Page 1 of Billionaire's Fantasy
Prologue
Istepintothegym, my eyes scanning the space.
There are treadmills, dumbbells, and barbells lined up neatly against the wall, and a spacious yoga studio with floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
I can feel the energy in the air, the sounds of weights clanking and music blasting.
This is exactly the kind of environment I love.
I pull out my phone, open up the notes app, and jot down some ideas for the influencer deal. As an Instagram fitness and lifestyle influencer, I’m always on the lookout for partnerships that can benefit both me and the company. I walk over to the reception desk and introduce myself.
“Hi, I’m Amber. I’m here to assess the equipment and discuss a potential influencer deal with you guys.”
The receptionist gives me a friendly smile and nods. “Sure thing, Amber. I’ll let our manager know you’re here.”
I wander over to the treadmills and try them out, making mental notes about the quality and the features. I hear my phone buzzing in my pocket, and I pull it out, expecting to see a message from my boyfriend, Mike. Instead, it’s a notification from Instagram–one of my followers has commented on my latest post.
I start typing out a reply, my fingers moving quickly over the keyboard. I’m so absorbed in the conversation that I don’t hear the manager approaching until he clears his throat.
“Amber, I presume?” he says, extending a hand.
I smile and shake it firmly. “Yes, that’s me. Thanks for meeting with me today.”
He leads me over to his office, which is surprisingly spacious and modern-looking. I take a seat in one of the chairs facing his desk. In addition to my phone notes I pull out my notebook and pen.
“So, let’s talk about the influencer deal,” I say, getting straight to the point.
The manager nods, leaning forward. “Absolutely. We’re definitely interested in partnering with you. We’ve seen the kind of impact you can have on social media.”
I feel a rush of excitement at his words. This is exactly the kind of validation I need to keep pushing forward with my fitness journey.
We spend the next hour discussing the details of the deal, from the number of posts I’ll make to the compensation I’ll receive. I’m pleased with how the negotiations are going and I feel like this is a great opportunity for both of us.
As we wrap up the meeting, I check my phone again. Mike still hasn’t messaged me. I shoot him a quick text, asking where he is.
“Hey babe, where are you? You were supposed to be here to pick me up an hour ago.”
I put my phone back in my pocket and gather my things. The manager walks me out, shaking my hand again.
“It was great meeting you, Amber. I’m looking forward to working with you.”
“Likewise,” I say, feeling a little bit starstruck. “I’ll be in touch soon.”
I head out to the parking lot, my eyes scanning the area for Mike’s car. I don’t see it anywhere. I start to feel a little bit annoyed–he knows how important this meeting was to me. It was the first of many deals I’m working on. The first one is always the hardest, they say.
Just then, my phone buzzes again.
I take a deep breath and open the message from Mike. My heart starts to pound as I read his words. “Hey Amber, I know I said I’d be there to pick you up, but we really need to talk. Can you meet me at the coffee shop down the street from the gym?”
My mind starts to race as I try to think of what this could be about. Is something wrong? Did I do something to upset him? I quickly type out a response.
“Sure, I can meet you there. Is everything okay?”
I start walking towards the coffee shop, my mind filled with worry and uncertainty. As I step inside, I see Mike sitting at a table in the corner. His face is serious, and his blonde curls look wilder than usual. As if he tore his hair.
“Hey,” I say, taking a seat across from him. “What’s going on?”
He takes a deep breath and looks me in the eyes. “Amber, I don’t know how to say this, but I think we need to take a break.”
