A/N: To my readers of A BILLIONAIRE'S CHARADE (A fake paradise), i'll update tonight around 9 pm.

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ELLIE's POV

I stared at myself in the full length mirror. Yeah, I looked nice and all but I felt like there was something missing in my look. I groaned inwardly.

"What are you doing, Ellie?" I asked myself as I bit my lower lip. I put the finishing touches of my make-up and then looked at myself again.

I couldn't sleep properly last night because I kept on thinking about what might happen today. I heaved a sigh.

I just let my long hair fall freely on my back. I picked up a leather moto jacket. I wore a printed t-shirt inside then I paired it with a pleat chiffon skirt. I decided to wear casual clothes because I'm just going to go somewhere with Rex anyway. Yes! It isn't a date! You're saying that it isn't a date but you're doing everything to beautify yourself, eh?

My cheeks flushed. Even if I don't know if it's really a date or not, I felt giddy about the thought that Rex and I are going to spend the entire day together. But of course, I would never admit that to anyone!

I put a pink lip gloss and I'm ready. I picked up my shoulder bag and went out of the room. I descended downstairs and I saw my grandfather watching TV at the living room. Looked like he would stay at home all day because he wasn't feeling well since yesterday.

I told him to just rest for today and I'm happy that he listened to me. He sent his most trusted men to fix the problems.

"You look beautiful, chérie" He complimented upon seeing me. I smiled and then sat beside him on the couch.

"Merci, papy"

"So, where are you going today? You told me last night that you're going out today but you didn't mention where"

"I'm just going to the commercial center. Don't worry, I'll bring Rex with me" My grandpa looked surprised and then his eyebrow cocked up.

"Glad you're finally listening to me now, chérie. Just make sure to come home early, okay?" I looked at him and then smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry, papy. You told me that you trust Rex and if you say so, I'll just follow without complaining. It's just for twelve more days anyway before I go back home to Paris" I assured him and he nodded his head.

"I wish you could stay here longer with your siblings but I know you have your own lives now. Regan almost never step foot here anymore while Angela doesn't even want to stay here even for two days now. How time flies" He looked emotional while saying those and I couldn't help but to hug him.

"Papy, we only have one solution to that and that's for you to come live with us in mamie's ancestral home. Even if that house is already old, it's still beautiful after how many renovations. That house is actually so big for just mom, Angela and I to live in especially that Regan don't live there for a long time now"

"You know that I can't do that. That house is very special to your mamie's side of the family because that's their ancestral home but this ranch and this house makes me feel your mamie's presence and I just can't leave it just like that. It would feel like leaving your mamie too if I did that. This place is where we spent most of our married life together" I heaved a sigh and tightened my arms around him.

"I knew you'd say that. I just wanted to try if I could convince you" I felt him kissed my head gently before he answered.

"That's why I'm expecting for the three of you to come and visit me here even just for once and a while"

"And that's why I always come here every chance I get" I muttered.

"I know and I'm glad because you love it here" I was about to answer when Martine suddenly spoke.

"Ellie, Rex is already outside, waiting for you" I quickly pulled away from my grandfather and then stood up. I was about to go out when I remember to check myself out in the mirror in order to make sure that I look fine.

I was in the middle of fixing my hair when my grandpa spoke in an amused tone.

"If I didn't know that you hate being with Rex, I would think that you have hots for him" My eyes widened and snapped my head to his direction. He was watching me with an amused expression on his face.

"Papy!"

"What? I'm just saying what's on my mind. From what I see now, you're like someone who's going to a date with her crush. You even made a whole lot of effort to dress up. Look, you even put make up on which you normally don't do when you're here. Should I be nervous of Rex being your bodyguard?" I knew he was just messing with me but I could feel the seriousness in his voice too.

I faced him.

"Papy, you're being too advance plus ridiculous right now. I should go now. He's already outside. I don't want him to think that I am making him wait" I approached him and then kissed him on the cheek before I said my goodbye to them. I then went out of the house.

I instantly saw Rex, leaning back against the hood of the car while facing outside. His hands were shoved inside the pockets of his tattered jeans. He was just wearing a white shirt but that took my breath away. His muscular body was very obvious because his shirt was a little bit tight fitting and gosh, those biceps of his looked so strong.

I could already picture his sexy abs on my mind.

When I realized that I was already fantasizing about his body, I shook my head vigorously. Goodness', Ellie! Get a hold of yourself, please! Even if he's so good looking and all, you shouldn't feel this way! You shouldn't...

"Wow" I heard him say in a voice above whisper and my eyes widened when I realized that he was already right in front of me and now we're standing so close to each other. He was staring at me full of admiration. I suddenly felt conscious because of the way his deep blue eyes bored at me. I gulped inaudibly as my heart began beating loudly inside of my chest.

"You're so beautiful today" He said those words like he really meant it and my heart almost leapt for joy for an unknown reason. Gosh! Why does he affect me this much?! What does he have that other guys who tried to court me didn't have for me to swoon this way towards him?

Those questions kept on repeating in my head and I felt like I'm losing my mind because of it.

I tried to calm my heart and then acted like I wasn't affected by his presence.

I don't know why whenever I'm with Rex, It's natural for me to be myself, the true me, but at the same time, there are unknown sides of me that only surfaces whenever he's near me and that gives me the hesitation to let myself open up to him. I felt like if I did that, I would just get burned and that would surely hurt.

"Only today?" I asked while arching my eyebrows. He chuckled before he brought out a long stemmed pink rose from his back. I didn't even notice where he got it.

"You're always beautiful actually but today's kinda different because you're wearing make-up. I like your get up. Casual but sexy. Anyway, this is for you, querida" He said softly and I couldn't find any words to say. I just remained staring at him like I got enchanted by him or something.

How couldn't I? He looked so hot standing there in front of me. His clean but manly scent was tickling my nostrils.

"Don't you want this flower?" I snapped out of my trance-like state because of his question. My eyebrows knitted together.

"Huh? What made you think that?"

"Because you aren't accepting it. I guess you don't want it" I was amused of the way he looked at the moment. He looked like he was disappointed. My right hand moved like it has a mind of its own and accepted Rex's rose.

I automatically brought it to my nose and smelled its scent. It's smelled nice and refreshing. I never liked roses before. I don't even look at them that much but all of a sudden, the rose that he gave me looked so beautiful in my eyes.

Its shade of pink was very feminine and the scent made my senses suddenly calm.

"Hmm...I like it" I said appreciatively and couldn't held my smile while staring at it. I heard Rex gasped softly. I lifted my head and stared at him. He was gazing at me like he was mesmerized of the view he was seeing. My forehead crinkled of his reaction.

"I knew it. You're more beautiful when you're smiling. I wish I have a camera with me right now. I want to capture that smile" I could feel my cheeks reddened because of his compliment. If another man told me that line, I would've rolled my eyes just now but with Rex, it's totally different and I don't know why.

I felt like my heart was going to explode because of what he's saying not to mention the way he's staring at me like he was trying to melt me under his gaze. But before I that happened, I raised my head proudly and began walking.

"Let's just go" I walked passed him and went inside the car. I wanted to drive but I knew Rex would never let me after the incident before where I almost caused an accident.

When Rex came inside and sat on the driver's seat, he had a wide grin on his face and I couldn't help but ask.

"You look like a fool grinning from ear to ear like that. What happened to you?"

"Well, I just saw the most beautiful view a while ago" He answered and then started the engine then began maneuvering the car passed the gate.

"What beautiful view are you talking about?"

"You know what it is" He answered matter-of-factly. I rolled my eyes because of his answer and then crossed my arms across my chest. He snickered but he didn't say anything more. Then I remembered something.

"Where are we going, anyway?" I said to my grandfather that we're going to the commercial center because where else could we visit other than there? For sure, he already visited all the tourist spots here in Lyon.

"Just wait and see" I sighed. Why don't he just tell me? Argh! Because he wouldn't tell me anything, I decided to stay quiet. I leaned my head against the headrest and closed my eyes.

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I groaned in protest when I felt someone shook my shoulder gently, trying to wake me up. I swatted his hand away and then continued sleeping. But then I heard him chuckle. Instead of opening my eyes, I ignored it.

"You sleep like someone who's drunk" I heard that irritating voice but I ignored it still. My eyelids felt so heavy and I wanted to sleep more.

"If you're not going to wake up right now, I'll kiss you senselessly until we both run out of breath" He whispered playfully. I instantly opened my eyes upon hearing what he said and was about to reprimand him when I gasped loudly instead because the moment my eyes fluttered open, Rex's face was already right before my face. Our lips were almost touching already. His eyes were dancing with mischief as he smirked at me.

"That was fast. I was even thinking of tasting those delectable lips of yours to wake you up" I couldn't help but to gasp again because of his straightforwardness. He looked like he was having a good time teasing me while I on the other hand was having a hard time because of the effects of what he's doing to my body.

I was holding my breath the entire time because of how close he was to me. But I almost sighed in relief when he suddenly gave distance to the both of us by pulling away from me.

"Let's go" he said. He went out of the car like he didn't do anything to me and that made me irritated. How dare he?!

I was about to open the car door when he opened it for me.

"I told you to let me be a gentleman sometimes" He smirked and opened the door wider for me to go out. My eyebrow raised and instead of thanking him, I bumped my shoulder to him and then walked past him. I heard him laugh because of what I did but I ignored him and looked around us.

"Where are we?" I questioned without looking at him but immediately went silent when I saw what's in front of me. There are many hot air balloons ahead of us and there are many people around who're going inside. I could clearly see the hot air balloons from where we're standing because of how big they are.

They're approximately around 500 meters away from us.

"Where are we? What's going on here?" My body tensed up when I felt him held my hand with his and then started walking.

"This is a hot air balloon festival. It's actually their second year of organizing this event like this here in Grenoble" My eyes widened upon hearing what he said.

"What?! We're in Grenoble?! No wonder we travelled more than two hours coming here"

"Don't worry. You'll love this event. Come on, the event is going to start any moment now" He picked up his pace and so did I because our hands were still entangled together. I bit my lower lip. It felt so good holding his hand like this. His callous hand felt so strong against my soft palm but I could feel gentleness in his touch too.

We were about to enter the gate when a guy suddenly called my name.

"Ellie Novell, right? Can I take a picture with you?" He asked excitedly. I smiled politely and then answered.

"Sure" We took selfie together and then he even let me sign his shirt. He thanked me and then left.

"You shouldn't've let that man touch you" I heard Rex said with a serious tone.

"What are you talking about? He just put his hand over my shoulder for a short while"

"Even so. He's a man, you know, and it's not acceptable for him to touch you like that" I could point out the annoyance in his voice.

"What's wrong with you? He didn't do anything inappropriate" I said with a hint of displeasure. I couldn't understand why his mood suddenly changed and now he looked pissed off out of the blue. A bipolar indeed!

"Whatever. Let's just go inside" He turned his back and went on ahead. I tried to catch up with his pace but then another man recognized me and asked for a picture with me. I wanted to say no but I didn't want to be rude so I said yes.

The man stood beside me, close enough that our arms were touching. He was about to snap a selfie of us when somebody suddenly pulled me by the hand and it was none other than Rex. He strode towards the car while pulling me by the hand. I could see that he was furious with something.

"What is your problem?!" I asked exasperatedly as I pulled my hand from his grip. He was gritting his teeth which made me confuse more. He was behaving oddly, for goodness' sake!

"Let's just go back home"

"What?! We travelled two hours to get here and now you're telling me that we're going back without even going inside? Hell no!" I crossed my arms across my chest and met his gaze bravely.

"I changed my mind so let's just go home" His voice held firmness but I didn't care.

"And I said no! I don't know what's your problem but---"

"You want to know what my problem is? Well let me tell you. I am pissed off because we're still here outside the event but there are already men who approached you and you entertained them!" I scowled at him.

"Of course, I did! What's wrong with that?! They happened to know me. They asked for a picture and autograph so I said yes. There's no harm done so what's your deal?!"

"Because I didn't like it! I hated it when you talked to them just like that. You were very friendly with them and even let them touched you while on the other hand, you hate me and don't like me touching you. You're always annoyed when you're with me and you don't even smile!" I remained standing there while gaping at him. I couldn't say anything because I was really shocked of what he said.

I guess my eyes are playing tricks on me because I can see jealousy and possessiveness in his face right now! What the heck!

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How's this chapter? Do you think Rex is really jealous?

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