The Billionaire Who Saved Me

“Looks like a bright day.”

A comment Garrett received as he stepped out of the elevator made him cough for a moment. He turned to see Amber and Sherly greeting him.

“Good morning, sir.”

Garrett nodded at his two secretaries in unison. Then his briefcase changed hands and Amber took it.

“Good morning.”

Upon entering his office, Garrett, as usual, took off the jacket he was wearing and handed it to Amber to hang. That was when Amber spoke.

“I’ve rescheduled the meeting with Mr. Hugo for three nights from now, sir.”

Garrett loosened his tie slightly, turned on the computer, and nodded nonchalantly.

“Good.”

Amber scrolled through the tablet screen in her hands, carefully examining Garrett’s schedule. Then she noticed something that was bothering her. About ten days from now, on the weekend to be exact.

With a hint of hesitation, Amber raised her face to look at her boss, who seemed ready to start work that morning.

“And as for next week, I’m not sure if you’ve prepared for it or not.”

Garrett’s focus shifted. “What?”

“Miss Brenda’s birthday.”

Garrett fell silent. A small wrinkle appeared on his forehead. He had just remembered that he had an invitation to a birthday party that he had to attend.

“Do I need to prepare a gift, sir?” Amber asked. “Because I’m sure you wouldn’t think of it.”

With a wry smile, Garrett nodded, confirming Amber’s words.

“I would appreciate it if you would prepare a gift for Brenda.”

Amber nodded, confirming her initial assumption. “Of course, sir. I’ll take care of it. And…”

Garrett, who was about to start his work, had to turn around again. He looked at his secretary, who seemed hesitant to continue her explanation.

“What?”

Despite a hint of uncertainty, Amber answered the question. In fact, more than that, as Garrett clearly noticed a strange smile on the secretary’s face.

“And it seems that Brenda’s birthday party would be better if you didn’t attend with Madam Norah.”

Garrett blinked in embarrassment. He said nothing. Not even when Amber finally excused herself and left.

Garrett was not stupid. He understood the meaning of Amber’s words. Of course, she was referring to Elice. It was obviously an interesting idea. But would Elice accept his invitation?

Taking a long breath, Garrett decided to try it later. Armed with the decision to try to get closer, Elice should not mind at all. But right now, he had some work to do.

*

“Have your eyes been opened, Ariel? Have you not heard the rumors? Garrett and Elice are getting married. So, stop acting crazy. Come home right now!”

It was a bad morning for Ariel. Waking up with a heavy head from last night’s hangover and getting the news from her mother. A perfect combination indeed.

“Mom, please. Stop interfering with my life.”

Ariel closed his eyes and tried to fight off the pounding headache. He needed a painkiller.

“Oh, God. Are you saying mom is meddling in your life now? Hahaha. You really are blinded by your damn love, Ariel.”

As much as possible, Ariel tried not to listen to his mother’s words. Instead, he stood up and searched for a bottle of paracetamol in the drawer of his bedside table. He took out two pills and swallowed them at once.

“Mom, I thought we talked about this. From now on, I want to make my own decisions about my life. And I hope you will respect my decision. Let me do what I want.”

“No, Ariel. That’s not possible. After all, you are my son. And that means you have to listen to what I say. What I say is just for your happiness.”

The paracetamol obviously didn’t work as fast as Ariel had hoped, because his head still felt heavy, and Farrah’s words made his grimace. In a cynical attitude that squeezed his brain like it was being wrung out and dried.

My happiness? Doesn’t Mom see how much I suffer without Elice?

And now Ariel’s suffering escalated with the news Farrah had given his that morning. That Garrett and Elice were going to get married. And if that happened, Ariel had really lost the chance to have Elice.

Ariel opened her eyes immediately. His gaze was sharp. Unacceptable.

Garrett must not have Elice. Must not. No matter what.

And Ariel would do everything in his power to make sure that the worst did not happen.

That night, Ariel proved his resolve. He drove her car to meet Elice. Not at home, where Wilda and Rita were, of course. But where he knew Elice was alone.

*

It remained an exhausting day. But at least this day Elice did not come home late as usual. When she arrived at her apartment, the orange light still lingered in the sky, filling her chest with a gentle calm.

At least today there were no surprises to sap her energy.

Elice grimaced slightly as she opened the refrigerator door. She took out some ingredients and quickly thought of a simple dish to cook for her dinner. Something simple and not time-consuming to accompany her meal later. Just a stir-fried spinach with some shrimp.

It did not take Elice long to prepare the simple but delicious dish. Maybe only about twenty minutes? Well… it seemed that way. But what was certain was that Elice decided to fill her stomach right away, even though the night had not yet fully arrived.

Elice had her plan. Eat, take a short break, shower, and then sleep. The last few days she had been too tired, both physically and mentally. And she needed to rest.

The sound of the doorbell made Elice hesitate to grab the plate. With a furrowed brow, she turned around, as if she could see through the wall, and found that there was a visitor in her unit.

The bell rang again, leaving Elice in no doubt that someone was indeed visiting. Reluctantly, she left the plate on the dining table.

“Is that Garrett?” Elice wondered. “Why is he here?”

Thinking it might be Garrett, since they had been seeing each other quite often lately, Elice let her guard down. She ignored the small peephole above the door, a means to check who the person was. For security, of course.

So, it came as no surprise when the door opened and Elice saw who was behind it, the prepared shock slipped from her lips. With wide eyes and an expression of surprise she could not hold back.

“A-Ariel?”

Ariel’s hand moved quickly to hold the door. Eliminating the possibility that Elice would close it immediately.

Elice quickly understood the situation. Though it was too late, of course. She tried to push the door, but on the contrary, it was Ariel who managed to push himself in.

As soon as Elice entered the unit, Ariel closed the door behind him.

Elice almost stumbled backwards. Luckily, her feet were a bit nimble, allowing her to remain standing despite the momentary unsteady step.

“W-what are you doing here, Ariel?”

Ariel made sure that the door was not only closed, but securely locked. Not only the lock on the door leaf, but also the latch above and below it.

Elice immediately turned pale. She stepped back when she saw Ariel approaching her.

“Tell me it’s not true, Elice,” Ariel said in a heavy voice. “Tell me the message is false.”

Elice did not know what Ariel was talking about.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“W-what do you mean?”

Ariel continued to approach and Elice backed away again, trying to keep a safe distance. Occasionally she looked around, where had she put her phone?

“Are you going to marry Garrett?”

Elice’s footsteps stopped. Her eyes, which had occasionally glanced to find her phone, stopped searching. They shifted to Ariel. To find a demanding look in his messy and seemingly unhealthy eyes.

Elice swallowed hard. Warning signals went off in her head. She could quickly tell that the situation was dangerous for her. But should she lie?

“You’re not answering, Elice?” Ariel asked, holding back a grin. “You’re not answering? Why is that? Is it because it’s true?”

“A-Ariel-”

“Are you going to marry Garrett?!”

The question, coming in the form of a scream, startled Elice. Her eyes closed for a moment.

“Answer me!”

Unexpectedly, when Elice’s gaze was caught in the darkness for a moment, Ariel seized the opportunity. He walked with wide and quick steps. Eliminating the distance that existed. And when Elice opened her eyes, the man was already in front of her. With both hands on her upper arms.

Elice flinched. Ariel’s grip caused instant and piercing pain.

“Ariel, let go of me.”

Elice tried to free herself from Ariel’s actions that caused her pain. But in Ariel’s eyes, it was a different kind of request. He shook his head.

“I will never let you go again, Elice. Never. I made a stupid mistake once. Now I won’t do it again. Never.”

Elice’s body screamed. The grip caused more and more pain. She tried to push Ariel away, though it seemed impossible.

“I won’t let you marry another man. Never. Especially if that man is Garrett!”

The pain and Ariel’s screaming made Elice squirm. Until she could not think clearly. Until the provocative words slipped from her lips.

“I’m going to marry Garrett, Ariel. So let me go.”

Ariel’s jaw hardened. Anger clearly dominated his handsome face. Emotion had overtaken his reason.

Ariel shook his head, pulling Elice as she tried to free herself.

“No. I will do anything to get you back, Elice. Anything. Even if it hurts you.”

Elice’s eyes widened. Unwillingly, a bad possibility quickly entered her mind, making her body instantly cold.

“I know you still love me, Elice. I know,” Ariel said in a heavy voice. “You love me. And you’ve trusted me with your whole life.”

Elice froze. She shook her head. In the horror that immediately enveloped her, she denied it.

“N-no, Ariel. No. I don’t love you anymore. No.”

A grin appeared on Ariel’s face. Making the bad possibility echo more in Elice’s mind.

“We’ll prove it, Elice. We’ll see. And you’ll find that you still love me.”

“No, Ariel. No,” Elice said with a shaking voice. “Let me go. Let me go!”

But Ariel had already pulled Elice into his embrace. It was extremely tight and strong. It did not give her the slightest chance to free herself.

“You’ll see, Elice. Deep in your heart there’s only me.”

Elice’s hand rose. Trying to push Ariel’s face away as he tried to reach for her lips.

“Ariel! Let me go!”

Ariel ignored Elice’s plea. For when he reached for those lips again, he whispered with eyes that had darkened.

“Deep in your heart, only me, Elice. Only I whom you love. Only to me do you give your love and your body.”

*