All Chapters of Dating a Broke Billionaire: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

My mobile screen read, “Power saving mode.” The crappy phone was just like me. Our battery life constantly hung on at 1%. Right there in the center of my screen was Terry Rigsby, my online boyfriend. His good looks held up well, even on the front-facing camera.Well, given his setup, it wasn’t surprising. His background was always a blurry thing resembling a curtain. Terry had this mysterious but broke aesthetics going on. “What are you doing, Sam?” His voice came through the speaker. Without thinking, I tilted the phone upward, carefully framing my modestly decent face and the only clean white wall in my tiny rental in the shot. "Nothing." I cleared my throat, trying to cover up the piercing megaphone blaring "Three for ten bucks! Everything must go!" from the night market downstairs. “I-I just tidied up my apartment.” “I see,” Terry responded. He tapped on the screen as if tweaking the angle. As always, his background was the ever-present ‘curtain’. “Did you ha

Chapter 2

Three months into our online relationship, we had settled into a routine of mostly texting, with the occasional voice call. Video chats were a rare indulgence.Every video call felt like a high-stakes guerrilla operation to me. I had to constantly brace myself for the sudden blast of music or a neighbor’s kid’s high-pitched meltdown from downstairs. To him, I presented myself as a young woman striving in a big city, living humbly while staying optimistic and bright. Terry, on the other hand, claimed to be a regular office worker in a small, unheard-of company. Apparently, he resided in some company housing. His back was always facing the pitch-black curtain, and the lighting was forever dimmed. We bonded over figuring out which cafeteria dish was the worst that day.Otherwise, we vented about the sardine-packed subways. We were drawn together by the idea that misery loves company, forming an online relationship that others might call sketchy. Everything changed on the G

Chapter 3

Come on, I was Samantha Horten, undefeated when it came to haggling at the market. I couldn’t let this little thing beat me down. All was equal in the face of love… right?It was time that I met Terry in real life. Yeah, that was right. We should meet. Time to pull the curtains and see what he was really made of. With that in mind, I had to swing into action. I texted, “Are you asleep?”Terry responded in no time, “Not yet. I was thinking about you.” He attached a head-rub emoji. I messaged him, my fingers trembling slightly. “Um… I was just thinking… We’ve been dating for three months now. Maybe it’s time we met?” My heart was in my throat. Terry replied with a string of exclamation marks. He wrote, “Really, Sam? Are you finally agreeing to meeting?” He slapped an excited spinning emoji and a teary-eyed cat meme in between. I replied, “Yes… Can we do it this weekend?” Terry texted back, “Perfect! I’ll pick you up on the weekend. Send me your address.” I messa

Chapter 4

It was the first thing in the morning on a Saturday. I put on my best outfit—a pair of washed-out jeans, a relatively new beige knit cardigan, and a pair of clean canvas shoes. Standing at the mouth of the tight alleyway, I held two bulging fertilizer sacks, still smelling of earth, between me. I whipped out my phone and opened the navigation app before punching in the mouthful of an address. “7 Maple Street, West Hills.” Taking a deep breath, I trotted ahead on my journey with doomed determination. It was a nightmare to take the bus during the morning rush. My sacks of local produce were in everybody’s way, earning me eyerolls and disgruntled mumbles. “Hey! Watch it! What is this so heavy?” “Stop pushing! Go to the back! Go!” “Are you seriously hauling sacks on the bus? Who does that anyway? Are you like, moving house?” Keeping a smile on my face, I kept apologizing and moving out of the way. This was all for love, or rather, truth. All I needed to do was suck it

Chapter 5

“Miss Horten, the food reserve at the estate is well-stocked. I’m sure the kitchen can meet your request for the stew.” The lady stepped aside. “Young Rigsby is here. This way, please.” “Sam!” Terry’s voice was filled with joy. Spreading his arms, Terry was dying to give me a hug. However, when his gaze fell on sacks of earthy produce, he stopped short and shifted to haul the heavy load for me instead. “What’s all this?” The surprise and confusion in his tone were clear. “No, no, no.” Jumping into action, I guarded the supplies like a hawk. “You have an expensive suit on. Don’t get it dirty.” Jesus Christ. His entire attire screamed expensive. If a dash of dirt from my spuds ruined that fabric, I’d have to sell more than a kidney just to foot the cleaning bill. Not releasing his grip, Terry yanked the sacks toward himself. “Who cares if I got my clothes dirty? The thought and effort you put into bringing the gift to me mean everything.” I could only watch as the

Chapter 6

I froze, feeling like the marble floor sizzling beneath my canvas shoes. “Come on.” Terry gave my hand a little squeeze and tugged me along like I was a startled rabbit. “I’ll show you around my place.” The entire space gave off a solid, heavy, and wealthy vibe. It basically screamed ‘Terry’s dad’.It was nothing like the place of a twenty-something. “Uh… Is this your study?” The way I looked at it, this was clearly Tyson’s command center. Terry read my mind. Like a magic trick, he pulled out a pile of junk food. I was talking about chips, beef jerky, and bottles of fizz. “This is my hideout.” He grabbed a bag of chips and gave it a shake, looking a little pleased with himself. “My dad banned junk food from the common areas. He claimed that it ruins the estate’s aesthetics.” He ripped the pack open. “Want some? This should calm your nerves.” I was lost for words. Just as I stared at the heir clutching a bag of chips in his six-figure suit, something in me snapped

Chapter 7

Terry suggested enthusiastically, “How about a stroll through the garden? To walk off all that food.” His eyes sparkled like a dog eager to show off its new find. Sure, he was easy on the eyes, but he came across a little soulless. “Um… It’s nice.” I remarked dryly, “It’s neat.” It felt wrong to step on the lawn because it would be a violation of order. Terry picked up on my reservations. “Don’t let the appearance fool you. There’s a secret to the garden.” He pulled me along, and the scene ahead came into full view. There, a tiny patch of sanctuary lay before us. It was a modest vegetable garden. “Uh…” I stared at the little nook, stunned by its vigor, or rather, rustic essence. I turned to the decorative pines nearby, my mind once again failing me. “Who did this?” “My dad. He said the garden in the front was for show, but this is his private plot.” I was speechless. Meanwhile, I pictured Tyson, along with his larger-than-life presence and looks that could ki

Chapter 8

The setting sun bathed the vast estate in a warm orange hue. The terrace had been fully set up.Taking the hint, Tyson retreated to a distance. “Does your dad find me that annoying?” I spoke in hushed tones, my eyes never leaving the receding figure. I wouldn’t call his swift escape subtle. Terry chuckled. His slender fingers found mine under the table. “You’re overthinking it. He’s just getting the hang of some third-wheel etiquette.” Silence filled the air, broken only by rustling leaves and the sound of our breaths. Whirr! A heavy, mechanical hum cut through the quiet of the evening.It gathered speed, rapidly coming closer. Startled, I nearly sprang off my seat and looked up abruptly at the sky. Countless soft lights sparkled across the black velvet sky. I stood corrected. These weren’t stars.They were drones. An organized swarm of drones rose from every corner of the estate, assembling in the air. The lights rippled and shifted in ever-changing patterns

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