Epilogue

Three Months Later

Mia

When I woke, it was to James cuddling me and me cuddling Aria. I sighed pleasantly as I savored this wonderful moment.

“Sounds like you had a good night’s sleep,” James said softly near my ear.

I giggled as I nodded in the positive. “That I did,” I said. “After all, yesterday was tiring, especially after the shopping expedition with Aria and Savannah.”

As promised, James had brought Aria and me along to Vegas for his next business trip, and now here we were. For two days now, Savannah and I, along with Aria, had been going on a serious shopping expedition in Vegas. God, if only Alice and Yuki could have come along, it would have been even more amazing. The sisters would get to meet Savannah, who had heard so much from me via our regular phone calls. But of course they couldn’t because, well, they just couldn’t since their situation was so unique and, needless to say, very complicated.

James chuckled. “You’ve been having fun spending my money, haven’t you?”

I grinned. “Well, you did give me the credit card, so it’s actually your fault for allowing me free rein.”

“So it’s my fault now, is it?” He snuggled his nose against my nape, searching for a kiss. “But I do expect some sexy lingerie in the mix. You’ll have to model it for me.”

I blushed. “Yes, there is some sexy lingerie,” I admitted. I turned to look at him and said, a twinkle in my eyes, “And I’ll show them to you very soon.” I moved in a bit and kissed him on the lips hotly.

He grinned widely. “Can’t wait.”

Then Aria woke, and soon, we all got out of bed and got ourselves ready.

After a hearty breakfast, James left for work. “I’ll see you two at lunch,” he said.

I nodded.

“Bye, Daddy,” Aria said after kissing him on the cheek.

Once he was gone, Aria and I left the presidential suite of the hotel as well, and we embarked on another day of fun. By that afternoon, I was hungry, and as planned, we met up with James, William, and Savannah, and Matt and Andy for lunch at Sky Restaurant and Bar on the top floor of The Maxwell Hotel, Casino, and Resort, which was a couple floors above our suite.

The food was indeed delicious and the company wonderful, and I had to admit I felt so happy and blessed in my life. To think that I had come from such a dark place to be here with James and Aria and everyone else. I just couldn’t believe it. Sometimes at night, I’d pinch myself just to make sure I hadn’t been dreaming, that the life I was having with James was real.

Thinking back… If Andy hadn’t come to Vegas with the ambition to make money and free us from our poverty, if he hadn’t screwed up big-time and owed James two million dollars, if I hadn’t come to negotiate with James about that debt—I wouldn’t have been here now.

Furthermore, if Aria hadn’t found me and helped me that first day I had arrived in L.A, I would have no idea how my life would have turned out now. If she hadn’t taken me into the house, if Alfie hadn’t barged into the bathroom and stolen my bag, and if I hadn’t chased after him and happened to bump into James—butt naked—things might have been different.

And of course, if James hadn’t offered me that outrageous proposal, giving me a contract to become his mistress in exchange for the two million dollars, and if I hadn’t agreed to it, I wouldn’t be living this life now.

All in all, it seemed as though fate had led me straight to James, and God, I felt fortunate for everything that had happened—the good parts that was. The bad, horrible parts? I merely dismissed them from my mind and never thought about them again.

I was finishing sipping my drink when James took me by the arm and nudged me up. Noticing that Aria was busy animatedly telling Savannah what she had bought today, Matt and William were busy talking about business, and of course, Andy was nowhere in sight, I got up from the seat and followed him. He probably wanted time alone with me.

He led me out onto the balcony that had a great view of the city of Las Vegas.

I inhaled the fresh air and sighed pleasantly. “Wow! It’s beautiful out here, isn’t it?”

He nodded.

I leaned against the rail as I gazed into the distance. Behind me, James hugged me, his chin resting against the side of my face. God, it was the most romantic thing ever, especially now that James was snuggling his nose against my nape like that. Then, of course, I couldn’t help myself, and I found myself turning my face to him.

James kissed me on the lips softly, gently, and seductively. I felt my head spinning with delight. God, I couldn’t ever get enough of him kissing me and making love to me. I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of being with him.

When he moved back and terminated the kiss, I felt a little dazed.

“I love you,” I said softly.

“I love you, too,” he replied, a smile on his face. “Oh, and I’ve got something for you.”

He said it so nonchalantly, as if it were an afterthought, which amused me and of course made me wonder what it was he had gotten me.

I watched him take a small box from the pocket of his trousers. He must have bought me a small piece of jewelry. The inscription on the top of that velvet box indicated so.

When he opened the box, I sucked in my breath in unexpected surprise. I could only stare wide-eyed at the indeed small piece of jewelry sitting there in front of me. It was a ring with a huge white gem that glittered gloriously in the afternoon sun.

“James!” I said breathlessly. “This…?”

“Do you like it?” he asked.

I mutely nodded. “Are you sure? You bought this for me?” God, I couldn’t believe it.

“Yes,” he said. “Do you like it?” he asked again.

I nodded furiously. “Yes! Yes, I do. Very much so, but—”

“No buts,” he said, chuckling. “It’s an engagement ring.”

Engagement ring? What?

“James?” Oh God! My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I thought it might pop out any moment now.

He grinned cheekily. “I see I’ve neglected to ask you the proper question. Will you marry me, Mia?”

I blinked. James was asking me to marry him? Oh my God!

Suddenly, tears were brewing in my eyes.

“So, darling,” James said. “Are you saying yes to the ring?”

Oh God, I couldn’t speak. I nodded instead as tears flowed down my cheeks.

“Good answer,” he said.

I watched, dumbfounded, as James took the ring out and slid it onto my finger.

I honestly couldn’t believe what was happening as I stared at the massive diamond ring. The precious, expensive gem glittered and shone, winking at me as if to tell me how awesome it was at surprising me.

Yes, it had surprised me all right. But seriously, James had proposed to me, and I had said yes without even thinking about it. But honestly, what was there to think about? It was James, the man I loved.

I felt tears flowing down my cheeks as I stared blindly at the diamond ring. Really, I just couldn’t believe James would want me to be his wife. I mean, we had only known one another for such a short time. First, he was proposing I be his mistress. Then I was his girlfriend, and now…? Now I was his fiancée, and very soon, so very soon, I’d be his wife.

The thought made my throat tight with emotion as I raised my eyes to him. I saw his beautiful Prussian-blue eyes glinting with passion as he leaned his face toward me.

“James,” I whispered softly. “I mean… Oh, I love you so much. I…”

“Shh…” He made the sound as he secured the ring on my finger.

James kissed me on the lips, and I sighed pleasantly. “I won’t let you let go, Mia,” he said. “I won’t let you out of my sight. I love you.”

I nearly choked upon hearing his tender words. “I love you, too,” I said softly, and then we kissed passionately.

***

End of Chained to the Billionaire

Thank you so much for reading Chained to the Billionaire, James and Mia’s love story.

Chained to the Billionaire is part of the Vegas Billionaires Series. Next up is William and Savannah’s love story in Chained by Love.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR - writing as Alexia Praks (romance) and Bella Chan (BL)

Alexia is a self-proclaimed hermit, puppers-loving girl who likes to write anything romance—be it contemporary, historical, fantasy, paranormal, BL, or a combination of any of these. Currently residing in Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud), she spends seventy percent of her time watching anime and reading webcomics and the other thirty percent daydreaming about food and procrastinating. Whatever’s left she actually uses to write books that may or may not bring her a few precious gold coins to support her lifestyle.

Author Alexia Praks: www.alexiapraks.com

Author Bella Chan: www.authorbellachan.com