THE BILLIONAIRE'S DESIRE novel Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

Following supper, the males adjourned to the billiards room, while the ladies opted for the music room's karaoke session. Daniella casually exited the music room on her way to check on AJ. Although Patty was in the room to keep an eye on AJ, she felt compelled to personally check on her. She was dressed in a lethal black ninja suit with a crimson belt. While she was previously in the dining hall, she spotted the man who kept sneaking glances at her. Put an end to your thoughts about that man, she chided herself. She attempted to ignore him, but how could she when the man continued to give her an up and down glance, making her feel uneasy in her position. She was mildly tempted to flirt with her partner ninja for the night, despite the fact that his eyes were also...blue.

Daniella was on the verge of entering her bedroom when she encountered him in the corridor. What did he intend to do in the main house? Unless...

"Pardon me. "Are you Mr. Ortega?" she inquired.

"Yes?"

His voice seemed similar to Marcus's, but the guy had been gone for more than two years, and who knows whether she was dreaming things, and she should also notice that the man responded when she addressed him as Mr. Ortega. "Did you like your stay in the guest room?" She desired to hear from him on his satisfaction with his accommodations or his desire to transfer. She instructed Paloma not to alter anything in the room, but when she returned, it had already been altered. Additionally, Paloma allocated an exclusive attendant to that guestroom, leading Lilian to believe Paloma was having an affair with Mr. Ortega.

"Certainly, thank you. So, how are you doing?" Marcus grinned upon learning that the ninja was indeed Daniella. He deduced that it would be enjoyable.

What was the matter with her? Why did she succumb to that man's hypnosis? "Of course," she said, though she wasn't sure she'd make it until midnight. Her body had become accustomed to remaining late.

Daniella took a step towards Lilian's room after checking on AJ. The mom was unable to attend the meal due to her daughter's uncontrollable weeping. "Lilian," she said as she knocked on the door. When Lilian allowed her in, she complimented the geisha, "You're lovely."

Daniella was convinced that the geisha outfit would be a better fit for her than Lilian's. "What if we replace our costumes later for photographing?" She made an offer.

"Does it indicate my costume is superior to yours?" Lilian was adamant about not exchanging costumes with Daniella. "Come on, let's get going." She stated as the photographing would begin in a moment.

When they arrived at the Zen garden, they found themselves gathered around a made-up stage with a backdrop of Japanese art. The photographing has begun sooner than anticipated.

Paloma stood in front of the young guy with the camera in hand, doing her best to ensure the photographer captured her finest appearance for the night. Paloma was followed by sumo wrestlers who appeared to be in a battle, and then by a couple dressed as samurai warriors. The same is true for the other visitors.

When the photographer called her name to be the next in line, she felt frightened and uneasy, since she was unaccustomed to having her photographs taken in public. She had to remind herself that Paloma's guest would be unable to identify her due to her ninja mask. She had already stepped onto the stage when the photographer summoned a spectator to join her. Daniella's eyes widened as Mr. Ortega joined her, but she decided to give the picture session her all because it was a one-time event.

"Now, for your last photograph, you must pose as if you're a couple preparing to kiss." The photographer gave the instructions.

"Kiss, kiss, kiss!" the mob chanted incessantly, and she felt compelled to join in. She reminded herself that she was doing this for pleasure.

"All right, in one...two..." the photographer instructed the ninja pair to wait for his signal before their lips touched.

Daniella became worried as Mr. Ortega removed her mask and then the mask he was wearing, and her eyes widened when she recognized the guy. It was none other than her ex-husband, Marcus Madrigal, but it was too late to deny him with the audience roaring them on.

"Three!"

They heard the camera snap, but her brain was not operating properly as their lips connected, and the man continued to move forward long after the shot was taken. She required pinching the man's side in order for him to quit humiliating her. Marcus replaced their mask after the kiss before they descended off the platform... holding hands and vanishing into one of the garden's dark corners.

"How did you get here?" Daniella inquired as to when they would be unheard. "Did you crash my mother's birthday party?"

"I was invited by Paloma, Dani." He replied, but the woman found it difficult. He then tightened his teeth as he recalled one of the reasons he came here: "Who was the other man?"

She was perplexed since she hadn't seen anyone since the celebration started. "What are you referring to?" Daniella enquired.

"You are Mugsy's father, lady!" Marcus raged at Daniella for feigning ignorance when he inquired about the identity of the man with whom she had slept apart from him.

Daniella smiled at his request, claiming that he had no authority to inquire. "I don't believe it is your business to find out," she said, "and you should have declined the invitation even if you received it." Daniella mentally jotted down a note to speak with Lilian later. Her stepsister was in charge of guest supervision, and she was unaware that her ex-husband had been invited.