Hot Mysterious Millionaire

The Proposition

Aria sat at the kitchen table, the sleek envelope still unopened in front of her. Her fingers tapped nervously on the wooden surface, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. The amount of money Lucian had hinted at in that envelope-well, it could solve a lot of her problems. Student loans, rent, maybe even some extra for her dream internship in the city next summer. It was tempting. Ridiculously tempting.

But... accepting money to delete the video? It felt wrong. And it wasn't just about ethics. There was something about Lucian, about this whole situation, that gave her pause. She didn't fully understand it, but she knew this wasn't just about a viral TikTok anymore.

With a sigh, Aria grabbed her phone and scrolled through her contacts, stopping at Lara's name. If anyone could help her sort this out, it was Lara.

She hit *call* and waited for the familiar voice to pick up.

"Hey, girl! What's up?" Lara's cheerful tone instantly put Aria at ease, but only for a moment.

"Lara, you will *not* believe the day I've had," Aria said, leaning back in her chair. "I went to meet Lucian Blackwell. *In person.*"

There was a brief silence on the other end before Lara practically squealed, "*What?!* You met him again? Spill. Everything."

Aria launched into the story, telling her all about the private dinner, Nathan, the mysterious proposal, and, of course, the envelope of cash that still sat untouched on her table. She could almost hear Lara's jaw drop as she finished the story.

"And now I'm stuck, Lara," Aria said, rubbing her temple. "I don't know if I should take the money and delete the video, or... I don't know, maybe I'm just overthinking this."

Lara's response was immediate. "No, you're not overthinking it, Aria. This is insane! I mean, it's not just about the money. You're dealing with a whole different world here-like, rich, powerful people who do things... differently. This guy seems like he's hiding something."

"Yeah," Aria murmured, nodding slowly. "I feel it, too. It's not just about the video going viral."

"Exactly," Lara continued, her voice more serious now. "So don't take the money. I mean, sure, it's tempting, but think about it. If he's offering that much cash just to get rid of a video, imagine what kind of stuff he's trying to cover up. You don't want to get mixed up in that."

Aria sighed, staring at the envelope. "You're probably right. But then what do I do? Everyone's talking about me now. I've got people saying I made the whole thing up, that I don't know him and I'm just some clout-chaser."

Lara was silent for a moment, clearly thinking. Then, a mischievous tone crept into her voice. "Okay, I've got an idea, but it's a little out there."

Aria perked up. "I'm listening."

"Well," Lara began slowly, "you know that charity ball that you've been invited to next week? The one your mom's friend runs every year? What if... you made a deal with Lucian?"

"A deal?" Aria repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of deal?"

"Hear me out. Instead of taking the money, you ask him to go with you to the ball. As your *date*. You show up with him, everyone sees that you weren't making this whole thing up, and you get to clear your name. And after that, you can delete the video if he still wants you to."

Aria's heart raced at the thought. The idea seemed so... audacious. But maybe, just maybe, it could work. "You think he'd actually agree to something like that?"

Lara let out a light laugh. "Girl, he *owes* you after all this craziness. Plus, it's not like you're asking him to do anything crazy. Just show up, look pretty, and smile for the cameras. You'd be helping each other out."

Aria chewed on her bottom lip, considering it. It wasn't the worst idea. If anything, it gave her a way to deal with the mounting pressure from the internet trolls, and at the same time, she wouldn't be taking a shady payout. Besides, it was just one night. How bad could it be?

"Alright," Aria said slowly, her mind made up. "I'll text him and suggest it."

"You got this!" Lara cheered. "And, Aria? You're seriously going to look like a queen walking in there with a billionaire. Just don't fall in love with him, okay?"

Aria snorted. "Trust me, Lara, that is the *last* thing on my mind."

---

Later that evening, after much internal debate and a few rewrites, Aria finally crafted a text message to Lucian. Her hands shook slightly as she typed.

*Hi, Lucian. I've thought about your offer, and while I don't feel comfortable taking the money, I do have a counter-proposal. I need a date for a charity ball next weekend-people are questioning the legitimacy of our encounter, and I think showing up together would help clear the air. Afterward, I'll take the video down. Let me know what you think.*

She hit *send* before she could second-guess herself again. Almost immediately, she regretted it. Was it too bold? Too presumptuous? What if he thought she was insane for even suggesting it?

Minutes ticked by, and she kept glancing at her phone, willing it to buzz with a response. Just as she was about to give up and retreat into her bed, the phone vibrated.

Her breath caught in her throat as she saw his name on the screen.

*I understand your position, and your proposal is... unexpected. However, I agree that this solution may benefit us both. I'll attend the ball with you, but let's be clear-this is purely a transaction. After the event, we go our separate ways, and the video comes down. Agreed?*

Aria let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. He had said yes. Relief and nerves flooded her all at once. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she typed out a quick response.

*Agreed. Thank you.*

She stared at the message for a moment longer before finally hitting *send*. It was done. She had secured a date to the ball-and not just any date, but Lucian Blackwell, the man who had captivated the internet's attention and turned her life upside down in a matter of days.

But as the initial rush of relief faded, Aria couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease. This was all going to be fake-just a business arrangement. And yet, there was something about Lucian that made her feel like nothing with him could ever be simple.

In this chapter, Aria wrestles with her conscience and seeks advice from her friend Lara, who helps her come up with an unexpected counter-proposal to Lucian's offer. By suggesting that Lucian accompany her to the charity ball, Aria secures a way to clear her name while also avoiding the shady feeling of accepting his money.