FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO

"Henry!" Sebastian scanned the young and equally handsome man invading his territory with narrowed piercing eyes.

Sarah was his and he wasn't about to let any male figure encroach on his territory and steal his queen.

"Henry!" Annabelle was a little bemused. She knew everything there was to know about her friend, except this hottie.

Never had Sarah mentioned any guy called Henry to her ears. Or was this handsome fellow a friend to Sarah's elder brother?

Sarah on the other hand was somewhat furious to see Henry.

She couldn't help but wonder if he was stalking her even to the point of visiting her in school and showing his handsome face before her nosy bestie.

The fact that she agreed for them to be casual friends was because of her cousin who seemed to trust Henry the same way she trusted her husband.

Sadly, after her ugly encounter with Lorenzo Alejandro, where she and her cousin almost got raped and killed, Sarah's flares for guys diminished greatly.

If it were up to Sarah, she would sign up to be a nun for the rest of her life rather than get entangled in a love affair with any man, especially a celebrity, whose very career spells trouble and too much exposure.

But then there was something unique about Henry that couldn't help her make up her mind.

"Advanced economics class," Henry said causally, ignoring the cold and warm attention directed towards him. He had only eyes for Sarah and right now, he was troubled by the coldness in her eyes.

"What do you mean by advanced economics classes?"

"Do you mean to say you were present at Professor Grumpy's class?" Annabelle's eyes widened in excitement.

"I was seated at the back," Henry replied casually without breaking eye contact with Sarah, whose cheeks were now turning red with anger.

"You must be a new student because I haven't seen this face before, right Sarah"

"I don't know," Sarah replied drily, her hand balling into a fist that didn't go unnoticed by Sebastian and Henry.

"So who are you to Sarah? Her secret..."

"Enough with your wild fantasies, Anna." Sarah snapped angrily at her friend, taking the latter by surprise.

Sebastian couldn't be happier at the way Sarah shunned her loquacious friend. If it were up to him, he would get rid of her for being so lousy and brainless. He couldn't understand why Sarah would choose a dummy as a friend when there were so many smart girls around who were dying to hang out with her.

"Sarah!" Annabelle pouted, her eyes brimming with hurt as she looked around to see people staring and making taunting faces at her.

"Sarah, I can leave if..."

"You, keep quiet. I'll deal with you later." Sarah shot Henry a glare which he saw as cute.

Henry nodded without saying a word while drinking in her feisty nature, something he found so adorable.

Sarah turned her attention to Annabelle who was already gathering her stuff, tears pulling at the corner of her eyes.

"Anny, I'm sorry for raising my voice at you." Sarah placed her hand on Annabelle's trembling ones.

"It's fine. I'll just get out of your skin."

"Please, don't leave. You haven't even finished your work with Sebastian, right?" Sarah looked pleading at Sebastian to help her out.

Sebastian's heart skipped a beat as he smiled sweetly at Sarah before turning his attention to Annabelle.

"Sarah is right, Ann." Sebastian's chocolate and vanilla-coated voice made Annabelle melt. She was completely enthralled with the way he called her pet name.

"It's fine." Annabelle turned to Sarah. "You are forgiven only because Sebastian asked me to."

"Thanks, Sebastian." Sarah plastered an appreciative smile on her piqued face.

"You are welcome anytime, Sarah." Sebastian's heart fluttered like a free bird soaring in the sky.

"So will you introduce us to Mr tall and handsome or are you going to leave us in suspense?"

'Tall and handsome. Can this brainless fool be any less annoying?' Sebastian sneered inwardly his gaze shifting to Henry who was now grinning from cheek to cheek.

"Henry is a family friend and please..." Sarah stressed as Annabelle's eyes lit up in excitement. "...don't ask me any more questions."

"Ugh!" Annabelle pouted before turning to Henry. "Henry, it's my pleasure to meet you. I am Annabelle, Sarah's all-time bestie." She smiled, her hand stretched towards Henry, which he shook politely.

"Is such a pleasure to meet you, Annabelle."

"You can call me Anna. Any friend of Sarah is already my friend." Annabelle said blushing while Sarah gritted her teeth in repressed anger.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"And this is Sebastian..." Anna flipped her head to look at him. "... Sarah umm..."

"Friend." Sebastian stood up to shake Henry. "Sarah is my very good friend."

Sarah and Annabelle shared puzzle glances as both men shook hands like two rivals before a war.

'Since when did Sebastian and I become very good friends when we only just started talking?' Sarah pondered.

"Such firm grip," Henry noted chuckling at the way Sebastian was practically squeezing the life out of him in the name of a handshake.

"You know what, I think I'm done here," Sarah said breaking the tension between both men. "I have to go now." She gathered her stuff and packed it into her backpack.

"What about lunch? You promised." Annabelle whined, her angry stomach growling out loud to her mortification.

"You must be really hungry." Henry chuckled.

"I am." Annabelle finally admitted. "How about we all do lunch? I promise it's going to be fun."

"I'll pass. I just remembered that I have some important things to do at home." Sarah pleaded as she hurriedly saved her work on her laptop and shut it down.

"Sarah, are you sure you're alright?" Sebastian brushed past Annabelle like she meant nothing while putting up a protective and possessive stance.

The only reason he agreed to teach Annabelle was just to get close to her and now this questionable family friend guy thinks he can waltz in here and take away his boo.

"I'm fine, Sebastian. Thanks for asking." Sarah stood up and slung over her backpack while carrying her laptop in her left hand. "You guys can have lunch without me. I have to go now."

"I can walk you back to your car if you want." Sebastian was relentless. He wasn't comfortable with the idea of Sarah being around this annoying dude.

Henry was about to say something but one fierce look from Sarah told him to keep his mouth shut.

"Thanks for the offer, Sebastian. But I'm fine." Sarah turned to Henry. "Let's go."

"Sure!" Henry's lips curled up in a wicked smack as he turned to Annabelle and Sebastian. "It was my pleasure meeting you both. Do enjoy your lunch together."

"We will!" Annabelle was beaming like a Christmas light as she watched Sarah and Henry leave the lecture room. "So Sebastian..." She was stunned to see Sebastian leaving too.

"What about lunch?"

"I just remembered, I have to be somewhere by 2:00 PM." Sebastian didn't bother looking at her as he turned around to leave.

"Guys... You know what, I think Henry is a better choice for Sarah. I will vote for him." Annabelle hissed, also packing up her stuff.

"What did you say?" Sebastian snapped his head backwards, his narrowed eyes shooting daggers.

"You don't have to pretend around my friend to tolerate me. I'll be having lunch all by myself." Annabelle spat out and left, with Sebastian chasing after her and pleading with her.