ONCE A HEIRESS, NOW THE BILLIONAIRE'S MAID

Dear reader, what you're about to read is rated 18+ and contains strong sensual imagery, and more so, exciting romantic scenes and intense drama. Your honest thoughts and comments will propel me to finish this book, as I love to hear feedback. I hope you grab a glass of wine and a cookie while you scroll or flip through the pages of this book. I'll be waiting for your feedback" - Lila Monroe Williams.

"I broke up with Jake, and I don't regret it," Valerie began, her voice sharp as the sound of Layla chopping vegetables crackled through the phone.

"You did what?" Layla's voice shot back, almost drowning out the clatter.

"Exactly what you heard. I don't like repeating myself."

"So, six months of a relationship, just gone like that?"

"You know it's the longest I've ever been with a Man," Valerie said, almost bored by the subject already.

"I thought he was perfect for you," Layla replied.

"It was all hype," Valerie sighed. "His career, his good looks-those dashing, pearl-like eyes on that square jaw of his, none of that made up for our average love-making sessions. He could barely sustain an erection or thrust into me the way I wanted or thrust hard enough to get me to orgasm."

"But you told me he was good in bed!"

"Well, that's the problem. I was pretending. Honestly, it was embarrassing, a disappointing irony compared to what I thought he'd be like. I was tired of pretending I was enjoying him and his weird foreplays. I just wanted him to fuck the hell out of me, have me gasping for air or something. Our energies just didn't align. He was too conservative, too reserved. Too... caring. Not that it's a bad thing, but he didn't seem to have a mind of his own. Something about him just felt so off. I couldn't cope."

"What do you even want from men, Valerie? It's like you break up with them for fun. What you're complaining about is literally what most women dream of!"

"Boring sex and foreplays? Well, I've set him free so he can go fulfil the dreams of those women," Valerie replied with a shrug in her tone. "And, point of correction, I wasn't complaining. I'm Valerie Davis-I'm not easily impressed. Men like Jake, who'll do whatever I want whenever I want it, bore me to death. Honestly, I don't know why my dad won't let me relocate. The men around here are just not it."

"You're unbelievable. You don't like chivalrous men? They're too good to be true for you?"

"Exactly! There's something so sly about men like that. It puts me off."

"My goodness!" Layla exclaimed. "I don't know what to say, Valerie. You're on a roll with these men. You've been in and out of relationships like you're changing socks."

"Enough about men," Valerie cut in. "What the hell are you cooking?"

"Vegetable porridge," Layla replied.

"Sounds more like a concoction, We both know you're a terrible cook."

"At least I'm better than you! I know where to find the pot and chop the vegetables."

"I can't imagine staining or stressing my freshly manicured nails just to cook," Valerie said with a laugh.

She ended the call soon after, a satisfied smirk playing out on her lips as she leaned back against the plush leather seat of her father's limousine. The smooth hum of the engine and the gentle sway of the car did little to distract her from admiring her freshly manicured nails. Her father had finally let her take the limousine for a spin after days of pleading. What could be more befitting for a princess? After all, she was the daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the city. The cityscape glistened through the tinted windows, but Valerie barely noticed. Her thoughts were already on her next purchase, away from Jake. She had meant everything she said about him, blocked him everywhere even.

Valerie had bought a new designer handbag and two pairs of shoes earlier that afternoon, just after breaking up with Jake. She had seen a sparkling diamond necklace in a boutique's window earlier in the day, and the thought of it stuck in her mind, like a catchy song. She promised herself that she would have it by the end of the day. Price tags never stopped her; money was just a number, and her father could always provide more. For her, the only excitement she found in men was physical; nothing else compared to the comfortable life she was used to.

As the only child of Richard Davis, Valerie never went without anything. Her father, a self-made businessman, had given her everything money could buy after her mother passed away.

The limousine pulled up outside the boutique, and Valerie stepped out, flicking her straightened hair over her shoulder as the chauffeur opened the door. Her burnt-orange two-piece was firmly sitting on her body as she walked into the store. Inside, the staff greeted her with smiles on their faces. Valerie wasn't having it because most times she felt they were putting up fake smiles, and the whispered admiration irritated her even more. These same people smiling were the very same people who would not hesitate to slander her in the comment section of any gossip blog she appeared on, she thought to herself as she walked by them. She moved through the store, her sharp eyes flitting across the displays as she dismissed and approved items with barely a word.

She moved through the jewellery section for a few minutes until she finally settled on the diamond necklace and a pair of earrings. She attempted to reach for it only to be shoved aside by a man who snatched the necklace right out of the display. He was taller, had longer hands, and reached for the jewellery before her.

"Excuse me," he said, not even looking at her.

Valerie's eyes widened in disbelief. "Excuse me?" she echoed, her voice sharp as she spun around to face him.

The man, utterly unbothered, examined the necklace under the boutique lights. "I had said, excuse me."

"Excuse you? You just shoved me!" Her voice rose, drawing the attention of nearby shoppers. "And that piece is mine! I was here first."

He turned to her, clearly unruffled, his expression cold and unimpressed. "It doesn't look like it's got your name on it, does it?"

Valerie scoffed, raising her chin defiantly. "I was about to take that necklace. And if you have any manners at all, you'll hand it over."

The man gave her a slow, almost patronising smile. "Manners? Over diamonds? So what happens if I don't give it back?"

"For a Man, that's so tacky and bitchy, is this how to treat a lady?"

"Oh I see, You are one of those self absorbed condescending skunks that think beauty can get you whatever you want huh?"

Valerie's blood boiled, and she yanked out her father's card, practically waving it in his face. "Oh, believe me, I can get what I want." She turned to the cashier with a commanding tone. "Go on, run the card. Now."

The cashier hesitated, torn between the two of them.

"Run. The. Card," Valerie repeated, each word clipped with irritation.

With a wary glance between them, the cashier processed the card and then, frowning, leaned forward. "I'm terribly sorry, Miss, but the card's been declined."

Valerie's confident smirk faltered, and her furry melting into a blush on her cheeks. "Declined?" She barely whispered the word, then squared her shoulders and laughed. "This is ridiculous. My father's card doesn't 'decline.' Run it again."

"Oh daddy's girl. I was thinking all that fierceness came from some level of independence, so you are just a broke girl spending daddy's money" The stranger said with a cocky smile.

"I don't know who the fuck you think you are to talk to me in that manner, such insolence over a piece of jewelry, such a shame"

"I am nobody, I just like putting women like you in their place"

"So far, you have only been an ass instead of a gentle man"

The cashier returned with the card, it had refused once more.

Valerie's gaze sharpened. "This must be a mistake. I'll just call my father." She dialled her father's number, her annoyance growing with every unanswered ring until she reached his voicemail. The line clicked, and her father's calm, detached voice came on.

"You've reached the voicemail of Richard Davis. I'm currently unavailable. Please Leave a message. Goodbye."

Her hand froze, clutching her phone. This was her father's private line, so how is it unreachable?. It was as though the climax of a show of shame was building up and she wanted so badly to wipe off the smirk that grew on the stranger's face as he raised an eyebrow. "So You were saying?" he started, "Got no money to pay?"

"Go fuck yourself" Valerie spat out before storming out of the boutique, here eyes burning red with embarrassment. His cocky tone triggered her to the point she almost burst into tears, she kept dialling her dads number but it did not go through. Just after one last dial at her dad she decided to call one of her Ex boyfriend, Ramon and Voila, she got the money she wanted and returned to the boutique, her pulse racing. She re-entered with a cool expression and walked straight to the cashier, she handed over her card to the cashier, "I went to get a new card, Try this one"

The cashier nodded a successful withdrawal had been made. "I believe that settles it," she said, eyeing the man triumphantly.

He observed her, mild irritation flickering in his gaze, then shrugged. "I can double the payment for this piece of Jewelry, but I will let you have it. Enjoy it. It's not worth the stress, anyway." He turned his attention to another display, handed the necklace to the cashier, and left without another word.

"Just like that?' she thought. 'How rude!" she scoffed.

Valerie watched him walk away, a mix of triumph and frustration brewing inside her as clutched her hard-earned jewellery tightly and muttered to herself, "Unbelievable." She cursed him under her breath as she allowed her chauffeur to lead the way to the car.