{ billie's pov }

I normally don't read trashy tabloids but I can't help but scan through the article starting with the first page showing a photo of her fiancee.

star gossip
here's the scoop, hot off the presses!

Insider sources tell us anastasia monet and old flame victoria rousseau, are officially tying the knot this summer!

friends close to the couple say they've been enjoying their time together as the "it" couple of the business world, attending many red carpet events side by side...

and now it's time to take their relationship to the next level in what some are calling 'a huge surprise'!

we reached out to the happy couple, but they declined our request for comment. maybe they're still prepping their 'official' announcement, but until then...you can read all about it here at the star gossip!

╰───────────────╯

"billie, are you okay?" finneas asked.

"yeah but...I could've sworn I felt a connection between us yesterday. I guess it was all in my imagination."

"confront her about it." finneas said serious.

"dude." I laughed. "confront her about what? this just confirms nothing happened. let me just focus on getting everything packed."

𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚙 : 𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐

I returned to the monet residence to find a congenial older man waiting for me in the lobby.

"pleased to make your acquaintance, ms.o'connell. I'm carter, the monet's family driver. I'll be at your service today to assist with your move."

"thanks so much."

he smiled at me and hoisted several of my bags and led me across the lobby and up to the penthouse.

"I hope you enjoy it here. ms.monet spoke very highly of you this morning. she also said that she feels like you're the perfect addition to this family."

"thanks carter I really appreciate that."

carter gave me a nod before leaving. i took a deep breath and tried to clear my head about the engagement as I unpacked.

I had picked up a lingerie peace when I heard a light knock at the door.

"I trust you're settling okay?"anastasia asked as she entered slowly.

I suddenly became aware of the delicate clothing still in my grasp. I ran the soft silk through my fingers 'absentmindedly' as I talked to her. "I'm settling in just fine.."

her eyes lingered on my hands before sliding back to make eye contact with me as she cleared her throat. "...good, good, I'm glad to hear that."

she looked at her phone for a second and I dropped the lingerie into the drawer.

"I hate to do this to you so last minute, but I was told I have to handle an emergency at the office. could you watch the boys today?"

"I hope it's nothing too serious."

"just a little PR nightmare to start the weekend. nothing I can't handle."

"oh yeah? I find it hard to picture anything you can't handle."

she chuckled lightly. "have you been picturing me a lot?"

I tried to ignore the blood rushing to my cheeks as my vision of my dream came flooding back.

"perhaps, but uhm, yeah, I can definitely look after the boys today. whatever you need."

"thanks, you're a lifesaver. now, I have some basic rules... no pillow fights in the master bedroom. no 'experiments' after dinner. no pop tarts, ever. oh and never ever take the subway. carter will drive you anywhere you need to go."

"alright." I said smiling.

just then, a loud commotion breaks out in the kitchen. anastasia and I look at each other before rushing off to investigate what was going on.

we enter the kitchen to find milk, cereal, and soda splattered all over the place. the sticky liquid drips from every surface and somehow it already got to me.

"boys what the hell?" ana said angrily.

"we did the pop rocks experiment with soda a few days ago, and I said I thought milk might explode too!"

"pop rocks don't actually explode in milk, do they?" I asked

"well, no...we had one bowl of milk and one bowl of soda..." jason said.

"and one with milk and cereal!" jacob finished his sentence.

"yeah okay uh boys clean up the damn mess and get ready. I have a feeling ms.o'connell has something special planned for your first day together."

"you're leaving?! but it's saturday!" jason whined.

"yeah! you never leave on saturdays!" jacob said sounding more upset.

"I know, but I have to take care of a work emergency. I'm leaving you in very capable hands though, so be good, okay?"

"we'll try...but that's all we can promise," jacob said smiling.

the twins throw their arms around her waist soaking her clothes completely in milk and soda. "heh starting now!" jacob said trying not to laugh.

I stepped forward and put my hand on her shoulders.

"I've got this. go change." I said smiling.

"thank you billie. call me if you need anything." I nodded.

I turned to the boys. "I know you're bummed your mom had to leave, but if you clean up fast enough we can go to the coolest place in the city...the planetarium!"

"jacob! I've got the counter! you get the floor!" jason said excitedly.

- 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚙

later, carter drops us off outside of the planetarium.

"thanks for driving us carter. I'm not sure how long we're going to be..."

"it's alright ms.o'connell just call me when you're ready."

- 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚙

"I'm starving" jason groaned holding his stomach.

"I stashed some pop tarts in my pocke-"

"jacob! you know your mom doesn't let you eat those. where'd you even get them?"

"It's a secret! besides, she lets us eat them on special occasions! and isn't our first day together the most special occasion of all?"

I hesitated remembering all the times I ate pop tarts as a kid. "fine. but just this once!"

"thank you!" the twins gobble the damn pop tart down grinning the whole time. a moment later my phone buzzed.

"oh your mom texted me."

"don't tell her about the pop tarts!" jason said scared.

"I won't."

╭───────────────╮
anastasia

hey how's it going?
are the boys behaving
for you?

yeah they're
perfect angels :)

well, now I know you're
lying. how did they
bribe you? a cut of their
allowance? ceasefire
on pranks?

hah
no everything's all
good, no need to

well, thank you billie
that puts my mind at ease
see you at home tonight.

╰───────────────╯

I put my phone away and turn back to the boys trying to ignore the flutters in my stomach at the thought of seeing her at home.

"so boys, why don't we look at the saturn exhibit next-"

just then my phone vibrates in my pocket again.

╭───────────────╮
finneas 🐡

okay so Idk if you care
but the woman is 27
and she's the daughter
of ANOTHER billionaire entrepreneur.

🙄

are u sure you don't
know about the confirmation
about the engagement?

huh?

I mean you actually
know the woman
dude, you should ask
the twins lmao

GOODDDBYEE FINNNEEAASS

╰───────────────╯

although my phone continues to buzz from fins stupid ass texts I put it away and turned back to the boys.

"this museum is boring now," jacob said.

I tried thinking fast before they started to throw a tantrum. "you're right jacob. all this museum stuff can get kinda boring after a whole day."

"but- wait really?" he said confused.

"yeah, we can go to central park and try to find all the stuff we learned about today in the night sky."

"omg cool!"

after a short walk, the three of us made it to central park, searching the sky for constellations.

"I think that one is orion right there," I said pointing up in the sky.

"I found one of the dippers!" jacob said excitedly.

"big or little." jason asked.

"well, it looks pretty little from here.."

after a few more minutes of staring up at the sky, I turned to the boys.

"hey...I have a question for yall..." I cleared my throat and tried to think of the best way to word it.

"ooh, I have a question too! what is the oldest a bug can be?" jason asked.

"I think termites can live about 15 years and I think the termite queen can be like 50."

"ooh, me next, me next! how fast is the fastest second-grader?" jacob asked.

"get out your watch and I'll show you." jason said.

I laughed as the twins stuck their tongues out at each other.

"haha, okay my turn. does your mother know a victoria rousseau..she's pretty, rich, super fancy...?"

"scientifically speaking, I've never seen her actual face, so she may or may not be pretty." jason said smiling.

"ha! underneath all that makeup, she could be a total blowfish," jacob said laughing.

"I'm sure victoria must be nice if your mom likes her, no matter how much makeup she wears," I said.

"one time we accidentally used all her face cream and she cried," jacob said laughing.

"mhm accidentally?" I said looking at them.

"we needed the collagen for an experiment! It said it would 'plump' and 'illuminate', so we painted a lot of stuff with it." jason said.

"but in the end, it didn't do either of them."

I laughed and changed the subject back to victoria. "uhm when did victoria first meet you two?"

"she has always been around. at the country club, at charities, blah, blah, blah." jason said.

"yup. good old victoria. always good for a laugh even if she doesn't know it." jacob said laughing.

"jacob! pranks are supposed to be private." jason said.

"but mom didn't call victoria her girlfriend until, I don't know, the last christmas?"

"yeah, something like that. It wasn't that long ago."

"wow, I guess things developed quickly," I said.

the twins looked at each other confused.

"so..is your mom in love?" I asked.

"eww! no way!" jacob said.

"yeah, we don't see victoria that much. but she's always been around...I don't know if that makes sense."

"we've never even seen them kiss!"

"oh.."

"why are you asking billie?" jason asked.

"oh, I just saw something on the internet about them and was curious. but I guess it's just gossip."

𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚙

"It's getting late...we should start heading back. I'll call carter." I dialed carter but no answer. I tried 4 more times but it just went to voicemail. I tried getting the attention of the taxi drivers but all their dumbasses ignored me.

"billie...I'm getting cold." jason said sadly.

"I know jason, but carter isn't answering and I can't get a taxi and-" I looked at my phone but noticed it was dead. "now my phone died too."

"carters probably driving mom home right now. why don't we just take the subway?" jacob said.

"well, your mom said we weren't really supposed to.." I tried to call another taxi but they ignored me once again. I decided to take the boys' hands and started walking towards the nearest station.

𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚙

by the time we got home, it was close to their bedtime. but as we continues to walk the boys saw their mom and quickly ran to greet her.

"oh my god mom, today was awesome! I saw a hologram star implode!" jason said happily.

"and I found venus from central park!" jacob said loudly.

"plus we saw a shooting star and made a wish!"

"sounds like you had a wonderful time with billie." she said smiling.

"oh yeah, she's the best!" jason said smiling.

"well...I don't know about all that." I said laughing.

"high praise for the first day," she said.

"but the best part was when we got to ride the subway home! it. was. awesome!" jacob said.

'oh, fuck my life...'

anastasias eyes snap over to me as her expression darkened as she realized I broke one of her rules. "is that so?" she asked.

"oh, would you look at that? It's pretty late. we should be heading to bed! come on boys." I lead the twins down the hall before anastasia had a chance to respond.

half an hour later after I tucked in the boys I knew I had to face her. she was sitting in the kitchen, tapping her nails on the counter.

"what makes you think you can break my rules, billie?"

"It was an accident."

"It's not any better if you "accidentally" endangered my children."

In spite of my efforts, my heart pumps harder and my voice raises.

"It's just the subway ana and I made a judgment call! what was I supposed to do? camp out at the damn park?"

"you could've called me. you can always call me. I would've found a way to get you back safely." she said in a stern voice.

"ana...we're back home safely. nothing happened." I said as I softened my voice.

I reached out to touch her arm but she pulled away and started to pace around the kitchen.

"that's not the point! you could've gotten hurt. you have no idea how much pressure I'm under billie. the last thing I need to worry about is jason, jacob, and you."

"you were worried about me?"

"of course I was! what, do you think I'm some heartless monster?"

"what? no! l don't think you're heartless. If anything, you have too much heart. that's why you're getting so worked up over nothing."

"nothing?"

"yeah. you just need to find a different outlet for all of those...emotions."

she stepped closer, her gaze traveling all over my face, lingering on to my lips. "what are you proposing?"

my breath catches in my throat, my gaze wanders to her lips just inches away.

the heat between us intensifies, even without touching, and I can feel the magnetic pull toward her body...

I slink my fingers around her neck, drawing her lips to mine in a kiss that starts long and deep as if we've been kissing for hours..as if I can barely stand to just kiss anymore...

her arms wrapped around me and pulled me closer, her touch like a wildfire under my clothes. I feel like I have to strip if not I'll spontaneously combust.

my fingers thread through her soft hair as our lips part, tongue tangling with hers until she suddenly pulls away and steps back, chest heaving.

"billie..."

"don't talk."

I stepped closer planting my hands on her shoulders, I walk her swiftly back against the counter until her hips are pressed between it...and me

"billie..what are you doing?"

"just learning all the ins and outs of anastasia monet. that's what you want me to do, right?"

I ran my hands down her body, relishing the way she breathes and the fire in her eyes. we're in each other's embrace for a minute or two before she suddenly pulls away, disheveled and confused.

"...we can't do this."

I took her hand and delicately kissed her finger, skimming my tongue over the tip.

"billie..."

"If that's what you want tell me to go to my room and lay down in bed. tell me not to toss and turn all night long. tell me not to touch myself...thinking of you-"

she sighed, collapsing against me and ravaging my mouth with hers. her tongue dances with mine, pressing herself closer against my body.

when she finally pulls away, I'm dizzy and drunk on her natural scent.

"say it anastasia. I want to hear it. you want me."

ana's lust-fogged eyes rove over me, she bit her lip shaking her head. "fuck.. I want you so bad."

"how bad hmm?"

"so bad that being this close to you makes me feel like an animal."

I stroke my finger over her chest, not stopping until I tug her chin towards me.

"an animal? you?"

"you have no idea."

my lips find her ear, my words moaning with desire...

"then show me."

I lean in for another kiss, but in her arms, I feel overheated and overdressed. I swallowed hard and with trembling hands, I grip her shirt and tug it loose.

she gulped as I pushed her jacket off her shoulders.

"careful love, if we keep this going..I'm not sure what might happen next."

"the thing is.." I ran my hand against her bare chest, closing my eyes to savor the smoothness of her skin.
she moaned as my fingers slip beneath her bra, and I feel her nipples rise at my touch.

"..I don't care."

"dammit, billie."

the sound of a cell phone ringing breaks through the connection between us.

"fuck."

the two of us spring apart and quickly adjust our clothes and hair. she walked over to the counter to check the number and grimaced.

"I have to take this." her body language is tense as she reaches for her phone. just before she grabs it I manage to make out the name flashing on the screen..victoria.

right. the fiancee

anastasia crosses the room towards her office to take the call, her back turned to me.

"can we talk when you're done?"

"I...don't think that's a good idea."

"anastasia you can't jus-"

"goodnight billie."

I have definitely fallen for this woman...