All Chapters of I PAID A BILLIONAIRE FOR A NIGHT : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Chapter 32Blake’s POVI walked into the house expecting cheers and hugs from my parents congratulating me on my achievement, but instead I walked into a house that felt…wrong.Instead of laughter and clinking of champagne glasses, maybe my mother insisting on a toast, my father pretending not to smile too much while asking me about other details, I walked into the living room to see my entire family was gathered there, seated stiffly on the couches and armchairs like mourners.“What's with the long faces?” I asked, loosening my tie as I stepped fully into the room, irritation already blooming in my chest. “You’d think someone died with the way you all are acting. Today was a win, we came second at the Grand Prix. Do you have any idea what that means for—”A palm met my cheek, and pain exploded across my face as my head snapped to the side, my vision momentarily swimming as I staggered back a step, my hand flying up instinctively to my face. For a second, the world tilted, and all I c

Chapter 34Arya’s POVThe prison canteen smelled like metal and hopelessness. That was the only way I could describe the mixture of disinfectant and boiled porridge that barely qualified as nourishment, all of it hovering in the air like a reminder that comfort was not something that this place intended to offer.The benches were bolted to the floor, scratched with names and curses, and the noise around me was a constant mix of voices layered with clanking of food trays and guards barking orders.I sat alone again for the…I had no idea how long. Time had stopped mattering to me, but I guess this might have been my second or third day here if I was counting.I had learned that keeping to myself made me a target to the mean girls and cliques here, but I had no intention of sitting with others and sharing my story or whatever they wanted to hear from me.For two days, I had endured the stares and whispers, the deliberate shoulder bumps, insults and cruel laughter tossed casually in my d

Chapter 36Blake’s POVI had never imagined that one day I would be sitting in the McClain family estate, waiting to be granted an audience like a beggar asking for mercy…the irony was not lost on me.A Donovan in McClain territory certainly wasn't on my list of things to experience this year.The guest room was grand, but it was also a bit too suffocating with the high ceilings, antique chandeliers, and portraits of stern-looking McLain ancestors. The air definitely smelled faintly of old money and polished wood, but it still looked like they were trying too hard…or perhaps I just felt that way because of my feelings of animosity towards the family.I checked my watch again, my jaw tightening. These people had kept me waiting for far longer than courtesy demanded, but I knew better than to complain. Cecilia McClain, the head matron did nothing without intent. If she wanted to make a point, she would do it by making me wait for her. But I controlled myself because this was not about m

Chapter 38Blake’s POVWhen I pulled up at the restaurant, Arya immediately started protesting that she wasn't dressed properly or looking good enough to enter into such a place, and it took me a long time to reassure her that she needed to eat well before I could take her home to shower, and doing all that would just eat into out time.Of course, I wasn't doing this for just her. We needed to talk, and while doing it when she was just out of prison was not the best time, I couldn't wait any longer.The restaurant was expensive, and with the low lighting and soft instrumental music humming in the background, crystal glasses catching the glow of recessed lights, it was the sort of place where people came to be seen, but I didn't care about that, and right now neither did Arya.The moment her food arrived, she attacked it like it might vanish if she even paused for a few seconds.I leaned back in my chair with my fingers loosely clasped around my glass, watching her demolish the plate i

Chapter 40Arya’s POVThe cab slowed to a stop in front of the workshop and I took a deep breath, clutching the strap of my bag so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I had woken up to an empty house this morning with Blake nowhere to be found, and a small part of me was disappointed because I was looking forward to having breakfast with him at least. But I had to remind myself that this wasn't the Blake I knew. This was Blake Donovan, the CEO of Donovan Group, and powerful men like that have better things to do with their time…but a note would have been appreciated at least.So I took a cab instead, trying to convince myself that this was better, that I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention by being seen with him in public.But the moment I stepped out of the car, cameras flashed in my face and before I could realise what was happening, voices were shouting at me, each one louder and more demanding than the last as microphones were being thrusted at my face.“There she is! Ar