The Beauty And The Billionaire Beast

"How can you say that?"

"Relax, Steph. I am sure Inngit went away for fun somewhere and will show up soon."

Stephanie paced up and down the room, her finger dialed and redialed her sister's phone.

She didn't know why her heart was restless with worry over Inngit. She needed to get through to her sister to calm her heart.

"Jaime, my sister would've called me up by now. I know something is wrong," she expressed her worries.

"C'mon, it isn't the first time that Inngit has pulled such a stunt. I don't get why you worry so much."

Stephanie shot a murderous glare at her best friend. Jaime gulped and lifted her hands in the air in surrender. "I feel anxious. I know something is wrong."

"Why don't you try calling that useless boyfriend of hers? He is sure to know where his bank account is," Jaime gave a suggestion.

Stephanie despised the way Jaime referred to her sister as a bank account, but it couldn't be denied that Inngit's boyfriend was only with her for her money.

The level of which the boy leeched off of Inngit was alarming so he's sure to keep track of Inngit's movement.

"I think you have a point. Let me give him a call," Stephanie searched her contact list for his number and fell short.

She had never taken Inngit's relationship with her boyfriend seriously and failed to have his line saved on her phone.

"Fuck!" She cursed.

"What's wrong now?"

"I don't have his number. How do I reach him and inquire about my sister now?"

"Why don't you go to the club where he works."

Stephanie turned to face her friend. "Do you know where that is?"

Jaime lifted her brows in wonder. Her friend usually kept track of her sister's every move, it was surprising to find something she didn't know concerning Inngit.

"Yeah, it's right by..."

"Great, you are driving," Stephanie threw her the car keys. Without waiting for Jaime, she picked up her purse and headed out.

Jaime shook her head. "Steph, wait for me," she grabbed her bag and ran out of Stephanie's office.

She shut the door behind her and followed her friend down the hallway.

They headed out just in time to catch Seren walking in. Her white heels click-clacked on the floor whilst her dark black hair bounced beautifully with every step she took.

Her chocolate brown eyes were focused on her secretary as he gave him instructions. The white pantsuit she had on gave off an aura of maturity far beyond her age.

The employees of the company halted their work, each rising and bowing in greeting to her.

"Good morning, Miss Lim," echoed from all corners of the hall.

Seren gave a courtesy nod to the employees and proceeded to her private lift without noticing Stephanie's presence.

Stephanie stood motionless in her tracks. Her heart was full of envy of the reception Seren received at the company as compared to her.

The difference in their status echoed loudly without anyone having to say anything. It didn't help that Seren was blessed with beauty, brains, and a kindness that everyone took a liking to upon meeting her.

'That should be me,' her heart whispered with jealousy.

"Wow, Miss Seren looks exceptionally beautiful today."

"Doesn't she look beautiful every day," a voice countered the first compliment Seren got.

"True, Seren Lim is the epitome of beauty and grace."

"Just catching a glimpse of her in the morning is enough to get me fueled for the day."

"I agree with you. Her smile cheers me up when I feel low. I hope she always keeps smiling."

All the compliments the employees spoke in Seren's honor choked bitterly in Stephanie's throat.

The same blood that flowed through Seren's veins flowed in hers and yet they were two worlds apart.

No matter how hard she worked, her efforts always fell short of Seren's work. Being on the losing end of Seren Lim darkened her heart with negative emotions.

"Steph, you are beautiful even if all these people don't admire you," Jaime said.

"But they should admire me. I am way better than Seren," she snapped. "I have a better figure than her, she's so slim it looks like she hasn't eaten a proper meal in a decade. Plus, men love curves not brains."

"Of course, bestie," Jaime smiled weakly.

She couldn't get behind Stephanie's theory. Yes, generally, men were assumed to love plumpy women with curvy bodies, but it was Seren who had men lining up with the wish to date her and not her friend.

"You'll surely beat Seren when it comes to landing the perfect life partner," she added.

"I already have my eyes on the best suitor for me. Once I find my sister, I'll make my move, and then I'll be the one everyone talks about," Stephanie spoke, her eyes dreaming of the future where everyone's eyes are on her and her boyfriend and not on Seren.

"Who?"

"I won't jinx myself. Come on, let's find Inn," she ushered Jaime.

Jaime drove to Cyan Club, where Inngit's boyfriend works as a host.

They alighted from the car and headed inside. It was early in the morning and the staff were busy cleaning up the mess from the previous night.

Stephanie pressed her index finger over her nose, repelled by the smell of alcohol, vomit, and sweat in the air.

"Let's find this man quickly and leave. This isn't my scene," she said, her voice laced with disgust.

"Excuse me," Jaime pulled a cleaner. "We are looking for Levis Calay. Do you know where we can find him?"

"Levis...go down the hall and turn to the right. You are sure to find him in the second room to your left," she gave them directions.

"Oh, thank you."

"Welcome."

Stephanie and Jaime followed the instructions and arrived at Levis's dressing room.

The strong smell of smoke assaulted them when they pushed forward passed the door. Stephanie covered her nose and frowned.

'What does Inngit see in this idiot?'

Levis lazily glanced at them; having never met any of them, he didn't feel the need to get up or greet them.

He continued smoking and blowing the smoke in the air.

"Don't you have any manners?" Stephanie scolded. "Can't you see you have company and put off that..." She angrily grabbed the cigarette from his lip and crushed it under her heel.

"Lady, mind yourself!" Levis glared.

Stephanie met his gaze with disdain. The very sight of him boiled her blood to the core.

"I am Stephanie Zane, I'm looking for my sister," she introduced herself.

Her last name sparked recognition in Levis's mind. He quickly got to his feet, straightened his shirt, and waved off the smoke in the air to clean it for her.

Stephanie rolled her eyes at his attempt to redeem his image. The opinion she had of his worsened.

"You're Inngit's older sister. Welcome, why don't you sit," Levis directed to the chair he earlier occupied.

"No, thanks. I'll stand."

"Do you know where Inngit is? She didn't come home last night and her phone is unreachable," Jaime inquired on Stephanie's behalf.

Levis shook his head. "I also tried to call her but I can't get through to her."

"When was the last time you saw my sister?"

"Last night, around 10 pm. Before she left to go..."

"Go where?" Stephanie asked anxiously.

"She said she was going to cut off Erica and put her in her place. After that, I haven't heard from her," he reported. "She was supposed to call me and update me on how her ambush went, but I haven't received any calls or texts from her, and her phone is unreachable."

Stephanie frowned. Erica arrived home the previous night and said nothing of running into Inngit.

Seren had gone to pick her up so if they met Inngit, she would've surely mentioned it during dinner.

"Why do I feel like my sister is in trouble? Did Erica do something to her?" She pondered.

"Erica?" Jaime scratched her chin. "That naive girl, what can she possibly do to Inngit?"

Stephanie went silent. Erica was naive, but that was before she went to prison; she didn't believe that was the case anymore.

'I need to talk to Erica, right now. I'll get to know whether she is still the naive girl from the past or not,' she set firm in her mind.

"Come on, I know where we should go next," she said, recalling hearing Erica inform Seren that she'd be at the spa.

"Wait, let me come with you. I need to find my ba..."

Stephanie looked up and down at him. "Do I look like someone who walks with people like you? Don't insult me by suggesting something like that ever again," she stormed out.

"Thank you, Levis," Jaime let out and rushed out to join her friend. "Where are we headed?"

"Serenity Spa. Erica loved the place before, let's hope she's a creature of habit."

'I have to find Inngit today.'