The Billionaire's Temptation

Blythe repeatedly released long, weary sighs. She gazed listlessly out the window of her flower shop. With no one around, she allowed herself to zone out for a moment.

The wind chime on the door jingled as someone entered, but she remained oblivious, still staring blankly into space with her chin resting on her hand at the counter.

“You know, you could get robbed like that,” said a voice, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She looked up to find her friend Cleo smiling down at her. She glanced toward the distance once more and sighed.

“Hey! Are you ignoring me?” Cleo remarked, tapping the countertop a little too loudly.

Blythe didn’t respond. She wasn’t in the mood to joke around.

“Blythe! Don’t give me the silent treatment like this! It’s so frustrating! Say something, come on!” Cleo’s frustration finally boiled over, and she slapped her arm.

A broken little sob escaped Blythe, and Cleo’s expression filled with concern.

“Sorry. I think I hit you too hard,” Cleo said apologetically.

Blythe quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks and gave Cleo a weak smile. “It’s not you.”

Cleo frowned. “What do you mean, it’s not me?” She watched Blythe carefully, then, a sudden thought had crossed her mind, Cleo’s expression changed. “Don’t tell me…” she murmured, her brows drawing together. “It’s Finnian again, isn’t it?”

Blythe looked away, not wanting to talk about her boyfriend. She knew she’d only get another round of scolding from Cleo.

“Don’t you try to brush me off, Blythe…” Cleo warned, putting her hands on her hips. “What did that man do this time, huh? Is there another woman again?” she probed.

Blythe didn’t answer. Cleo already knew what kind of person Finnian was, and that was exactly what made her so angry. She always told Blythe that she was too much of a martyr, always willing to suffer for a man she was hopelessly in love with.

Blythe and Finnian had been in an on-and-off relationship for almost a year. The problem was that Finnian was far too much of a flirt, and he had hurt Blythe more times than Cleo could count. Yet, despite everything he had done, Blythe always found it in her heart to forgive him.

She didn’t even know why she kept doing it. She couldn’t understand how she could continue to endure the emotional pain he caused her, especially when it was something that always made Cleo furious. Sometimes, Blythe wondered if she had simply become too used to being hurt by him.

But the truth was, she was terrified of losing him. Deep down, she felt like she would fall apart if Finnian were no longer in her life. That was how deeply she loved him.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you, Blythe! This has happened so many times, and you still keep taking him back. If I could, I’d seriously bang your head against a wall!” Cleo snapped. “It’s not okay for him to keep cheating on you like this! You’re letting it become a habit. My God, Blythe! Every time he screws up, you forgive him so easily. And that’s exactly why he keeps doing it. Because you keep letting him get away with it!” she continued, lecturing her.

“Well, what am I supposed to do? I lo—”

“Love him?” Cleo cut her off sarcastically. “What about loving yourself? Don’t be stupid, Blythe! Please… break up with him.” It wasn’t a request, but a command.

Blythe sighed deeply, feeling her tears threatening to fall again.

“Oh, great! Here we go with the crying!” Cleo scolded. “Don’t try to win me over with those tears, Blythe! You’re the one who refuses to leave that relationship. You’re the one causing yourself this pain. So stop with the crying already! I swear, if you weren’t my friend, I would’ve left you to your foolishness a long time ago!” Her chest heaved as she spoke.

Blythe hung her head. She had nothing to say because everything Cleo said was true. She’s allowing herself to be hurt. She could break up with Finnian, but she didn’t.

“You’re wasting your beauty on that Finnian. He never appreciates you. He doesn’t care about how you feel, he’s full of himself! The worst part is, he doesn’t really love you. You’re the one hopelessly in love with him, when you could easily move on. You have plenty of suitors. Finnian isn’t the only man in the world, Blythe. There are plenty of others! It’s your choice.”

Once again, Cleo was right. She had many suitors, all of whom she rejected because she had a boyfriend. Ironically, she never looked at another man besides Finnian. Not even once!

“Just your smile is enough to hook anyone. You could charm even the most stubborn person,” Cleo continued. “I’ve been telling you for so long, use your looks to get even with him. If you do that, he’ll be the one chasing after you, not the other way around,” she said.

Not satisfied, Cleo walked around to face Blythe directly.

“You’re smart, Blythe. Use that. Stop letting your softness take over all the time.” She pointed to Blythe’s chest, staring intently into her eyes. “Please, Blythe… I’m begging you, stop this. Stop tolerating him. The more you keep forgiving him, the bolder he gets in hurting you. Don’t you get it? He’s just playing with your feelings.”

Blythe finally broke down, tears streaming down her face. Somehow, hearing the truth from someone else hurts even more. Every word felt like a sharp blade, stabbing her in the chest again and again. Cleo might have a blunt personality, but Blythe knew everything she said was for her own good. She really hadn’t learned her lesson.

“Hush…” Cleo pulled her into a hug, gently rubbing her back.

“W-what should I do?” Blythe asked in a shaky voice.

Cleo quickly pulled her back and wiped her tears. “I’ll take care of it.” She winked.

She let Cleo take her things and hold her hand without saying a word. It was already almost seven in the evening, and there were hardly any customers left at that hour. With nothing else to keep them there, they decided to leave.

They took a cab, with Cleo carrying Blythe’s things and paying the fare. She then told the driver where they were going before settling back beside Blythe.

“Here? Why here?” Blythe asked, her brows furrowed as they got out of the cab.

“Oh, come on! Where do you find plenty of fish, Blythe? Of course, in the ocean! So, here we are!”

She gave Cleo a disapproving look.

“What?” Cleo feigned innocence.

Blythe turned away, but Cleo quickly blocked her path.

“I don’t need a man. I already have one,” Blythe pointed out.

“Yes, but all you get from him is heartache. Here at the ocean a.k.a. Neon Nights, you’ll forget about him forever. We’re going to dive into a sea of men here,” Cleo said mischievously, grabbing her arm and pulling her inside.

Blythe didn’t resist. It was as if she was a leaf carried by the wind, following her friend.

As soon as they entered, the loud music hit her, making her wince as she stuck a finger in her ear. She trailed behind Cleo, who seemed determined not to let her go.

Blythe wasn’t used to places like this. She only came here once in a while, usually because Cleo dragged her along. Cleo loved going to clubs and was much more open and carefree, while Blythe was still a more traditional kind of woman.

She doesn’t dress like a prude, and she knows how to follow fashion trends, but she always knew where to draw the line. She was never the kind of woman who would have a one-night stand. She valued and respected her body too much for that.

This was also one of the things that often caused arguments between her and Finnian. No matter how much Finnian pressured her, Blythe could never bring herself to give in. Looking back now, she realized that refusing him had been the right decision.

Sometimes, that’s what Finnian used as an excuse for cheating on her, because she couldn’t give him what he wanted. Blythe admitted that she was lacking in that area, but to her, that wasn’t the only basis for a lasting relationship. True love is the answer. And if her boyfriend truly loved her, he would understand.

‘Now you’re realizing that? After all the pain you’ve been through, now you’re finally thinking about that, huh, Blythe? You really are foolish,’ the loud voice in her mind said.

She had long known that, but she couldn’t understand why she couldn’t leave her cheating boyfriend. Maybe she really is crazy.

“There!” Cleo exclaimed, snapping her out of her thoughts. Cleo pointed to a man drinking alone at the far corner of the bar counter. “This is your chance!” She pushed Blythe forward.

Blythe nearly stumbled into the man but managed to regain her balance just in time. She shot Cleo a glare, but her friend had already disappeared.

“That brat!” she muttered irritably. Blythe straightened herself up and took a seat on the vacant stool next to the man. “One martini, please,” she said to the bartender.

He quickly prepared her order. While waiting, Blythe sneaked a glance at the man beside her. Her brow furrowed. He looked like someone who hadn’t bathed in days.

The man had long hair, a beard, and a mustache. He had carelessly thrown on a long-sleeved polo, with the collar unbuttoned and wrinkled as if it had just been pulled out of a pile of clothes. He’s tall and broad-shouldered, with a prominent nose.

Blythe could tell he had beautiful eyes, though she couldn’t quite make out their color since he was turned slightly away from her, and it was dim where he sat. The only thing she could clearly see were his long, thick eyelashes that seemed even longer than hers.

“Here’s your order, ma’am,” the bartender said.

Blythe nodded, taking the drink but still keeping an eye on the man beside her. Her gaze drifted to his hand resting on the counter, specifically his ring finger. She took a sudden sip of her drink when she saw the symbol that clearly indicated he was not single.

‘So, he’s married,’ she thought. ‘But if he’s married, why does he look like this? And why is he here at the bar? Maybe he fought with his wife,’ a part of her mind answered.

Blythe shook her head. Here she was, drinking and thinking about someone else’s problems, as if she didn’t have her own issues to worry about. That was the whole reason her friend Cleo had dragged her there in the first place.

Blythe emptied her glass in one go and immediately ordered another. She wasn’t used to drinking alcohol, but the pain inside her was so overwhelming that she barely noticed the taste anymore. It was almost as if she were simply drinking water.

After a while, Blythe started feeling dizzy. She was laughing to herself, tears streaming down her face. When she glanced at the man beside her, she saw that he was watching her.

She didn’t understand herself. Without saying a single word, she leaned toward him and pressed her lips against his. The unexpected kiss caught him completely by surprise. For a moment, the man didn’t move or react. The kiss lasted only a few seconds, but that was enough to send a strange rush through Blythe’s entire body. A sudden warmth spread through her, followed by a tingling sensation that made her heart race.

Realizing what she had done, she quickly pulled away. But before she could put any distance between them, the man moved just as quickly. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back toward him, leaving her no time to think.

This time, he kissed her with much more certainty and passion. She froze for only a moment, but she didn’t pull away or resist. Instead, she quietly let herself remain in his arms, allowing the kiss to continue.

To be honest, Blythe liked the way he kissed her. It felt different from the way Finnian used to kiss her. He started gently, almost carefully, but the kiss soon became more intense and demanding. Without thinking twice, Blythe wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

Before she even realized what was happening, she felt herself sinking onto a soft bed. She had no idea where they were or how they had gotten there. At that moment, she was too caught up in everything she was feeling to care.