Taming A Billionaire

Kimberly's point of view

I was about to grab a drink from the refrigerator when my phone rang. It was Tina, she must have seen the pictures I emailed to her earlier.

"Hello" I trapped the phone against my ear with my hunched up shoulder while searching through the fridge for a specific juice.

"Hello" Tina's voice came from the other end, "What's keeping you from revealing the pictures to the world. This time it's obvious the bitch wouldn't be able to excuse her way out of this one?" 

Of course, Miss authority questioned me as if I was her personal maid. 

I finally found the juice I was looking for and brought it out, balancing the phone properly with my hand.

"I thought of doing just that but I have a better idea. Why don't we let Maya finish the movie and just when she's about to reap the fruit of her efforts, we expose the pictures. 

"Announcing to the world that she had gotten that role by selling out her body. And not just by sleeping around, but sleeping with Eden, the cousin to Niklaus- the man she had been accused of trying to break up his relationship months ago.

"Her barely restored image over the months would crumble instantly. Public opinion would be against her once again and people would label her as a golddigger, vile, and promiscuous woman.

"I work in the PR department and know how this industry works. Parents would insist that her behavior was morally loose, a toxic role model to their kids. Netizens would boycott the movie and demand her scenes be removed.

"We all know how everyone is anticipating this long-awaited movie - It's causing quite a frenzy on the internet. Even as powerful as Niklaus or Eden is, they can't do anything cause this time they're facing millions of netizens from across the globe.

"With no one to help her and a reputation destroyed beyond repair, Maya would have no alternative but to quit the entertainment industry since no director would be willing to work with her.

"Who knows? She might even leave the country and go into hiding all together considering how reactive some fans are " 

There was silence from Tina's side which didn't surprise me, she was taking in the details of my plan. I felt so proud, only I could come up with such an incredible scheme.

"Your plan is impressive"

My head swelled with pride, even Tina couldn't help but compliment me this time.

"But I have to reject it" she dropped a bomb.

"What?! " I spat out the juice from my mouth, mystified. I must have heard wrong.

"Why are you rejecting it? What's wrong with the plan? There is not even a  flaw in it! " I argued.

I stayed up all night stressing my brain to come up with this awesome plan yet she threw it into the bin like it was nothing!

There was a hint of anger in my tone even though I tried my best to hide it, "Tell me you have a good reason for opposing this" 

"Your plan is good but it has one flaw: Time" Tina singled out.

"Elaborate" 

"Shooting that movie would take months which I don't have and Maya is a notable threat to my position. Who knows what would happen within those months of carelessness- she might even find a way of altering Adam's view about her; she's a green snake in a green grass.

"Also, there's nothing more heartbreaking than getting one's dream crushed before it even manifested. Maya disappearing into thin air now would do more good than in the future. "

I thought hard about it and Tina's words did make sense. Her engagement party was upcoming and each time wasted doing nothing was an advantage to Maya.

Moreover, those pictures would have more impact now the memory of the past scandal was still fresh and she had gotten an eye-catching role.

"Fine, I understand and have just the right plan in mind. It would take effect a few days from now"

"Better, hurry up then. Time is against me "

" Of course, I - "

Tina hung up before I was through with my statement. What was I even expecting from her?

With a snort, I went through my contacts and sought out a certain person.

"Hello, Lily" 

"Hi, Kimberly"  

"Are you available this afternoon, I have important news that would increase your viewer ratings effortlessly" I threw the bait.

"Oh my God!" She gasped in wonderment, "Did you discover a celebrity with a sugar daddy?! " 

I smirked, "Trust me, this has more weight than that and would cause quite an Internet sensation" 

"O.M.G, you know what? I'm coming right away, just send the address" 

I ended the call, sent the location to her, and turned around only to bump into my mother.

"Mom?" I was startled.

There was a frown on her face and she wrapped her arms across her chest and oh, I knew that look: I'm about to be interrogated.

"Who were you on the phone with?" 

I gave her an awkward laugh, 

"Mom, why are you being like this? You're treating me like I'm some teenager"

Though it was an excuse to evade her stern demeanor, it still pissed me to be dealt with this way

"Answer my question, Kimberly, Who were you speaking to?" She demanded.

" It was just Lily, satisfied?" I mocked.

"Lily?" She thought over the name, "Isn't she the television presenter at that broadcast company?" 

"Yes, that Lily" I rolled my eyes, annoyed.

"Why are you meeting up with her? "

"Mom, seriously? I'm aged past being handled this way" I spoke out on her unreasonable treatment - I wasn't that teenage girl she could manage the way.

Since she was standing in my way, I walked around her, hoping to get some peace before meeting up with Lily, but that woman followed after me.

"Tell me you have no bad intention towards Maya," She said after me, causing me to turn around with a drained look.

"What do you mean?" 

"I hope you're not about to release any defamatory news about Maya?"

I was stunned, how did she know about that and why was she even concerned about it? She never involved herself with how I treated Maya, so why intervene now.

But to give her the benefit of the doubt, I appeared indifferent, "What are you talking about?" 

"If you're thinking of distressing your sister in any way whatsoever, I'll advise you to get rid of that plan of yours," she said.

I scratched the side of my eyes, 

"Why do you think I would harm that fool?" 

"First of all, that fool is your sister and has a name, so mind the way you refer to Maya if you don't want to get into trouble"

I was short of words hearing those words from my mom, why was she even protecting Maya and what trouble would I get myself into for calling that "fool" a fool.

"Also, I knew that you were the one who released that information to the press about Maya's background- " 

"And yet you did nothing, mom" I threw my hands up in the air, "So  why are you telling me this now?"  

"I'm just informing you for your safety" she clasped my face tenderly," You know nothing about that girl like if she has a powerful backer supporting her; I don't want you to get yourself into trouble" 

"Trust me, mom, I know everything there is to Maya," I told her.

"No, you don't know everything!" She yelled at me, her clasp tightening with her fluctuating emotions.

"Are you keeping something from me?" I couldn't help but sense she was hiding a very important secret 

from me.

"O-of course not," She stuttered, 

" I'm just concerned about you" 

She was lying, that was obvious but the fact she was defending Maya vexed me more.

"And what makes you think my life revolves around Maya?" 

" Huh?"

I pulled her hand away from my face.

"Maya!Maya! Maya! Why would you think that I have time to plot against that scum that isn't worth my attention?"  

"Kimberly, I'm - "

"Does this mean you don't trust me?" 

"That's ludicrous! I trust you but I'm also your mother and know when you're up to no good" 

I came closer, " Lily and I are friends who just want to catch up on things since we've been so busy lately. So take it or leave it!" 

I stormed out of the living room, walked up the stairs, and walked into my room.

Mom was getting protective of that witch Maya so I had to do that. If I didn't deny her accusation, she'd probably try to stop me from achieving my goal.

After confirming my mom left for work before me, I dressed up, got into my car, and drove off to the restaurant.

Thanks to the delay, Lily was already there before me.

"You're five minutes late" she observed, checking her wristwatch that graced her slim wrist.

As an on-air personality, timekeeping was very crucial to her.

"I'm sorry, there was some unforeseen delay" 

"Alright, feed me the juicy news that has been keeping me on tenterhooks" 

"I would. But before that, I want you to host this woman on your show" I gave her a picture of Maya.

Her eyes narrowed, "Hey, isn't this that newbie celebrity that had that intense scandal with - " 

"Yes,"

"How is this related to the…." She trailed off when I showed her the picture of Maya and Eden K-I -S -S- I-N-G.

"This..." Her eyes dilated as she began to connect the dots mentally.

"Holy biscuit!"