A billionaire’s kiss

“Hailey for God’s sake stop running!”

“Why are you so slow?” I giggled and ran faster but Ian quickly caught up to me and tackled me to the snow coated ground.

He landed on top of me and I threw a handful of snow at his face and laughed as his nostrils flared in anger. “Chill Ian”

His jaw tightened. “How can I chill when you’re running around without a scarf or gloves?” His angry gaze fell on my bare hands. “Are you inhuman? Don’t you feel cold?”

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’m super Hailey”

Ian rolled his eyes and pushed himself off the ground, pulling me along with him. He angrily wrapped the red scarf around my neck and forcefully put the gloves in my hands.

Ian brought me to a hotel on top of a snow capped mountain in Switzerland but without even stepping inside I ran off, spotting the beautiful town below. And Ian got super mad but I couldn’t help it. The town was so beautiful I wanted to immediately reach it.

“Are you angry with me?”

“Of course I’m angry with you”

I grinned and moved closer to him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Still?”

Ian shot me a glare and I pressed a kiss to his lips. “Still?”

Ian took a deep breath and slumped his shoulders in defeat. “Fine. I’ll try not to be angry with you but don’t you ever do that again. What if you catch a cold?”

“So what?” I shrugged. “I’ll sneeze a few times. Maybe even cough”

Ian leveled with me with a death glare and I laughed, raising my hands up in surrender. “Fine fine. I won’t do that again. I won’t abandon you sweetheart”

The corners of his mouth twitched up and he tapped my nose. “Don’t call me that”

“Why?”

“Because sweetheart only fits you” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me to his chest. “Call me…mmm babe”

I wrinkled my nose. “Disgusting. You’ll forever be asshole”

Ian opened his mouth to protest but I added. “My asshole, if that makes you happier” I grinned and Ian scoffed.

“You’re impossible”

“Thank you. Now let’s go” I tugged at his arm. “I need to buy some souvenirs and chocolates for my idiot friends”

We went from store to store and Ian ended up buying me three extra scarfs and five pairs of extra gloves in case I forget my current ones and I ended up buying bags and bags of chocolates.

Ian took me to a cafe and we sat down at a table near the window waiting for our hot chocolate. I looked at Ian, his black trenchcoat, his chiseled jaw, his blue eyes and also the small flecks of snow on his dark hair and eyelashes. I smiled and reached out, brushing away the snow on his eyelashes.

Is this the right time? Should I confess now?

“Ian I-” No I can’t

Ian raised a brow. “You were saying something?”

“Umm…” Shit “I-I like this” I quickly retreated my hand and sat back down. “The surprise”

Ian smiled. “Bringing you here is not the suprise Hailey”

“Then what is?”

“You’ll see”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m getting very suspicious”

“You should be”

I threw my head back and groaned. “Not this again”

Our hot chocolate arrived and I drank it sip by sip, my gaze trained on the other customers. There were many couples. Seeing them made me question again, When should I tell him?

“Why are you staring at people?” Ian folded his arms. “Now don’t tell me you’re checking out hot Swiss boys”

I grinned. “Ooh I didn’t know you had the mind reading ability” I leaned in. “I know a bit of French. Should I go and flirt with them?”

Ian narrowed his eyes. “Go and try. This is the German speaking part of Switzerland”

I huffed and leaned back. “I know German too”

Ian raised a brow. “Really? Speak then”

“I know the German word for number six” I held my finger up and smiled sheepishly. “It’s sechs”

A soft laughter vibrated in his chest and he shook his head in dismay. “Just drink that”

After we had our hot chocolate we walked back to the hotel but it wasn’t as easy as climbing down. I was drained of all my energy by the time we reached there.

Ian surveyed me and gave a smug look. “This is why you should’ve taken the car instead of running”

“Don’t you dare give me lessons now” I panted for breath and leaned against a pine tree.

“We can’t stay here or else we’ll be late”

“Late for what?”

Ian came to me and scooped me up in his arms. A smirk played in his lips. “For the masquerade ball”

…

Ian left me in a room with three women. One gave me a milk bath with red roses and scented candles. She donned me into a midnight blue gown that had small specks of silver glitter traveling all the way down to the hem like a starry night dress. It was so beautiful that I had a hard time taking my eyes off it.

The next one made me sit in front of a the dressing table and did my make up, highlighting my features. The other one was a hair dresser and she did my hair elegantly, fanning it over my shoulders but making sure none fall to my face.

By the end of it I felt like a princess truly a princess and I loved it as I looked at myself in the mirror.

“You look gorgeous sweetie” My make up artists squealed. “We have to add the final touch of course. Another gift from your fiance” She bent down and picked a box from the dressing table. She opened it and my breath caught in my throat. Inside was a sapphire necklace with a matching set of earrings. The blue so beautiful it reminded me of his eyes.

She put it on me and I held my breath as I stared at myself in the mirror. I’ve never felt more beautiful. For someone who mostly wears black Ian really has a good taste.

“Your fiance is waiting outside. Do you want me to escort you sweetie?”

I smiled at the makeup artist. “No thank you. I can go”

I thanked the women for their amazing work and walked out of the room. Ian was waiting in the anti chamber leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded across his chest.

Upon seeing me he straightened up, a smile curling in his lips. He strode over to me and took my hands in his, looking at me from head to toe. “You look gorgeous Hailey”

I beamed. “Thank you and also thanks for buying all these” I said gesturing to the necklace and the dress. “It must’ve cost a lot”

Ian smiled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “What is mine is yours” He murmured and pulled back.

He took something out of his coat pocket and handed it to me. “Here are our masks”

The masks were also midnight blue like my dress with swirls of silver. We both put them on and Ian hooked my arm in his as we both walked into the ballroom in the upper floor.

The ballroom was built in like that of a castle with high ceilings, golden chandeliers, arch windows overlooking the snowy mountains outside. The floor was crowded with guests in elegant suits and dresses, all wearing different masks. Some were chattering in groups while the others were dancing.

I descended down the gold coated steps with Ian. “Who are these people?”

“Millionaires and billionaires from all around the world”

I gasped. “For real? Is this some kind of rich party?”

“Mmm” Ian nodded.

“Wow” I breathed. I looked at the guests again to see if I recognise any of them but they all were wearing masks.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

Ian took two glasses of red wine from a waiter and handed one to me. I drank it slowly. “Why is there a ball today?”

“You’ll see”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re so suspicious”

Ian smirked. “Have some patience sweetheart”

I watched the dance floor as couples danced wearing matching masks. They ranged from young to old but everyone looked happy and free, their smiles wide and eyes glinting with joy.

Everything here looked like out of a fairytale. The ballroom, the music, the dresses, the people. I might as well be Cinderella now.

“May I have a dance with you m’lady?” Ian extended his hands and I grinned. “Sure”

I kept my glass on a tray and placed my hand on his. Ian took me to the dance floor. I kept one hand on his shoulder and the other clasped with his. The song changed to Aurora’s runaway and my grin widened.

Ian raised a brow. “You like this song?”

“Yes and it also kinda matches with the atmosphere outside”

Ian smiled and we started dancing, slowly matching our steps till we fell into rhythm. He spun me around and pulled me to his chest, leaning down to whisper in my ear. “You look beautiful sweetheart”

I giggled. “You already said it once”

“And I will keep saying it” Ian pecked my ear and I couldn’t stop smiling as we danced. In my mind I only saw us together, me dancing with the love of my life. Love of my life. The words so strange yet heart warming. Everytime I think about Ian, I feel an immense amount of happiness. Even being close to him makes me fall in love with him all over again and I loved every second of it.

Ian cocked his head to the side. “Why are you smiling?”

“Because I feel happy”

Ian smiled softly. “Is it because of me?”

I didn’t deny or make a joke this time. I nodded. “Yes”

Ian’s smile widened and he spun me around one last time, pulling me to his chest. He looked at the grand clock on the wall behind me. “It’s almost time. We should go”

“Where?”

“You’ll see”

Ian dragged me away from the dance floor and I could see the others also dispersing. But they were going somewhere else while Ian took me to a spiral stair case.

We climbed up the steps and reached the top most floor. Ian took off his coat and put it over my shoulders. “Where are we going?”

Without answering me Ian removed both of our masks and guided me into a large balcony where I could see all the mountains, the town below and the stars above without any obstacle. We were so high up that the view looked spectacular. I thought the balcony would be freezing but there was some warmth sweeping up from the ground. Nevertheless Ian tugged the coat closer making sure I was warm enough.

“This place is not the surprise”

“Then what is?” I turned to Ian but he was looking at something over my shoulder, his lips slowly tugging up into a smile.

“Look” He turned me around and my breath caught in my throat.

It was a meteorite shower.

Flashes of light danced across the sky, falling down in streaks, brightening up the entire night sky. It glowed in sliver, falling down like stars shimmering the sky with it’s fetching beauty. It was utterly mesmerising and there were no words to describe it.

Ian hugged me from behind and gave a kiss to my neck.

“Ian it’s so-” I was speechless. “It’s so beautiful”

“I know”

I stared at every streak of light that fell down and in that moment I knew this was the time I was waiting for.

This was the time to pour my heart out.

This was the right time.

“Ian I-”

“I love you Hailey”

My eyes widened and I spun around in shock. Ian registered the shock in my face and quickly stumbled a step back.

“I-” He swallowed. “I didn’t come prepared for your rejection. I’m sorry Hailey I mean- I’m not sorry. I don’t want to take it back because I truly love you-” He blushed. “But- but I don’t want things to get awkward between us. It’s-it’s fine if you don’t love me. We can manage but don’t- don’t ignore me or anything. I’m sorry. No no I’m not sorry. You know what I mean. I just- just-”

I spluttered with laughter, my hand flying to cover my mouth but I couldn’t stop my laughter.

Ian glanced at me. “W-why are you laughing?”

“Because I was just about to confess but you beat me to it”

His brows furrowed. “What do you mean just about to…confess” He said the last word almost to himself and looked at me in shock. “Hailey, what do you mean confess? Were you- were going to-”

I laughed. “Yes Ian yes”

He inhaled sharply and came closer to me. “Hailey, say the words”

I smiled and cupped his face in my hands. “Ian, I love you”

His face brightened up more than the sky and I don’t think I could ever get it out of my head. It was so sweet. He was so sweet.

“For real?”

I chuckled. “Yes for real. I love you”

Ian smiled brightly and pulled me into a warm hug. “Thank you Hailey thank you”

“For what?”

“For loving me”

My lips tugged up and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. “Then I should be thanking you too”

Ian laughed and slowly pulled back. He looked at me, his eyes glinting with pure bliss. “I love you Hailey”

I smiled. “I love you too Ian”

Then our lips met, cherishing the moments we have for ourselves and the moments yet to come.