Page 1 of Challenging the Billionaire
For their first anniversary, Ethan Cole took his girlfriend Jasmine out for dinner.
And that was it.
Sure, the dinner was delicious and delightful: a five-course meal at one of the city’s most illustrious restaurants. The head chef was an old acquaintance of Ethan’s, and when he heard that the two of them were coming in for something as important as an anniversary, he was more than happy to oblige with the most succulent dinner Jasmine had ever tasted.
It reminded her of her last name.Bliss!
Now they rode the elevator up to his – their – penthouse overlooking the center of the city. Jasmine, dressed in her designer red dress and faux-mink coat to keep out the January chill, leaned in against her boyfriend’s shoulder and inhaled his intoxicating, musky cologne. In the silent lull that accompanied them, Ethan curled his hand up and brushed some of the dark curls out of Jasmine’s face. They looked like a normal couple in the elevator mirrors.
“Happy anniversary,” Jasmine said for the hundredth time that day. She kissed Ethan’s cheek and squeezed his arm.”Thank you for dinner.”
“My pleasure.” The elevator opened, and Ethan stepped out, taking Jasmine by the hand and leading her to the penthouse.
They didn’t usually spend the weekends at the penthouse unless there was a reason to be in the city both days. Even when they had dinner in the city like this, Ethan would drive them back to their manor in the Hills, where they had more privacy and quiet. Naturally the penthouse was soundproofed and afforded with the best security, but Ethan didn’t like the feeling that someone was staring into his bedroom window.Don’t know why he’s freaked. They’re all tinted!
In fact, Ethan suggested they gohomehome when they left earlier that day. It was Jasmine who immediately said, “No, because reasons.”
You see, I’m a woman with a plan, as always.Ethan had forgotten about their upcoming anniversary. Jasmine would have been offended, but she wasn’t surprised. Ethan, always the busy businessman, often needed to be reminded of people’s birthdays and other important dates. The man would forget his own birthday until he saw the date on his phone. So when he consequently forgot Jasmine’s birthday a long while ago, she learned to not take it personally.
But likehellthey weren’t doing something nice for their anniversary!
She told him a week ago that it was coming up. When he muttered something and kept focusing on his work, she told him again. And again. Andagainuntil he finally wrote a note to make dinner reservations at least. It wasn’t that he didn’t care. He just depended on Jasmine to do a bulk of the caring on both of their behalves.
This meant she was fairly surprised when he pulled out a bottle ofveryexpensive champagne and two glasses the moment they walked through the penthouse door.
Jasmine barely had her coat off when she saw the flutes and the sparkling, golden liquid tipping inside both. “What’s this now?” She followed Ethan into the living room, where he sat on a chair and invited his girlfriend into his lap.Ten bucks says his cock is hard already.She was somewhat disappointed when it wasn’t.
“Just a little something I had delivered earlier.” Ethan tipped the champagne down his throat as his other hand rubbed the small of Jasmine’s back. “I’ve got a present for you as well. And no, I’m not talking about something in my pants.”
For once.Jasmine tried to suppress the grin threatening to blow-up her face. The champagne was delicious and extra bubbly. It invigorated her senses while also warming up her chilled skin. Outside, a frost threatened to blanket the wintery city. No snow yet, but there was plenty of time for that…
Only reason I want to go home is so we can lie in front of the fireplace.Their bedroom had a grand fireplace made out of old brick. Most nights Belinda the live-in maid stoked a crispy fire for the master and the mistress of the house to enjoy while Ethan unwound from work with a game or a book, and Jasmine lit candles in the bathroom so she could enjoy a peaceful time in the jetted tub.Being a billionaire’s girlfriend is so hard.
Ethan wrapped his arm tighter around her the moment she finished her first glass of champagne. They already had the most delicious red wine during dinner, so this extra alcohol just made Jasmine giddier.Better make sure I don’t get anything more than tipsy.Although Ethan held his alcohol well, his cheeks pinked after one more glass of champagne.
“A present?” Jasmine curled an arm around his shoulders and knelt in toward the crisp scent of his aftershave. It wasn’t as good as his cologne, but it was a scent so wholly his that Jasmine always got a huge rush out of it. Mostly because few people had the chance to get close enough to smell it.A scent only for me to enjoy.“What is it? I have enough jewelry to last me a century.” She wore the first piece he ever gave her – one year ago, actually – that night. The ruby drop necklace settled nicely on her chest, and was close enough for Ethan to taste if he wanted.
“Go look in the drawer across the way there.” He urged her off his lap with a gentle push. “You’ll like it.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes at the idea of having to get her own present. But she was also excited, since Ethan was a man of serious means and could get heranything.As a belated birthday present he had bought her a car – a cherry red Dodge Viper convertible. No, not the mostluxuriouscar possible, but Ethan had remembered her gushing over how much she had wanted one as a teenager growing up in the countryside. Besides, Jasmine didn’t want a billionaire-on-board car like the kind Ethan drove. The Viper was beautiful, fun, and still blended in downtown whenever she cruised around with her friends or on her own.
Somehow she doubted those were car keys in the slim drawer.
“What could it beeeee?” she sang, placing the empty champagne flute on top of the table before opening the drawer. “What did Ethan buy me at the last minuuuuute?”
“I heard that.”
She glanced over her shoulder, taking in the image of her hot boyfriend reclining in a chair and watching her through devouring eyes. Ethan wore one of his nicest – albeit casual – suits. Navy blue jacket matched with a light blue silk shirt that left little to the imagination with the top two buttons undone. No tie. Black pants cut to his figure. Jasmine had no doubt that undressing Ethan was in store for her tonight.Only if he undresses me first.
Jasmine looked back in the drawer. Beneath a layer of tissue paper she found a plain envelope.
Inside the envelope were two slips of rectangular paper.
Tickets.
Plane tickets.
“Ethan!” she spun in place, holding the tickets out to her boyfriend as if he had never seen them before. “Monaco!”
