Falling for My Billionaire Best Friend

TRINITY

I turn my head to a man around my age in a charcoal grey suit. I know exactly who he is, but the question is, what he wants from me? This man has the face of a magazine cover model with jet black hair, piercing blue eyes, chiseled jaw with a five o’clock shadow.

He smiles as he saunters towards me with his hands in his pants pockets.

“I thought it was you,” he says like we’ve known each other.

My brows creased. “Excuse me?” I ask seemingly surprised with my own question.

“Kiara Mallory, right? I’m Sean.” His confident smile widens, and he looks good closer.

Screw that looks!

“Yeah, and what can I do for you, Mr. Rexwell?” I know him, his company, and he’s just like Bash, the future CEO of Rexwell; the biggest and number one rival of Hughes Industries.

“Do you always speak like that to the people who want nothing but being nice to you?” He seems amused by my talk.

I release an exasperating breath. “Look, Sean. I’m kinda in a hurry right now, and I’m sorry for being rude to you, but I really have to go.” I offer him a timid smile and start pushing my cart out of the sliding door of the airport.

“Wait, Kiara!”

I groan louder and stop to face him again, raising my brows without a word.

“Do you have someone waiting for you here?”

I’m almost taken aback by his question.

My heart is still crashing in my chest. I remember why I’m here in Boston. I shake my head and push my cart again.

“Good. My car is already in the parking area,” he says like we’re close friends.

I stop when he helps me pushing my cart. “What are you doing?” I ask harshly, glaring at him.

His mouth gapes and looks embarrassed. He clears his throat. “Let me send you since no one is waiting to fetch you. That’s all.”

“No, thank you, Sean. I can manage from here,” I grab his arm to release from the cart handle.

“I don’t bite, Kiara. I know how you’re close to the Hughes and King, but I’m not talking about business here with you. and I have no other intentions than just be friends with you.”

I snort. “Why now, Sean? And why do I have to believe you? And how did you know me?”

“Let me prove then.”

I bark out laughing that makes some people around stop and look in our direction. “We can’t be friends, and I don’t know if I can even believe what you’ve just said.”

“Try me for you to find out.”

I take a breath. “Look, Sean. Whatever you have in your mind right now, it’s not happening. I know you have this ulterior motive in you. You won’t just come to me without something behind all these.” I walk away from him, pushing my cart faster as I can.

“Is it because of Bash?” I hear him ask, making me stop to halt. I purse my lips harder to avoid crying in front of this man.

I shake my head.

“Then just let me send you home, Kiara.”

I blow my breath out of annoyance. “Fine, but because I don’t have a cab, and I can’t call my parents. My phone is dead.”

His smile looks genuine, but it can be deceiving.

We sit in the backseat of his white Rolls Royce sedan after his driver places my two suitcases in the compartment.

I shouldn’t be here in Boston., and I should be with Bash right now if he didn’t fool me. How can I go back to New York when I don’t have anything left in there? I don’t think I can ever face my friends again.

“So, where did you travel?” Sean asks. His deep baritone voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

I shift my gaze from the window to Sean. I breathe deeply, and his scents assault my nostril. He smells of musk and mint.

“I just came from Seoul,” I say casually and hope he won’t pry.

“Hmm, South Korea. What were you doing there all by yourself?”

Damn it if he isn’t nosy.

“I went for a business trip,” I answer shortly.

He nods. His lips curve into a smile.

“I’m not going there if that’s what you’re thinking. I know how to keep my words with no business talks.”

I roll my eyes. “Good. Because you’re not gonna get another answer after that.”

He laughs out loud. I forget the thought of Bash for a while, but my stomach twists sickly when we’re near my parents’ house. They don’t have any idea why I am here.

“I’m serious, Kiara.”

My head snaps in his direction. He’s looking at the window and watching the familiar surrounding of parents’ neighborhoods.

My dad is from Boston but my mom is from New York. After they got married, Dad had moved to New York for good. When Hughes Industries planned to open an office branch in Boston, Mom suggested to Dad to move in here, then Dad got his job at White Security Agency.

“Serious about what, Sean?”

“I wanna be your friend.” He scans my face.

I chuckle. “Since when the notorious Sean Rexwell is running out of friends?” I ask him sarcastically.

“I still have friends, but I want to count you in.”

I roll my eyes and wince internally at the thought of being his friend. I guess my loyalty still lies with Hughes. “You know I’m not from here, right? I’m only here to visit my parents.”

“I visit New York on a regular basis, Kiara. Why do your parents don’t fetch you if they know you’re visiting?”

“Why do you ask too much?” I ask a little bit aggressively.

“Hey. Calm down. I’m just asking,” H’s a little bit alarm.

“I swear it’s none of my business. I’m just glad that I saw you there at the airport.” He fishes something from his jacket pocket.

“I’ll be here for the whole week. Call me if you need anything, and I’d love to tour you around.” He holds out his business card.

I chuckle. “I can’t believe the famous playboy still has a business card in his suit.”

He laughs again, shaking his head in amusement. “You’re funny, you know that.”

My face falls as I remember why I’m here.

“I’m sorry if I trigger something, Kiara.”

I shake my head. “You didn’t do anything, Sean. Thank you so much for sending me home.”

He nods, smiling. “My pleasure, and don’t forget to call, okay? I will not get out, and I’m afraid your parents won’t be pleased to see me here,” h says, half-laughing.

I smile tightly at him before I get out of the car. His driver is already placing my suitcases in front of my parents’ house door.

My mom opens for me, and she doesn’t look surprised at all. This is not good.

“Hey, mom. No hug for your little girl?” I ask half-guilty.

“Shouldn’t you be in Korea right now, K?” She asks, opening the door wider for me to get in.

I saunter to get inside without bothering the things I left in front of the door.

My lips start trembling, and I can’t say a word anymore. My tears fall like a stream. My body shakes, and I just burst out crying.

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m so sorry, K.” Mom’s sweet words make me cry even more.

I hug her tighter, grabbing her shirt on her back.

“I’m so sorry. It’s alright, sweetheart. Couples always get into a fight.”

My body freezes, and I gasp. My heart crashes in my ribcage.

I pull myself away from mom, wipe the tears off my face, and blink the blurry from my eyes.

“What do you know, mom?”

She takes a deep breath, placing her hands on her tiny hips. I got my slender body from mom, and of course, my hair.

“Bash called here like every minute, and he sounds so miserable, K. How could you leave him alone there?”

My mouth hangs. Is she defending him now? Of course, she is, and always.

“You don’t know anything, mom! H-he–” My shoulders shake, and I can’t even think of what he did to me, to my career. Bash is always selfish.

“He knows that you saw the email he sent to his dad, K. And you should’ve asked him and not jump to conclusions. You’re always impulsive, and it always ended pretty bay. Now he’s like crazy searching for a private jet to charter, and with the typhoon in Asia is approaching, he can’t find even an empty leg,” Mom explains.

“Then he should’ve told me before he fired me, mom. But what he did is so cruel, and I thought he cares for me. He fooled me. He played me!” I raise my voice a little bit.

“And that’s what you think? That he fired you? Did you even read the email, K? You accused him! He sent me a copy to prove that you might not understand what you saw, K! And Oh, my God! He actually confessed!” My mom laughs her ass out in front of me with a little exaggeration.

I wipe my tears. “Well, I’m not going to New York. I’m staying here, mom,” I stubbornly reply.

“You will go back there. That’s where you belong, and I don’t wanna discuss this with you. Your dad is furious with what you did. Be thankful your dad is at his office right now.” She shoots me a glare.

“Can I stay here for a while?” I ask with uncertainty.

“Sure, and when did I kick my daughter’s out?” Finally, she gives me a quick hug. “Seriously, K. Talk to Bash, and what happened with your phone? It might explode with his calls and messages. Bash is making me crazy these few hours,” Mom says, laughing.

“He’s on his flight back. I heard from your dad that they were able to find him a charter jet, but he was thinking to get a commercial flight, and it’s way bigger than the jet they found for him, but I’ve no idea after that.”

I nod glumly.

“He’s coming to get you,” Mom walks away.

“W-what?” My eyes grow wide.

She laughs as she walks to our dining room.

I quicken my pace to follow her. “Mom! What do you mean he’s coming to get me?” My heart is frantic. I’m not ready to face him.

“He knows your flight and that you’re not going back to New York,” she replies casually.

“And how did he know?”

“Your dad works is to what? Now don’t ask too many questions. You and Bash are driving me insane.”

“Dad told him?” I groan louder. I can’t believe Dad.

“Yes, sweetheart.”

I walk away back to the living room, frowning. I slump my exhausted body to the plush couch and blow a breath with frustration.

I can’t escape, can I?

I grab the TV remote control on the coffee table, press the power button on, and stretch my lower limbs that have been numb for the entire fourteen-hour flight.

The News flash from the global news station, making me queasy. All of a sudden, Bash’s face flashes on the TV screen. My heart stops, and my breathing holds in my lungs.

“A confirmation from the South Korean Aviation Authority that the private jet chartered by an Elite, Businessman and Hughes Industries heir Bash Hughes has crashed not far from the Incheon International Airport less than an hour ago. The cause of the unfortunate event is still unclear–”

My world stops.

“Mom!”