The Billionaire’s Temptation

Olivia.

"Okay, so we have the reservation at 7 pm, the flowers are ordered, and the menu is set," I said, ticking off each item on the list.

My best friend Jamie nodded in agreement. "Yes and the restaurant has confirmed everything, so we're good to go."

I grinned, feeling excited for the surprise dinner we had planned for my boyfriend, Alex. Our anniversary was coming up, and I had a feeling he was going to propose. Jamie and I had been planning this for weeks, and everything was falling into place.

"Do you think he will suspects anything?" Jamie asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

"I don't think so," I replied. "He's been so busy with work, he hasn't had time to think about anything else."

Jamie nodded. "Good. That means the surprise will be even better."

I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement in my chest. This was going to be perfect. A romantic dinner with the man I love and hopefully, a proposal.

"But just in case he doesn't propose, we have a backup plan, right?" Jamie asked, with a mischievous glint in her eye.

I laughed. "Of course. I have a few hints saved on my phone in case he needs a little nudge."

Jamie grinned. "You're such a romantic, Liv. I hope he appreciates all the effort you've put into this."

I smiled, feeling grateful for Jamie's support. She had been my rock throughout my relationship with Alex, always there to listen and give advice.

"Thanks, Jamie. I'm just hoping for a perfect evening."

"And you'll have it," she said firmly. "No matter what happens, we'll make sure it's a night to remember."

I felt a rush of gratitude for my best friend. With her by my side, I knew I could handle anything. And with this surprise dinner, I was hoping to take our relationship to the next level.

After finishing our coffee, Jamie and I decided to go shopping for a new outfit for my surprise dinner. We went to a few stores, trying on dresses and skirts until we finally found the perfect outfit.

"This one looks amazing on you, Liv," Jamie said, admiring the blue dress I was wearing. "And it's so comfortable too."

I twirled around, feeling happy with the choice. "Thanks, Jamie. I couldn't have done this without you."

Next, we headed to a nearby spa to get our hair done. We sat back and relaxed as the stylists worked their magic, chatting about our plans for the evening.

"I'm so excited for you, Liv," Jamie said, as her hair was being styled into loose curls. "I can't wait to see Alex's face when he sees you in that dress."

I blushed, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. "I hope he likes it."

"He will," Jamie said confidently. "And even if he doesn't propose tonight, he's crazy if he doesn't see how amazing you are."

After our spa appointment, we headed back to my apartment to get ready. Jamie helped me with my makeup, and we talked and laughed as we got ready for the evening.

"Okay, you look amazing," Jamie said, as I finished putting on my earrings. "Now, it's time to call Alex and let him know you're ready."

I felt a flutter of nerves as I dialed his number, hoping he was just as excited for our surprise dinner as I was.

"Hey, Alex, it's me," I said, trying to sound calm.

"Hey, Liv. Are you ready?" he asked, his voice warm and loving.

"Yes, I am," I replied, feeling a smile spreading across my face.

"I can't wait to see you," he said, his voice full of excitement.

"Me too," I said, feeling my heart flutter with anticipation.

I hung up the phone, feeling excited and nervous. Jamie gave me a reassuring smile. Jamie left afterwards.

My heart was pounding as I stood in front of the door, waiting for Alex to arrive. I had spent hours getting ready for this night, trying to make sure I looked my best. My nerves were on edge as I waited for him, wondering what he had planned for us.

Finally, the doorbell rang, and I felt my stomach flip over. I took a deep breath and unlocked the door, my eyes widening as I saw Alex's handsome face.

"Hey, Alex," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hey, Liv," he replied, his eyes twinkling as he looked at me.

I couldn't help but smile as I noticed the small bouquet of my favorite flowers in his hand. It was such a sweet gesture, and I felt my heart swell with love for him.

"These are beautiful," I said, taking the flowers from him.

"I got them for you," he said, his voice low and husky. "I want to make tonight special."

My cheeks flushed with pleasure, and I leaned in to give him a kiss. As we broke apart, Alex took my hand and led me to the living room.

The room was dimly lit, with candles flickering on the coffee table. The effort I had put in to make tonight special.

"I have a surprise for you," he said, grinning at me.

My heart skipped a beat as I wondered what he had in store. I let him lead me closer to the candles, feeling his strong arm around my waist.

As the night went on, I fell more in love with Alex. The way he looked at me, the way he held me close, made me feel like I was the only person in the world that mattered. I knew then that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held for us. We eat dinner while having small conversation until Alex broke the silence that prevailed.

"Olivia, we need to talk," he said, his voice tense.

My heart jumped. This is the right time, Olivia. He's going to propose. My insides thumped with excitement. I stared at me with my best smile.

"I don't think we should see each other anymore," he said, his eyes avoiding mine.

"What? Why?" I asked, feeling confused and hurt my smile immediately fading away.

"It's just not working out. We're too different, and I don't think we're meant to be together," he replied, still not meeting my gaze.

I felt my heart plummet as Alex's words sunk in. "What? Are you serious?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Alex didn't respond, instead he just sat there with his eyes fixed on the door. My mind was racing as I tried to process what was happening. Had I done something wrong? Was there someone else? I couldn't understand why he would suddenly want to end things.

As my eyes fell on the bouquet of flowers he had given me earlier, I felt a wave of confusion and hurt wash over me. How could he do this after being so sweet and thoughtful?

"Alex, please talk to me," I pleaded, feeling tears starting to prick at the corners of my eyes.

He finally turned to look at me, his face unreadable. "I'm sorry, Olivia," he said softly. "But I can't do this anymore. We should go our separate ways."

I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me as he stood up and headed for the door. I couldn't believe this was happening. All I could do was sit there, staring at the flowers in my lap, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

As the door closed behind him, I felt a single tear roll down my cheek. I knew that my heart was broken and that it was going to take a long time to heal. But for now, all I could do was sit there in silence, trying to come to terms with the fact that my relationship with Alex was over.

**

I was still in the daze when Jamie call came through. With shaky voice I placed the phone to my ears. "Hey Liv, tell me he proposed!"

"I-" I could feel my heart pulse rate dropping. My vision turned blurry. "Alex- He..."

"He broke up with me" I said in one breath as I slouched down on the cold tiled floor I heard Jamie gasp on the other end of the line. "Oh, Liv, I'm so sorry," she said softly. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. "He just said he couldn't do it anymore," I said, my voice breaking.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Jamie spoke again. "I can't believe he would do this," she said. "You deserve so much better than that."

Tears were streaming down my face as I sat there on the cold floor, feeling completely broken. "I don't know what to do," I whispered. "I thought he was the one."

"Listen, Liv," Jamie said, her voice gentle but firm. "You are strong and independent, and you will get through this. You deserve someone who will love and cherish you, not someone who will just walk away."

"But Jamie-"

"Calm down. Take a deep breath. You will be fine." I didn't have the energy to answer her again. I dropped the phone on the floor.

I sat there on the floor for what felt like hours, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions. I couldn't believe that Alex had just walked out of my life like that. It was like a bad dream that I couldn't wake up from.

Despite Jamie's words of encouragement, I couldn't shake the pain in my chest. It felt like a constant ache that was digging a hole inside of me. I knew that I needed to pick myself up and move forward, but it felt like an impossible task.

As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I suddenly heard a knock at the door. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of who it could be, but eventually got up to answer it.

To my surprise, it was Jamie standing on the other side of the door. She had a concerned look on her face as she pulled me into a tight embrace. "I couldn't just sit at home and do nothing," she said softly.

As she held me, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me. It was like a small ray of light in the darkness that had enveloped me. I knew that I had a long road ahead of me, but with Jamie by my side, I felt like I could face it.

"Thank you for coming," I said.

"Anytime, Liv," Jamie replied. "Let's get you out of here and do something to take your mind off things."

With a small smile, I nodded and let her lead me out of the apartment. Even though the pain was still there, I knew that I wasn't alone and that was enough to give me hope for the future.

Olivia.

I woke up early the next morning with a throbbing headache. As I lay in bed, flashes of the previous night kept running through my mind. The breakup with Alex was still fresh and painful, and I couldn't believe he had really ended things between us. I had thought that we were in it for the long haul, but apparently, I was wrong.

I got out of bed and walked over to the window, looking out at the bright morning sun. It was a new day, but it didn't feel like it. I couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment and hurt that I felt inside.

As I made breakfast, my phone beeped, indicating that I had received a message. I picked up my phone and my vision turned blurry as I read the contents of the message. It was an invitation from Alex to his wedding. My heart sank at the sight of the message. How could he move on so quickly? Was our love really that meaningless to him?

I sat down at the table, trying to process my emotions. I was devastated and angry all at once. How could he do this to me? I couldn't believe that he had moved on so quickly and was getting married to someone else. It felt like a betrayal, and it was a painful reminder that our relationship was over.

As I sat there lost in my thoughts, I heard a knock on my door. I got up to answer it, not sure who it could be. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see my neighbor, Mrs. Jerkins.

"Good morning, Olivia," she said with a warm smile. "How are you doing today?"

I forced a smile and replied, "I'm fine, thanks for asking."

Mrs. Jerkins looked at me for a moment before saying, "If you need anything don't hesitate to reach out" I recently moved in the apartment. Mrs. Jerkins seems like a nice person. We bump into each other at times.

I nodded, grateful for her concern. I thanked her and watched as she made her way back to her own apartment.

As I stood there alone in my apartment, I couldn't help but wonder what my future held. With Alex getting married, it felt like my world was falling apart. But then again, maybe it was time for me to move on too. I just didn't know where to begin.

I continued sobbing uncontrollably, my face buried in my hands. I heard a loud banging on the door and then Jamie's voice calling out my name.

"Olivia, it's me, Jamie. Open up!"

I stumbled to my feet and made my way to the door. As soon as I opened it, Jamie rushed in and wrapped her arms around me. I felt her warmth and comfort as she held me tightly.

"What's wrong, Liv?" she asked gently.

I handed her my phone and watched as her face turned to shock and anger.

"That bastard!" she exclaimed. "How could he do this to you?"

I could feel the tears streaming down my face again as Jamie pulled me into a tight embrace.

"It's not fair," I sobbed. "Why did he have to hurt me like this?"

"I don't know, Liv," Jamie replied. "But I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'm here for you."

"What are you going to do?" she asked me.

"I can't go to the wedding, Jamie," I said, my voice shaking. "I can't bear to see him marry someone else."

Jamie nodded, understanding written on her face. "Then what's your plan?"

"I don't know," I said, shrugging. "I just want to focus on my life, get back to work at the animal clinic. Maybe start over."

Jamie smiled at me, proud of my decision. "That's the spirit," she said. "You'll get through this, Liv. I know it."

I wiped my tears and smiled weakly. "Thanks, Jamie. You always know what to say."

I sat on my bed, my mind racing with anger and confusion. How could Alex lie to me about his cousin? I once saw them together and he told me she's his cousin. How stupid I was to believe that. And what else had he lied to me about? I knew I shouldn't check his social media, but my curiosity got the best of me.

As soon as I saw the picture of them, my anger boiled over. How could he cheat on me and lie to me at the same time? I felt like a fool for believing him and for trusting him with my heart.

But then, a new thought entered my mind. If Alex thought he could just walk away from me and marry someone else without any consequences, he had another thing coming. I would show him that he had lost a great woman, and I wouldn't let him get away with his lies and betrayal.

With that decision made, I quickly texted Jamie to let her know that I would be attending the wedding after all, even if I had to hire someone to accompany me. It was time to take control of my life and show Alex what he was missing.

I woke up to the sound of knocking on my door, and as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, I saw Jamie's face peering through the doorway. She looked worried.

"Do you think it's a good idea to go like this?" Jamie asked me. "I mean, what if you break down there?"

I sat up and gave her a determined look. "I'm not that weak, you know. If he thinks he can throw away our relationship just like that, I will show him he lost a great woman. Help me with whatever you can. The wedding is in a few hours from now."

"Who is going to accompany you then?" She asked. "I mean are you going to go empty handed?"

I stared in thinking. "That should not be a problem. With me alone, I have the strength. You're in or not?" I asked getting impatient Jamie gave me a hesitant look. "Of course I'm in, Liv. I'm just worried about you," she said softly.

I appreciated her concern, but I couldn't let her worry about me. I had to be strong and show Alex what he had lost. "I'll be fine, Jamie. Thank you for being here for me," I said, grateful for her support.

Together, we got ready for the wedding, picking out a beautiful dress for me to wear and fixing my hair and makeup. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt a sense of determination wash over me. I was ready to face Alex and show him that he couldn't break me.

Once we arrived at the wedding venue, I could feel my nerves starting to get the best of me. Jamie grabbed my hand reassuringly and gave me a small smile.

"Ready?" she asked.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's do this."

Jamie and I will made our way inside the hall that was filled up with people and soft music playing. I couldn't help but feel nervous inside. "Remember you're not here to break down. Keep your head high" Jamie whispered beside me. I flashed her a smile. Even though I have no idea whether that is going to happen. We sauntered to the bar counter where delicacies of different type where arranged on the table I picked up a glass of wine and took a sip, trying to steady my nerves. Jamie opted for a glass of water.

As we were chatting, I noticed someone walking towards us. It was Alex, looking dapper in his suit.

"Olivia, Jamie, it's good to see you guys here," he said, his voice cool and distant.

I felt a pang of anger as I remembered what he had done to me. But I tried to keep my composure and replied, "Yeah, we're here to celebrate your big day."

He nodded, but there was something in his eyes that made me feel like he was hiding something.

Before I could say anything else, his bride-to-be appeared next to him, a radiant smile on her face.

"Hi, I'm Emily," she said, extending her hand.

I shook her hand and gave her a smile, but inside I was seething. It was hard to be happy for someone who had taken away the person I love.

But I tried to put on a brave face, reminding myself that I was here to show Alex what he had lost.

As they walked away hand in hand, I couldn't help but imagine myself in Emily's shoe instead. I would've been the one holding him by the arm. I would've been the one getting all the spotlight. But here I am watching everything from afar. I dropped my drink. "I will be back Jamie"

She looked at me suspiciously. "To where? Hope you're no-"

"Don't worry. I'm not going to grab Alex by the neck. I'm just going to the restroom" She nodded her head. "Alright. Go on"

I walked towards the restroom but as I passed by the main hall, I saw Alex's eyes on me. I stopped on my tracks and we locked eyes for a moment. I could feel my heart racing. Should I approach him? Should I say something?

But then, I saw her. The woman he was with earlier. She was whispering something in his ear, and he was laughing. Anger boiled up inside me. How could he move on so quickly? How could he forget about our relationship just like that? I turned on my heels and marched towards the restroom, tears streaming down my face.

As soon as I entered the restroom, I splashed water on my face and took deep breathe trying to calm myself down. I can't let him see me cry. I can't let him have that power over me. I wiped away my tears and took one last deep breathe before walking out of the restroom, determined to enjoy the rest of the evening on my own terms.