Falling for My Billionaire Best Friend

TRINITY

I place the two suitcases on my bed when I notice Saph is flipping pages of my floral printed diary that I wrote when I was in high school. I haven’t seen that diary since I started dating Oli.

“Saph, where did you get that?”

Saph is lying on her stomach, propping her elbows with her eyes fixed on my diary on her hands.

When I ask her to give it to me, but she doesn’t even look at me. Instead, she continues reading and flipping pages as if she’s so hooked up reading a romance novel.

“Saph, ever heard of privacy? It’s a diary for a reason. Hand me that thing and help me pack. May I remind you the reasons why you’re here,” I called her earlier to help me pack my things? My hand is still hanging in the air.

“Saph, put that thing down, and I have a flight to catch tonight!” I yell at her, and that catches her attention.

She grins instead of getting annoyed. “That much, huh?” She finally talks and starts to drag herself off my bed.

“What that much do you mean?” I scowl at her.

She stands up and saunters in my direction. “That you like Bash that much. You sketched him, wrote poems, doodled his name–”

“Whoa! I didn’t write poems for him, and I’m not a poetic type,” I say defensively. I open my two doors closet and start taking my clothes that are worth travel.

Thanks to my two best friends who have good taste in fashion. I quickly pull my clothes and fold them that would fit in my suitcases. I ignore Saph who’s still babbling about how I love Bash.

I’m excited to see South Korea for the first time, and I did my research about the country too. I start listening to BTS even I don’t understand most of their lyrics.

I also feel nervous that I’m spending a week with Bash even though we’ll be staying in two separate rooms. What if he’ll bring women? How should I react? Do I have to pretend that I don’t care? Should I just ignore them?

Of course, you should, Trinity, otherwise, you’ll look like a fool.

I want to believe what they told me in the café three days ago, and that gives me hope a little. What if Bash really cares? What if he’s just looking for a hookup? Then he will start dating again?

“Aunt Abby, good to see you here.” I rise from my seat to hug her.

She’s always been kind to me and treats me like her real daughter. m, besides that she’s my mom’s best friend.

“So, are you excited about the trip?” She takes a seat to my left.

I smile brightly. “Kinda. I’ve never been to Asia, so I expect to have culture shock, but I will do my research,” I tell her honestly.

“You will enjoy your stay there, K. I’ve been there many times, and if Sebastian didn’t suggest that the two of you should go this time, I’m going to join him for another trip. They have great places to visit, very rich culture and great history. They have these traditional clothes that I wore. I still have the pictures.”

I notice my two best friends are listening to Aunt Abby.

“Thanks for giving me a chance, and I would surely enjoy my stay there.”

“Oh, K. You will enjoy it, and you don’t have to call or chat with us every day. We can wait until you come back,” Lizzy says with a grin.

“Thanks, Lizzy, but I still have a job to do there,” I tell her, causing her eyes to roll.

“Your only job is to accompany Bash to the meeting and be pretty, and it won’t take time. You will only meet the Korean team, see the site with them, and close the deal. It won’t take even a day, then the rest of your stay will be for yours and Bash to enjoy,” Aunt Abby explains the plan.

Why do I feel that all of them are pushing me to be with Bash?

“Then why do we have to stay there for the whole week?” I inquire.

“Why not? You have to at least, see some places there, taste their food, and meet Korean guys. Oh, Bash has a friend there. And he’s hot,” Saph butts in.

“I’m not going there to meet guys, Saph. I’ll be there for business purposes only.”

“Oh, yeah. I completely understand because Bash will punch all the guys if they will lay a finger on you,” Lizzy affirms.

My face heats. I notice Aunt Abby smiles at me.

“He won’t do that,” I say quietly.

“Oh, K. He will because that kiss tells us something,” Lizzy replies.

My mouth hangs open, making them giggle.

“Oh, my God! Did you tell your mom, too?” I ask Lizzy.

She raises her brow. “And what’s wrong with that? I’m happy that my baby brother finally found the courage that he should’ve done that years ago.”

I might have turned into a tomato right now, and I think I’m sweating even this place is cold.

“Just take care of my baby, K,” Aunt Abby says.

“He has Mr. Russell to look after him, Aunt Abby,” I respond.

She laughs, covering her mouth with the table napkin. “That’s not what I mean, K. He’s capable of protecting himself if that’s what you mean, and he’s been very responsible since he was in the U. K. What I mean to say is take care of Bash,” she emphasizes take care part.

I nod in agreement.

“He cares about you, K. Don’t ever doubt that.”

***

I ignore Bash’s offer to play a board game. After excusing myself from him, I get inside the master suite of their private jet. I sleep throughout the fourteen hours flight after our dinner together.

He told me that we will be meeting his friend as soon as we settled in at the King hotel in Seoul.

I feel hands nudging my shoulders, and hit those hands blindly while I groan irritably. I pull up the blanket to cover my head. My lids still feel heavy to even get up.

“Tri, you have to get up now. You’ve been sleeping the entire fight, and we’re landing in less than an hour.” Bash’s concerned voice fills my ears.

“Go away, Bash. Come back five minutes before we land.”

“Trinity, don’t wanna freshen up yourself? C’mon, you can continue sleeping in the hotel,” he says, pulling off the blanket from my head.

I open my eyes slowly to see the most beautiful smiling face, looking down at me. I can’t help but smile back.

“Get out now. Give me some time to freshen up.” I sit up lazily.

He moves away from the bed. “Tri, I’ll make a coffee for you…” He trails off, stopping at the door.

“You mean, the flight attendant will make coffee for me.” I nod while running my fingers through my tangled hair away from my forehead.

It only takes half an hour’s drive from the Incheon International Airport to the King Hotel. We are approached by the hotel manager name Jin Seok, wearing a suit and tie with a scarf around his neck, and staff to gather our things.

Edmund is on full alert, scanning the hotel lobby. I carry my small bag with me while Bash has his messenger bag with Edmund.

“Annyeonghaseyo!” Greets the staff.

“Welcome back, Mr. Hughes!” he says with a thick Korean accent.

Bash smiles brightly and talks with Mr. Jin in Hangul, and I don’t even have any idea what they’re talking about. Bash glances at me while he’s busy talking.

Some young women staff can’t help but giggle, and I feel something uneasy in the pit of my stomach. They’re attractive with black straight and shiny hair, fair skin complexion, and dark-colored eyes.

I felt like this when I was in high school when Bash was busy entertaining other girls.

“Is there anything else, Mr. Hughes?”

“That won’t be necessary, Seok. We can take from here,” Bash says dismissively as we enter the elevator. They all bow at us, showing respect as part of their custom. Bash does the same, and so as Edmund. I follow them too.

“They’re amazing people, Bash,” I say with enthusiasm.

He looks at me through his shoulder with a smile. “You’ll like them, and ask me to come back here.”

I roll my eyes.

“They’re pretty too,” I add.

“You’re prettier,” he says, looking at me in the eye, and I feel a heat blooms in my face.

He chuckles.

“Not funny,” I mutter.

The elevator door slides open. Bash holds my hand as he gets out of the elevator.

“You can go, and find your room, Edmund,” he says, dismissing his bodyguard. We enter the huge two shiny dark wood doors after he presses codes and sliding the keycard. My eyes widen. It’s actually a penthouse with Korean interior designs from wall to ceiling, paintings, and furniture.

“Wow! This is way too different from your penthouse in New York, Bash,” I say as I turn around slowly to appreciate the beauty of art around me.

“Glad you like it. Are you hungry?” he asks, taking off his coat. I walk closer to him to help him take off.

The weather is a little bit chilly as I did my research. The winter here will start in November.

“Thanks, Tri. I’ll call the room service, and I’ll let you taste some Korean food.”

“Okay. I should go and take a shower. Where are our things?” I scan to check the living room. I see nothing.

“They’re in our room already,” he answers while kicking off his shoes before he sits down on the maroon couch, and stretches his long legs.

My brows meet. “Where is my room?” I inquire, standing in front of him.

“Our room, Tri. There are only two rooms here. The other one is for Xandry. So, you’ll be staying with me.”

My eyes widen. “I’ll just take a hotel room, Bash,” I protest.

He sits straight, facing me. “You will not, Tri. We slept in one bed before many times that I could count, and I heard no complaints from you.”

I feel taken aback. My heart thunders because this time is different. We already shared kisses.

“It’s not like that, Bash.”

“Then what it is, Trinity?” He searches for an answer on my face.

I can’t tell him why as I feel my mouth locked up.

“Is it because we kissed?”

My face burns.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

“You’re blushing, Trinity,” he teases me with a smile on his face.

I glare at him before I walk away to search for the room. I can’t believe we’ll share a bed. Just being near him is torture and heaven at the same time. How will I survive a week with him? He’s been different than the last four years. He’s gorgeous, pure muscles, he smells good, too, and since I tasted a piece of him, and I now want more.

***

“Umm… I love this. What do you call this again?” I ask as I chew a piece of vegetable in my mouth.

We sit on the floor with a square low table just above our knees.

“That’s kimchi. Don’t you think that’s too spicy? You might have stomach upset, Tri.”

I shove another into my mouth. I shake my head. “I used to eat spicy food. We used to eat in an Indian Restaurant near the college. Ranjiv introduced them to me, and I love them, especially the porota and mutton curry. They’re delicious.” I stop talking when Bash puts down his chopsticks and looks pissed. Did I do something wrong?

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like the food?” I ask with creased brows.

“Do you like him?” he asks firmly.

“Ranjiv? Yeah,” I answer almost immediately.

He stands up abruptly, walking away from our table without a word.

“Bash!” I am quicker on my feet to follow him.

He sprints away, and the next thing I hear is the slamming of the door.

I sit on the couch, frowning at what had just happened earlier. I just lost my appetite.

Wait, he asked if I like Ranjiv and I answered yes, and oh, shit! Did he think that I like Ranjiv like I really like Ranjiv more than a friend? I shake my head, grinning. I want to giggle pretty bad. Is he really jealous of him?

I need to explain that that’s not what I mean. I stand from the couch when I hear the doorbell ring. Is Bash expecting visitors?