In Love With Mr. Billionaire - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

My flight landed in New York at 6 in the evening. I spared a few minutes to talk to my pilot, Mark, who was also a friend before I made my way back to the penthouse. It has been a hell of a week for both me and my employees.
If the contract for signing my life away to a girl who was nothing more than a medium to transfer my wealth to her father, and the Walter guy passing confidential information to other firms was not enough, the trip had taken away whatever peace was still left in my life. The London branch had been in such turmoil that I was thankful for Walter for fucking it up, which eventually led me to see the chaos for myself.
The manager was involved in stealing the secrets of the company. Not only was he helping Walter to trade information in return for large sums of money, but he was also working—or rather not working—which was causing huge losses to the branch there. His credentials proved he was under-accomplished for holding the title of being the manager.
He was appointed there when dad was still in control of the company and it only increased my anger at him. He was getting too old to look after this company. He needed to hand it over to someone else now and step back and rest. It was a pity that he believed his deceiving friend to be more capable of handling that job than his own son.
None of it mattered anymore though. I had tried twice to talk to my father, trying to make him see that James had, very gently, taken his hand and guided him to the edge of a cliff, and now he was voluntarily going to jump off by signing this contract. But he was persistent. He was not going to step back now.
If he was on that cliff alone, willing to jump off, it was his choice. Trusting James was his choice. Signing the contract was his choice. But since my leg was tied to his and if he fell, I was going to go down too, I will have to create a safety net myself and save both of us. If James was going to push me over, I was going to get back up no matter what the cost. If it meant marrying his daughter was the only safety net for me, I was going to take it.
Walter and the manager were going to spend the next few years in prison, and the remaining years trying to find a job that, I ensured, will be unavailable to them inside the borders of this country.
There were also talks here and there between the employees that reached me through Carter about me putting a lot of work on them. Though none of them could say that to my face. Good for them. Because if they were unable to bear the workload, they were free to walk out of my company any time they wanted.
I reached the penthouse and immediately went to take a shower. There was no time to rest. The charity event was tonight and it was the day when I would be signing the document for my marriage. I scoffed thinking about it.
Meeting James was already enough to make my blood boil and the thought of his daughter being present there irritated me like nothing else ever could. My only solace was Caroline.
I looked at myself in the mirror, fixing the tie of my tuxedo and laughed at myself. As much as I was still bothered by her being aware and maybe playing a part in the whole fiasco, I still was unable to hate her. Something in me still wished that she was in the dark, unaware of the game her father was playing.
What would she do when she sees her sister standing next to me when it was her who was supposed to be by my side? Was she going to be sad? Or was she going to smile with satisfaction, as the game was going exactly how she had planned it to go?
It was time to find out.
The chauffeur was already waiting at the exit for me when I walked out of the building. I slid inside and the car took off to the charity event.
My father was already at the venue. He was talking to a group of people that didn't include James. I sighed with relief and headed to the bar to put a few drinks in me before James would arrive and I would have to deal with the asshat. I saw my father excuse himself and walk towards me.
Still, I turned around to the bar, got myself a glass of champagne and waited for my father to reach me before I graced him with any attention. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw James enter the place along with his wife and Lahaina. Caroline was not there.
"And they're here," I heard my father speak. Draining the glass in one swift move, I took a deep breath and struggled for control.
No, Aaron, you can't just turn around and slice that asshole's head off his body, and then give it to his little gold digger daughter. That has to wait. Not now.
When I realized chanting those sentences would only make me want to do it more, I rolled my eyes and turned to face them.
"Hello, Aaron," said James. I gave him a glare that conveyed he would be buried deep in the ground for having the audacity to say my name to which he shifted in his place and corrected, "I meant, Mr Woodwords."
"Nice to meet you, Mr Woodwords. It's been a while," his daughter spoke, batting her eyelashes at me.
A while to what? If I remember correctly, which I do, I never had a proper conversation with her. I remember seeing her at different parties or events where she was trying to get my attention, but so were other people. Adding the fact that she was a replica of James and also his daughter, it was enough for me to never spare her even a single glance.
"Pleasure is all mine," I said. It was an automated response in a diplomatic tone.
If my company was not at stake, I would have gladly dragged all three of them out of this place and away from my eyes. But since it was, I would have to bear their irritating presence to the best I could.
"Aaron, my man!" A woman, in her late twenties, made her way through the crowd to me.
"Justine," I said in acknowledgement and she smiled. Justine gave me a little side hug then shook hands with my father and then, to my deep disregard, with James.
"So, what do you think?" Justine asked, encompassing the whole room with a wave of her arm.
"Pretty impressive," I said, honestly. Justine was my collegemate and we had studied business together. After I started managing my father's company, I had sometimes helped her with her start-up. She was brilliant at her work and had managed to thrive.
Justine was also the organizer of tonight's event. The money collected from the charity auction was going to go to many different charities that she worked with.
"And who is the pretty woman beside you?" She cooed. Lahaina had herself wrapped around my left arm.
"Are you not going to introduce her to me?" Lahaina smiled at me, flirtatiously. I looked at her, visibly rolled my eyes then turned my head towards Justine.
No, I don't think I will.
"When are you going to start the auction? What are you waiting for?" I asked, instead. I could not wait for it to end and finally get to leave.
Justine laughed. My father, along with James and Juliea had walked towards the area where the auction was set to happen and yet, Justine leaned in to tell me, "Dylan VanAssche is going to be here."
Lahaina, noticing the way Justine leaned it to share her reason, pressed tighter around my arm. Oh, for fuck's sake!
Ignoring the urge to shove her away, I focused on the current conversation. I was glad for Justine for taking my time so that I don't have to deal with the Marshalls anymore than I already was.
To be honest, Lahaina and I had a lot in common. She and I both were from business backgrounds. Her dickhead of a father was friends with mine. She was practical and knew how to socialize, just like me, until it got to the point of manipulation and that was where she and I diverged. If I go by those things, there should be a lot to talk about. Yet, if Justine was not present here talking to me, I knew there would be nothing more than exasperating silence between her and me.
To think Caroline was the polar opposite of me and yet, we never ran out of topics to talk about. She was a total delight to be around. I cursed myself internally to let my mind wander back to her when she had not even cared to show up tonight.
"There is a high chance he will show up tonight," Justine repeated, glancing at the entrance briefly.
"How did you manage to get him here?" I inquired, genuinely curious.
VanAssche was not the most social person to exist. I knew him only through business, but he hardly ever attended events and parties. And even though he was incredibly good at the work he did, the man was a true definition of a prick.
"Had to pull a lot of strings. I really hope he makes it. His presence will be easy on the charity auction goal and also on the eyes," she winked playfully.
"You're married, Justine," I commented, shaking my head. She was always a flirt.
"I never had a shot with him anyway," she laughed.
"His family is a bunch of leeches. If you ask me, you're better off without him," Lahaina butted in between. I scoffed at the term used because I knew another family who deserved to own that title.
Justine was taken aback by Lahaina's words and looked at me with wide eyes. I said nothing because the very next moment, my attention was caught by the woman in red walking inside the venue.
Caroline looked as flawless as ever. The red dress highlighted her rosy complexion. The material hugged her petite frame, showing off her curves. She looked heavenly.
Her eyes wandered around the hall and I imagined she was looking for me. When she failed to spot me near the bar, a disappointed look appeared on her face.
It was only moments later did I notice the man beside her. VanAssche handed her a glass of champagne. She took it with a smile on her lips, that matched the color of her dress. How in the hell did she know the VanAssche guy? I frowned when they both started to move towards the auction area. For all I knew, his reputation with women was worse than mine and I did not want Caroline to be anywhere near him.
"We may begin now," Justine signaled to the announcer to proceed with the auction.
I took my place at the side of the hall with Lahaina walking beside me and Justine leading the way. My eyes were fixed on Caroline, who sat next to VanAssche. She was still looking around anxiously, in search of someone, and it made me question everything I had been thinking about her this past week.
Why had she not come with her family? If she was involved in it, why had she decided to ignore her father and sister and instead chose to sit with a stranger? I had noticed how she always got nervous around James for reasons that were yet unknown to me. Is she really not aware of anything? Because why would she look around searching for me when all she had to do was ask her sister.
Finally, I turned to look at Lahaina. "Who else knows about the contract?"
"What contract?" She asked, her eyes looked back at me with interest. She appeared to be clueless. When I gave her a hard glare trying to make her understand that her games were not going to work on me, she dropped the act and answered, "just my family."
"Even Caroline?" My question and tone both shocked her enough to break the facade and take the ridiculously sweet smile away from her face.
"You're my fiance. I don't think what she knows or not should matter," said Lahaina, throwing a disgusted glance at her. That was interesting to note—the words and the look.
"I have not signed the contract yet," I informed her. "Does Caroline know?"
"But you will tonight."
"Does she know?" My tone was deadly and conveyed the threat well.
"Yes! And she doesn't care," Lahaina answered with a smile. The facade made its way back to her face.
The auction had begun and I looked at Caroline again. She did not look like she was enjoying it. VanAssche has passed off his token to her to make his bids. It made me wonder if they were close. Though a prick, I knew he was not stupid enough to give a random woman a pass to drain him off his wealth. The auctions would not cost much, but the gesture was extravagant.
I could have asked Lahaina about Caroline's relations with the VanAssche guy, but I couldn't. Not when I was still unsure of her lying to me about my earlier questions.
My father, along with James and his wife, came to stand behind me. He commented something about Lahaina and I looking good together, but I was too focused on the duo sitting at the auction table to care about it. Lahaina did and thanked my father for the compliment.
One after the other, the items were brought on the stage for the bidders. Caroline made no bits. It was not until a painting was brought to the stage that she excitedly turned to VanAssche. I briefly looked at the piece of art, then back at the girl who, for the first time since she had entered the venue, was smiling.
"I'll take that," I told Justine, who looked at me with surprise. My eyes were still on Caroline and Lahaina noticed that.
"I never knew you were into art," her words passed through gritted teeth.
"Then make the highest bid," Justine spoke.
"Do I need to?" I was not going to make any bids tonight. Being a friend to Justine, I was going to make a separate donation after the event to bridge whatever gap would be between her goal and the money raised in the auction.
"Then you'll have to write me a bigger cheque," she said, playfully.
"I'll give you a blank one," I said. She raised her brows, impressed, then went backstage to talk to the auctioneer.
I smiled at the amount that was announced for the painting. Justine knew how to take advantage of the situation.
Every eye had turned to look at me as my name was announced, including the one I was waiting for to see me. For the brief moment that my eyes met with Caroline's, I saw the shock and then betrayal passed through them. That was enough to prove that she knew nothing about it.
Expressions and feelings can be easily faked. I had a living example standing beside me. But the initial reactions were rapid and largely unconscious. It gave away everything going inside a person's head. And the look of hurt that had appeared on Caroline's face at seeing me stand with her sister when I had been the one to invite her here, was unfiltered. She did not know about it.
I felt like an ass for even doubting her intentions. I felt like a bigger ass for not leaving everything behind and going to kiss her to reassure her of my feelings.
"Why don't you both go and dance?" James spoke, trying to play the cupid. A side of his mouth was lifted as he returned my stare. He knew I was bound by the contract. He knew my father was standing right there. He knew I would not do anything that would lead my father to think I was not going to sign the contract. He had an upper hand in this matter and seems like that had given him a lot of courage.
"Say no to him," I leaned towards Lahaina to whisper in her ear. Her strong perfume made me choke on air.
"Let's go," she smiled at me.
Patience, Aaron. Patience.
I took her hand and walked to the dance floor. When I looked over at Caroline again, she was talking to VanAssche. I would definitely have to dig about how she even knew that man. She hardly attended social events and neither did VanAssche to form an acquaintance at a public gathering. Also, the way he seemed to give her his undivided attention—something he was known to not grant easily to anyone unless utterly important—made me want to walk over to him and demand an explanation.
I was still watching Caroline, as she got up from her table and walked towards the exit when suddenly Lahaina jumped on me, catching me off-guard, and kissed me. Before I could push her away, I saw Caroline look at me with wide eyes. Then she turned on her heel and left.
I pushed Lahaina away from me. I wanted to run after Caroline. I wanted to stop her and tell her it was not what it seemed like. But I didn't. I didn't because I had a fucking contract to sign.
"What the fuck you think you are doing?" My tone was high, but not enough to reach the couples dancing around us.
"Come on, Aaron. We're about to get married," Lahaina reasoned. My response was to walk away and out of the venue. I did not want to argue with her. I did not want to talk to her. And considering the rising fury at Caroline walking away, I didn't even want to look at her.
The air was cold outside and I had a brief period of peace before my father joined me.
He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder—which only irritated me more. "You'll be signing it tonight, right?"
"Yes," I whispered.
"You'll see it, Aaron. She is a really nice girl."
"Yeah, she is," I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
"Get James to sign it too and you'll have my shares, son," he said in a fatherly tone.
I rolled my eyes at the last word. Going to my car, I headed straight to my penthouse, where Carter was waiting for me with the papers.
"Any loopholes?" I asked, going through the words printed on the sheets.
"None, sir," Carter said, passing me a pen.
I took it and Caroline's face flashed before my eyes. I was doing the right thing.
A voice in my heart warned me about the consequences, but the voice in my head was louder and it told me it was for the best. I signed the papers.
I signed my fucking marriage contract.