The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Sealed with a Kiss

CENRIC

The tension between us was thicker than the earth’s surface. Sadie was guarded all the time—distant, and she had no intention of hiding it from me. She wasn’t sorry for what had happened.

I must say, though, I was surprised how she could blend in easily with the crowd. And she looked breathtaking in a red gown.

Gorgeous. My fucking wet dream.

“I’ll pay the money you borrowed from Zhuri. I want you two to have your necklace back.”

Confusion knotted on her forehead. “Why?”

“I want you to have it back. Why is it so hard for you to accept it?”Does she have also trust issues?”It looks special, with sentimental value. Who gave it to you?” I had to ask even if I knew it was from her mother.

“Mom.”

“Then you need to keep it.”

The look in her eyes, she was questioning my intentions. “No motives, babe.”

“Fine.”

I gestured to another table to our left. Willa was sitting there. “The woman you get jealous over.”

The reaction on her face was fascinating to watch. She blushed furiously. “Will you stop it?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I waved to Willa, and she smiled at her.

Cas rose from the table and walked into the platform to grab the mic. “Good evening. I want to acknowledge everyone for coming here tonight, not only for the birthday boy but for this annual event. Before we start with the auction, I’d like you all to sing a happy birthday for my brother, okay?”

I followed suit when everyone stood. I chuckled when Cas pointed at me. The table that carried the birthday cake made its entrance towards our table. The singing of the birthday song continued. I looked at my side, to my wife singing along with everyone.

“Make a wish, big guy. You’re now officially a year older than a minute ago,” Cas continued.

I squeezed my wife’s hand before I made a wish silently and blew the candle. The applaud erupted.

“Thank you.”

I knew my cue was to go to the stage to say a short speech. Everyone had seated. “I’ll be right back,” I told Sadie and kissed the top of her head.

With a grin on my brother’s face, he gave me the mic as soon as I stepped on the platform. “No business talk, please.”

I laughed. “Good evening. I hope you have a wonderful time as I do. My brother just told me that there would be no business talk tonight. I agree. But before I forget, I hope you already access the app and hit the donation button.”

Everyone laughed.

“So, I guess, it’s done. Anyway, I won’t make my speech long and bore you all to death. I just want to thank the Almighty for another year.” Suddenly, I felt my chest expand with joy, as may sound cliche. I slipped my free hand in my pocket. “Before I turned twenty-eight, my life changed drastically, in a wonderful way.”

I looked at my wife. She was listening attentively. She looked proud. “I became one of the Forbes’ TOP 100 Self-made billionaires. I don’t mean to brag, but I have to mention this in case you’re all wondering where your donations go. I, I mean, we just made one thousand water supply in the far-flung areas in Mozambique, provided kids with school supplies, and of course, built ten schools for elementary level. We also provided them with early access to computers.”

I paused and fished out my phone. I went to the app. “This wouldn’t happen without your help. Tonight.” I showed them the total amount we had collected so far. “We just collected three million and two hundred thousand dollars. And our beneficiary for tonight is an NGO that supports child labor and women’s right.”

Everyone, including Sadie, applauded.

“One more thing before we start the auction. I also got married last month to my wonderful wife, Sadie. We will assure you that we do our best to help organizations protect people of all races and our world. Lastly, I’d like to thank our investors, fellow entrepreneurs, government officials who are here today, boards, especially my employees who work tirelessly every day to make this world a better place for our families and friends. So, from the bottom of my heart, like every year since I became the CEO of Wollf Capital, Wolf Corporation, and CENT, that’s all, thank you.”

Those in the corners murmured.

“Kidding, guys. Loosen up and pop some Champagne. From my wife and me, we appreciate your all. You’ll have a small amount as our token of gratitude.” I hit the confirm button on my phone. “Thank you very much.”

The crowd erupted with joy. Now they were happy, and so was I. That was what I wanted. As much as earning money and becoming rich was enthralling, to see those joys in their faces was the reason why I worked hard.

The auction started about right away. Our supporters seemed entertained well enough with every piece of the unique items.

“Our next item is lunar soil. Our astronaut and aeronautical engineer Michael Atlas collected that special glass container. Its authenticity is verified. Our bidding starts with twenty-five thousand dollars.”

“Go ahead, your sci-fi fascination starts now,” I told my wife. She was holding her card but never raised it during the painting auctions. So I helped her out.

“Thirty thousand for the lady in red. Going thirty-five.”

“Forty-five!” shouted from the 3rd table to our right.

“Fifty-five,” reacted my wife.

“Anyone? Fifty-six thousand for the five-ounce of soil? Going sixty, anyone? To the man from the third row.”

“Eighty-five,” I called out.

“What?” she reacted.

“For the cause, babe.” I smiled, encouraging her.

“Ninety!”

“Sold to the lady in red!”

“Your money, big guy.”

I laughed. “Your allowance.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know I have.”

“You have, but I won’t take a penny to pay your space soil. Congratulations. You are now a proud owner of moon elements.” My smile must be infectious—she smiled back.

***

When the party was over, I sent her to the car. “I’ll be home in a few hours. You gonna be okay?” Looking at her reaction, I knew she would spit her remark.

“I was okay for the last three days.”

“You apologize, and I will,” I dared her.

“No, thank you. I’m fine in my confinement, away from the modern world. And you look okay, as well.”

I joined her in the car.

“I thought you still have things—”

I cupped her face, captured her lips, kissed her so hard, and she gripped my suit, hesitated at first, and pushed me away. I deepened the kiss, her words dried in her throat, she trembled. I slipped my tongue into her mouth, tasting her, licking her, stroking with her own.

Taken over by my dominance, I sucked her tongue. She clutched the back of my head, her body arched, breasts pressing against my chest. The feel of her sensuous body made my cock harder than ever.

Her moans grew more frantic, mingling my groan with hers. Damn, my inside screamed with so much need, my brain was drowning with lust, I couldn’t think straight. I wanted to take her here right now.

Finally, I managed to put some senses into my brain. I broke the kiss. “Babe, I’ll see you at home.”

We were catching our breaths, and she was blushing furiously.

“Okay.” She licked her lips.

“In our room?”

She nodded.

“See you later.” I kissed her once again. This time it was feather-like. “The best birthday.”