THE ONLY SOLUTION 2

Evelyn's Pov

The ball wasn't what I had expected. It was more than I expected. The last time I entered a place this luxurious was like ages ago. The room was filled with people whose clothes were expensive enough to solve my problem.

I couldn't fit in. I didn't fit in.

I stood there watching Dorothy conversing with her co-workers. This place felt isolating. I wanted to go, I felt like leaving but I couldn't. The thoughts of my father's medical bill and my mother's looming doom kept me rooted to the ground.

“This is my friend Evelyn,” Dorothy said. I didn't notice when Dorothy and her friend Ethan had walked up to me. I was lost in my thoughts. Ethan smiled; his eyes locked onto mine.

“Hello. I'm Ethan. It's nice to meet you,” Ethan said, stretching forth his hands for a handshake. He wore a smile that almost felt like a mask—he was literally wearing a mask after all it was a masquerade ball.

“I'm Evelyn, like Dorothy said.” I said, I didn't shake, I left his hand hanging in the hair.

For that little moment everything was awkward.

“I'll leave you both to have a chat. I need to catch up with Martins.” Dorothy said, she smiled winking at me as she walked away.

There were no Martins.

“Your friend Dorothy told me a lot about you.” Ethan said, leaning closer to me. One of his hands were shoved into his pocket, the other hanging loosely with a smile on his face

“She did?” I asked. I took a few steps back; I hope he didn't notice.

“Yes. Sure. You know Evelyn, you're quite a catch. You got the look and a quite stable family. Dorothy told me your mother is the CEO of a food production company and your dad runs a transportation company.” Ethan said, walking closer to me as if trying to fill the gap between us or replace the step I took back.

Stable?

My family, my life is far from stable. Since when did medical bills and debts define a stable family?

“Yes. She is right, we're quite stable.” I said with a nervous laugh placing emphasis on the stable. I suddenly felt embarrassed and uncomfortable, Ethan didn't notice it. I rubbed my arm with the other.

Ding! Ding!

A notification popped up on my phone screen. It was a text from Dorothy. I brought the phone closer to my gaze so that Ethan won't get a glimpse of the content.

“Eve, he is the jackpot I was talking about. He runs a multi-billion company. Did I just say “a”? He runs five multibillion companies in the oil and gas field. His outfit for this night alone cost $548,500. Yes!! He is that loaded. He is willing to spend on you as long as you satisfy him. $450,000 is footwear expenses to him.”

Immediately after I finished reading the text my heart sank. I couldn't look up, I didn't want to. I couldn't let our gaze connect. In cue, as if Ethan had telepathically read the text, he lifted my head with my jaw.

“Are you alright?” He asked, our eyes locked. Do you mind if we have a drink at the bar over there?” He asked, his eyes filled with lust. What was I doing here again? I had lost track of what I came here for. It felt too late to pull out. I was already here and I couldn't go back.

“Sure.”

The words left my lips but what I really meant to say was to scream how frustrated I was about everything going on in my life from my father's medical bill to my mother's piling debts. I was literally crashing out but I couldn't let this break me, at least not here.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. “Let's go,” he whispered into my ears. I felt a cold running through my spine. I felt sweaty inside my dress, but I had to play along. I felt weak and the word “no” suddenly became a term that didn't exist in my vocabulary.

We both walked to the bar at the corner of the large room. I was the first to sit, he had offered me a chair to sit on. I smoothed my gown with my hand as I sat on the chair.

“What do you care for?” He asked.

What do I care for? Do they sell what I care for? If this was my local bar downtown I would have ordered a whiskey shot of Jack Daniel's and a box of pizza and after which I usually buy a hot spicy pot of pork soup. I had to think fast, I'm supposed to act rich.

“I'll like some Tequila Ley .925.”

I've never drank that drink before. I read about it in a billionaire romance book. It must be expensive; I hope that's enough to make him actually believe I'm from a rich and stable family.

“That's nice.” Ethan said, then he turned towards the bartender. “I'll have two bottles of Tequila Ley .925,”

“Tequila Ley .925 is a premium tequila brand produced in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, using 100% Blue Weber agave. The brand offers a range of tequilas, including Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, Añejo Cristalino, Extra Añejo, and Gran Reserva Extra Añejo. Which do you want, sir?” The bartender asked, his gaze dwindling between mine and Ethan's. The bartender had a Spanish accent.

“I want the best that money can buy.” Ethan said.

“At your service,” the bartender said in turn, walking inside the bar. Ethan turned; his gaze fixed on me with a smirk on his face.

I smiled back.

I brought out my phone from beneath the table.

‘I can't do this anymore.’ I typed, sending it to Dorothy. She didn't reply immediately, she must be busy talking to one of those grown ass billionaires.

The text came in, I opened it faster than I thought I did.

‘What do you mean? You can't blow this off! He promised to give you $1,000,000 if everything works out fine. This is a life-changing opportunity for you. DON'T BLOW IT UP!’ she warned me through the text.

My jaw dropped immediately after I read the message. $1,000,000! This won't only solve my family's problem; it would change our life for good. I raised my head up taking a peep glance at Ethan, the man in front of me standing by the counter.

Was he really going to give me $1,000,000 if I slept with him?

I was lost in my thoughts, my gaze still fixed on him.

“Already falling for me?” Ethan said with a smirk. I didn't notice when the bartender gave him the Tequila Ley…. the drink or whatever it's called, when he had turned, he had caught me staring at him. He sat down, close to me.

I smiled. “Even if I am, I would be falling for the mask on your face, not you.” I said, trying to sound comfortable and seductive. I know I'm bad at being seductive but I hope that turns him on.

“You're one of a kind,” he said, smiling while taking off the mask he wore. As the mask lifted, a cascade of chestnut waves tumbled free, unfurling like a silken banner down to his shoulders. “Are you falling harder now?” Ethan said, pushing strands of hair dangling on his face over his ear.

I was breathless, I couldn't deny that.

I voluntarily took off my mask. I didn't expect a mouth filled with compliments but I was rained with them.

“You look better than I imagined. I guess eyes hold one's true beauty.” Ethan said, he lifted the drink pouring it into a glass then he gave it to me.

I held the glass, softly shaking it to allow the ice to dissolve faster. I took a shot. A shot! But it felt like a million shots!

“Thank you.” I said, my head felt heavy and my eyes felt unstable. It felt like the whole world was turning. My drink had been spiked. I could feel it.

“You're welcome.” Ethan said, his eyes were fixed on me. His hands slowly reached my face but I was too weak to pull away. He leaned forward pressing a kiss on my lips.

I tried to pull out but I couldn't. I suddenly felt weak.

Was this part of the plan? Should I be worried?