Billionaire's Hidden Princess by Alegna Ciee (tharntype novel english .TXT) 📕

"How surprising... I believed you told us that you're going to meet up with your future partner..." said a blonde man in a sumptuous two-button black suit while driving an opulent Lincoln Navigator SUV down the road.

"... President Apollon."

Livius only exchanges looks with his secretary through the rear-view mirror of the car, a wide complacent simper splattered on his face.

He just parted ways with Leticia a few minutes ago and was picked up by his service right after. As much as he wanted to drop her at her home, he still couldn't afford letting his true identity seep through - not now, at least.

In the end, he just decided to have his secretary follow the taxi that she's riding on at the moment, and now, the two of them are discreetly tailing this unaware college student like a couple of bodyguards. 

Night time already fell, after all. It's dangerous for a lone girl to walk herself back home.   

"And you even cancelled all your appointments for today. That will bite back to you on your next day-off, Sir."

"Let it bite back, then. You're being too strait-laced, Ian," Livius quipped nonchalantly, leaning back and crossing his arms.    

"That's because my boss keeps goofing around... And with an unfamiliar lady this time. As far as I recall, you only have your eyes on Ms. Alice. Why are we trailing after a different woman now...? Not to mention, I even received some heads-up about you paying to rent an entire boutique earlier. Their head manager called the office this afternoon."

Livius chuckles lightly to himself after recalling the store manager's reaction when he asked for the whole boutique all of the sudden. With his appearance that time, they'd naturally see him as someone demented.

Yet after handing them his card, revealing his identity in the process, they all made a hundred eighty shift and started acting extra amicable in a matter of seconds.

"What in the world were you up to, President...?" 

His boss only stays quiet at this and beams innocently, letting his curiosity gnaw on him. All Ian can do is heave a defeated sigh. He usually musters that peeving expression whenever he's scheming something.

Perhaps, if it wasn't for the fact that they knew each other since high school, he wouldn't tease him this much.

"Well..." Livius started again after a brief pause, making Ian look back at him through the mirror.

At this point, the car finally stops in front of a small apartment. The taxi they've been following for about half an hour now has come to a halt. Both of them then just silently watch from a distance as the passenger emerges out of the vehicle.

"You're not exactly wrong about your initial belief, though..." he added, his gaze still fixed at the brunette.

"What do you mean, Sir...?" his secretary blurted out in confusion, lifting his brows.

"About me meeting a future partner, that is."

Seeing his boss' smitten look, Ian only remains silent and keeps his train of pondering to himself, narrowing his eyes meaningfully all the while.

Livius Reas Apollon.

Known to be one of the most prodigious figures in a variety of fields and commerces, a prestigious individual with billions of assets, a pioneering practitioner in the business industry, and a man of astounding achievements overall - at such an early age, he has filled the shoes of this dashing notability. 

Livius is renowned all across the globe, and he is said to have the image of a human powerhouse - strongwilled, highly capable and skilled. He also has the looks, the upbringing, the background, the wealth, and the title.

A perfect fit for a perfectionist.

But then, there's one pivotal detail that only Ian is knowledgeable of due to his long-time connection with him and the fact that their relationship is mostly founded on their trust for each other, and that is the reality that Livius is just as flawed and as imperfect like all the others.

He has everything and can get even more - except for true love.

Ranging from famous personalities and dazzling beauties, they all come after him in his glorious form. But when he tries to approach someone without blinding them with his opulence and while pretending that he has nothing at all, they steer away and avert.

In the end, most people are really just about fame and riches -

And everyone he met so far was just all about the outside.

"Are you absolutely certain this time, Sir...?" Ian questioned once more.

"I don't know yet..." Livius mused out loud before spreading a swooned smile, looking as if he's on cloud nine.

"All I'm sure of is that she's the one I've been looking for the whole time."

---

As a fashion designer, one must have the eye for colors, styles and details. They should have a clear picture of their desired outcome, and make the most of their ability to shape this into reality.

That said, Leticia, as an aspiring professional of that field, is more than satisfied to produce this version of Livius - a cool type of guy with overflowing charisma and endearing charms. 

She felt as if she didn't only meet the ends of her promise to lend him a hand, but she also fulfilled her role as a person who aims to design the best form of her model.

Now, at this momentous hour, Leticia couldn't be any prouder.

Today marks the conclusive moment of their make-over mission - Livius has finally arrived at the same cafe where his first confession took place. He has told her his plan to surprise her senior upperclassman by confessing for the second time, and it just happened that Alice would frequent this specific place.

Leticia wouldn't miss such an important event, of course. She has assured him that she'll be present when he does it again.

Thus, at this very second, she's occupying the nearest seat to Alice - at the table right behind her, to be exact. She'll be spectating along with the other customers who are still unaware of what's about to happen.