Beauty & the Billionaire

1

MARS

Rain tapped lightly on the window of DuPont Tower, creating the perfect scene for what already felt like a dramatic day, though it had only just started.

Ms. Holloway, the board is ready for you, a woman told me. She’d given me her name before stating that she was the receptionist, but I was too busy mentally reviewing my pitch to hear a thing. You can follow me.

Thank you so much, I told her, standing to my feet.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to prepare myself mentally for what was coming next. My stilettos clicked against the marble floor, sounding much stronger than I felt, as I followed the receptionist through the winding halls of the massive building. DuPont International, ran by the DuPont family, was a giant in the entertainment industry, and this building was a physical show of the family's power.

As we neared the conference room, the weight of this moment pressed on me, making my heartbeat rise.

Inside that room was a family, a group of potential clients who could make or break my dreams. If this meeting went how I hoped, it would change everything about my reality.

Taking a deep breath, I remembered my father’s words: Remember when you’re shooting for the stars to never let fear ground you.

Though he died when I was only thirteen, he provided me with enough wisdom and encouragement to last a lifetime.

The board is already seated and waiting for you. Good luck, Ms. Holloway, the receptionist said with a friendly smile.

The doors opened, revealing a sea of faces. Stern, analytical, and all waiting to be convinced that they needed me. My heart was pounding fiercely in my chest. My hands felt clammy as I sat down, trying not to get psyched out by the DuPont emblem—a gold phoenix—dominating one wall. This was it. The big leagues.

Before stepping into the room, I’d done my homework on the DuPont legacy. I was meeting with the entire board, but the two people I needed to convince to hire me as their PR Consultant were Vivienne DuPont, the matriarch of the family, and her heir, her son, Apollo DuPont.

The family was iconic in Los Angeles, with their name attached to multiple sports and entertainment empires. Vivienne’s father, a former NBA star, had laid the foundation by investing in promising sports teams and eventually owning several major league franchises. Their influence only grew from there as they expanded into the entertainment industry, owning record labels, film production companies, and even a top-tier talent agency.

Apollo, while born into privilege, wasn’t just a passive beneficiary. He had spearheaded their digital entertainment division, merging tried and true old media tactics with new innovations. Under his guidance, DuPont Entertainment acquired several online streaming platforms and invested heavily in eSports, which was now a billion-dollar enterprise for them.

His business acumen was well-known in industry circles. Rumors had it that he was on a first-name basis with every major athlete, producer, and influencer in the city. This combination of sports and entertainment ventures made the DuPonts wealthy and key power players in L.A..

With his contemporary vision, Apollo was the perfect heir to carry this legacy into the new age. Except for one little thing... his reputation as a playboy. The bad publicity that the DuPont family had to deal with, thanks to Apollo’s very public and plentiful romantic relationships, was affecting their brand. More attention was being placed on where he stuck his dick than anything else, and it threatened to shatter the picture-perfect family image that Vivienne DuPont had worked so hard to create after the death of her father.

And that’s where I came in. I am Mars Holloway, owner of Holloway Enterprises, the best PR Firm in the country. Many people joke and refer to my company as ‘Haul Away’ because I’m so good at what I do. Once you become a client of mine, I immediately ‘haul away’ any bad publicity or bad press and will spin the story to make sure you come out looking brand new.

Hello, everyone, I greeted them all as I walked inside, eyeing every person that sat in the chairs around the table.

There were twelve chairs around the table, and all were occupied, except for one. Vivienne sat at the head of the room with her life partner, Richard, the DuPont’s attorney, at her side. The other people in the room were members of the board, also other family members of Vivienne’s who she’d put in place based on their talents and expertise. I smiled as each one returned a greeting back to me as I made my way to the front of the room.

My nerves bubbled in my gut, but I took a deep breath and pushed them away to make way for a calming energy to come in.

You’ve got this, Mars, I reminded myself. You’re that bitch in every way. Don’t you ever forget it.

Just as I was putting together everything that I needed for the presentation, the doors to the conference room opened once again. And in walked Apollo DuPont. Playboy extraordinaire and the reason I could even land this meeting in the flesh.

Conversations stopped as he strutted in, taking his seat at the head of the table. His dark, intense eyes quickly scanned the room, locking onto mine for a charged second.

Damn. He is... amazing.

Everyone in the room was attractive, powerful, and exuded wealth and prestige. But Apollo was on an entirely different level. Even in this professional setting, his raw charisma was palpable. That man was fine—like, fine fine. Dressed in a tailored navy suit that hugged him in all the right places, his swagger was undeniable.

Tasha, my best friend, told me that he was fine. But she didn’t say he was fine as hell. We didn’t have the same taste or type, so I definitely wasn’t expecting this.

Mars Holloway, a woman who I immediately recognized as Vivienne DuPont, said as she stood up. It’s nice to meet you in person. I can speak for all of us when I say that we are very excited to hear all about your software. How can Holloway Enterprises be of help to us?

With that said, she sat down in her seat with all of the regal air of a queen. Every bit of her was giving Queen Ramonda from Black Panther vibes.

From what I read about this family, she was the one behind their money. She was the only child of an NBA legend, and he left her everything once he died, leaving her filthy rich. It was well known that Vivienne was a smart and ruthless businesswoman, a true shark, and she used all of her intelligence and power to grow their wealth beyond imagination. Power exuded from her very presence. Everything about her threatened to leave me speechless, but it was time for me to showcase my skills, and I had to bring it.

Pushing past my nerves, I stood and began. Hello, everyone. First, I want to begin by thanking you all for this opportunity. I’m very excited to show you how I can assist you in all areas concerning public relations and brand management. Though my company is not as old as some of the giants in the industry, my record has proven that when it comes to PR, Holloway Enterprises is unmatched. Especially when it comes to crisis management and repairing public image.

Tell me you didn’t have anything to do with the coverage of the infamous Oscars’ slap, Richard said, his brows jumping. I smiled at his joke as a few others around the table began to chuckle.

No, I smiled, shaking my head. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the one called to clean up that mess. However, my team did an in-office exercise and discussed how we would have handled it had we been called. I assure you that if Holloway Enterprises had been called, within 24 hours, we would have had Chris, Will, and Jada all sitting down together to swap apologies and squash it. The situation definitely wouldn’t have been carried out as long as it did.

A few impressed murmurs and sounds erupted around the table, and I began to relax a bit as I realized that I had barely started and already, I seemed to be winning most of them over.

But then Apollo, glaring at me with an expression that clearly said he was ‘far less than impressed,' interrupted.

We already know that you’re biased about your skills, so just save us on the preamble and get to the point, Miss...?

His blunt, harsh words immediately got under my skin. My toxic trait was my temper. My mama always said that if you looked inside of me, you’d discover that I had hot lava for blood.

You can just call me Mars, I shot back, not missing a beat. And yes, I am biased, but for good reason. I know what I can do and with my help, your reputation as the cold, heartless womanizer of Beverly Hills who is tarnishing the DuPont brand will not be something you’ll have to worry about ever again.

Whispers filled the room. I could tell that people were both shocked and surprised at my candor and willingness to stand up to Apollo’s clear disdain for my being there, but I couldn’t help it. Mama raised no punk, and I had never been one to hold my tongue.

At the head of the table, I saw a soft smirk grace Vivienne’s lips while Apollo leaned back, his face unreadable.

It would be quite an achievement to overturn a reputation that I invested years into building, he said, his face too straight for me to figure out whether or not he was joking. Show me.

Not missing how his mother cut her eyes at him in disapproval, I continued.

With pleasure. Let me unveil my proposal strategy to you.

Apollo drummed his fingers along the table impatiently. Please, he added with sarcasm. And make it worth my time.

I pressed my lips together, feeling an air of determination course through my veins.

Challenge accepted, I thought, getting to work.

I dived deep, laying out the ins and outs of the customized plan I came up with to rebrand the DuPont’s family’s reputation and brand, specifically Apollo’s, since he was slated to be the head of the group once his mother stepped down, and happened to be with the reputation that had been dragged through the media mud. It was an aggressive approach, which was risky because I knew from experience that people only liked to take change in small doses, but from what I knew about Vivienne DuPont, she was a risk-taker and liked fast results.

The room was completely silent as I spoke, detailing my plans to shift Apollo’s image from a rich, arrogant asshole to a charming and generous philanthropist. With every sentence, I could feel the room hanging onto my every word.

Once I wrapped up, I pasted a smile on my face and braced myself for the onslaught.

Richard piped up first. How do we know this will work? Do you have any data or research on the success rate of things like this?

I smirked. I do, I told him before grabbing a stack of papers on the table in front of me. My team prepared case studies based on similar situations from three different markets. In this packet, you’ll see the details on each case and the results.

Apollo, still staring at me with his brows knitted together as if I was an opponent rather than someone trying to help was the next to speak.

"Interesting strategy, Mars. Clearly, you see me as some charity project you can just polish and parade around. However, my reputation— He said it as if it were a venereal disease. —whether you see it as good or bad, is hard-earned. What makes you think I want to change it or that the public will even believe your little makeover? Show me real results, not just words."

I had to take a deep breath to relax my jaw before speaking. Otherwise, I would’ve been talking to him through my teeth.

It’s simple, I replied. Once we get started, as long as you stick to the plan, I can show you the results in real time. Of course, no cases are exactly the same, but I’m confident in my approach. Outside of that, my proven record, and these results I’ve shown today, you would have to extend me your trust.

Trust? His eyes sparkled with amusement. And what’s your cut? How much would we be paying you to do all of this?

A breakdown of my fee is on the last page of the strategy package that I gave each of you, I said, not flinching. Non-negotiable.

In seconds, the room was alive with murmurs. After glancing over my price sheet, Apollo raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. Why so much?

Easy, I responded, oozing confidence. Without me, you’ve got quite the situation on your hands. Your reputation as a womanizing, narcissistic has been affecting your bottom line ever since the announcement went out that you were next in line to take over. From my calculations, unless you do something major and significant to change the way you’re being roasted by the court of public opinion, you’ll have to start laying off some of your staff soon to cover the hit to your revenue.

The weight of the moment hung in the air. Finally, a guy sitting next to Apollo, who had introduced himself as Xavier, leaned over and whispered something in his ear. He smirked but said nothing. Something about the exchange made me feel slightly insecure.

And how long will it take you to make the changes needed to avoid the revenue hit that you’ve predicted? Apollo asked, stepping his hands together on top of the table.

Not too long. To reverse all damage, I estimate six months, possibly. A year tops, depending on any surprises that I may meet during the process.

A year? Vivienne’s eyes bulged. That’s much too long. Even six months is too long for me.

I raised my hands up to steady the murmurs erupting around me. It may not take that long. I usually can get things done in half the time, but I don’t like to oversell myself. Especially in cases like these… I cut my eyes at Apollo. …where a lot of the results depend on a complete behavioral change.

As the board members seemed to catch my drift, several of them began to mumble amongst themselves, all of them seeming to have a clear lack of faith in Apollo’s ability to change. No lie; the fact that the people around who knew and worked with him were openly expressing their doubts about him pulling off his part shook me up a bit. But then, the energy in the room shifted considerably when the queen stood to her feet and spoke.

I must say... this was all very impressive, Mars.

Thank you, Ms. DuPont, I replied, maintaining my composure.

She nodded. And even though her lips remained in a straight line, there was a hint of approval lingering within her eyes.

I got her, a voice deep inside of me said. And if I had her, I had everybody.

We’ll deliberate and inform you of our decision.

With that, the meeting adjourned. My legs, surprisingly wobbly, carried me out of the room. The relief was overwhelming. The pitch was done. Yet the real challenge, I felt, was only beginning. I knew this would be the biggest project of my whole career,, but it was overwhelming if I stopped to think about it.

A soft but firm voice interrupted my thoughts as I collected my belongings.

A word, Apollo.

I glanced up to see Vivienne DuPont, her presence even more imposing up close, making a pointed look at her son. With a sigh, Apollo followed his mother to a private corner. Their conversation was hushed, but the intensity was evident. Vivienne’s gestures were calculated, emphasizing certain points, while Apollo’s expressions shifted from surprise to reluctance and, finally, resignation.

Intrigued but not wanting to eavesdrop, I headed towards the elevator. Now that the meeting was over, the nerves I’d been pushing away had finally returned. As I waited for it to arrive, Apollo approached, his steps hesitant.

Ms. Holloway, he began, his usual cockiness replaced with uncertainty.

It’s just Mars, I replied, curious.

There was something about Apollo’s gaze that left me unsettled. The depth, the uncertainty, the shadow of something unspoken.

My mother... she has some conditions that she wants to discuss, he began, his usual assertiveness momentarily faltering.

Trying to mask my nerves, I lifted an eyebrow, challenging him. Something in my gut told me that whatever was coming next would be something I wouldn’t like.

I’m listening.

His jaw tightened, eyes drifting away momentarily as if debating internally. We’ll be in touch, he said finally.

His brows bunch together in the center of his forehead, hinting at the battle that was going on in his mind.

What was he thinking?

He was hard to read. It was like staring at a wall.

But damn... what a sexy wall it was.

My focus unintentionally shifted to his features. God, he was fine. The strong set of his jaw, lips that seemed sculpted to perfection, and those deep-set eyes that held a world of secrets. I could see what Tasha had raved about. She said he was the kind of man dreams and wild, late-night fantasies were made of. I could definitely see him playing a part in my dirtiest of fantasies.

He parted his lips as he began to speak again, and my eyes dropped to them. And, before I could stop it, I found myself imagining what those lips might feel like pressed against my…

Mars, snap out of it!

As if someone had slapped me back to my senses, I pulled myself out of my daze, shaking off those thoughts.

I was fresh out of a business meeting, and my mind was already flipping through images of Apollo that could rival anything you saw on PornHub.

But damn… I couldn’t help it. He was so damn distracting. I mean, mouthwatering fine. To the point that I could no longer even think about how utterly repulsive he’d acted towards me in the conference room. He had the kind of looks that made it hard not to fantasize about him and even harder to look away. No wonder he was the king of snatching panties. Hell, he didn’t have to snatch a damn thing. Women in the city were practically throwing them at his feet.

We’ll get back to you soon, he concluded, his voice a low drawl that sent shivers down my spine. He had the tenor of Barry White. Definitely not something you heard very often.

Thank you, Mr. DuPont, I nodded, trying to appear unaffected by his presence. Looking forward to it.

After giving me a slight nod of the head, he turned to leave, and I watched him walk away. And though he soon disappeared behind the conference room’s double doors, the cedar-musk notes of his cologne were lingering.

I felt like I’d just been in the presence of an angel. And not the good kind. I meant the sexy, dangerous, and hedonistic kind. Apollo was definitely a descendant of Satan.

Be careful with that one, a voice behind me said.

Startled, I turned around to see a young girl, maybe early teens, walking towards me from the hallway in the other side of the elevators.

"Sometimes men are just as toxic as they appear, and sometimes they aren’t. But that one definitely is." She rolled her eyes as she nodded towards the door that Apollo disappeared behind.

Before I could come up with a response, she held her hand out to me.

My name is Dionne. Dionne DuPont, she clarified when she read the confusion on my face. I’m Apollo’s little sister. She rolled her eyes as she added the last part. As if being related to someone like Apollo was an inconvenience.

I took one look at her light toffee complexion and piercing brown, almond-shaped eyes. Not