The Billionaire's Forgotten Wife

5 Begging him.

This was stupid, Larissa thought as she pulled the short dress down to at least cover her ass. But it was determined to sit right where her ass ended. She flicked her straightened hair off her shoulders and took a deep breath.

This was Teresa’s idea of her begging and groveling at Bruce Tak’s feet – being dolled up, and half-dressed in a tiny dress and high heels that made it hard to walk like the many women she had seen him with.

Larissa groaned, because this was not her. And she didn’t want to be seen as one of Bruce Tak’s women. But since she made a blunder that morning by not showing up where she was supposed to. She had no leg to stand on.

And it was definitely time for her to take this job seriously. She might not have any respect for Bruce Tak, and she might hate him – more so now after the stunt he pulled that morning. But she had her career to think about. And she wasn’t going to let her personal feelings get in the way of bringing Alexei Malkovich down.

And so with the contract and NDA tucked in an envelope under her arm, Larissa made her way to the club that Bruce listed on the schedule as one of the places they will be making an appearance. She wasn’t sure if he will show up, since this was part of him slowly introducing her into his life, so that it wouldn’t seem suspicious when he suddenly marries her.

She pulled out her phone and contemplated calling him. But she didn’t know what to say. He fired her.

No, it would be better to just show up, she thought walking to the club. He wouldn’t shout at her if he was with people. No one should know about their arrangement.

People walked around the building of the club. Black and red lights illuminated the space in front of the building. There was a red carpet laid out, leading to the door. And to the side there was a human size cut out of Bruce Tak, and other celebrities.

 He might show up, Larissa thought to herself as she came to a stop at the side of the building. Or he might already be inside. There was a long line in front of the door that seemed to wrap around the building. The bouncers stood blocking the entrance. One of them was checking off names and letting people in.

How was she going get in there?

She doubted that her name was on the list. She was probably supposed to be Bruce’s plus one. Larissa tried to think of how to get inside. When chaos seemed to erupt right before her eyes when a yellow sports car came zooming around the building and stopping right where the carpet began at the kerbside. A black SUV stopped behind the car.

The driver’s door opened, and as if in slow motion, Bruce stepped out. He was wearing all black – black jeans, a black shirt and a black long coat that made him look like Morpheus from the Matrix. The women in the long line screamed, and ran towards him. His bodyguards jumped out just in time to stop the stampede that was about to happen.

Bruce looked at them unfazed by the screaming and shouting. He waved giving them his breath-taking smile.

Damn…Larissa thought as she was breathless too. The man was hot, there was no denying that even though she hated him.

She didn’t move for a few minutes until Bruce was right at the door. If he disappeared inside she won’t be able to find him.

Shit, ran towards the door, but his bodyguards were blocking off the mindless women so that he could get inside.

“Bruce!” she shouted as she nudged and shoved them out of the way. God, she never dreamed that she would be one of those women who had to fight her way through a throng of other women to get Bruce Tak’s attention.

“Miss stand back,” one of his bodyguards said pushing her back. Dammit. Larissa growled pushing forwards again.

“Bruce!” she called his name. But everyone around her was screaming. It would be a miracle if he heard her.

“Back!” the bodyguard shoved her hard. She teetered as she lost her balance. She shot out a hand, her fingers closed around the jacket of the bodyguard and she took him down with her. The crowd gasped as she fell on top of the bodyguard. For a second no one moved. And then the crowd parted. She looked up to see Bruce Tak standing there staring down at her.

Shit…Larissa thought as she stared up at him. She must definitely look a sight. She thought this morning was bad, but she was laying on top a very large man with her limps going every which way and she was sure her dress had ripped, because she could feel a breeze where she shouldn’t. And worse of all Bruce was staring down at her with his piercing eyes.

Larissa closed her eyes for a seconds utterly embarrassed. And she felt them, strong arms coming around her and lifting her like she weighed nothing. Her eyes flew open and she stared at the side of Bruce’s face. She was so close to him. And he was carrying her, right there in front of everyone. Flashes of cameras went off, blinding her. She closed her eyes and wrapped an arm around his neck for balance.

He walked into the club with people staring at them. Embarrassment filled her, and she resisted the urge to cover her face when people started to take out their phones and take pictures of them.

She was going to be everywhere tomorrow.

She could already see the headlines. Larissa internally groaned. 

She was glad when Bruce walked into a private room. The door silently closed behind them. He placed her on a couch. And stepped away from her.

“Uhh…” Larissa tried to think of something to say to him, but her mind pulled a blank when he turned and stared at her. “I came to apologise. And…”

His eyes weren’t exactly on her face. Larissa looked down her body. Oh…. she was right her dress did rip on the side and her underwear was showing. Her mouth hung open as Bruce took off his jacket.

No…she wanted to jump up and run. But he handed her the jacket.

“Take this,” he said looking away.

Larissa took it and put it on. His warmth still lingered in the jacket. And she could smell his very expensive cologne. It smelled so good and so very masculine.

Stop Larissa, she shouted at herself. She really needed to stop reacting to him like this. She was not one of his groupies, but today she behaved like one, making a fool of herself. It would seem she would do anything for her job.

Talking about her job, Larissa opened her mouth about to beg him to take her back. When the door was opened. The bodyguard she fell on walked in carrying the envelope she had clearly dropped.

“Sorry,” she said as he handed it to her. He shook his head at her and then walked out.

A few seconds went by without Bruce saying anything.

“I am really sorry. I didn’t mean to cause the commotion I did. I just wanted to…” the door was opened again interrupting her. A well-dressed man walked inside and came to a stop in front of Bruce. He looked like he might be the owner of the club. His clothes looked expensive and he held himself in a way that spoke of money and confidence.  

“I heard there was a commotion outside. I didn’t realized that it involved one of your groupies. I thought I might have a lawsuit on my hands,” he said giving Bruce a slap on his back. “You will take care of this then.” He turned around to leave.

“She’s not a groupie, Harry. She’s my soon to be wife,” he said not looking at her.

What? Larissa stared at him not sure that she heard him correctly.

“What?” he asked confused. He stared at Larissa his eyes narrowing on her face. He clenched his jaw, but then smoothed his features into a neutral mask as Bruce turned to him. Larissa didn’t know what to make of his behaviour.

He was clearly displeased of what Bruce was saying. She stared at their interaction. She wasn’t sure but something felt off about the guy.

Could he be the one who was stalking Bruce? Larissa asked herself.

“Yeah,” Bruce said.

Harry laughed. “And your bodyguards refused to let her in. You’re playing with me right?”

“No. It’s true. I told them not to let her in. But she found a way to create a spectacle right there in front of the paparazzi. I couldn’t let her tell the world my secret, could I?”

“Your secret?” Harry asked looking from Bruce to Larissa with interest. His eyes landed on the envelope in her lap.

What the hell was Bruce up to? Larissa asked herself. He didn’t have to tell Harry anything until he was ready to tell the world about the marriage.

“So you’re marrying her t shut her up. Isn’t that a little much?”

“No. It’s what she wants,” Bruce said finally turning to her. His eyes collided with hers, and Larissa felt chills run down her spine. An anxious feeling filled her stomach as she stared at him. He looked scary in that moment. “Can you please give is a minute. I’ll be done in a second and then I’ll make my appearance.”

Harry nodded. He stared at Larissa with a weird fascination in his eyes. She wondered for the second time what was up with this Harry.

He walked out of the room leaving them together.

Bruce walked closer to the couch. “I thought I told you to leave the show business to me,” he said his voice all rough and hard.

Larissa had a feeling that she was seeing a different Bruce Tak to the one she met before. This Bruce looked a little dangerous. And he made her feel unsure of herself.

“I know. But I messed up this morning. I wanted to apologize and give you this,” she said handing him the envelope. Bruce took it and pulled the paper out a little to read. After a few seconds, he tucked it back and handed it back to her.

Larissa’s heart fell. She thought he said that she was his soon to be wife. He told Harry so. Was he just acting?

“I have some business to take care of here,” he said. He walked to the door. Larissa’s mouth hung up as she felt dismissed without any explanation.

Did she really f**k the whole thing up? It felt like it.

Before she could think of what to do next, the bodyguards she fell on walked into the room.

“Mr. Tak said I should drive you home,” he said not looking at her. Larissa stood up. She walked to the door with the envelop tugged close to her chest.

The club was pumping now. The sound of loud music filled the space as she was led out. She looked around her, and stopped in her tracks as her eyes were caught by something on the upper part of the club.

The section looked like it was the VIP section. Long couches filled the space, and the lighting was softer and not as bright as the bottom part.

Bruce was sitting there, and to his side was none other than Alexei Malkovich.

Larissa’s eyes went wide as she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. They did know each other.