BILLIONAIRE IN THE SHADOW

King as escort

The air rippled with laughter, then comments exploded in waves like Rosa had just broke an overwhelmed door of humiliation.

"Poor rats dream big too." Someone laughed in jeers.

"He thinks it's some kind of toy his kid brother rolls on the floor," One guy chipped in between taunting laughter. "That's fucking Royce.... Rolls."

Dominic stood tall, his expression carved from stone as he stared down Rosa. "What the heck is your problem? Do I have business with you?"

Rosa laughed, briefly glancing back at her friends at the back. They all burst in a wave of laughter that could make a man wonder if he's naked in the street.

But Dominic stood, his head up, the air buzzing around him to bury him in their humiliation. But to him, they were all lousy flies, and soon they'll eat their shit up!

"Business?" Rosa laughter rang sharply, witted enough to shatter glass. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind. "You think you're worthy of speaking to someone like me? Take a look at me—" She squirmed, giving Dominic a 360, making sure she practiced the move in front of the driver's window, creating seductive awareness for the mysterious man in the car.

"Do you think you should be standing before someone like me? Your wretched rat. Get lost now before my boyfriend steps out of the car."

Gasps!

Astonishing comments rippled the air.

"That's Rosa's Bf's car?" A girl gushed, envy burning in her eyes. " That's inarguable. Rosa is in the league of filthy rich men."

"No wonder she broke up with her ex last week. She moved on to a new man with real cool cash."

The comments ignited Rosa's desperation, her heart swelling as each comment delighted her, but her friends and some people around knew her real shit;

The girl who can strip for cash. Someone who believed her beauty makes magic work, spoilt, changing men like pads. Every day— when the last couldn't handle her unthrifty bills and lifestyle.

She's the kind that speaks about gold, but can't hold the spade to dig the well.

Dominic's eyes narrowed on her in disbelief, his shock dissolving into sheer amusement. "Your boyfriend," He jeered, and pointed a finger casually. "That car belongs to me. So..." The air froze, holding back laughter to mock his shocking confession.

Dominic seemed to be the only person mobile as he took one step closer to Rosa. He tilted his head with an amusing, almost demeaning smirk. "...you're technically saying I'm your boyfriend which is never going to be possible even in your worst nightmare. You...you shameless rotten lass."

Dominic didn't shout, didn't bite. He spoke calmly, but the weight hit Rosa like the worst slap.

She snapped, the insult twisting her in the stomach like acid. Her manicured finger clawed through the air like a pouncing eagle in motion, to batter Dominic's face, but someone caught her hand mid-air, behind.

"Don't you dare," A voice croaked at the back, gritting out angrily. " You don't want your arms gone, do you?"

Rosa's hand froze mid-air. She spun back to see an imposing figure, five feet nine, staring her down with eyes glinting with predatory intents. Her upright feature crumbled at the close range of the intimidating newcomer.

Expensive cologne hit her nose like poison, drifting from the man's ensembles. His suit was sharp, like it was biting her skin, feeling as though the fabric was going to pierce her deep and suck her blood.

Rosa blinked and swallowed—she swallowed nothing as her throat had suddenly dried up, completely caught off guard by the intrusion. The corner of her eyes catch the interior of the Royce Rolls.

Her jaw dropped. It was the man in the Royce. The man who she'd been trying to seduce by glass reflections, impersonating as his girlfriend. He looks matured but maintained, maybe in his late 50's.

Something about the man looks familiar. Too familiar. Then it hit her like a wave.

Her eyes widened in horror, her throat tightening. "Mr. Vega...vega cross..." She wanted to scream out but her throat caught before her voice formed. Her inside screamed.

This man was her father's Boss. Bigger boss. Her father might be wealthy, but he's just a gnat compared to Vega's presence. It's just impossible to compare them. Vega was the one indirectly paying her fees and nonsense cravings.

The multi billionaire mogul whose name can break tight Jaws, smatch political and oligarchy joints. The man who bowed to no on but only a master whose name rippled the world from the shadow.

The air holds its breath— suffocating. Murmuring buzzed under tongues that were running loud earlier.

Rosa felt small— Too small, her features quivering under Vega's gaze.

"Careful next time not to get hurt," Vega's voice came low but threatening. "You're gonna get hurt pretty bad if that hand goes up on him next time."

Then, Vega shoved her without regarding her gender. It was a light push. A warning. Then he moved across to Dominic with quick strides like a professor who's late on the first appointment.

Before he could go low, Dominic signalled a finger, his arm at the side. No one caught it. A quiet way of stopping his known next action which would eventually rattled him or prompt people digging about him.

Vega caught the signal in time. Then he stood straighter. Dominic gave a little smile like he was saying "Weldone Vega"

Vega smiled back, giving a curt bow nonetheless, as though it was impossible never to revere Dominic.

The students were confused, comments humming beneath tongues in shock.

The campus poorest guy, walking with Vega Cross.

No, Vega Cross was walking him like he was some Relic.

Marcus gasped in shock at the window when he saw Dominic walking to them with Vega behind him like a Thrall. An escort.

"What the heck is going on?! Isn't that Vega? Mr. Vega Cross!"