Taken By The Arrogant Billionaire

“Hey, you returned earlier. Did something happen again?” Layla asked as soon as she saw her standing outside the door, drenched.

“Can I come in first?”

“Oh, right” she retreated and opened the door wider.

“Are you okay? Wait, are you crying?”

“No, I’m not”

“I can see the tears. What is wrong?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

The worried look on Layla’s face pushed her emotions to the surface, and she burst out in tears.

“So, something did happen” she led her to the chair. “Is this about Jane again” she received no response and assumed it was true. That wench. “Stop crying, you are going to be fine”

Valerie shook her head vehemently. “No. I will not be fine. I have done something so ….. so…”

“So what?”

“So unimaginable. It happened so suddenly, and I could not turn it back”

“What is it that you could not turn back. I am still in the dark here. What did you do?”

“I am … I’m sorry. I can’t tell you now” she stood up and went into her room, locking the door behind her.

“Change that dress if you would rather not catch a cold” Layla said at the closed door.

Valerie collapsed behind the door, her hands in her hair as she stared at the window in despair. Her wet dress meant nothing to her than what she had just realized. She had fallen in love with her boss. Even the thought of it made her squeeze her eyes shut. He was taken and was going to be a married man soon. Should she just resign? Maybe those feelings will disappear when she stops seeing him. But she had worked so hard for this job. It would be a waste to leg go just like that.

****************

It wasn’t any better for Jared. He had left the party early and could not get a wink of sleep. On Monday, he arrived early, telling Kathy to direct Valerie to his office once she arrives.

Valerie, on the other hand, came down with a cold and migraine. She sneezed now and then and her nose was clogged.

“You called for me sir”

He searched her eyes. They were a little puffy.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I am. You have a meeting with the executives in two hours”

The next few days were a torture for the two of them. She knew she could not avoid him, so she avoided any personal conversation he might want to bring up. Her birthday was in a few weeks, but she wasn’t looking forward to it as always. She had always hated herself for growing up in an orphanage. Why was she abandoned? Was she not good enough? Was it because she was a girl? Every year on her birthday, it reminded her of how much of a castaway she was. She wouldn’t have known her birthday or her name if the one who dropped her at the orphanage had not informed the director.

She felt a tap. “Your mind has gone on a long journey. What are you thinking so hard about?”

“It’s nothing. I have to leave now. See you tomorrow”

When she got home, Layla welcomed her with a flattering smile, took her bag and led her to the table.

“Wow! You made dinner. They are my favorite”

“Of course. That is why I made them”

“But, what’s with that smile. It’s making my skin crawl”

“Well, you see, there is something I need to tell you”

“I knew it. You were being nice for a reason”

“I need to leave for a while”

“Leave for a while? What does that mean?”

“My actress just landed a major role and filming will start in two days, so I have to go”

“For how long?”

“Three months, at least”

“What! Three months? And at least? You are going to leave me here all alone?”

“I’m sorry, but this is very important”

Valerie pouted. “So you won’t be here on my birthday?” Even though she wasn’t really ecstatic about her birthday, she wished to at least be with someone she cared about, but that hope was dashed.

“I won’t, but don’t worry. I’ll give you your gift when I return”

She nodded. “Sandy’s due date is in less two months. It is a shame you won’t be there”

“She has you, so I have nothing to worry about. I’ll see my little niece, or maybe nephew when I return”

Layla left while she was at work, so she returned to an empty house. She felt extremely alone.

************

Amelia was in the car when she received a message from a number she didn’t recognize.

“There is a restaurant ahead of you. Let’s meet there” She could already tell who it was. She smirked. Meeting him was inevitable anyway.

“Stop over there”

She walked into the restaurant and looked around. She saw him at a far corner glaring at her. She walked towards him with a big smile.

“There you are. How long has it been? Two years? Four years?”

“Enough with the unsolicited pleasantries”

“Ouch. That’s mean considering our past record”

Damon leaned forward, a furious glint in his eyes. “Stay away from the Smiths”

“Why should I? The current head of the family is a very good friend of my father, so why should I listen to you?”

“Just do as I tell you?”

She tilted her head with a smile. “And if I don’t?”

“Then you leave me no choice”

“You will kill me? Is that it?” She burst into laughter. “You can be more of a clown sometimes” Her smile vanished as she leaned forward, and their faces were only inches apart. “You cannot kill me, Damon. You know why? Because I will kill you first” she leaned back, the smiled came back to her face. “We can place our orders now. Oh! I should be somewhere important, I will not be able to eat with you. I’m sorry our conversation had to end abruptly like this. But you can order anything you want, I’ll pay for it. I’m a princess after all”

He watched her back with rage. His phone lit up.

It was a message from Valerie.

“Let’s meet up tonight, at the usual bar”

A bright smile immediately appeared on his face, though he had no idea why.

Outside, Amelia watched him intently as he came out. The expression he had wasn’t one she had expected. She had expected him to storm out and drive away in fury, but his face was calm. There was even a hint of smile in it.

She narrowed her eyes and called someone.

“Follow Damon and report his every move to me. Don’t let him find out. If he does, consider yourself dead”