a few seconds, Gabriel removed it too, and she was naked.
Later, she pulled his T-shirt over his head. He gladly helped her. Then her hand moved to his trousers, but she didn’t dare to remove it.
Gabriel whispered, “Do you want to remove it, darling?”
Her face was crimson. She looked elsewhere because she was too embarrassed to ask. However, Gabriel couldn’t hold himself anymore, so he stripped his trousers and boxers too. Both of them were naked as when they were born.
He touched the apex of her thighs and inserted his thumb a little to check it. Grinning wider because he found it wet, he removed the thumb and inserted his pointer finger instead. Her moan was louder, and she widened her thighs aside to give access to Gabriel’s fingers.
But then he stopped. “Say it, darling. Say it now!”