Mystery Billionaire

According to Momma D, her next client was a billionaire. He was a serial entrepreneur who had shares in several profitable businesses around the world.

His latest venture was a new online payment platform that generated revenue of nearly 10 million dollars in its first year alone. The young billionaire was said to have the Midas touch because everything he laid his hands on literally turned to gold.

However, despite his impressive portfolio, the guy was a hermit. He rarely attended public functions, and when he did, it was only for a few minutes. He would disappear into one of his luxury cars and flee to his enormous mansion on the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Momma D told Vivian that the billionaire seemed difficult to please, according to some of her girls that she’d sent to him previously. He was easily offended, and he’d even sent away some ladies without touching them. Although he always made sure to pay them in full whether he touched them or not.

Vivian was puzzled. “What would it take to impress such a man?” She asked.

“Figure it out yourself,” Momma D replied with a shrug. “That’s your job.”

On the day she was scheduled to meet the billionaire, he sent a driver to pick her up at Momma D’s residence. She’d been instructed to dress like an air hostess, which she did.

The interior of the black Range Rover vehicle that came to pick her up was tastefully furnished.  There were some freshly made finger foods and bottles of chilled wine, soda, and water laid out on an in-built deck behind the front seats.

There was a black divider between her and the driver, which probably meant she was not allowed to have a conversation with him. Vivian was too nervous to taste any of the pretty things laid out in front of her.

As the trip stretched into an hour, Vivian became fidgety. Where was she being taken? Was she getting kidnapped?

Had Momma D sold her to a sex trafficker under the guise of sending her to a so-called reclusive billionaire? What the hell was going on?

She tapped the divider a few times to get the driver’s attention. The black glass wall rolled down soundlessly.

“Yes, Miss?” The driver asked without taking his eyes off the road.

“Where the hell are you taking me to? How much longer will this trip take?”

“Please calm down, Miss. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

She looked out through the window, and all she could see was greenery on both sides of the road. Every form of civilization had been left behind over half an hour ago. Right now it seemed as if they were heading to the neighboring state of Nevada.

“Trust me, Miss. We’ll arrive at our destination shortly,” the driver assured her.

“Please, tell me the truth. Where exactly are we going to?” Vivian asked desperately.

“We’re on our way to Hartley County. That’s where my boss lives.”

As if to confirm the driver’s statement, they began to pass by houses, people, supermarkets, malls, and schools. It seemed like they’d driven back into civilization after what had felt like an eternity of driving past forests.

“See? We’ll be there soon,” the driver said and rolled up the divider.

Vivian began to relax again. She’d heard of Hartley County before, but she’d never been there. It was an exclusive estate near Bakersfield, reserved for the uber-wealthy who wanted to live in the shadows. It was the perfect hideout for a reclusive billionaire like her new client.

She sighed. Maybe she’d been a bit paranoid, but this was a crazy world. One couldn’t be too careful, especially with the soaring rates of human trafficking these days.

They drove farther away from the town they’d just passed and headed towards the private estate surrounded by neatly tended shrubbery. The house ahead of them was a towering three-floor mansion built like asymmetrical boxes laid on top of each other at varying angles.

It was a combination of glass, brick, and wood, and it was painted white. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie.

“Wow,” Vivian whispered in awe.

The driver eased the vehicle to a stop in the spacious garage that housed other luxury cars and power bikes. The divider rolled down, and the driver made eye contact with her in the rearview mirror.

“We’re here,” he said pleasantly.

“So I see,” Vivian replied with a smile.  “Thank you.”

He acknowledged her gratitude with a polite nod and stepped out of his seat. Vivian was impressed by his good manners and felt silly for worrying before.

The driver got down and opened the back door for her. As she alighted from the vehicle, Vivian wondered what kind of man lived hidden in this futuristic mancave.

And most importantly, what would she have to do to impress him?

Vivian was ushered into the grand mansion by a butler. The elderly man informed her that his boss would be with her shortly, as he was in the middle of a meeting.

She was then led to a huge living room that reflected the superior taste of the homeowner. Vivian sat on a plush white sofa and admired the breathtaking view through the large windows.

Everything about the house was classy, opulent, and minimalistic at the same time. There was a huge Renaissance painting hanging over the fireplace. It depicted a gloriously beautiful battle scene.

“Would you like a drink, Miss?” The butler asked her politely.

“Yes, please. I’d like a glass of wine. Non-alcoholic wine.”

“Of course,” he said and disappeared into another section of the house.

Vivian didn’t know what to expect from this elusive rich dude, but she wasn’t nervous. He just might be another weirdo like the others before him, and she didn’t mind.

All that mattered to her was making loads of money so she could continue the life of luxury that she’d now grown accustomed to.

The butler returned with her drink, and he set it on the coffee table in front of her.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome. Would you like anything else?”

“No, thanks,” she said with a smile.

He gave a curt nod and left. Vivian wondered if the butler was the only domestic staff in this intimidating house.

“Hello, Sleepy Head,” a deep voice said near her.

Vivian snapped awake. She’d dozed off on the couch while waiting for her host.

She turned towards the voice, and her jaw nearly dropped to the floor. The man who had spoken was tall, dark, ruggedly handsome, and impeccably dressed in a black formal suit.

His rich chocolate skin glistened, starting from his shaved head to his smiling face. He had a full beard that was neatly trimmed and curved around his square jaw.

Tiny diamond studs sparkled on his earlobes. His warm brown eyes twinkled with humor as he watched Vivian’s reaction. She quickly got to her feet and tried to compose herself.

“I’m so sorry,” she said awkwardly.

How embarrassing it was to be caught sleeping on duty. That wasn’t supposed to happen. It was so unprofessional!

“No need to be sorry,” the man said kindly. “The long ride here must have worn you out, I guess.”

“Yes, I think so,” she agreed.

“You have beautiful eyes,” he remarked. “What color are they?”

“Hazel with a touch of green,” she said proudly.

She had always been told that her eyes were her most defining feature, and she agreed. All thanks to her paternal grandmother who passed them to her.

“You didn’t touch your drink,” her host observed.

“I was going to, but then I fell asleep.”

“Ok. What’s your name?”

“Celia.”

“Your real name,” he pressed.

“Celia,” she repeated.

He shrugged. “I’m Oscar, and this is my place. Please, come with me.”

Vivian followed him without hesitation. He took her through a long corridor that had an assortment of exquisite portraits on the walls.

They got into an elevator and rode up to the third floor in silence. When they got there, he took her to a massive office with high walls lined with bookshelves and framed diplomas.

“Nice…” she said in appreciation as she looked around.

There was a tall shelf with various awards and shiny plaques neatly arranged on each layer. The huge polished teakwood desk in front of the large window held a variety of office appliances.

A huge potted plant beside one of the wide windows. The view from here was beyond breathtaking. It was obvious that the billionaire had superior taste and he knew how to put his money to good use.

“What’s your shoe size?” Oscar asked her abruptly.

“Huh?” Vivian replied. She wasn’t sure if the question was a joke or a real inquiry.

“Your shoe size,” he repeated.

“Size 9. Why?”

He walked over to the other side of the room and pushed a large painting on the wall to the side, revealing a hidden closet. Inside it was neatly stacked with all kinds of wigs, women’s shoes, and different types of masquerade masks.

After rummaging through for a few seconds, Oscar returned with a long, straight brown wig with a thick fringe, a pair of gold Louboutin pumps with red soles, and a red and gold mask adorned with feathers and rhinestones.

“Take off your clothes and wear only these, then come to the boardroom,” he said in a business-like tone. “The boardroom is the third room on your right, down the hallway.”

The whole setup was giving Vivian some serious Fifty Shades vibes. It seemed this billionaire guy was into kinky stuff. He was obviously a fan of role-playing.

“When you get to the boardroom, go inside and walk around first. Then go to the minibar and fill up the glasses with the drink inside the decanter and serve them at the table. Once you’re done with that, you’ll come back here to take off the wig, the mask, and shoes, then dress up and leave. Your payment will be on the desk when you return.”

Vivian was more confused than she’s ever been in her entire life. What was going on here?

Did she come here to become a naked waitress? Was he playing a trick on her, or was this a test?

“Please follow the instructions accordingly,” he said and walked out of the office, leaving Vivian speechless.