HER BILLIONAIRE ESCORT

Lexi

"Shouldn't you be halfway to Abu Dhabi?" I asked Rhea, my best friend, as soon as I picked up her call, placing my steaming mug of tea on the kitchen counter.

It was only 7am.

"Hello to you, too, Lexi. I'm also fine, thank you. Happy Valentine's Day!"

"Eww.'" I wrinkled my nose in disgust ."I don't celebrate Valentine's, Rhea, you know that."

"Oh, come on. It's a great day. There's love in the air, romance on the horizon, what's not to love?"

"It's just like every other regular day but with pretentious couples that are probably cheating on each other acting like horny teenagers that think they are in love,"

"Wow, you know how to light up the room," she said dryly.

"I just speak the truth, that's why I only have three friends."

"You know, just because your ex cheated on you on Valentine's Day doesn't mean you should hate the holiday!'

"Not when two of my exes have cheated on me on Valentine's day... need I remind you about my father and his affair that came out ten years ago, too, on Valentine's day?"

"Okay, I see your point, but it's Valentine's Day, you should celebrate it. I hate that you are home alone while Evelyn and I are out with our men. I feel guilty,"

I rolled my eyes.

"There is no need to feel guilty at all. Besides, I'm not home alone, I have a bottle of wine and a show ready as soon as I hang up."

"Not this year, you don't..."

She sang-songed, her siren-sounding voice making me smile against my will.

Wait a minute!

"What does that mean?"

I asked, plopping down on one of the stools in the kitchen.

"Nothing." She said in a suspicious tone that I was all too familiar with.

She was planning something or had done something. I just didn't know what.

"Except me and the girls just arranged a little gift for you, that's all."

"FaceTime me, right now," I said.

"I'd rather not. I'm currently on top of Jake and reverse-cow girling him."

"First of all, Eww, secondly, I know you are lying, and thirdly, what did you guys get me?"

"Nothing too deep, okay. Just flowers, chocolate, and something else, that's all."

My eyes narrowed even though she couldn't see me. Out of all of my friends, Rhea was the one person who was horrible at keeping secrets, and I could feel there was something else that she wasn't telling me.

"Are you sure that's all?"

"Oh, come on, Lexi, if there was something else, you know I'd tell you. I just hate that you are lonely on Valentine's Day, that's all."

"You are right," I let out a sigh. "Thanks for the gift. Y'all are amazing."

My expression and tone softened.

"I know," she said in her usual smug tone.

"Anyway, I gotta go, Jake and I just landed and will be going out soon,"

"Of course. Thank you and have fun," I hung up the phone and went back to watching my show. Today was the last day I had before I started my new job, and I wanted to relax as much as possible before I started.

It was around 6pm when I was about to open my second bottle of wine and settle in for a horror movie when my doorbell rang.

I frowned, wondering who that could be.

I wasn't exactly expecting anyone. I had already received the gifts that the girls had gotten me, too.

I pulled the door open and froze as I took in the most handsome man I had ever seen standing at my doorstep, staring at me with a bouquet in his hand.

"Who are you?" I asked, unable to take my eyes off the fine specimen of a man.

"Hello, Lexi, I'm Richard. I'm here to take you out on our date," He smiled, extending his hands for me to shake.

I blinked at him.

"I'm sorry, you have the wrong person," I said, about to close the door, but he was quick to stop me.