LOVING THE REJECTED BILLIONAIRE

We are finishing up our breakfast, all bundled and ready to go to Rita’s house in a few and I am so enthusiastic to see her again. Angel too can’t stop telling us how much they gonna play with Alyssa. She has even loaded her toys in her bag. She is super excited, and I am happy for her too. Poor kid!

Her father’s disconnection from people made her grow up isolated just like him. The only time she gets to fiddle with other kids is only when she is at school and some rare times like today. I sympathise with her. She is too young and innocent now, but what will happen in a few years to come? Will she still want to stay caged in this cage with her father? I hope when that comes and she wants to break out of this cage Andy will let her.

What I still can’t stop mulling over is what literally transpired between Andy and his wife. And his family, why couldn’t they love him, even his mother? Is there a particular side of him that I am still unaware of that drove people away from him? It’s not like he is a vampire to scare people away, dang!

“Auntie Ania!” Angel draws my mind and attention back to reality.

The direction in which my eagerness about this small family is taking, Or Andy, to be explicit, is becoming bothersome. I am sinking deep every passing day.

“Mmh. Yes, baby?” I ask the little cutie.

“You look so sad. What happened?”

Huh? Am I that obvious?

“Aah… nothing dear. Antie was just contemplating something. That’s all.” I say to her and realize she has finished her breakfast already.

“Okay. Can I go get my bag from my room now?” She queries, with a big grin on her dolly face.

“Ask daddy.” I tried to whisper but it came out loud, so Andy answered her directly.

“Sure princes. Be careful on the stairs, okay?”

“Yes, daddy.” She says as I help her get down from the chair, and I watch her run across the sitting room and start ascending the stairs.

Ooh, what a joyous kid she is! She is…

“Tania!” Andy speaks after Angel disappears from our sight.

“Yes?” I say, shifting my gaze at him.

“Are you okay?” He inquires, resting both his hands on the table.

“Huh! Me? Yes… I .. am. Why?”

“You are zoning out. Even Angel noticed. And in case you haven’t noticed, you have barely touched your breakfast. What’s wrong?”

Ooh, shit!

I mentally curse.

“I am alright. I was just reflecting on something but it’s nothing serious.” I look around the table. I am the only one left with food. “I’ll go clean these up so we can leave already. I don’t want to keep you guys waiting.” I try to stand up to clear the table but Andy yanked my hand, forcing me back to my seat.

What the hell!

“You are a terrible liar. It’s alright if you don’t want to talk, but you are not getting your ass off that chair without finishing your breakfast. I’ll get these for you.” He stands and starts clearing the table.

Forget about that “ass” rubbish for now, because I don’t think he is aware of the nonsensical hogwash that just slipped out his tongue, but this? What on earth is he doing? So he will take the dirty dishes to the kitchen, and what? Wash them?

“Fine! But you don’t have to do this, please. It’s embarrassing on my part.” I stop him by grabbing his hand, our contact sending electrical waves all over my body.

I lock my eyes with his, challenging my desires.

Just how susceptible am I becoming to this guy? Just a modest touch, a simple skin brushing, and I feel like I am being consumed by fire? I need to have a serious talk with my emotions. I need to stop this swing of…

“I am your boss. I do whatever I damn feel like while you do what I ask you to and right now, I am ordering you to sit your fucking ass down and eat your breakfast. You have less than ten minutes.”

“But Andy….”

“SIT!” He yells, and I cowardly drop back to my seat.

Wait, do we have a problem here? Is he mad at me? He has never ordered me like this, much less using those dirty words on me.

I attempt to ask something, but the deadly gaze he has on me seals my lips.

You know what? He is fucking right! He can do the hell he wishes. He wants to do the dishes, perfect! He can even mop the entire mansion for all I care. He doesn’t want me to call him, then freaking fine! I swear I won’t. Let’s see if I’ll die. How dare he!

Stupid jerk!

Roughly an hour later, we are hooting at Rita’s gate.

If we didn’t have Angel with us, the drive would have been entirely dead silent since Andy and I didn’t trade even a single word on the way. Normally, I always sit with Angel in the front seat but today, I chose to stay alone in the back seat. He doesn’t want me calling him, and he probably does not want me sitting close to him. I’ll give the jerk what he wants.

After parking the car, we head to the lift, and I make sure to keep a safe distance between me and Andy in this lift. I have quite a big pile stuck in my throat because of the bitterness I am feeling towards him. It’s almost choking me, but I try to ignore it and act like nothing odd is going on.

“Auntie, are you sure you are okay?” Angel again. Huh, this kid!

“Of course, dear.” I confidently lie to the little girl.

“Mmh.. okay.” She reluctantly says, meaning she is not convinced.

I can’t afford to see her sad, and neither do I want to make her feel this ugly awkwardness between her father and me.

“Come here, baby.”

I bend slightly and burrow her up, plopping her on my chest and she drapes her tiny hands around my neck.

The lift halts and we walk out, turning left as Andy navigated, and in a minute we stand in front of a door that is presumably Rita’s. A minute later, the door opens, and we enter after being ushered in by Rita.

After greetings, she excused herself to take Angel to Allysa’s room and get her husband.

As as soon as they disappear from our sight, this jerk steals the chance to disrupt my peace.

“Tania?” I look in his direction without replying to him. I think he understood the memo because he doesn’t waste time. He continues. “Did I do or say anything that offended you?”

I look at this moron, but what can I possibly say he did wrong? He was right, you know? He is my boss, and I am his maid. I am bound to obey him. It will sound too silly to say I am like this because he asked me not to call him.

I take a deep breath in and out, then I clear my throat and confidently speak.

“No. I will be fine.” I know I am a horrendous liar, because even the way he is glaring at me right now clearly exhibits he is not convinced one bit. But I don’t care. If this is how you want to play Andy, I am game. Besides, I also need to assimilate the shit that is happening to my stupid heart. Or to my entire being in general. Why is everything about him affecting me so much?

“You are a pathetic liar, do you know that?” He turns to solely meet me with a raised eyebrow and comes a little closer. Too closer for my liking. His eyes are much darker with anger, supposedly. “I will senselessly kiss you right now if you don’t tell me what is bothering you?” His voice is rigorous, and his expression is icy, like he really means that. And his eyes, they have this shady look that speaks, what? What is this? They are so dark right now that I am even scared to look deep into them.

I avert his dangerously flaming gaze, swallowing hard, hoping he does not talk to me again. Or do something more tempting.

“How is my lonesome buddy boss?” Ambrose’s voice came at the most perfect moment.

Oh, thank goodness!

“Call me lonely again and you are fired!”

Whoa! Adrian spoke, sounding damn serious that I had to turn to have a look at him.