Tryst with a Trillionaire - Chapter 4

Lucy woke in the penthouse suite, nestled in a dreamy bed.

Had she really flown to Paris to dine with a stranger? It was either daring or so stupid. Conor’s wink had been effective bait. This experience was going to make for high-click content. Her engagement ratings would soar!

A knock at her door was followed by staff announcing themselves. Tucking the bedsheet up around her chest, she called them in.

“Sorry to bother you, mademoiselle.” The liveried attendant pulled in a clothes rack. “Monsieur Gavin sent a few items for you to choose from. And breakfast.” Another tray was wheeled in and left at the end of the bed. “Bonne journée, mademoiselle.”

Crawling across the bed, Lucy breathed in the delicious scent of the pastries and sipped the fresh juice. She danced her fingers over the clothing—an assortment of dresses, slacks, tops and shoes.

What a dream! A mega-rich hottie had whisked her away to spoil her. Never had she felt so adventurous, so… Well, she thrived on the approval of other people. Likes. Follows. Heart emojis. This felt different. More intimate. Like someone was interested in the real Lucy Ellis, not her Queen of the Lucky Ducks persona. It was…a little difficult to take in, actually.

What had she gotten into?

Sitting cross-legged, she dived into breakfast while scrolling for info about Conor. Very few images of him existed online. Three, to be exact, which was weird. Wikipedia touted him as… “A trillionaire?” How was that even possible?

Apparently, his family owned a bit of everything across the world, with a focus on robotics, oil, cybercurrency and ocean mining. Because of their wealth, his parents had kept Conor secluded from public as a child. When he’d hit the social scene in his twenties, he’d initially been caught in compromising positions and then he’d disappeared for years. Now the trillionaire was known for his generosity yet uncompromising commitment to privacy.

She checked her stats. Lots of hits. Her recent eye shadow sponsorship deal had rent covered for a few more months. She snapped a shot of the clothes rack before the terrace window that looked out to the Eiffel Tower and posted it with the caption “When in Paris…”

Now, if her followers knew she was being hosted by the world’s richest man… All she needed was a shot of the two of them, enjoying themselves. If she could get one of them looking romantically involved, the sponsors and opportunities would roll in. Brands couldn’t resist a romance.

And it was romance that her oft-ignored heart longed for. All work and no play had made Lucy a desperately wanting woman. But how long could this last, really? She didn’t even know Conor. And her dating history was meh. She’d never been able to fully invest in a relationship because, growing up, she’d been forced to fend for herself while her parents had worked long hours. She was a thoroughly independent woman, which made it difficult to put her trust in another person.

Her phone pinged with a message. Can you be ready in an hour? Conor wanted to do “touristy stuff” like the Louvre, Sacré Coeur, the Jardins des Plantes and, if she dared, the catacombs.

Ancient cathedrals and spooky skulls? Perfect content for her socials.

Lucy texted an enthusiastic “Yes” and the beaming-smile emoji.

Time to work this fantasy for every possible social media hit. Because it couldn’t last forever. Soon enough, she’d have to return to London and real life.