In Love With Mr. Billionaire - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

****Caroline's POV****
I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the red dress hanging on the closet door. It was for me to wear at the charity event tonight. I had accepted Dylan's request of attending it with him and it was a gift from him for doing that favor.
In reality, I was not really doing him any favor. I was going to agree to go with him anyway, but my actual reason for attending the event was totally selfish. Aaron was going to be there.
The art center was the last time I saw him. He had to leave urgently for some work, and then he had left for London the same evening. But tonight, he was going to be at the charity event. He will be looking as handsome as ever, and unfortunately, I will not be there to see him.
I sighed looking at the off-the-shoulder satin gown. How happy I was to receive that gift. It was a gorgeous evening gown and I had danced around my room wearing it, pretending to be royalty, until the thought of ruining the dress before wearing it at the event had scared me enough to take it off and keep it in the safest part of my closet. If only I knew I was not going to be allowed to attend it.
I grabbed my phone from the bed and dialed Dylan's number. He answered on the third ring. Before he could be his usual teasing self, I broke the news to him.
"I won't be coming to the party tonight." For so long I had been trying to convince myself that it was for the better that I don't get to go to the party and meet Aaron, but it was only when I said it out loud did I realize how much I wanted to see him again.
"Why not, Caro?" Dylan asked, concerned.
"Because dad doesn't want me to go," I told him the truth because lies never worked with Dylan.
He went silent for the next few seconds and I patiently waited for him to say something. Was he going to be mad at my father for not letting me go? Was he going to be mad at me for canceling it at a time when it will be hard for him to make other arrangements?
The latter seemed ridiculous because I had never been at the receiving end of Dylan's anger—if he ever got angry that is. He always had incredible tolerance, especially with people he cared for, and yet it made me wonder if he was going to curse my dad just because of his disdain for him.
"I see," was all he said.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be, Caro. I need to get some work done. I'll call you in a while, okay?" Dylan said and I smiled. Of course, he did. Workaholic.
"Can I keep the dress, though?" I asked to lighten the tense air that had clouded both of us.
"Of course, you brat. It's yours," he said and ended the call.
The smile that had formed while talking to him slowly disappeared as I threw my phone back on the bed. If only I had been quicker to answer the door, Lahaina would have never seen Jane collect the delivery of the dress that Dylan had sent.
She had seen the package, she had put two and two together rather quickly, and then she had gone all the way to my dad to complain about me like a little kid. Today, dad warned me not to be anywhere at the party and had threatened to deal with Dylan himself. That last part had worried me enough to throw every thought of seeing Aaron again down the drain.
I wanted to meet him again, to see him again. At the art museum, I had decided it would be the last time I ever saw him, but the moment he had asked me if I was going to be at the charity event, I started to look forward to it. I wanted to go and if I didn't get to meet him or talk to him, I wished to just see him from afar. But not at the cost of my father hurting the only other man I cared about.
I got up from my bed to put the dress away. Seeing it hanging on the closet door was hurtful knowing Aaron was never going to see me in it.
I was stopped by a knock on my door. It was our housekeeper, Jane.
"Sir sent to tell you that you may go to the charity event with Diven," she said. It took me a few seconds to realize that she was talking about Dylan and had mispronounced his name.
"It's Dylan," I told her with a smile and the next second blurted, "he what?"
She repeated the sentence, this time correctly pronouncing the name. I had perfectly heard it the first time. It was the processing part that made me repeat the sentence in my head a couple of times. This was not like my father. What changed?
I thanked Jane for the information and paced around my room. There had to be a catch. This was unlike him, unlike everything I knew about him. Due to his ever-so-big ego, he never goes back on his word no matter how much damage it does to him, and yet he had allowed me to attend the event with someone he clearly hated.
My phone rang and it was Dylan. I hurriedly grabbed it from my bed and tapped the green button on the screen.
"I'll pick you up at 8, alright?" Dylan said.
How does he even know that dad allowed me to go- oh wait.
"What did you do?" I asked, unbelievably. I should have asked him 'how' did he do that, but decided to wait until my first question was answered.
"Nothing, Caro." He said it too sweetly to not be suspicious.
"Seriously, Dylan. How did you do that? What did you say to him?"
"I don't talk to shits like him, sweety. My assistant did the work. Now stop thinking about your father and be ready at 8," he said and ended the call.
I stared at the screen for a few seconds and excitedly jumped up from the bed. Oh, I love Dylan!
I smiled looking at the dress and thinking of seeing Aaron tonight. How can a person make you so happy even without their presence? Just the thought of seeing him again and I was behaving like a teenager in love.
I tried to calm the butterflies in my stomach and when nothing worked I decided to utilize my time getting ready for tonight. It was still a few hours to 8, but I wanted to look beautiful. I don't know if I was doing it just because he was going to be there or because I was feeling good about myself, but he made me feel beautiful whenever he looked at me and I was going to do my best to look my best tonight.
When the doorbell rang at 8, I ran down the stairs at a fairly decent speed considering the dress I was wearing. Dad and Juliea were already in the foyer, waiting for Lahaina to make her grand entrance before they left for the event. I hung my head low, not wanting to look at them or acknowledge their glares, and made my way to the door.
I stopped at the door noticing dad had silently followed behind me. Thinking he wanted to say something to me, I looked up at him. He gestured for me to open the door. Oh no.
Not knowing what had trespassed between Dylan and him that had led him to allow me to go, Dylan meeting him was the last thing I wanted.
"Open the door," he ordered. I took a deep breath and did as I was told to do.
Dylan was wearing a black suit, with his hair combed back and the classic Dylan grin plastered on his face. There was no possible way that he did not notice the old man standing behind me, but he gave no clue of his notice whatsoever.
"The dress is pretty, Caro. Great choice," he said. Even with the fear of my father looming over me, I smiled at his self-flattery.
"It's been a while, Dylan," spoke my father and my heart started to beat rapidly in my chest.
Dylan's face hardened the moment his eyes moved to my father. He was going to get angry. I knew he was going to lose his calm. My father did not take angry comments thrown at him well and I dreaded for something bad to happen. That was until Dylan smiled at him. My heart sank. This was worse.
A calm, calculative Dylan was always more dangerous than an angry one.
"So it has, James," he said. I felt the sudden urge to pull him away from the incoming conversation and straight to his car, but by the looks of it, neither of them were going to allow me to do that.
Dylan was a successful man who could hold his own against most people, but I was not sure if he was capable of dealing with my father. Since I had no idea what he was capable of, the idea of my father causing harm to him scared me to my core.
"You've come a long way since the last time I saw you as a kid," my father said. His voice was diplomatic, like the ones he used when he talked of business deals. There was no anger or annoyance at Dylan's presence. I had never expected any warmth anyway.
"And you're still the same," Dylan said, "if not worse." I took a sharp intake of breath at that comment.
"We should leave or else we'll be late," I interjected in between.
My father, as expected, ignored my presence. Dylan, on the other hand, gave me a little smile and said, "go ahead and wait for me in the car, Caro. Since your father thinks I'm finally rich enough to earn his attention, I should spare him a few minutes."
I didn't move to go to the car. I didn't move at all. I was bracing myself for my father's anger at the sarcastic remark, but instead, he laughed. The man, who had once forbidden my mother and me to even talk to Dylan and his family, was laughing at his insults now.
"So, everything I heard about you all these years was actually true. But let me warn you, boy. Arrogance gets you nowhere. Business is all about forming relations. I'm giving you a chance to make amends here. Working with me will be profitable for you," said my dad.
I turned to look at him in shock. He was staring up at Dylan, who was way taller than either one of us, with pure confidence. He looked certain that Dylan was going to work with him. Dylan returned the look with a face that was impossible to read. For a moment I was worried he was going to be swayed, then he spoke again and I finally understood what the tabloid meant with the 'not to be messed with' part.
"Arrogance got me to where I am, James. And if you actually researched about me you'd know I don't do business. I run a security company. Businessmen like you beg me for protection when threats arrive. You're the last person I need to learn life lessons from. And about working with you? You better hope you never get your business into trouble because if you do, not only I'm going to deprive you of any help, but I'm going to be present on the other side." Dylan's tone was calm, his face expressionless, but the threat was loud and clear.
Dad said nothing, just kept staring at him as he turned around to walk to his car. As silently as I could, I followed behind Dylan until we reached his car and I finally let my emotions explode in front of him.
"What the hell did you do?" As much as I was impressed by his words, I was still in shock. How many people have I seen, in my twenty-two years of existence, talk to my father without respect or not being scared? Only two.
The first one was Aaron, who for some reason has always shown a certain dislike for my father, but that was understandable. My father was trying to tie him down with Lahaina. Dad was not going to hurt him even if he could.
The other was this guy right in front of me, who could have created a lot of problems for him by doing that.
Dylan ushered me inside the car and when I saw dad's car pull out of the driveway, I quickly got inside and closed the door. Dylan took the driving seat and sighed watching dad's car turn right on the road ahead.
"You could've just ignored him, Dylan," I said, my voice was laced with concern and he finally turned to look at me.
"Caro, if you think that guy can hurt me, I'm really disappointed in you," he shook his head, dramatically.
"He can't?" I asked, genuinely worried.
"No, you fool. That brings me to ask you, why don't you come and live with me in California? Mom and dad are there. You could either live with them or with me. You don't have to live with James anymore. I promise I'll keep you safe. After all, you're my favorite cousin." Dylan smiled and at that moment I realized how much I loved him and how much I had missed him all these years.
"Take your time and think about it, okay?" He said, and I nodded. My eyes had started to glisten and I fought back the tears that threatened to ruin my makeup.
"Thank you," I whispered. I have been trying to search for an escape for so long and now, after all this time when I had started to think there was no escape, it was here. He was here.
The whole drive was silent with me thinking about Dylan's offer. I had always looked up to him as a big brother and thus, the blind trust came automatically. I could leave all the pain behind and get my new start. There was nothing to stay behind for.
That thought made me think about the one man for whom I might throw it all away. He was going to be at the charity event. He was the reason I was attending the event. He could be the reason for me to stay behind. Unfortunately, he was not mine.
I pushed all the bad thoughts away and put on a smile. I was going to see Aaron again. Dylan had just offered me a new life. The evening could not get better.
The place was, as usual, surrounded by tons of reporters and cameras were flashing everywhere. I placed my hand in the crook of Dylan's arm as we made our way inside, ignoring the cameras.
My heart started to beat faster with anticipation of seeing Aaron again. My eyes immediately went around the room, searching for him. The major part of the room was filled with well-dressed men and women talking or dancing as slow music played in the background. Dylan stopped a waiter passing by and handed me a glass of champagne. He escorted me to the other side of the room where several round tables were set up in front of a stage. The charity auction was about to begin.
I took my place next to Dylan at one of the tables, still looking for the man who had compelled me to keep my dislike for massive parties aside and attend this one.
Items for auction were bought one after the other. Dylan gave me the liberty to place his bids, which I took with great excitement. None of the stuff interested either one of us until a signed painting by one of the most renowned artists was brought up on the stage. I almost squealed with joy and turned to Dylan.
"Please buy this one," I begged.
"Still into paintings, Caro?" He chuckled at my enthusiasm. I nodded and he gestured to me to place the bids.
"How high can we go?" I asked him. I did not want him to run after me with a knife for robbing him of his wealth. I also laughed thinking about the last time when he had actually run after me with a knife. We weren't even 10 at that time and it wasn't funny when we both were grounded by our parents after that.
"Higher than the highest bid," Dylan said, taking a sip of his wine.
I raised my brows. "No limits then?"
"None."
I picked up the card and was about to make the first bid when the announcer got called off from the stage to the back. When he returned, the painting was being carried away.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this gorgeous piece of art right here has already been sold for a whopping six hundred thousand dollars to Mr Aaron Woodwords!" the auctioneer announced.
The crowd burst into applause. I looked all around the room until I finally spotted him standing at the side. My smile dropped when I noticed he was not alone.
His arm was wrapped around Lahaina who was beaming with happiness. His father was there. Dad and Juliea stood behind him, both looking proud.
Aaron raised his drink as if in a toast to the auctioneer who thanked him for the donation. Lahaina leaned into him a little, and a pang of jealousy hit me like a punch straight to the face. Aaron didn't look uncomfortable. He looked rather happy.
Dylan must have noticed me stiffen in my seat because he placed his arm on the back of my chair, "are you okay, Caro?" He asked. I gave him a nod, unable to speak.
"Is it because of the painting? I can buy it from-"
"No," I shook my head and gave him a fake smile, "it's nothing."
When I looked back at Aaron he was watching me. Our eyes met briefly before he averted his gaze. For a change, I kept looking at him while he avoided my eyes. Only moments later, Aaron whispered something in Lahaina's ear to which she smiled and gave him a nod. She offered him her hand which he took and guided her to the dance floor. I shook my head as if denying what I saw would change the reality.
"I pity him," I heard Dylan speak and I turned to him. He had followed my gaze and was now watching Aaron dance with Lahaina. When I kept staring at him without saying anything, he added, "that Aaron Woodwords with your gold digger step-sister. Nice couple." His tone held sarcasm.
"You know him?" I asked. I hated how my voice sounded. I was barely speaking, my voice was low as if pushing out words from my mouth was causing me pain. But I was not hurt. At least not on the outside.
"I've met him a few times. He's a douche and looks like he has finally found his match," he chuckled.
The auction had ended and Dylan, who noticed my sudden change of mood and also how I couldn't keep my eyes off the couple on the dance floor, asked me if I wanted to have a dance. I replied with a no and looked away.
Aaron was the one who wanted me to be here. He was the reason why I was here. And now watching him dance with my step-sister who was practically pressing her whole body to him made me feel betrayed. Just the sight of them dancing so intimately made me nauseous.
Aaron had seen me watching him. He knew I was here. He knew I was looking at him. And yet, not once did he return the look or gave even a hint of acknowledgement. I could not do this. I needed to leave.
As if reading my mind or, knowing Dylan, probably already figuring out what was going on, he turned to me and placed a comforting hand on my arm. "Caro, you're not fine. What is it? Do you want me to take you back home?"
"Yes please," I told him.
He instantly excused himself from the group of people he was talking to and we made our way towards the exit.
I turned to have a last look at Aaron, knowing well this was the end of whatever it was between us, but what I saw next shattered my heart into a million little pieces. They were kissing. Aaron and Lahaina were standing too close together and they were kissing.
A sardonic chuckle escaped my lips as I realized how pitiful I might look to him tonight. I bit my lip to get a hold of my emotions that were all over the place now. Turning my back to them, I walked out of the venue, pacifying myself with the thought that this was bound to happen someday.