The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical
Chapter 174

Liam

After a night out of drinking with Josh around, it's always difficult to get a hold of him the following morning. He's probably in the same hotel with Stephanie and I, but with his girlfriend in town, they must be occupied. I just can't wait to tell him all about last night. The

thought of how it all played out makes me smirk and I lick my lips at what also didn't happen.

I lean back in my seat, wondering how much longer I have to wait here at the outdoor restaurant. I don't even want to order despite my hotel staff frequently returning to my table.

Just as I'm about to make a call to Stephanie, I spot her coming from the other side, looking so sexy in a flowy red dress that clings to her body on her top half. She rarely dresses this way and so early in the morning. I wonder what's going on.

"I'm surprised you wanted to see me so early in the morning. You're never an early bird," I say to her, still scanning her outfit.

"I decided to make an exception this time just so we could talk." She purses her red lips, tucking a few strands of her wavy hair behind her ear as she sits down on the other side of the table.

"What's the occasion for looking so good early in the morning?" I ask.

She chuckles. "I have an event to attend at 10 a.m."

"I see. So, what did you want to talk about?" I ask.

As much as I want to just focus on her face, the red dress is so striking that I take one last glance at everything else I can see. She does look gorgeous. I'll give her that.

Turning serious, she says, "I'm hoping that this new day has brought with it clarity to your mind and you're no longer thinking about going ahead with Aileen."

I poke my cheek, my expression just as serious. "My mind is as clear as it was last evening when I met her, so I'm definitely going ahead with it."

"Have you already told Aunt Vanessa and Uncle Dominic?" She leans forward.

"Not yet. Not even Charlotte knows about this so keep it to yourself for now."

She gives a half smile. "Of course. Why would I go around spreading such good news?"

"Is something wrong with you?" My forehead creases.

"Do you seriously expect me to be okay after what you did last night? You abandoned me just so you could take Aileen home. And you didn't even take her home. You brought her here, to your luxurious hotel." "I couldn't get the address out of her, so I had to bring her here and what's so wrong with that?"

"She's not just anyone who can come here. You looked ridiculous carrying her in your arms. The mismatch between you two was so obvious. It's so unlike you to keep someone around after fucking her, except-" "Don't even bring that up. I'm done with her," I cut her off.

"Does she know that?"

"Not yet, but she will. Are we done here? I need to get back to my suite."

She sighs heavily, leaning back in her seat with crossed arms. "Is this how it's going to be now? You'll barely have time for me?"

"Come on. You're being ridiculous. I'm just trying to make sure Aileen has everything she needs. She might be awake by now."

She scoffs. "Even if she's awake, she can take care of herself. There's no need to go back to her."

"Actually, I didn't even sleep with her. I left her in my suite and checked into another one. It's not because she passed out. My intentions with her are different and-"

"Spare me the details," she cuts me off.

I sigh. "I know what this is about. Look, you and I have known each other since we were little kids. You're a good friend and-"

"I know. There's no need to remind me that I'm a good friend. I was just about to order, but I've lost my appetite."

And with that, she pushes her chair away from the table and it squeaks, catching the attention of the others.

Aware of the exact reason she's acting this way, I feel I need to talk to her about it right now, so quickly, I go after her to the elevator, whispering her name just so I don't make a scene for the other guests. Just because I own the place doesn't mean I get to make a scene. I finally catch up right before the elevator closes and the best part is it's only the two of us.

Quickly, I press the button, making the elevator stand still, which doesn't go so well with Stephanie as she crosses her arms and shoots me a glare.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asks.

It's pretty clear she's upset with me.

"We need to talk."

"Yeah? About what?" She fakes a smile.

"About us."

Her smile fades and she looks away.

"Look, like I said outside, you and I have been friends since we were kids. We even had a fling a few years ago before our parents jokingly talked about us getting married one day. You and I both know it didn't work out when we thought we could take it to the next level. We just weren't compatible."

"And that's why you became a playboy?" She sneers.

"Whose fault is it?" I raise my eyebrows.

She looks away, avoiding eye contact. "Did you really have to go there?"

"My point is... it just didn't work out. I know how much Uncle Frank and Aunt Mia wanted us to end up together."

"It's not just my parents. Yours wanted the same thing," she reminds me.

"It doesn't matter because it just didn't work. Maybe I shouldn't have announced my decision last night the way I did to you and Josh, but I just couldn't contain my excitement. Aileen is just so refreshing."

"Isn't it clear to you that she's playing dumb?"

"I don't think so. Hey, give her time and you'll see it, too."

"I already saw right through her in the ladies' room."

"You two had a chat?"

"Yeah."

"About what?"

"It's nothing. At the end of the day, it's your life. You get to do what you want, so congratulations to you. Now, how about you step aside so I can go?"

It's clear she's still upset with me and I don't blame her.

I sigh, stepping aside and letting her

press the button. As soon as the

elevator opens, she storms off, keeping her head low with a hand over her mouth just like last evening.

I can only hope that with time, we

move past this.

For now, I only want to check on Aileen.

I get to the suite, stopping at the bedroom door and ready to knock, but I pause when I hear her talking loudly from inside.

"Oh, shit shit shit! What the fuck?"

I chuckle softly, knowing exactly what this is about.

As soon as I open the bedroom

door, she flinches while still on the

bed. There's quite the distance

between the door and the bed, but I

can see the panic written all over her face and it's for good reason.

"You're awake," I say to her as I approach the bed.

"What happened last night?" she asks, looking down at the oversized white shirt she has on.

"That's my shirt." I bite my bottom lip, the sight of her erect nipples poking through the thin fabric becoming clearer to me.

"How did I end up here? Where are my clothes?" She frantically looks around.

My eyes drop to her thick thighs on full display. She notices and quickly places a pillow on top.

Standing right on the edge of the bed, I say, "You're in my suite at my hotel, so relax."

She curves her shoulders inward as she scoots to the edge of the bed. "How am I supposed to relax when I have no idea what's going on?" "Nothing happened, if that's what you're thinking," I assure her.

"Then how did I end up in your shirt?"

It takes me a moment to respond as I imagine how she was the previous night. It's my first time seeing her in my shirt and it's so sexy on her.

"Last night, you threw up as soon as we got here."

"I did? Where?" She gets off the bed and looks around.

I glance at her thighs that are now more covered up, but the sight is just as sexy as when they were more exposed.

"You just asked me where you threw up," I begin. "Why does that sound like you want to see it?"

"Wha- of course not." She stands still while facing me. "I just want to know if it was on the counter or something."

I chuckle. "I see. You threw up on me when we got here."

She gasps. "Oh, no. I'm so sorry."

"You threw up on my custom made suit and now I have to get a new one." I shake my head.

"I feel awful. I barely have any money, but if you give me some time, I'll give you what I can." Her willingness to make up for it is quite amusing and I can see the guilt in her eyes. "My suit was $30,000."

Her jaw drops. "Well, I'll never have that kind of money." She scratches her scalp, but pauses. "Wait, if I threw up on you, how does that explain why I'm wearing your shirt?"

"I see it didn't take you too long to ask the right question. You didn't throw up on me. It was on yourself."

She chuckles in disbelief. "I see what's going on here. Had fun seeing me apologize for something that never happened?"

"Of course I did. Anyway, I had the staff clean you up and give you something to wear among my clothes. Looks like they made the right choice."

I can't help but bite my lip again as I scan her from head to toe. Fuck.

"Why did you specifically bring me here?" she asks, getting closer to me and looking up.

"I didn't know where else to take you."

She narrows her eyes suspiciously. "So, nothing happened between us?"

Looking down at the oversized shirt that hides her figure, I say, "Nothing happened. Had I fucked you, you'd be feeling it right now."

She presses her thighs together at my reply.

"And had my intentions with you been a one night stand, this would be a very different case. But, as someone I want to keep forever as my wife-"

"Wait, what?" She bursts into laughter, soon stopping when she notices my blank expression. "Wait, you're serious."

"Of course I am. Didn't I tell you last evening at Jasmine Junction?"

"You just said that you found your...you were talking about me? Are you out of your mind?"

"Not at all." I keep my eyes on her face just so I don't look at the rest of her again. "I'm making you my wife."

"You don't even know if I have a boyfriend."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"No." She pouts.

"Then what else is standing in my way?"

"You still don't know me."

"We can work on that. I could've

easily fucked you last night, but my intentions with you are pure and I can promise you one thing, it's not happening until I marry you. It doesn't have to be now. You'll also get to know me first. Are you busy

for the rest of this weekend?"

She huffs. "Honestly, nope."

This is my second interaction with her and it's quite different from the hostile Aileen I first encountered last evening.

"If you're not busy, then spend the rest of this weekend with me for a start. This is how we'll get to know each other. Need a few hours to think about it?"

She looks to the side with her lips pressed together and I wonder what's going through her mind right now.

Before she gives me her response, my phone begins to ring and it's my father. I excuse myself and come to the balcony, hoping I'm not about to get busy with work in case she agrees to spend time with me. "Good morning," I say to him.

"Liam! What's this I just heard from Stephanie?" His voice is so harsh that it irritates my ear.

I shut my eyes, realizing Stephanie told everyone about Aileen before I could. Shit.