Taken By The Arrogant Billionaire

There was a pause on the other end before the smiled and said. “I’m sorry. I have some work to do right away. I’ll call you soon” she hung up immediately. He didn’t exactly want to speak with her, he only wanted to check something.

Just as he had expected, she declined speaking with him.

“I guess she’s really busy” Sandy said thoughtfully.

“How did you guys meet?” He asked as nonchalantly as he could.

“We all met at the freshman orientation in college. Somehow, we clicked right away”

“What is Layla like?”

She smiled. “She was so different from us. While Valerie and I wore dresses, she wore cowboy boots with leather pants and a t-shirt. She detests gowns”

That sounded so much like Cheryl. Could she really be alive or was this simply a coincidence?

“You seem really interested in Layla” she raised a brow at him.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

“Is there anything wrong with wanting to know more about my wife’s friends?”

She narrowed her eyes at him before letting it go.

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

Damon sat in front of an already finished painting of Valerie. At this point, the room was already filled with paintings of her. He stared at his phone for the umpteenth time. She hadn’t called him for a while now, and he didn’t want to look desperate, so he didn’t call.

He picked up his phone to call her.

“Boss” his minion appeared behind him.

“What is it?”

“Jared met with the princess”

“What did they talk about?”

“I think she hired someone to follow Miss Gardner”

That piqued his interest. “Amelia did?”

“Yes boss”

Did Amelia tell Jared about him? He doubted it. If she had, it wouldn’t be so silent like this. Their security would have become tighter.

“Moreover, I heard from the spy that Old Smith isn’t feeling well” He looked genuinely surprised. So that old man could get sick. He smirked.

“Get out” He bowed and left.

He realized he had been relenting. It has been a long time since he shook that family.

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

Valerie was ready to return to work. She got into the car with Jared, only to ask him to stop when they were almost at the building.

“I’ll walk from here”

“Why?”

“What if some employees sees us? I hate being the centre of rumors” Without waiting, she got out of the car and began to walk. He shook his head and started the car, but he drove slowly to meet her pace.

He parked his car and entered his exclusive elevator, while she entered the general one.

She had already entered when she realized Will was in it too. Her face turned red and guilt set in…. again.

“Good morning sir”

He nodded to her greeting, maintaining a poker face.

It was so awkward, and she felt she had to say something.

“Um…. sir, about the other day, I-”

She was cut short when the elevator opened and people swarm in. She could not say it with them in here, so she kept quiet.

He had a meeting at the conference room. Seating at the edge of the table, one could see that he was not listening to the presentation the lady at the front was making. His eyes were on Valerie, who was seated at a corner. She felt so uncomfortable under his sharp gaze. She made eye signals to him, persuading him to look away and focus. But, he didn’t listen and continued to stare. She bit her lips, mortified. What if someone saw them? But someone already did.

Will watched the both of them as they flirted during the meeting. He shook his head and brought his mouth close to Jared’s ear.

“Can you focus?”

He turned and realized everyone was staring at him, waiting for his response.

“You call that an innovative idea. That was bullshit. Is this what I pay you for? Huh? Redo it and provide an account by tomorrow. Let me get my money’s worth or everyone in your department can kiss their job goodbye”

Valerie was surprised. Was he actually listening?

He stood up and walked away, with Will and Valerie walking closely behind him. She wanted to talk to Will again, but he was called into Jared’s office.

In the end, she didn’t see him until she closed for the day.

She entered into Jared office. He was working tirelessly. Loads of files on his table. Looks like he was going to pull an all-nighter.

He barely even noticed she had entered. She watched him for some seconds. He looked so sexy while working. She shook her head. What was she thinking? This wasn’t what she came here for.

She cleared her throat and he finally looked up.

“I knocked, but you didn’t respond. I’m leaving now”

She was going to his place, and she didn’t know how to get in.

He nodded and got up. “Alright. Let’s go”

She stared at the files on the table, then him.

“Aren’t you going to sort these out?”

“That can wait. You come first” he tapped her nose and picked up his jacket, entwining her small hand in his as they both made their way out. There were still employees around, so he had to let go of her. They both entered the general elevator despite her refusal.

“I’m leaving tonight”

She broke the silence between them. “Can you drive me to my house after picking up my stuff at your place?”

“Tonight? No”

“I’m already okay. There is no reason for me to stay with you anymore”

He could not dispute that. She had stayed with him for a couple of days, and he could tell she was fine.

“Can it not be today? I’ll let you go tomorrow. I promise”

She nodded, and he grabbed her waist and dragged her close to his. She could feel something hard poking her. She tried to get out of his gripped, but it was impossible. The elevator dinged and opened to the lobby, where they came face-to-face with Will. He was standing before the elevator. She shut her eyes, acutely embarrassed. Why does he always find them in compromising situations?

What irritated her most, Jared did not let go of her.

“I was just on my way to your office”

“I’m done for the day. If you have anything to say, Facetime me”

Without waiting for his response, he sidestepped him and walked away, releasing Valerie.

She didn’t talk to him during the ride.

“What is it?”

No response.

“Can you please talk to me? Are you mad at me?”

“Of course, I am. I would really love it if you stopped groping me at work ”

“Then, it’s okay for me to grope you at home. Isn’t that what you are saying?”

Her face inevitably turned bright red before she cleared her throat, choosing not to respond to him as she turned to the window, watching as buildings zoomed by.

She was exhausted and went to sleep early. She was too tired to care that she was on Jared’s bed. He slept beside her, and she snuggled close to him in her sleepy state.

A few moments later, she began to shiver in her sleep. He noticed immediately and tried to shake her awake, realizing her face was covered in sweat.

Valerie wasn’t sure if this was real or a dream. She could not really tell where she was. It looked like she was on a high mountain and far away, she could hear agonizing cries of children. Amid that, she could hear someone’s voice. A boy.

‘Kitten…. kitten’

The voice sounded near. She turned back to see a boy’s silhouette. His face was blurred. She squinted trying to see his face. Then, somehow, she lost footing and fell back. She didn’t know how she was going to land. It seemed bottomless.

Jared was terrified. No matter how many times he called her name and shook her, she didn’t wake up.