Zara's POV
"WHAT? Ten million? And YOU turned it down?" Leah, my roommate and best friend, shouted at me. I couldn't bear the urge to tell her about the ridiculous offer I got—hell, NDA signing or not. I knew Leah could be trusted. Even if I lost trust in myself, I'd still trust her.
"Should I have accepted the offer then?" I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"And what kind of reasoning could possibly make you refuse a once-in-a-lifetime offer like that?"
"Leah… I… I'm not a whore…" I muttered.
"Girl, based on your story, he didn't make you a whore. Honestly, he practically overrated your profession. Three MONTHS? Ten MILLION? Zara, are you a nun?"
"I'm not even Christian."
"Is it a religious thing, then?"
"Honestly… I'm not sure what my religion is anymore." I shrugged, the irony not lost on me.
"So, what the hell is your reason?"
"You know, I don't want to be some rich person's plaything. I love and respect my job, but hearing that he's sexualized it as some kind of his fantasy... it just feels…" I trailed off, unsure how to explain the sting in my chest.
"Hurt your pride? Oh, for god's sake! You and your useless pride." Leah rolled her eyes, mocking me.
"And that pride is all I have left. If I lose that, then what does that make me?" My voice wavered, frustration bubbling under the surface as Leah's pressure started to get to me.
I wasn't a saint or an angel. But as an immigrant and a minority, I needed to stand my ground. I needed my pride, or what was I even fighting for? I lay on the bed, idly twisting the Tiffany & Co. necklace box between my fingers, my gaze lost in the shadows of the ceiling.
"So, what are you going to do with this necklace?" Leah took the box from my hands and sat next to me.
"I don't know, he told me to throw it away or do whatever I want with it."
Leah opened the box, eyes wide. "Holy shit, Zara, this is the limited edition from last week. They made less than a hundred around the world. Damn, ten million is nothing to him if he can get this. Just how rich is he?"
"Kind of zillionaire? He rented out the whole Sky Lounge floor just to talk to me."
"Shit! Is he old?"
"He's friends with Tom, so, early thirties, I guess," I remembered how close he was with Tom, my boss, and the restaurant owner.
"Is he one of those rich dads who's let himself go? Bald, round, and looking like life's kicked him down a few notches?"
"He's got a cold mysterious yet playful vibe, you know, that charming, action-hero type with a Captain America build and smiley eyes when he smiles." I couldn't help but recall his features.
Then, out of nowhere, Leah burst into laughter. I frowned, confused about what was so funny.
"Oh my... oh no, Zara…" she said between laughs, holding up her hand as if to collect herself. She paused, then looked right at me with a mischievous smile on her face.
"I think I know why you turned him down. You,"—she pointed her finger directly at my eyes—" you're scared of falling for him, aren't you?" Leah leaned in closer, grinning like she'd just uncovered my biggest secret.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I frowned, annoyed by her accusation. "Of course not!" I snapped, but I felt my skin crawl. She was hitting on something I didn't want to admit.
"No? You don't find him attractive, even though you described him as your favorite character?"
"Finding someone attractive doesn't mean I'd fall for them in one glance."
"Oh, right. I forgot—you're a hopeless romantic who needs to fall in love with built-up chemistry." Leah crossed her arms, giving me a mocking look. "Like you did with that sous chef of yours, Martin."
"What's wrong with that?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Nothing's wrong with chemistry. But calling it true love just because he's the guy who took your virginity? Come on, it's stupid." Leah sneered.
"Don't say it like that—he cared about me."
"Cared? You fell in love on your own, Zara. He never even asked you to be his girlfriend, did he?" Her words stung.
"Does that really matter anymore? We have feelings for each other, and we're still young. I'm not interested in anything too serious right now, anyway."
"But you've been into him since you were 19, and it's been six years. Are you really sure he hasn't been with anyone else?"
"He's not obligated to be mine," I said, trying to sound casual. "But I know his affection for me is real—I can feel it." I lied to myself. I knew deep down I was just trying to convince myself.
Martin was my senior and sous chef where I worked. I'd met him during my apprenticeship at the cooking academy. He was three years older than me, the first man to make my heart race, to tame my pride, and make me give him my whole being—my soul.
He never asked me out, and I never asked what we really were. I knew he was a free spirit, and I was terrified that if I asked about "us," he'd just pull away. As long as he cared about me and showed me affection, it was enough. I didn't have the luxury of getting caught up in a real relationship. So, how could I ask for something I wasn't even sure of myself?
"So you are, huh?" Leah shifted beside me, leaning back against the bed. "You deserve to meet other men, and try something different, don't you?" Her voice softened to a teasing whisper. "And that offer—it's a good—no, it's the best chance to taste another sweet encounter."
I smiled at Leah's rambling. "Maybe I just want one man who can tame my pride, I guess."
"Don't give me that crap! You could wipe out your debts and build your own restaurant in Manhattan with that 10 million dollars. Hell, you could even vanish back to Dubai and start a fresh life with that kind of wealth." Leah's voice was heavy, almost ominous. "No one would ever question how you got it." Her words landed like a blow.
"You keep pushing me, Leah. Should I be regretting my decision now?" I said, my tone laced with a hint of mockery, trying to mask the tension beneath, and left me with a grim smile.
"I'll be your number one fan," she replied with a bitter laugh. "But what's this zillionaire's full name?"
"Hmm... something Auckland... wait." I scrolled through my phone. "Ah, Ravier Auckland."
Leah sat up suddenly, her face frozen in disbelief, her eyes wide, like she'd seen a ghost.
"Who did you say?"
"Ravier Auckland."
"No way in hell... you must be kidding me." Leah stared at me, her expression blank as if she couldn't believe what she'd just heard. The tightness in her smile made me furrow my brow in confusion, a thousand questions running through my mind.
***