Reckless Billionaire’s Ruthless Claim (Obsessed Billionaires, Cherished Brides #4)

Chapter 4 A Surprise

Ellie’s heart skipped a beat. She gasped, jumping up and grabbing the phone.

“Ow!” She winced as a sharp pain shot through her back. “God, has this man never been with a woman? Who the hell lasts all night without stopping?!”

Her eyes flickered back to the phone and she remembered about the text. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the screen to make sure she wasn’t imagining it.

But there it was. The message was real. Olivia’s name was clearly written as the sender.

Olivia is back?

Ellie’s heart raced, her panic mounting as she stared at the text on Sawyer’s phone. ‘This quickly? It’s only been two and a half years! Couldn’t she stay just a little longer? Why is she back so soon?’

Her eyes darted to the shower, where Sawyer’s silhouette moved behind the frosted glass. A tear rolled down her cheek, this time it was real.

"What’s going to happen to my money now? Who’s going to pay me this much just to stay with him?"

Setting his phone back in its place, she pressed her hand to her forehead. Tension knotted her shoulders as she slid off the bed. Grabbing the sheets and wrapping them haphazardly around her chest, she paced the room. Her fingers trembled as they shot up to her mouth, nails falling victim to her nervous chewing.

"Is he going to throw me out now that Olivia’s back? That can’t be right," she muttered, laughing lightly to herself, a hollow attempt at reassurance. "No, he can’t be that heartle—" Her words faltered as her eyes caught his silhouette beyond the glass wall. She froze, nearly slapping herself.

"Stop being delusional," she scolded under her breath. "Obviously, that Narcissist Stark isn’t going to let you stay now that his lover has returned. Why would he keep a replacement when his original is back to please him?"

Her lips quivered, forming a pout as tears brimmed in her eyes, threatening to spill. The more she dwelled on it, the more hopeless it seemed. It had been such easy money these past years.

Tears began to fall as she sniffled, whispering to herself, "Just go to him, tell him how much I love him, and he’ll throw money at me to make me shut up. But now, where am I going to get that kind of money? Is this really the end of this... whatever we have?"

Her lips curled into a pout as she whispered in absolute devastation, "My money... my ATM machine. Oh no."

Ellie was so consumed by her spiraling thoughts that she didn’t notice when Sawyer stepped out of the bathroom. His hair still damp, the towel slung loosely over his shoulder. Ellie, lost in her thoughts, was startled when she turned and saw him.

“I’m leaving for the office,” he announced, grabbing his phone from the side table without a second glance.

Ellie quickly wiped her face with her palms, pulling herself together. Without a word, she hurried to the closet, her hands trembling slightly as she pulled out a neatly pressed shirt and trousers. She walked over and handed the clothes to him like she did every morning.

"Here," she said softly.

Sawyer took the clothes absentmindedly, his gaze wandering to her face. He paused when he saw reddened eyes and tear-streaked cheeks.

He frowned, his hand reaching up to brush away a stray tear.

“Tonight, don’t drink too much,” Ellie blurted out, grabbing his hand. Her voice wavered with concern. “Otherwise, you’ll get a stomachache again, and I’ll end up worrying about you."

Sawyer froze at her words, his brow furrowing in confusion. His thumb gently brushed against her cheek, wiping away the lingering wetness. He stared at her, both puzzled and oddly touched. ‘She's crying because she can't stand the thought of me in pain? This stupid girl,’ he thought with a mix of exasperation and something else he couldn’t quite name.

He let out a soft sigh. "I got it. Don’t worry so much. I won’t drink tonight, okay? Stop crying," he said gently, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it.

His words, paired with the tender way he stroked her face, left Ellie speechless. Her chest tightened as she stared up at him, caught off guard by the sudden softness in his eyes. There was genuine concern in his eyes, and the warmth in his voice sent an ache through her heart.

‘Narcissist Stark looks so damn attractive when he’s gentle,’ Ellie thought, her heart skipping a beat.

"I’m leaving now," he said, his hand lingering on her face for a moment longer before stepping back. "You should go take a bath too."

He turned to leave but stopped at the door, glancing back at her one last time. She was furiously wiping her face with her palms, as if trying to erase any trace of her tears. A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“This mad girl loves me way too fucking much,” he muttered under his breath with a slight shake of head before stepping out.

Meanwhile, as the door was shutting behind him, Ellie was groaning, her hands rubbing to her cheeks. "God damn it! My face is all wet!" she grumbled, grabbing a tissue and dabbing at her cheeks.

"Why the hell did I cry like that just because I’m going to lose money after we break up? It’s not like I hadn’t expected it. It was going to happen one day or another," she mumbled, patting her chest and pacing around the room. “We were bound to break it off sooner or later. It just... happened earlier than I expected. No big deal.”

She paused in front of the mirror, fluffing up her hair and patting her cheeks. Her pout deepened as she thought of Sawyer with Olivia. And then her chest tightened.

She spun around, her expression lightening. "Now that Narcissist Stark is out of the house, what am I going to do all day? Since his lover’s back, he’s definitely not coming home tonight."

Suddenly, with the thought, her eyes lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Just then, Ada popped her head into the room. "Ms. Ellie, SNS has left for the office."

"Thanks, Ada!" Ellie chirped, smiling sweetly.

As soon as Ada left, Ellie threw her arms up in the air and let out a squeal. "What else is there to do?!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her feet. "SNS is out all night, so I’m staying out all night too! It’s gonna be a party!"

***

"Welcome to the Machoman Inn, my princess," a ridiculously attractive, shirtless man greeted Ellie at the entrance of the restaurant. His abs gleamed under the soft lights, and his smile was as dazzling as a toothpaste commercial.

Ellie beamed at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Thank you very much!” she chirped, strutting inside like she’d entered paradise.

The moment she stepped in, her eyes widened, and her jaw practically dropped.

The restaurant was like a fantasy come to life—a dreamland crafted exclusively for women. Shirtless, chiseled men were everywhere: serving drinks at the bar, carrying trays, even cooking food at a live cooking station. The chef, who looked like he’d stepped straight out of a romance novel cover, was skillfully flipping a steak, his muscular arms flexing with every movement.

Ellie gasped, her hands flying to her face as she gazed around with starry, dreamy eyes. “So this is what heaven looks like,” she breathed in awe.

The sight of the chef’s muscular arm flexing sent her into a fit of uncontrollable giggles. “Oh my god!” she whispered, her voice barely suppressing a squeak. She couldn’t decide which was hotter—the steak or the man flipping it.

“Hi, sweetheart, let me escort you to your seat?” The deep, smooth voice snapped her out of her daze. She turned to find a handsome asian man with chiseled abs and a grin so charming it should’ve been illegal. He wore nothing but an apron and a pair of loose gray sweatpants, slung low on his hips, the untied string hanging carelessly—leaving little to the imagination. To top it all, he had a killer flirty smile on his lips that made Ellie’s heart race.

Ellie blinked at him, momentarily stunned. “Y-yes, thank you,” she stammered, her words faltering as her eyes struggled to stay above his neck.

Before she could finish, the man swept her off her feet, literally.

“Woah!” she squealed in surprise, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck.

The man grinned, flashing a charming smile. “There, I’ll carry you to your seat. Can’t have you tiring out your legs already, now can we?” he said in a deep, velvety voice.

Ellie’s mouth dropped open as she stared at him in shock. He carried her effortlessly across the restaurant, weaving through tables and other shirtless servers. Finally, he placed her gently onto a plush chair and reached for a crisp white napkin from the table. Kneeling down on his knees, he laid the napkin on her lap with a flourish, pulling a menu card from his pocket.

“Here’s something for you to look at while I’m gone,” he said with a wink, laying the menu over the napkin. “I’ll be back in five minutes.”

And just like that, he stood up and disappeared, leaving Ellie gaping after him. The retreating view of his toned back and playful stride kept her glued to her seat.

“This is the best day ever!” she whispered to herself, lifting the menu to hide her flushed face while sneaking glances at the servers around her.

As he disappeared, her gaze shifted to the other servers in the restaurant—each one as handsome and shirtless as the last. She let out an excited breath, rubbing her cheeks with both hands.

As more women entered the restaurant, the restaurant was abuzz with similar scenes. Handsome men carried women to their seats, flirted shamelessly, and left them blushing and giggling. Ellie laughed quietly as she watched other customers getting treated like queens.

“This place is going to be the next big thing in Manhattan,” she murmured, watching the charming servers wooing their customers.

Soon, her server returned with a plate of food, his movements smooth and sexy. He leaned on the table with one hand to give her a very good view of his body, his other hand gracefully serving her food.

“I hope you find this ravioli just as ravishing as me,” a cunning smirk played on his lips, pouring the sauce with an almost sinful flair. Then, he picked up a knife and fork, slicing the steak on her plate with exaggerated care, his muscles flexing with every movement. The erotic undertone of his actions made Ellie’s face flush deep red.

“Here,” he said in a low, rough voice, sliding the plate in front of her. His lips curved into a smirk as he licked them slowly. “Enjoy all of it.”

Ellie barely managed a nod, too flustered to respond. He licked his lips, his movements almost too sensual for a simple meal. The server then walked away, leaving Ellie to savor her meal—and the attention. Unbeknownst to her, someone else’s gaze had been fixed on her all along.

Five minutes ago, Sawyer had just stepped out of his BMW, his secretary, Henry, trailing behind him. Henry was rattling off details about the day's schedule, his eyes glued to his phone.

“Mr. Stark, after this meeting, we’ll head to Mayang Street for the new actress signing. It should only take one hour—”

Henry’s voice faded into the background as Sawyer’s attention was drawn elsewhere. His sharp eyes, hidden behind designer sunglasses, caught sight of a familiar figure entering a restaurant. The door was held open by a very shirtless man.

Sawyer ripped off his sunglasses, glaring to get a better look. His jaw tightened as he read the sign above the door: Machoman Inn.

“Was that Ellie?” he barked.

Henry looked up in confusion. “Sorry, Mr. Stark? What did you say?”

Sawyer’s eyes were glued to the entrance of the restaurant. His teeth clenched.

Henry followed his boss’s gaze, his brows raising slightly at the sight of the shirtless doorman. The bold name of the restaurant made him blink.

Then, Henry chuckled nervously. “No, Mr. Stark. How could Miss Ellie be here? She doesn’t even think about anyone or anything other than you.”

Sawyer took a deep breath, Henry’s words making his jaw loosen. He let out a short laugh, though it lacked humor. “Right?” he said, though his eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

Henry nodded earnestly, a grin on his face. “Of course! Miss Ellie is shy and timid. She’d turn red just thinking about a place like this.”

Sawyer frowned, his gut twisting uneasily. “Yeah. Ellie’s shy. She wouldn’t…” His words trailed off, but the image of her stepping inside refused to leave his mind.

Henry nodded with a small smile and pointed at the same restaurant. “By the way, Mr. Stark, that’s Mr. Elliot’s new business. We’re meeting him inside.”

Sawyer’s head snapped to Henry. “Seriously?” His raised brow showed both disbelief and irritation.

Henry offered an apologetic grin. “That’s what Mr. Elliot requested.”

Sawyer closed his eyes, exhaling through gritted teeth. “For fuck’s sake. Of all places, he picks this for a work meeting?” Muttering a curse under his breath, he marched toward the restaurant.

As the doors opened, Sawyer froze momentarily, his eyes scanning the room. Naked men were everywhere, serving tables with confident smirks. The clientele consisted almost entirely of women, and the restaurant was packed. For a place that had just opened, Elliot’s business was already booming.

Sawyer turned to Henry as they walked further inside. "I asked you to make a perfume for Ellie. Is it ready?"

"Yes, Mr. Stark," Henry replied promptly. "Exactly as per your design. It’s customized to your exact instructions. The perfumer also said he’d be happy to make any changes if needed." He pulled a small box from his pocket and handed it over.

Sawyer flipped open the box. Inside was a stunning baby pink perfume bottle with a black bow cap. The scent hit him instantly—an intoxicating blend of jasmine and orange, sultry yet soft.

Ellie wore a perfume similar to this every day, but she constantly talked about wanting a specific scent just for herself, one that no one else had. He had memorized every little detail she mentioned.

And now, this scent—intense yet delicate, seductive yet familiar—was unmistakably Ellie.

“She’s going to kiss me out of happiness when she sees this.” A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he imagined her reaction.

Closing the box, he slid it into his pocket. As he looked up, Elliot descended the stairs with his signature wide grin.

“You’re here! I thought you’d show up around midnight or something. It’s already past dinner time.”

“Busy with work,” Sawyer muttered, offering a faint smile.

"I get it." Elliot rolled his eyes, gesturing to the bustling restaurant. "What do you think? Is this place gonna make some girls go crazy or gonna be a fail soon?"

Sawyer glanced around the packed room. “Do you even need my answer after an opening night like this?”

Elliot shoved his hands in his pockets, his grin widening. "Being gay has its perks—knowing exactly what girls want to see."

"Anything else you want to discuss about business?" Sawyer asked, glancing briefly at Henry. "If it’s about finances or other details, just tell Henry, and he’ll handle it."

Elliot chuckled, stepping closer. "Yeah, there’s that. But I’ve got a surprise for you, too."

Sawyer’s brows knitted. “What surprise?”

“Look over there.” Elliot’s grin turned mischievous as he pointed at the second set of stairs toward the end of the restaurant.

Sawyer followed Elliot’s gesture.

A stunning woman descended from the stairs gracefully, dressed in tight jeans and a plunging top with a chic jacket. She carried a Chanel bag on her arm and dripped wealth from her sparkling necklace to her diamond-studded earrings.

It was Olivia.

Sawyer stared blankly at the crowd for a moment before his lips parted, and eyes widened in shock. At once, he strode toward the busy center of the restaurant, his hands leaving his pockets.

Olivia’s smile brightened as she saw him approach. She opened her arms, ready to greet him. But Sawyer walked right past her without so much as a glance.