Billionaire's series ~ 8

Hi. I'm Hephzibah. What's your name?

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Started: 29"3"2024

Finished: Unknown

Word count: 1778

Happy reading. Tell me your thoughts:-)

~

On the 7th of a certain August, a rich and aristocratic businessman and his wife decided to host a birthday party for their first daughter and only child at the time. The family, who had just gone through a rocky past were so excited for what the future held in store for them as they navigated through their situation as a happy family of three.

The husband and wife, who had just reconciled from a long couple's quarrel were finding it pretty hard to take eyes from each other as they revelled in each other's presence through the maintenance of body contacts and sending seductive glances in each other's ways as they entertained their guests.

It felt more like a second honeymoon to them.

As the birthday party progressed, the mood was lively as the couple received wishes and gifts for their daughter who'd just clocked four.

The occasion commenced with Sucre, the business mogul and father, giving a speech and sending a message of appreciation to their well wishers. Then Stephanie's birthday celebration began.

The four year old bubbly bundle of giddiness who'd been excited to chat with her friends as she was dolled up like a Barbie (her favorite cartoon character) slowly began to get cranky as the event progressed.

Like other children, she'd eventually gotten tired and just wanted to chat with a friend instead of hanging out with people she barely knew. And let's say, that was the only reason Stephanie put up with the girl currently speaking with her.

"Your hair is so pretty, Steph." Hannah, one of the girls Stephanie knew from school gushed with a wide smile as she sat beside Stephanie and crossed her legs.

The sides of Stephanie's lips had just began to tip upwards when she registered the girl's last word.

Steph.

She didn't like to be called Steph. Well, she didn't totally hate it but she didn't want anyone except her best friend calling her Steph. It gave her a weird feeling when someone asides her best friend called her that.

"Call me Stephanie. Not Steph." Stephanie frowned,clearly displeased and Hannah nodded.

"Alright. So, do you wanna be friends?" Hanna asked, the wide smile ever present.

"Okay. But why do you want to be friends with me? You're in a different class. And we don't see each other often."

"Well my dad said she wants to be friends with your mom and dad so he said I should make friends with you." Hannah shrugged. Thinking about the situation, Stephanie chewed on her bottom lip. Her mom had only one friend and that was Dixon's mom.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for her mom to make more friends.

"I'll get back to you." Stephanie said seriously and hoped she'd sounded as convincing as her dad. She had heard him telling people more than once on the phone that he'll get back to them whenever he couldn't immediately decide on a situation.

And she needed to ask her mom if she wanted to be friends with Hannah's parents. That would determine her friendship with Hannah.

"I'll see you in school then." Hannah, who was seven, blew Stephanie a kiss and walked away.

Monica, Stephanie's mom came to sit with Stephanie at the table but had to get back on her feet soon after to attend to something.

"I want to sit with mommy and daddy but they're both busy attending to other things. I'm tired of playing with the kids and my bestie isn't here yet." Stephanie grumbled, playing with the tip of her delicately curled hair.

The mood didn't last long because she heard a familiar voice call out to her.

"Steph?" The voice repeated. It was none other than Dixon, Stephanie's best friend. Stephanie's eyes lit up and she sprang from her chair.

Dixon hated people.

He didn't dislike Stephanie, because they enjoyed each other's company even on the days when they had nothing much to say to each other.

But Dixon didn't like peopling. He avoided people like they had plague and he only loved speaking to her and his mom.

If Dixon didn't like playing with her hair or looking out for her in certain situations, Stephanie would've been convinced that Dixon also didn't like her.

But she liked him. So much infact.

Stephanie was always in awe of Dixon and she gushed over him all the time. Needless to say, she had a huge crush on him. So one would understand her excitement over her best friend's presence in a hall full of other kids and fun activities.

"Yes?" The four year old girl replied with a smile as she turned and watched him approach.

"Happy birthday." He walked up to her and stretched out his right palm. When she lifted hers, Dixon pecked the back of her palm and Stephanie's eyes widened. How could Dixon be so charming? He already looked like the perfect prince charming with his dark horse hair and good-looking face. Then to top it all, he was a complete gentleman.

"Thank you Dixie." She murmured, her cheeks heating up as they both sat. Stephanie was greeted by Andrew, her uncle who was on a call with Dixon's mum and afterwards, she focused all her attention on Dixon like nothing else mattered to her.

Andrew, Monica's brother had helped Veronica— Monica's good friend— bring Dixon to the birthday party because she was down with the flu. Stephanie, who was over the moon because of Dixon, her only recognized birthday guest, made sure he was right beside her when she eventually cut her cake. She ate a slice and gave Dixon a slice before allowing the cake to get distributed to their guests.

Sucre, Stephanie's dad frowned at the awestruck expression on Stephanie's face as she occasionally glanced at Dixon but Monica gave him a look that said, 'leave it. They're children.'

Monica, who has gotten introduced to her husband's new acquaintances finally decided to take a much needed break after much walk and talk. She almost slumped into the chair beside Stephanie and Dixon, exhausted.

But nothing could prepare her ears for the next question that came out of her daughter's mouth.

"Dixon, will you be my prince charming?" Stephanie,the four year old celebrant asked shyly and looked down at her fingernails, blushing profusely. Ever since her mother told her about getting her own real life prince charming, she couldn't help but wonder if Dixon wouldn't get mad if she asked him.

Although she thought Barbie's prince charming was commendable and royal, to her, Dixon was cooler. And he didn't have blonde hair but his dark horse hair was sleek and it gave him a cool look!

The issue was, Dixon usually said there was no real prince charming. That it was all fake and cartoons were stupid.

Dixon's eyes went wide as his new friend asked him if he would be her prince charming. He hated those stupid cartoons she used to watch but he still watched them just to please her. She was always happy when talking about her tea parties with her lifeless dolls. It was pretty stupid to him, because there were real life issues to discuss.

Like how his dad, who usually beat him and his mom whenever he was in a bad mood, still wasn't behind bars. Dixon didn't hate anyone...except his dad. He didn't see the fun in his life. His immediate family had brought chaos and darkness into his life and he was a child. Helpless. He couldn't do anything for his mom. Or his mom's unborn baby, which should've been his sister had his mom not hit her till she had another miscarriage.

His eyes darkened as he thought about this, but then the darkness ebbed off and he blinked to see Stephanie was still staring at him in anticipation.

Stephanie. She was a bundle of light handed to him even when he felt like he didn't deserve it. For instance, if his mom hadn't gotten pregnant with him, she wouldn't have had to marry his jerk of a dad. He would have to live with the shame of that for the rest of his life. His father had reminded him of it for the past six years!

Dixon cleared his throat as he shook his head, fully coming back to the present. He didn't want to be her prince charming. It was stupid and childish. "No Steph."

Stephanie's eyes widened. She had just heard him say 'no.' It broke her heart into a tiny million pieces. Her eyes welled. "Okay Dixon. It's stupid anyway." Her voice trembled and Monica, who watched the interaction felt her heart squeeze at her daughter's first rejection.

Still, she couldn't believe Stephanie mustered the courage to ask a boy out.

Dixon noticed Stephanie's voice was shaky, meaning she was about to cry. He muttered 'fuck' under his breath, remembering she was still a little child and he mustn't curse in front of her. Somehow, he had the mind of an adult and had forgotten he was also a child.

He'd seen too much cruelty in life.

"Uhm, Steph?" Dixon called.

Stephanie looked up with glassy eyes. "Yes?" She replied in a small, shaky voice.

"Will you be my girlfriend? I like you." Dixon confessed with a hard expression, his heartbeat accelerating for some reason.

Stephanie's eyes widened as she tried to conceal her emotions. She'd watched those cartoons where some of those girls talked about their boyfriend who was like their friend but they could cry on the boy's shoulder or have sleepovers sometimes. She would love to do those with Dixon.

She liked Dixon so much. She wanted to do karaoke, go to the playground, build a sand castle and do so many other fun things with Dixon.

"Yes Dixon! I would love to be your girlfriend!!" Stephanie squealed in excitement and side hugged him, earning Dixon a frosty glare from Sucre who was talking to a business partner close by as he heard his innocent little daughter talk about being someone's girlfriend.

He instantly felt a headache coming on.

"Thank fuck!" Dixon muttered softly under his breath, exhaling as he stared at Stephanie with her rosy cheeks and bright smile.

And at that moment, a beautiful story began to write itself in the stars. The beautiful story of two best friends, Stephanie Ambrosia and her best friend, Dixon Da-Milano.

*

Walk with me