Taken By The Arrogant Billionaire

She slept wide on the bed, smiling in her sleep as her tongue stole out to lick the drool that was about to wet the bed. It was obvious she was dreaming. A very sweet one.

Suddenly, the door burst open.

"Valerie! What is wrong with you? Wake up" Sandy tapped her continuously.

Valerie stared at Sandy with half-open eyes. She looked angry.

"What?"

"You should leave for work"

"It's not even time yet, so stop bugging me" she drawled

"It's 8am" Sandy deadpanned.

Valerie Gardner's eyes flew open.

"You're serious! Oh, God! But.... I set the alarm yesterday. How....."

"Your alarm was ringing nonstop at 7. I thought you were up at that time"

Valerie hurried out of bed, to the bathroom, kicking her leg against the bedside table in the process.

"Ouch" she rubbed the affected area and ran to the bathroom, where her head collided with the wall.

She screamed in pain.

Sandy shook her head helplessly. "So clumsy. She's sure going to get a nasty bump" he tutted.

Valerie exited the house at exactly 8:30, ditching breakfast and silently praying not to lose her job.

She arrived at her workplace. New life mall was written in bold at the top of the building. It wasn't a massive mall, but customers came in steady.

She skedaddled to the entrance and ran straight into Mr Duncan, the manager.

"Damn it" she muttered.

He sent a tight smile her way.

"Hello Miss Gardner"

"Good morning Mr Duncan" she looked down at him.

He was a short man, probably six feet two. His belly protruded, making him even less attractive than he was.

"You are 55 minutes and 48 seconds late" he pointed out.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir. It won't happen again"

"You are saying that for the third time this week!" He boomed. It directed people's gaze towards them.

"One more chance, sir. Just one" she pleaded as she raised her index finger, putting on her best puppy eyes.

His face hardened even more.

"Just one more time and I will send you out of here" she breathed a sigh of relief as he walked away.

She changed into her uniform and went to her post. She heard someone, or specifically, two people, snickering beside her.

"See, I told you she was going to be allowed in. The man is always so strict. I wonder what she gives him in return for keeping her job. She should perhaps teach us, right?" The other said, and they chortled scornfully.

"Oh, right. I think I know" The first girl snapped her fingers. "I just have to lay on my back and my job is secured" They both chuckled.

She was about to snap but calmed herself down. They were no match against her, but it wasn't the right time.

She ignored them and began the day's work.

************

Outside, in a Chevrolet Traverse SUV, sat two young men in suits. The handsome one was wiping his coffee-soaked shirt, looking like he could puke any minute.

"Boss, I think you should get another one" the other man said.

"Where do you expect me to get one at this time?" Jared Smith wiped it with extreme vigor, muttering curses.

Will raked his hair, looking confused as he looked around. They had a meeting in a few minutes.

"Oh, look! There is a mall over there" he exclaimed, pointing. Jared stared at him like he had just grown an extra head.

"You want me to get my clothes from this cheap mall?"

"Boss, we've got no choice. You can't go to the meeting in a ruined shirt"

Jared poked his tongue in his cheek, contemplating. That bitch. She had soaked him in coffee while trying to seduce him.

Now, he had to buy from a chap store when all his clothes were custom-made.

"Fine"

Will quickly alighted and was surprised to see Jared exit the car.

"Boss. I will get the-"

"Shut up and let's go"

Will was about to say something else, but Jared hissed and he chose to keep his mouth shut.

They entered the mall and Will began to look for shirts that fit his boss. He finally found one and showed it to him. Jared shook his head in disapproval. He showed him something else, but his face scrunched up in anger. It went on and on. He had shown his boss everything on the deck, but he was having none of it.

Will was already exhausted.

"Excuse me Mister. How may I help you?" Jared turned in the direction of the voice.

"You seem to be looking for something"

"Yes. By any chance, do you have-"

"I'll take this" Jared picked a random shirt from the rack. Will looked on, surprised. This was the same shirt his boss had scrunched up his face for.

"But boss-"

"Shut up, you idiot" He turned to smile at Valerie.

"Oh. I see you've picked what you want. Please go on to pay and thank you for buying from us" She gave him a platonic smile.

Jared was bedazzled by that smile and was rendered speechless for seconds.

"Boss" Will whispered

No response.

"Boss"

Jared snapped out of his reverie and realized the little lady looked guarded against him.

"Thank you so much, Miss..." Will glanced at her name tag. "Miss Gardner"

He practically pulled Jared away.

Valerie blinked severally. It felt weird being stared at like that.

It was time to get off work. Her phone rang. Her boyfriend's name was boldly displayed-Ivan. With multiple love emotions.

"Hello" she said coyly.

"You're at work?"

"Yes"

"There is something I want to say to you"

Valerie waited for him to speak more.

"Val, let..... let us... You know what, let us meet up. I will send you the address and time"

The line went dead.

Valerie's mind travelled to different places at once.

'Let us...? What could that mean?' She thought.

She suddenly thought of something and her heart almost jumped out of her chest.

Was he going to propose? She almost screamed in excitement as she packed her bags and ran out of the company.

Her phone dinged as she received a notification.