The Billionaires(#1)

55

Being a billionaire had its own advantages. For instance, you did not have to book a plane ticket and wait for hours at the airport for the plane to board, and you did not have to go through many queues. In less than three hours, Jorge had landed in Durban in his private jet, and a few minutes later, he was literally running into an enormous building in Durban.

His hotel.

The staff members knew him and greeted him on the way, but were shocked when he replied with curt nods, and not with his usual radiant smiles. He went to the last floor where there was only a single suite, which belonged to him. He used his private card to open the suite and he stormed into the sitting room. “GET OUT!” He shouted at the three women who were busy massaging another woman.

They stormed out of the suite without looking back. “Jorge!” Sonya jumped off the sofa, shocked to see an angry Jorge. “What are you doing here?” She cleared her throat and fixed her gown. She was wearing a white gown and had a white towel wrapped around her head, and her face was covered in a facemask.

“What am I doing here? Is that a way to greet your stupid boyfriend whom you haven’t seen in a long time?” He asked in a cool voice. “You tricked MJ into working for you, so you could come and have fun this side?” He asked angrily.

“Jorge, Nana was sick–”

“Don’t lie to me!” Jorge snapped, and Sonya flinched. “I saw Nana in Australia on Tuesday, and she said she hasn’t seen you in years and that she was as healthy as an ox!” He said and ran a hand through his hair. “Why did you lie to me?” He asked quietly.

“Can you please just sit down so that I can explain?” Sonya asked in a whisper, but Jorge just glared at her, causing her to shift uncomfortably.

“Talk.” He said sternly.

Sonya fidgeted with her robe and gave Jorge a pleading look, but he was not having any of it. “When MJ first arrived here, she came with her driver and she was just so cold and harsh towards him, and sent him off rudely. Then the next moment, she was laughing and just so different. I figured it was because of the money and so I tricked her into standing in for me just so she could learn how it feels to be treated like a dog.” She said and Jorge gave her an incredulous look.

"So are you insinuating that my sister has a personality disorder?" Jorge asked calmly, although deep inside, he was fuming. "Sonya, stop acting like you know my sister.” He chuckled darkly. “You do not know MJ!” He shouted, and silence followed as Sonya tried to process his words. “The MJ you knew in high school is dead. MJ has been ruined beyond repair – she is gone, long gone!” He said and took in a sharp breath. “This MJ is full of anger and hatred, and you have just driven her back into the Lion’s den.” He snapped.

“I thought she was past what had happened.” Sonya whispered, tears streaming down her face.

Jorge shook his head at her. “You don’t get over something like that so easily, and MJ will never get past it; she is angry, Sonya. Her pure heart, the heart of gold that she once had has turned into a hard stone. A rock.” He croaked. “Now go out there and sort out your mess.” He said quietly.

Sonya’s eyes widened and she shook her head furiously. “I can’t.” She said.

“What do you mean you can’t? Did you hear anything I just said to you? MJ and Logan Parker can’t be under the same roof!” He shouted.

“Jorge, Logan called me and told me to stay away from the office.” She said with her head bowed. “I’m sorry, okay? He said that if I came back, then he was going to fire me, and he paid me a two months’ worth salary.”

Jorge laughed humourlessly. “And you took it? So you chose money over your friend’s well-being?” He asked, and she remained quiet. Jorge shook his head at her and chuckled darkly. “Sonya Smith, you are playing with fire, and you are not the one who’s going to get burnt at the end of the day.” He said quietly, anger rolling off his tongue with each word pronounced. “And this between us, our relationship…it is not going to work.” He said in a broken whisper, and Sonya looked up with panicked eyes. “I love you. God knows I fucking love you…”

Sonya jumped up from the couch and grabbed his phone and car keys from him. “Please, Jorge. Please don’t do this.” She pleaded. “I love you, and I don’t want to lose you.” She whispered, tears rolling down her face.

Jorge swallowed the lump in his throat and ran a hand through his blonde hair. “Then tell me the truth and stop lying to my face; what the fuck is going on here?” He asked indifferently.

Sonya stepped in front of him and took his hands. “I’ll tell you everything.” She said.

*****

Logan went to his office and drowned himself in work for the rest of the day. His eyes kept wandering to the shopping bag on his couch and his mind went back to that night in his limo after he had kissed her, and his fingers automatically went to his lips.

“A mistake, I get it.”
"I'll bring back your dress and shoes tomorrow. Goodnight, Mr Parker."

She took two whole days to return it; he was actually starting to think that she had decided to keep it. But what did he expect after the stunt he pulled yesterday? He was drawn back to life when his phone rang. “Davids, do you have good news for me?” He answered.

“It’s done; Jameson Petersen just landed in Australia.” Kyle said through his teeth.

“Great, I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me.” Logan said proudly.

“Just keep your mouth shut, Parker.” Kyle said angrily and hung up on Logan.

“Oh, Kyle!” Logan laughed and retrieved a business card from his desk drawer, and then he dialled the number that was written on the card. "Sasha-Lee Van der Merwe?" He asked.

“Yes, who’s this?”

“Logan Parker.” He said with a smirk.

“I’m hanging up!” She said angrily.

“I have a scoop for you.” Logan said and smiled cockily.

“Not interested.” Sasha gritted.

“Even if I told you it was about Kyle Davids?” Logan smirked knowing she would never turn down an offer to humiliate Kyle Davids again.

“Bark.” She said, irritated.

The day ended much faster than he had anticipated and Logan was back to his moody self; he did not wish to go back to his house, and as if sensing his foot-dragging, he received a call from Jorge when he was about to leave, asking to meet for dinner. Logan did not miss a second to say yes; he would agree to anything right now, as long as it meant avoiding Carmen.

“What’s got you so worked up?” Logan asked Jorge when he arrived at The 5 Stars Restaurant after noticing how distant his best friend was. He wanted to ask about what was happening between him and May, but he refrained himself. “Sonya?” He prompted when Jorge did not answer.

“How’d you guess?” Jorge asked sarcastically.

Logan rolled his eyes. “What else would make you sulk like this?” He commented, earning himself a glare from Jorge.

Jorge sighed and gave Logan a small smile. “You are right, man, but I’m afraid that is not the case right now.” He said, droning his fingers on the table.

“Wanna talk about it?” Logan asked.

“Not really, all I can say is that I’m about to have the biggest confrontation of my life.” Jorge said.

Logan was about to ask him what he was talking about when his phone rang. "Hello?" He answered. "Yes." "Okay, I'll be right there." He hung up and gave Jorge an apologetic look.

“It’s okay; I’m not really hungry anyway.” Jorge said with a weak smile and stood up, Logan also got up, and they left the restaurant together and both went their separate ways.