The Landon billionaires [EXCLUSIVELY on Dreame]

PROLOGUE: THE BEGINNING

It was her fifteenth birthday bash. Ineluctably, it was as grandiose as that of a princess since nothing less would be tolerated. She was after all Demetria Jewel Hilton, the sole heiress to several billions of dollars.

There was a scintillating fountain in the courtyard of the palace that her secretary had rented. The venue looked perfect, like something coming straight from her dreams, with the garden starting just at the end of the stairs and expanding to broad horizons of neatly trimmed, perfect grass laced with wild flowers.

As she stood on the balcony of the second story, the lawn looked limitless, but at the horizon, the garden was less formal, ending with an avenue of cypresses. The picturesque outlook made her fingers itch and awaken the artistic painter dormant inside her. Although it was late evening, the scent that the flowers were emanating was invigorating. The magic however was tainted, the place being so crowded that even on the balcony, there was no place for the fresh air to circulate.

The music was loud enough to explode her ears, and her high heels were killing her. Many would believe that she would be used to wearing them and besides, she was not supposed to show any weakness. Demetria Hilton was the hip - happening "thing" for most of her friends, and she had a reputation to maintain.

That was what she had been taught since she was a kid anyway. Her nannies had never failed to remind her that she was a star and not like some mediocre child that one might see around every street corner. Something which was supposed to make feel special except that being rich had always made her feel like an outcast. She was not supposed to have fun like the others; she was not normal. She was supposed to always look classy and perfect. Sometimes it was tiring.

Jaded, she scanned the room, her neck pivoting on her head, in search of something. Anything that would raise her interest. All in vain. The irony behind it all was that she didn't even know more than half of the people present at her own party. She knew most of them were here because of the feast and free gifts. And it was boring.

She sighed. Everything bored her out of her mind. She should start doing drugs like all the other heiresses. It was not easy being rich. It seemed so long since she'd acted on doing what she wanted instead of pretending to behave as expected of her.

Someone bumped into her, she turned around frowning, hating the feel of the damp skin against hers, and she could take it no more. She was suffocating inside and she needed some fresh air. She longed to inhale the pure scent of the flowers that were lining the big alley downstairs. Sneaking her way out, she picked a glass of champagne and made her way to the garden.

Taking a tentative sip of the sparkling drink, she barely registered the taste of the alcohol and lost herself in the marvelous view the garden manifested. She almost wished it was daylight so that she could admire the beauty of the foliage around her. She made a mental decision to come and visit the place again as soon as possible when there was no crowd. As she walked down the line of trees, she felt her tension leave as she admired the flowers one by one. She was a real flower freak, and she always wanted to be a botanist.

However, a botanist princess would never do, her parents had told her sternly even before she started to dream about her career. A princess was not supposed to have a career anyway. All she was supposed to do was look pretty even when she was at her lowest low. Filled with distaste at the thought of her parents, she resisted a grimace in case someone was watching all the while trying not to care about the fact that they were in some other continent and had not even bothered to wish her on her special day. Instead, a week before, her mother's PA had phoned to remind her of the party.

As she caressed a petal against her fingers, she felt herself relax and instantly felt better. She was not supposed to lament over her life like that. She was a privileged kid, and it was more than enough. More than anyone could ever wish for. Suddenly, she felt herself wishing for something that would drive away her loneliness. Something that would make her feel alive.