The Billionaire’s Pawn

LONDON

I woke up with a hammering headache. The event of last night came crashing through me like a wave. I had no regrets about my behavior, though.

Heat radiated through my chest at the thought of being single again. I didn’t know I needed that bad to be out of a relationship that I’d wasted the six months of my life investing in it. For what? Sex? Attention? To be relevant? I didn’t even know I was that desperate.

It became clear that I didn’t need a man or a relationship to have a better life. Besides, I’d never depended my life on any man. So, why now?

I rose and searched for a painkiller bottle in the medicine cabinet. Then my pills caught my attention. I refused to take it despite sometimes having nightmares and terrible falling asleep. I still chose to drink tea, which helped somehow.

I took a caplet of painkillers.

After I took a shower, I wore my working clothes and put my sunglasses on before heading down, where I knew Striker would be waiting for me.

My face warmed as I recalled telling him something last night. In his defense, he had no idea what those words meant to me. He was there to rescue me and send me back to my family, yet I treated him like we were some kind of long-lost lovers that I expected him to stay and be with me.

“Morning, Vanderford.” That smile. He looked so fresh and hot.

“Morning.” I slipped into the backseat. My voice sounded even strange.

The car drove off to the main gate. Then he stopped at the guard post and slid the window.

“Mr. Tucker is no longer welcome in this premises unless Miss Vanderford says so.”

“Yes, boss.” Ian, the security on duty, nodded.

“Is that even necessary?”

“Yes. It’s your father’s order.” He slid the window closed and drove smoothly to the road.

“So you told my father what happened last night without asking me if it was okay or maybe Magnus and I are getting back together today.”

He looked at me through the rearview. “Are you getting back together?”

“I don’t think it’s any of your business, Cade, but what I am trying to say here is, do you have to report everything to Dad? I don’t want him to worry while he’s hundreds of miles away.”

“No, ma’am. I didn’t tell him everything. I reported to him, yes. It’s part of my job, but I left the juicy deets. All I said was Mr. Tucker thought you should fire me for being rude, and he left hurriedly last night.”

I looked outside the window. “Thanks.”

“My job, ma’am.”

“Stop with the ma’am.” I shot him a look, but his focus was on the road.

“My apology. Having a hangover?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Then he surprised me. “Here. Take this.” He offered me his tumbler.

“What’s in that?”

“Trust me. If you took this before, you didn’t have to take a painkiller.” How did he even know I took painkillers?

I grabbed it from him. I couldn’t precisely peek through what was inside, but somehow, I trusted that he would not poison me. I sipped the content and grimaced. It wasn’t bad, but I’d tasted a lot of fruits mixed into the blender.

“Thanks.” I gave it back.

“Keep it. You need that.”

“What’s exactly in there?”

“Then you’re not gonna for that again every time you have a hangover.”

“Jeez. Secret recipe?” I rolled my eyes. “I could just search it on the internet.”

“It’s my friend’s hangover cure. And you won’t find it on the internet.”

My phone buzzed, interrupting us. When I checked the caller, it was Dad. “Hey.”

“How’s my baby girl?” He sounded happy, and I heard a gusty sound in the background.

I smiled. “Still pretty. Are you on a boat or something?”

“Just leaving the port. Striker told me. Are you okay?”

“About what?”

“That Magnus wanted you to fire my boy.”

“Wow. I didn’t know you two were close.”

He sighed deeply. “Because he never breaks his words, honey. Please, don’t mistreat him.”

“Really, Dad? I don’t think I can hurt him, and he’s a big guy. He doesn’t report to me. Remember? And you can ask him if I’ve misbehaved or been a pain in his butt.”

“That’s good to hear because I don’t trust anyone other than him, and I know he will take care of you while I’m away.”

“Dad, enjoy your day. I’ll be fine, and I promise to call you or the firm if something happens, okay?”

“Good. That’s good. Can you put Striker on the phone?”

“Hey, Tiger. Dad wants to talk to you.” I gave Striker my phone.

“Sir?” he answered as he held my phone and the other on the steering wheels. “Of course, Mr. Vanderford.”

I wondered what Dad had told him. It seemed long, but Striker was listening carefully.

“I’ll do my best, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you. Have a great day.” He then returned my phone.

“What did he say?” My curiosity kicked in.

“The same thing he said to you.”

“And what’s that?”

“Take care.”

“Is that all?”

“We only talked in less than two minutes, Vanderford. What do you expect him to say in that length?”

“Whatever.”

At the office, I took off my glasses and met Neke in the office with the new plans and designs, and I was expecting the fashion show to be finalized this week with the event manager.

She had not said a word, but she kept staring at me.

“What? Did my mascara smear or something?”

“You two really broke up?”

My brows knitted. “How did you know?”

“Well, he just posted a picture at the Night Stalker last night, and you were not with him, with the caption, when it doesn’t even matter, with screwdriver emoji.”

“What the hell?” I tensed and felt like the color drained from my face. Humiliation filled me.

“It’s okay.” Neke held my hand and squeezed it.

I closed my eyes and drew up my courage from deep inside, wishing it didn’t do much damage to me. People on social media trusted anything they saw, even trash.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

I cracked my eyes open and went to my chair. “I don’t wanna talk about something irrelevant.”

“That’s my girl.” Neke just stood there, her eyes pinned on me.

“What is it, Neke?”

“Why did he say that? Is it still about the interrupted lunch?”

“Yeah. Magnus can’t get over it.”

“But what caught my attention was the emoji.”

“Magnus went to my house to apologize, and then he wanted me to fire Cade, which I couldn’t because I did not hire him, and he didn’t do anything wrong other than warning him not to curse.”

“Which, Cade was right, but a little overprotective…” she trailed off as she pursed her lips before continuing, “of you. So what happened?”

“When I said I couldn’t, he left.”

“And he went to the club instead. What did you do then?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“I slept.”

Neke barked out, laughing. “Wow. The best breakup ever. I guess he’s not the one for you.”

I turned on my laptop. “I should have listened to Dad. I mean, maybe I just longed for a partner in crime, not a boyfriend.”

“Or you’ve already known for a while that he was not the right one for you. You don’t feel butterflies and tingles anymore, and you’ve just been waiting for the tall, handsome white knight in a well-tailored suit to come along.” She was already grinning.

“I’m lost, Neke.” That was a lie, but I would not give her the idea, and then she would push me to flirt with Striker.

“You’re not a good liar, bitch.” She smirked.

“Right now, all I want is to focus on work.”

“And flirt a little. Anyway, I sent your schedule to your driver, slash white knight.”

“Thanks.”Wait a sec. Last night?

“Can you call him in?”

“Sure. Wait. You don’t have his number?”

I stared at her.

“What the hell, London? You’re supposed to have his number.”

“He didn’t give it to me, so why would I? Reed was introduced to me, and I have his file.”

“Wow. You two are perfect for each other.”

“Stop it.”

She giggled. “Right. I’m dialing him now.” She walked out of my office.

A few minutes later, the door swung open. “Should I knock?”

“Not necessary.” I raised my gaze from the screen. He was still standing at the door. “Come in. Did my father know about the breakup?”

A small smile appeared on his lips as he stepped inside and went to the floor-to-ceiling window. “Yes.”

“Are you gonna answer me with yes or no right now?”

His smile faded. His expression appeared earnest. “You’re active on social media. I suggest you don’t focus your energy on such trash, Vanderford.”

I dropped my gaze. “Thanks, Dad. I handle my own account, so it’s hard not to. And it’s not complete trash.”

“What exactly do you want to attain, if I’m not being too intrusive?”

“It’s a platform where I could share a glimpse of my life with the people who believe and care about me, that includes my project, my cause.”

He nodded and hadn’t said a word since.

“It’s not just about posting pictures of my butt, Cade. Social media has the largest audience with good media marketing. It helps me reach out with my campaign.”

“And the charities you supported.” He’d done his assignment.

“Yeah, that too.”

“Then do what makes you happy. Just so you know, you can’t please everyone. Just be contented with the people who truly care about you and believe in your cause.”

“Thanks.” I placed my fingers on the keyboard, and then I remembered something. “Can you give me your number?”

He chuckled and picked up his phone. Moments later, my phone chimed.

It’s not so hard to ask for someone’s number, is it? SAAC

“SAAC?”

“Sorry. Old habit. It’s my full name.”

“Also, my team. We called by surnames.”

“Oh. I see. May I ask a favor?”

“Of course, anything.”

“This weekend, it’s Neke’s birthday, and she usually celebrates it with her family. So, Magnus was supposed to be my plus one.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll drive you there.”

“No.”

“Why not?” His gaze locked on mine.

“I don’t want you to be my driver.”

He nodded but still looked confused. “Okay.”

“I want you to come with me as a friend. Neke’s family is tight, so-” I shrugged.

“I know how it feels to have a big family. My team is also my family. Their family is mine. And Neke had already invited me before I walked in. I told her if it was okay with the lady boss. So, we’re going. What should I wear then?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Anything. It’s not a masquerade or black tie. Wear casual or as you like.”

“Thanks.”

“No, Cade. Thank you.”