The Billionaire I Couldn't Resist

CHAPTER 1

Ariana's POV

Being twenty-one and having this much on my mind was frustrating. Between college assignments, my part-time job and making sure my Mom never had to worry about the bill, there was barely any time left to breathe.

And somehow, today had managed to make everything worse.

I sat silently in the passenger seat of Lily's car, I replayed everything that had happened today and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Then there was the text message I had received.

It's over between us. — Ethan

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Over?

The nerve.

Earlier today, I had gone to Ethan's apartment to surprise him after class.

But instead of meeting my charming boyfriend, I had walked into his bedroom and found him tangled in the sheets with a blonde.

Now, as if that wasn't enough, he had no guilt.

"You've been acting like a grandma," he said

"I have needs, Ariana."

His words hurt almost as much as what I had seen.

I had walked out of his apartment with tears blurring my vision, refusing to let him see me cry.

The only place I could think of going was the apartment I shared with my best friend, Lily in Old Westbridge.

"Come on, you've been silent the whole way here. I honestly hope you're not thinking about what just happened," Lily asked from beside me.

I opened my mouth to share with her but stopped halfway.

"I'm okay" I said, ignoring her question.

"that idiot" Lily muttered, drumming her fingers against the steering wheel. "If I ever see Ethan again, I'll run him over. Twice."

Lily had never been in support of my relationship with Ethan, and when she heard about what happened, the next thing she told me was that we needed to go shopping for an event.

She has been my best friend for a year now. We got admitted to Westbridge University at the same time, and somehow, we found our way to each other despite her studying Business while I was buried in Medical school.

Everyone knew Lily Kingston came from wealth, but she tried as much as possible to live like the rest of us.

Within weeks of meeting, we had become roommates.

I never met any of her family members, I only knew that her mum had died years ago.

Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of Westbridge Mall.

The moment we stepped inside, Lily was in her element. She darted from one boutique to another, running her fingers across racks of designer dresses

"This one?" she asked, holding up a shimmering red dress.

I shook my head.

"Too flashy"

She rolled her eyes dramatically before disappearing behind another rack.

"You're impossible, Ariana!"

A few seconds later, she emerged with two elegant black dresses draped over her arms.

"Perfect" she declared with a triumphant grin. "Now, choose."

The first dress was a long black satin gown with an off shoulder neckline, a fitted waist, and a very high slit on one side that adding a bold touch to its elegant design.

The second dress was also a black satin gown with a halter neckline and a fitted silhouette that flowed smoothly to the floor. It had an open back that gave it a simple yet graceful and sophisticated look.

I shook my head and pointed at the second dress

"Seriously? You're picking the boring one?" Lily groaned.

I ignored her and strutted into the changing room to check the fitting of the dress.

Few minute later,

I stepped out of the changing room smoothing the satin over my waist.

Lily, who had been scrolling through her phone, looked up.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh... my... God."

I frowned and looked down at myself, feeling overly conscious as some of the staff nearby also looked at me.

She slowly walked towards me, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Ariana, you look breathtaking"

I let out a small laugh.

"It's just a dress"

She shook her head.

"No. It's THE dress. Whoever sees you tonight won't be able to look away"

Heat crept to my cheeks.

"You're exaggerating"

"I wish I was."

Grabbing my shoulders, she turned me towards the full-length mirror and for a moment, I couldn't even recognize the woman staring back at me.

The black satin gown hugged my figure perfectly before flowing gracefully to the floor. The halter neckline highlighted my shoulders, while the open back gave it just enough elegance without revealing too much.

It was beautiful.

"You have to get it" Lily declared.

I sighed.

"It's probably way above my budget."

"Don't worry about that."

"I do worry about that."

She rolled her eyes.

"Consider it my treat"

"Lily, absolutely not"

She folded her arms across her chest.

"You've spent the entire day crying over a guy who doesn't deserve you, the least I can do is buy my best friend a dress."

I stared at her for a second before finally giving in.

"Fine... but this is the last time"

She grinned victoriously.

As we headed towards the cashier, curiosity got the better of me.

"You keep mentioning your dad."

She hummed absentmindedly.

"What's he like?"

She paused for a second before answering.

"He's... complicated."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Complicated?"

"He's always working. He hardly takes breaks, and he's very protective." She chuckled softly. "Most people are intimidated by him."

"Is he really that scary?"

She shrugged.

After paying for the dress, we walked back to the car.

Just as I reached for the door, Lily suddenly spoke.

"Oh, and don't even think about backing out."

I blinked.

"Backing out of what?"

"Tonight." I hesitated.

"Lily... I'm really not in the mood for a party."

She sighed dramatically.

"I know today was horrible, Ari. But staying home and crying over Ethan won't change what happened."

I looked away, feeling sad all over again.

"I just don't think I belong at some rich people's party."

She gently squeezed my hand.

"You belong wherever I say you belong." I couldn't help but laugh at her antics

"Fine."

A satisfied smile spread across her face as she started the engine.

"Good."

"And it's a masquerade ball" she said, bringing out two masks and passing one to me with a big grin on her face.

Lily handed me the mask with a smile.

"Trust me, after tonight, your life will never be the same"

I laughed at her way of exagerating but,

I couldn't have been more wrong.