In Love With Mr. Billionaire - Chapter 8: Chapter 8

"Caroline, this is Ethan Woodwords, a very dear friend of mine," dad introduced him. "Aaron's father," he added.
"Nice to meet you, sir," I said, returning the smile and taking his hand that he had offered for a shake.
"Call me Ethan, please. I've known James for very long. Surprisingly, we haven't met before," he said, throwing an accusatory look at my father who laughed in response. Ethan gave out a chuckle as well.
"Caro has never been a very social child," my father said in a voice so sweet that it caught me off guard. If I didn't know better, I would have scoffed at that statement.
"I'll take my leave then, James," Ethan said, looking at my father. "I will have to talk to my son about our arrangement."
"Very well. It also seems like I managed to convince him of the collaboration on the Brooklyn project. Aaron for sure will be signing the deal tomorrow. You may talk to him about the arrangement after the deal," dad recommended and his friend nodded in agreement.
"That would be better. I assured him I will not be interfering with the Brooklyn project so I don't know about tomorrow but I will surely talk to him about the rest later," said Ethan.
As dad escorted him out of the house, I made my way to my room lost in thought. What just happened? What was the arrangement they were talking about? Did it also involve Lahaina? Dad had said she would be 'elated' about it. If it did, then- oh no. I was no Sherlock Holmes, but it didn't require me to be the world's greatest detective to conclude what could be possibly brewing between the three of them.
The past whole month, Lahaina had been going around the house happily flaunting how she was meeting Aaron Woodwords in almost all of the get-togethers. According to her, he had also started falling for her charms, but I had not given it much care until today. If her words were true and after what I had just witnessed, they certainly seem to be true, I needed to maintain my distance from Mr Woodwords.
I don't know if it was just courtesy that Mr Woodwords always had something to talk to me or if he was still not over the money throwing incident and always felt the need to make things awkward for me, but I will have to stay out of his way. And Lahaina's way. Because considering my father and his infinitesimal temper, it was not like I had any other choice.
With that thought engraved in my mind, I went to bed.
When I woke up in the morning it was due to the constant ringing of my phone. For most of my life, I had no one to call me throughout the day and now all of a sudden, I was being woken up by the ringing of my phone way too often.
Grabbing my phone from the side table, I looked at the caller ID before answering. I didn't want a repeat of when Mr Woodwords had called me. It was Nadia.
"Hey, Nad," I said. My voice was surprisingly cheerful and I wondered why it was. It took me a brief moment to remember it was because I was meeting Dylan. After all these years, after being separated from almost every loved one, it was good to have at least one of them back.
"Wow. You sound quite happy. What is it?" She asked.
"I met Dylan last night."
"The stupidest creature, who is unfortunately, your cousin?" Nadia repeated the words that I had used when telling her about him.
I laughed being reminded of that statement. "Yes. I'm meeting him at Harper's. Wanna join?" I offered.
Nadia gave it a thought, then asked. "You sure you want me to? You'll be meeting him after so long."
It was true that there was a lot to catch up with him. I have not heard a word about him or uncle William or Aunt Jenna for so long and there was a lot to talk about. His current status with owning his own company and becoming Richie rich was also going to take a long conversation for him to tell me everything.
However, breakfast was a very short time to get all the updates about life, and Nadia was one of the most important people to me. I could not be happier for her to meet another person who was just as important.
"Yes. Join us."
"Okay, but I'll be a little late. I need to drop some files at my office and then I'll be there," her voice sounded low.
"Is there some problem at work?" I inquired.
"Yes, that's why I called. I took a day off and wanted to ask you to drop by my place, in the evening, after you finish your work," she sighed.
When I pushed her for details, Nadia said it was a long story and needed to be expressed properly. So she wanted me to be physically present in front of her to understand how her life was moving closer to hell by an inch every passing day.
Knowing well how dramatic she could be, I was certain it was not going to be anything earth-shattering, but I was going to love to take that opportunity in telling how my monotonous life had become recently—after she told me about her slow journey to hell, of course.
After a brief shower, I changed into my office clothes and went downstairs. I could hear my family chatting while having their breakfast in the dining room. Not wanting to get noticed and answer my father's questions about why I was leaving so early, I silently walked out of the house. It was a proud moment as for once, I had truly managed to not get noticed.
Dylan was already inside, sipping on a cup of espresso when I reached the cafe. I looked at my watch before walking inside and sighed. Him being the obsessive punctual man he was, must have already reached Harper's ten minutes ago and was now waiting for me.
His displeasure at me being late was plastered on his face and I tried to act natural as I went to take my seat in front of him.
"At 8, was it?" Dylan said, taking another sip of his espresso and sitting back in his chair.
"You used to be nice," I commented.
"Was I?" he asked, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.
I laughed heartily remembering the memories. As much as I loved spending time with him, there was this sibling rivalry going on between us at all times. We were always competing with each other and, as much as it pains me to admit it, he was always winning. Be it anything, Dylan would find a way to be better, and that used to piss me off.
He was four years older than me, and me being the younger one has never come between him winning and then spending the next few days making me realize how much I sucked at everything. No doubt he had acted and cared for me just as a big brother all those years, but the little fights, the teasing, the constant urge to annoy each other was what I missed the most about those days.
"I'm glad you're here again. I really missed you," I told him. My eyes were watering with the pure ecstasy I felt for having a little part of my childhood back again.
"Then why did you stop visiting?" he asked in a serious tone. When I stayed silent. Not wanting to involve my father in the conversation, he continued, "it really bothered us when you guys stopped visiting us, stopped calling or answering our calls. Mom and dad thought they did something to offend you. When I came to see you yesterday, I wasn't even sure if you'd be wanting to see me."
"I'm sorry," was all I said.
Dylan sat in silence for the next few minutes, observing me. I knew he was doing his usual 'reading people' thing.
"James stopped you, didn't he? He never liked you and your mom visiting us. We weren't rich enough for him," Dylan concluded.
"He did," I nodded. "I bet he won't have a problem now," I smiled to myself, sardonically.
"His business has grown in the last few years," Dylan commented.
"Juliea's funds helped him," I told him.
"He's a shit businessman, Caro. No amount of money can help someone if he doesn't know how to use it," he said with such sincerity that it made me laugh. "Woodwords Corps' been helping him."
"You know Aaron Woodwords?" I asked, trying to fight the curiosity that started to bubble up.
"I know everyone," Dylan said. I rolled my eyes at the statement. Dylan VanAssche was a lot of things, modest wasn't one of them.
"That brings me to ask," I said leaning forward and he narrowed his eyes, already sensing something was up. "How rich are you exactly?"
The question, which was asked purely to tease him, made him burst out laughing. We spent the next half an hour talking about everything that had changed in our lives since my last visit to his farm. He gave me a lot of information about his security company and how exactly he had created it. Even though he made it sound easy and simple, I knew he was a workaholic and would have dedicated his entire days and weeks and even years to make it happen.
I was telling him about my current job at dad's company when I saw his attention withdraw to the cafe door. I turned my head to look in that direction and laughed at the person standing behind the glass doors. It was Nadia, standing outside the cafe, talking to herself.
"That's my best friend," I told Dylan, proudly.
"Is she not right in the head?" He asked.
"Don't you dare," I warned him.
Turning around, I waited for her to look in my direction and waved my hand, asking her to join. She did. As she took her seat beside me, I introduced the two of them.
Breakfast was served and our conversations were going great until my phone buzzed. It was Laci.
"Caroline, please come to the office soon," she said, her voice having a certain urgency to it.
"But you said I can be late today."
"I did, but we're in a mess right now and I need you here," Laci said and I had to agree.
I apologized to the two of them and even though Nadia protested, Dylan did not seem to mind. I excused myself, giving a hard glare to Dylan that warned him not to mess with her. Not like I needed to protect Nadia, but I felt it my moral responsibility to warn Dylan before he made a wrong move and lost his life by Nadia's hands.
Back in my office, just as Laci had said, it was a mess. Everyone seemed to be in a frenzy and when I reached Laci's office, she was furiously typing on her computer.
"What did I miss?" I asked.
"Mr Woodwords is going to be here by the evening," she said, her eyes tracing the words that she typed on the computer screen.
"To sign the deal, right?"
After hearing dad talk to Ethan, I was pretty sure we were going to get the deal. If my father was as good of a friend as it seemed to be last night, then there was no doubt that Mr Woodwords was going to go ahead with the collaboration. Not to mention they were also talking about the arrangement between my step sister and Aaron. It would make no sense if he rejected the deal now.
"Yes," Laci agreed, not looking away from the computer screen. "Your father, on Mr Woodwords' advice, has made a few changes in the deal. I'm working on it now so you will have to take care of everything else," she said then pointed at the file at the edge of her desk. "Get to work."
I took the file and was about to walk out of her office when she called my name. "I'm sorry for calling you early. You can take a day off after we're done with this." Laci said, looking at me briefly before returning to the screen.
"It's alright, Laci. You're a great boss, you don't have to be sorry," I told her and she smiled.
I got back to work. Not more than ten minutes had passed when my phone buzzed with an incoming message. It was Nadia. My first instinct was to ignore it till the office work was done, but the content of the message that I read from the notification forced me to answer.
Nadia: You're a bitch, Caro!
Me: what did I do?
Nadia: You left me alone with that brother of yours!
Me(chuckling): what did he do?
Nadia: ask him
So I did. I texted Dylan.
Me: What did you do to my friend?
Dylan: nothing at all
Me: truth. Speak it.
Dylan: I was my normal charming self.
Me: You mean your normal I-am-on-top-of-the-world-and-you-are-nothing-in-front-of-me self?
Dylan: You may say that.
Me: you're a bitch, Dylan.
I shook my head in disappointment. I should not have left Nadia alone with him in the first place. Since I still had a lot to do, I made a mental note to ask Nadia about it later and chide Dylan for the same.
I was busy at work when my father's assistant came to get Laci for the meeting with Mr Woodwords. Laci told me to get off at my usual time as the meeting may go on for long and there was nothing more I could do to help.
However, the meeting ended early. From my assistant's desk, I could see Lahaina and Laci standing at the end of the corridor, conversing. They were standing too far away for me to hear anything. By the look on their faces, they did not look like they were talking about celebrating the deal. Lahaina looked angry and was probably scolding Laci for something. My heartbeat sped in anticipation of the bad news.
"He rejected it," Laci said as she came to stop by my desk.
"Why?"
"We have no idea," she sighed, defeated and started walking to her cabin.
"Go on, you may leave now. I'm going home too. I strongly believe I'm losing my job tomorrow," she said and before I could say anything to make her feel better, she went inside her cabin.
It was not her fault. She'd been working relentlessly since the moment she was given the responsibility. Everything was going perfect. She was so confident about it. So what had happened to change Mr Woodwords decision?
Taking my bag, I went to the elevators, and then outside the building. There was a car, a very familiar one at that, parked near the doors. I briefly glanced at it, then realizing many of the pedestrians and the office workers were doing the same, I turned away to get a cab home. It startled me when the car's engine purred as the wheels started to roll, pushing it forward in my direction. I was about to move out of its way when the Bugatti stopped right beside me.
I already had a fair idea who the car belonged to but was still surprised when the back door opened and Aaron Woodwords stepped out.
"Caroline," he said, coming to stand in front of me.
"Mr Woodwords," my tone lacked confidence as I was aware of a large number of my colleagues looking at me. They probably thought I was talking to him because he knew my father, but if my father got to hear about it, I would be as good as dead. My neck was already at a threat as he had refused the deal, this would be like adding refined fuel to the ever existing fire.
"Come, I'll drop you to your place," he offered.
I shook my head. "No, I already called a cab." I had not called a cab yet but he doesn't have to know that.
"Cab? You stopped crashing your car and throwing money on people's faces?" he teased. I was never going to hear the end of it, was I?
"When will you let it go, Mr Woodwords? I think I've apologized enough," I said with a smile. He smiled back.
"Never, Caroline. Never," and there was the confirmation, "come on. Get in," he gestured towards his car.
"Thank you, Mr Woodwords, but I'll have to decline."
"I didn't ask, Caroline," he said with a straight face, "get in."
Having no other option and knowing well how people were still staring at the both of us, I got in his car.
For most of the drive, I stayed silent. Mr Woodwords had received a phone call and he was talking to someone in a language not familiar to me. His presence was enough to make me nervous. Hearing him talk fluently in another language made me more anxious. It confused me as to why he gave me any attention at all.
I did feel his eyes on me sometimes, but just like all the other times, I failed to look back at him. The call ended and he placed his phone inside his suit pocket.
"You wanted to say something, Caroline?" He asked and I finally turned to look at him.
"I wanted to ask about you rejecting the collaboration," I said.
"What do you want to know?" I had not expected him to give me an answer but was pleased to know he was willing to talk about it.
"Why did you reject it? The deal was beneficial for your company and we worked very hard for it. A friend of mine can lose her job now because of it," I told him with all honesty.
"What friend?" he queried.
"Laci," I said, "Laci Jones. She was managing the deal. She put a lot of effort into it."
He nodded, "I agree. It was indeed a very good deal or else I wouldn't have given it a thought."
"Then why did you not sign it?" I asked, genuinely curious.
The car had stopped outside my house and the chauffeur came to open the door for me. I waited for his answer, but noticing how he opened his side of the door intending to step out, I did the same.
Maybe he did not want to answer that question. I was not going to push it either. Business was never my forte, so his reasons may be incredibly obvious and I would still be oblivious to it. Also, he was not answerable to me.
He walked around his car and came to stand in front of me. "Because, Caroline," he said, taking a step closer that made my heart beat unusually, "I tend to keep my professional life separate from my personal one."
His voice was soft, like a summer breeze, with a husky undertone. I took my time to process the meaning of his words and was about to relate it to Lahaina's interest in him and Ethan's visit the previous evening, when he spoke the next sentence, catching me totally off-guard.
"Have dinner with me tomorrow."
As if a reflex, I shook my head, intending to decline the offer before I made any sense of it. His face was devoid of an expression but his emerald green eyes were filled with amusement as if he had been expecting the rejection. Just when I was about to verbally convey it to him, he spoke again.
"I didn't ask," Aaron said with a charming smile, "tomorrow evening, at 7. I'll pick you up."
"I can't. I can't have dinner with you, Mr Woodwords," I told him, thinking about the repercussions.
"I'm confident you can, Caroline. Dinner is easy," he joked, not understanding the gravity of the situation. "Not to mention, I'm a delightful dinner companion."
"But-"
"Tomorrow, Caroline," he said with a finality in his voice that I failed to challenge.
"Okay, but I'll meet you there." I also needed to ask him about the venue, but him not coming to my house to pick me up and meeting my family was more important.
"I said, I'll pick you up," he said, a smile forming on his lips again. "We can argue all night about this, Caroline, and the outcome will still be the same."
I could not say more. The man clearly had never heard a no in his life and arguing with him will only challenge him to push more.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, getting in the car.
I stood at my spot for a while, watching his car turn around the corner and sighed. Was it not this morning only when I had decided I was going to keep my distance with Mr Woodwords? Lahaina was going to be so mad if she got to know about this and dad's reaction was something I did not wish to think about. I shook my head in self-pity. Why did I even agree?
Because he didn't ask.
With a deep sigh, I turned towards my house and started to walk. Why does he want to have dinner with me? My breath caught in the throat as I remembered his reason for not signing the deal.
Was it going to be a date? Date with the man my step-sister was after? I gasped as the realization of the statement hit me. This was not going to end well.