Waking up on the Billionaire's Bed

Venus Miller adjusted her oversized sunhat and sighed, staring out at the endless blue ocean from the cruise ship's deck. The gentle sway of the waves was supposed to fill her with excitement. After all, this wasn't just any vacation; it was her dream trip, the one she'd been saving up for since she was sixteen. A Christmas cruise to the tropics, complete with all the glamour she'd never had growing up.

But no amount of sparkling ocean or swanky luxuries on the ship could completely ease the worry in her heart. She pulled out her phone from her pocket for the tenth time that day and checked for any new messages. Nothing.

Her boyfriend, Joel, had gone on a business trip overseas, but it looked like he was too busy to even call or send a quick message. Venus told herself it wasn't a big deal. Joel wasn't the romantic type anyway. He was more practical, the kind of guy who didn't believe in wasting time on frivolous things like holiday cruises or surprise phone calls to his girlfriend.

But still, she hoped for a message. Something simple. Thinking of you, maybe.

"Still waiting for Prince Charming to call?" came a voice behind her.

Venus turned around to see an elderly woman with sharp eyes and a mischievous grin. She'd introduced herself earlier at the boarding terminal as Ms. Lila. A retired teacher who seemed to have the ability to see through people's thoughts.

"Not waiting," Venus denied. "Just enjoying the view." But the forced smile on her face gave her true thoughts away.

Ms. Lila looked at her with a raised eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Enjoy it, sweetheart. But don't waste your vacation waiting for someone who doesn't appreciate you, it is never worth it."

Venus chuckled. "I'm really not waiting. I've got plans. Big plans."

"Oh? Like what?"

Venus hesitated, unsure if she should share her secret with this mischievous old lady. But Ms. Lila had a way of disarming people and making them open up. And Venus figured, she was a total stranger anyways and wasn't going to leak her secret. So, she decided to tell.

"I'm proposing to my boyfriend," Venus admitted, her cheeks reddening.

Ms. Lila's eyes widened. "Well, aren't you bold young lady? A modern woman. I like it."

"Thanks," Venus said. "I'm waiting for Valentine's Day though. It'll be perfect."

Ms. Lila gave her a long, assessing look. "Just make sure he's worth the effort, honey."

Venus nodded, though doubt flickered in her chest. She didn't know why she felt that small tremor in her heart, but she pushed it aside.

Later that evening, Venus wandered into the ship's grand ballroom. Her spirits lifting at the sight of the glittering decorations and the soft hum of holiday music. She loved Christmas with its fairy lights and cozy traditions. This cruise was her way of combining that festive magic with her dream of adventure.

Grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, she made her way toward the buffet area where an array of mouthwatering dishes awaited. As she reached for a plate, a familiar laugh froze her in place.

No. It couldn't be.

Venus turned around slowly but her heart plummeted to her stomach as her eyes landed on the unmistakable figure of Joel. Her boyfriend of two years, the one who was supposedly on a business trip, stood just a few feet away from her. His arm was draped around the waist of a woman she recognized all too well, Sarah, her high school classmate and unofficial nemesis.

They were laughing and talking in low whispers, completely oblivious to the people around them.

Venus's grip on her plate tightened. Her vision blurred with a mixture of fury and disbelief. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. Joel wouldn't.

But he had.

She had told him about the cruise since they started dating when she was eighteen. After their relationship got closer, she invited him to go together, but he refused. Saying that he was busy with work and taking time off for a cruise during the busiest time of the year in the business world would affect his promotion.

She had been the understanding girlfriend and didn't insist, thinking that her insistence would hold him back. So, she decided to go alone, except for the small detail where she had told Joel that if he wasn't going then she might not go either.

He must have taken it seriously and thought that she wouldn't go on the cruise so he brought his mistress to enjoy their time without worrying about getting caught. Too bad she had come anyway. He knew how bad her relationship with Sarah was, but of all the two legged creatures wearing a skirt in the world, he had to choose her to cheat with. How original.

Taking a deep breath to calm her raging emotions, Venus marched across the room. Some people had already noticed her abnormality and started giving her curious stares. But she didn't care. She didn't even care about the sinking humiliation she felt at that moment. When she reached Joel, she raised her hand and tapped his shoulder calmly.

He turned around , but the smile on his face vanished the moment he saw her.

"Venus?" he called out in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock.

"Enjoying your 'business trip'?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she quoted the air.

"Wait Venus, I can explain-" Joel started, but Venus didn't give him the chance to start making up lies to fool her. He had already done enough of that. She slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing through the room.

Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Venus just turned on her heel and walked away with her head held high. This was the last bit of dignity left for her. She would not give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her break down, especially not for a jerk like Joel. Yet, her heart felt as if it had been crashed in her chest.

The sting of betrayal lingered long after Venus retreated to the ship's bar. She downed a cocktail, then another, and another, desperate to numb the pain. Joel's betrayal felt like a cruel joke, one that left her questioning everything in her life .

"Rough night?" a deep voice asked from beside her.

Venus turned to see a man leaning casually against the bar. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a jawline sharp enough to cut glass. His dark hair was slightly tousled, making him look sexy, and his piercing blue eyes held a hint of curiosity.

"Understatement of the year," Venus muttered, gesturing to the bartender for another drink.

"Wanna talk about it?" the man asked with a deep voice that could get any interested lady pregnant. Unfortunately, Venus wasn't interested in anything but alcohol at the moment.

"Not really," Venus replied, taking another sip. "But thanks for asking, uh..."

"Jared," he supplied with a smirk. "And you?"

"Venus."

"Well, Venus," Jared said, raising his glass, "here's to bad nights and new beginnings."

Venus clinked her glass against his, finding herself smiling at his somewhat clever remark despite everything. Maybe the night wasn't a total loss after all.

The next morning, Venus woke up with a pounding headache and a sinking feeling. She could feel that something wasn't right. Her mouth was dry, and her body ached in ways she couldn't explain.

She blinked against the sunlight streaming through the curtains, trying to piece together the hazy memories of the night before. The bar. The drinks. The charming stranger... then her memories stopped.

She couldn't remember what happened after sharing drinks with said stranger or how she ended up in the bed she was on right now.

She moved her hand slightly to support herself and get up, but her hand touched a warm body. Her stomach dropped as she realized she wasn't alone.

Turning her head slowly, she found herself face-to-face with Jared. And what was worse... she was naked under the covers.