BILLIONAIRE IN THE SHADOW

Rosa's demand

Rosa stumbled into his boyfriend's apartment, Connor, the guy most people on campus popularly call the H.H— Handsome hot.

His striking features were Stark under the warm glow of the ambiance like a handsome god carved by Adonis himself, the god of handsomeness.

Five feet nine tall, his skin flawless, glowing bronze under the light like his face was dipped in unadulterated honey overnight. He pampered his skin more than his balls, and once, he'd publicly assaulted a lecture who unintentionally tossed book to his face, saying it was an abuse to his sauve face.

Squared shoulder, perfect abs that look like it could cut through glass. That's Connor Lumbard.

He's the reason most girls turn their heads and lose their way, and why most guys get jealous.

But Conner is a jerk who swaps women every week like clothes, dumping the first like trash and taking new ones that won't last two weeks.

Cars and lavish lifestyles were his trade mark, but what everyone didn't know was that he's a leech, feeding off his Papa's pocket, the president of the University.

Conner's eyes were earlier fixed on the computer screen, his focus deepening into the game as the PlayStation 5 he recently bought hit differently. He jerked forward as a sharp slam cut through the rhythm blasting into his ear. He yanked the headset off, and spun on the door with a face twisted in irritation to lash at the mannerless intruder.

His words caught in his throat the moment he saw Rosa breezed like a wounded lion. "Rosa," He pushed himself off the leather effortlessly, his eyes narrowing on her disheveled babe in stunned assessment. "What the fuck messed with your look?"

Rosa didn't talk yet. Not yet. She sent her handbag flying across the room like it was the orchestra of her frustration. She paced the apartment like a predator who lost her cub to a small prey, each step echoing off the marble like bullets against steel.

Conner dropped the game console and stepped forward gently, a diamond earring flashing into the warm ambiance. His face carried a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Rosa," He called her softer now, with an edge of concern. "What the heck happened to you?"

Rosa stopped and spun once, her face was a mask of fury and smearing setting spray and spilling mascara.

Her manicured finger jabbed in the air sharply. "Can you believe someone— that poor bastard humiliated me in public! In the face of everyone!"

Hearing that, Conner's eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer.

He reached out gently, holding Rosa on the shoulder softly. "Relax babe," He said smoothly, his voice brimming with confidence and assurance. "Chill, and tell me what happened. Who made my queen vex like this?"

Rosa's chest rose and fell quickly as though her anger was eating up her peace. She barely steadied her voice as she gushed,

"That poor thing... Dominic. He humiliated me . He called me abusive names in front of the whole campus. He abused you Conner. That poor thing abused you right in front of everyone! Said my boyfriend is a nobody who couldn't afford a Royce Rolls!"

She landed, the lie flowing smoothly like oil.

Her chest heaved on in the fleeting pause like she was carving deep into her mind to pull out another lie that'll blow Conner up. Conner's eyes were already changing the normal colour slowly.

"He called your face dirt! Dominic stepped on your name! He fucking did!" She lashed like a whip.

Conner's eyes were reddened in anger. "Dom," He toned gravelly like an awakened beast. "What gut did that guy have...the poorest guy in the school have to speak to me like that? Because he just graduated, he thought I can't do anything?"

Rosa cut in. " You have to do something, Connor," She said. "He abused your name and rubbed your face in the mud in front of people who fear you. You should deal with him!"

Conner nodded gently in agreement, his hand sliding down off her shoulder.

"I'll handle this, Rosa. Trust me." He said confidently, his mind already calculating his move. "He thought he'd graduated, but I'll show him I'm his master anywhere he goes, and he's going to learn real hard lessons in the hardest ways for even daring to stand up to you ."

Rosa smirked triumphantly, already imagining how badly Connor would deal with Dominic.

She pressed on her venom. "Show him the name he abused carried weight enough to shatter his ugly dreams. Such poor rascals shouldn't even be allowed on campus in the first place."

Conner nodded gently as though he knew better how to handle the situation.

"Leave the matter to me, Rosa," His voice was firm and filled with assurance. "Don't worry about a peasant— he's not worth your hassle. It's as simple as disposing off trash in waste.. I'll handle him more than you've imagined, and put him in a wrong place he'll never scale out from" He toned venomously, his voice firm and filled with assurance. "Just give me a few hours to make a few calls."

Rosa's anger diminished as Connor's assurance cooled, but there was still a slight crack of disappointment in her expression

"Take my words for it, Rosa." Conner held her wrist to further explain his points, but Rosa pulled away from his hold, her face fully masking with dissatisfaction.

Connor's eyes narrowed. "Rosa, you're doubting my..."

"You caused all of this. You know. You know you do." She threw out like a baby starting a tantrum, arms folded across her chest.

His eyes narrowed. "What are you pointing at, Rosa? How am I the cause of it?"

"You refused to get me a birthday gift the last time. You said your account was acting up. That was two months ago now. Two months, Connor! "

Conner's expression faltered slightly, but he recovered his confidence quickly. He released a gentle sigh, a curt smug smirk tugging the corner of his lips. "You're such a character, Rosa," He said playfully holding her shoulder gently. "Yeah, I said my account was acting up— An unusual amount that broke the limit of my normal savings, even as a VIp customer. The account is under review by the bank, but trust me, it'll be active again in no time." He said, reaching for her arm again. Rosa didn't resist, but her expression was still sour.

Connor gave a small playful laughter, brushing stands of hair behind her ear, his gaze settled on her face lasciviously. "You're still enticing even when you're angry."

"Now, tell me, what should I get for you to make you happy? Or," He smirked. "Should we get you inside— onto my bed." He smirked, but Rosa rolled her eyes in denial.

" Relax," He pressed on smoothly. "You told me you'll need some jewelry the other time. I can get some high end jewelry for you quickly—today. Imported and custom made. Anything you want, baby." He pressed on gently, his voice smooth as honey, eager to ease off Rosa's anger completely.

He grabbed his phone in readiness when Rosa's voice cut through his action.

"I want something else, Conner." She said.