The Billionaire's Reply
Amara hardly slept that night. Every sound in the house, each notification from her phone, and the rustling wind outside her window made her anxious. She kept glancing at her screen, waiting, wishing, and fearing. Hours passed, but she still hadn't received a response.
By morning, she told herself it was silly. Obviously, a guy like Leonardo had more important things to do than chase after her, she thought resentfully. She got up, washed her face, and tried to calm her racing heart. She was determined not to let herself feel defeated again.
But just as she reached for her purse, her phone buzzed. She gasped and picked it up with trembling hands.
The screen brightened with a message.
"I've been hoping you'd say that. Just tell me where, and I'll be there."
Amara felt a knot in her chest. Her legs nearly gave out. For a brief moment, she sat in silence, letting the impact of his words sink in. She hadn't anticipated such a direct and prompt reply from him. He wasn't joking or messing around; he meant it.
She typed slowly, her fingers unsure. "I'm not sure if this is right..." she wrote, but her hands trembled, and she deleted it before hitting send. Her heart battled with her thoughts—her longing pulling her toward him while her anxiety held her back to what she knew.
Before she could gather her thoughts, another message arrived.
"Amara, there's no need to be scared. Last night was not a mistake. You're worth more than what you've experienced. Let me prove it to you."
Her lips parted, and a shaky breath escaped her. He knew her name, even though she hadn't mentioned it to him the night before. She tried to remember if she had shared it, but nothing came to mind. He must have learned it somehow. Yet instead of feeling frightened, the idea sparked something deeper in her—his resolve, his influence, his unwillingness to let her go.
She perched on the edge of her bed, rereading his message over and over. "You deserve more." No one had ever told her that. Her husband typically pointed out her shortcomings. But here was a man who had only met her once, already promising her more than her marriage ever did.
Before she could second-guess herself, she texted: "Lunch. Four Seasons. 1 PM."
The response was immediate: "Got it."
Amara had a chaotic morning, standing in front of her closet with clothes strewn everywhere, struggling to pick out an outfit. She wanted to appear confident, beautiful, and untouchable—but not desperate. She aimed for something classy yet understated, something that showed she was in charge, even if she didn't feel that way.
In the end, she chose a cream silk blouse tucked into a snug black skirt, her hair flowing in soft waves down her shoulders.
When she looked in the mirror, she noticed her eyes looked different. There was a flame in them, a glimmer she hadn't seen in ages.
As she stepped into the Four Seasons, the sound of her heels on the marble floor made her heart race. She reassured herself that she could still change her mind, still leave before it was too late. But when she spotted him—Leonardo, sitting in the far corner of the restaurant, his suit fitting just right, his charm drawing her in—she realized she couldn't walk away.
His eyes locked onto hers immediately. That look—powerful, piercing, authoritative—pulled her closer, as if everything around them had shifted.
"Amara," he spoke gently as she approached, a smile of understanding forming on his lips. "You showed up."
She gulped, her throat feeling dry. "I nearly didn't."
"But you did," he said, gesturing to the chair opposite him. "And that's what counts."
The waiter served the wine, but Amara barely sipped it. She observed every action of Leonardo, every glance he directed her way. His self-assurance wasn't boasting; it was a strong sense of conviction that made her feel both secure and vulnerable at the same time.
"So," he began, leaning in slightly, "tell me. Why were you in tears when I first spotted you last night?"
Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't thought he was paying attention. She glanced down, fiddling with the edge of her glass. "It's complicated."
"I enjoy complicated," he responded casually. "Especially when it's about you."
She felt warmth spread across her face. "My marriage..." She paused, then forced the words out. "It's over. He cheated on me."
Leonardo's expression grew serious, and his jaw clenched. "Then he's an idiot. A guy who can't recognize what he has doesn't deserve to hold onto it."
She blinked, taken aback by his honesty. "You talk like you really know me."
"I want to," he replied firmly, his gaze never wavering. "I felt it the instant I laid eyes on you. You're different from the rest. There's a strength in you—even if you haven't realized it yet."
Her chest tightened. No one had ever spoken to her like that before. For a moment, she sensed her defenses starting to dissolve.
"I'm not sure I can handle this," she confessed softly. "Everything feels... too quick. Too risky."
Leonardo extended his hand across the table, lightly grazing hers. The contact sent a jolt through her. "Danger isn't necessarily a bad thing, Amara."