Do I believe this billionaire?

Alora

As I stepped out of the restaurant, the cold air hugged me, causing a chill I welcomed. I dragged my black coat tightly towards my body. It was only four p.m but it was already dark, reason being the heavy clouds that brewed rain. It had been a long time since I last came to this side of town, but memories had a way of staying intact despite efforts to rid them. As if in a trance, I remembered that the bus stop was a few minutes walk from the restaurant and I'd began to move towards it without realizing. Sighing, I hastened my steps, afraid the rain might catch me on the road. Alternately, I should have taken a taxi, Christian had picked me up and after the conversation we just had, I'd rather get hit by lightening than get in a car with him. I needed to clear my mind though, so walking seemed reasonable.

As I strolled through the familiar street, places I'd seen a million times came into sight. Like the flower shop Mr Callisto took me when I was eight. I could still remember the day. We had dined at the only Michelin star restaurant around the area; a place that later became my favorite restaurant, and somehow the varlet had caused a mixup with our car. Dad, who was always so calm decided, rather to be angry about the situation like mum was, to look around. While mum stood outside, barking and shouting at the employees, blaming dad and I for bringing her to this side of town, dad and I took a stroll through this same route I was taking. We'd seen the roses just outside the small flower shop two blocks down, and I insisted on having them. He could never say no to me.

Now that I think about it, Christian must have known 'The Pierre' was a favorite of mine. That's why he brought me here.

That calculative son of a bitch!

Honk!

I shrieked almost cursing at the driver, but then I saw that I was standing on the road at the intersection. The bus stop I was going to was at the other side of the road. I'd attempted to cross without looking, my mind still reminiscing about the old days. And that bastard.

How foolish of me.

The bus stop was empty. I took a seat on the cold bench, my mind refusing to stay in the present. Being in this familiar territory was doing all sorts of things to me. The nostalgia was the worst of all. Tears had pooled in my eyes. And It forced me to remember my happy childhood and my father who'd promised to always love and protect me.

I'd closed my heart to this part of my life, but being here, it made the anger and pain resurface, and the tears were getting harder to swallow.

What was I even thinking agreeing to meet with Christian.

Coming here had done more harm to me than any venomous words I said to him. Walking out of the restaurant with my head held high, I thought I'd won…

Won? I haven't won anything in a long time. And this offer, it could change my life.

Shit! Was I considering his offer right now?

This is why he chose me. After everything I'd been through, I was still so easy. This is why I'm a joke to him. After all he'd done to me, he expected that I'd be on his side. That I'd jump on the crazy train with him. And I was considering doing exactly that.

My sigh was loud. I grabbed my purse, hugging it in search of warmth.

At least one good thing came out from meeting him again after all these years. Karma had caught up with him. Leah had cheated on him. Or rather, was cheating on him.

Serves him right.

He thought the fake face was actually a better replacement for his bride, and the Callisto's daughter...

Another 'honk' brought me back to reality.

I sighed, my mood getting worse when I saw that it was Christian in his huge car.

"What the fuck do you want now?"

He flashed me a smile, "I've missed that dirty mouth of yours. I thought you had changed?"

I bit my tongue. I hadn't cursed out loud in a long time. Four years to be precise.

For some crazy reason, I'd decided to take what the Callisto's had said about me and work on myself. Apparently, I wasn't the poised perfect angel they raised me to be. And I never could because I wasn't their blood. 

Maybe changing myself because of them was a stupid thing to do. But I badly wanted to prove them wrong. Whatever way I could. I wanted to climb up the social ladder, but Leah had blocked every path and stranded me in mediocrity.

"Can you go?" I rolled my eyes when he wound down his window and tried to pop his head out. He flashed me a smug smile and I looked away.

"The bus won't come." He yelled.

I rolled my eyes again even though I knew he couldn't see me, ignoring him.

"It's really not coming. So either I drop you off or you walk to your house. That's a long walk."

I still ignored him. He may be a billionaire, but he didn't have the power to stop public transportation.

Right?

Now that I see the time, the bus was actually late. Looking around, I saw that there was no bus in sight. 

"What did you do? You know what, it doesn't matter cause I'd rather walk five miles than let you take me home."

"You sure? It's a long walk. Especially in that." 

I looked down. My legs had been killing me inside the black heel. It's an old one, but a designer. I'd been forced to take everything I owned while leaving. I almost burnt the clothes and shoes, but they hadn't done anything wrong. 

"I'll call a cab." I said smugly.

"I know it's been four years, but you can't possibly have forgotten that it's not easy to get a cab around here. By the time you get one, it would have started to rain." His self satisfied smile wasn't the only thing that was pissing me off now.

"Why are you doing this? Why won't you let me breathe." I screamed, attracting the eyes of passersby. One chubby woman in particular couldn't stop pointing at Christian's car. The ash G Wagon was beautiful, but this was the least of all his cars. 

Why do I know that? Alora, get your head straight.

"Get in the car, Alora. I'm a gentleman in every sense. You know this. I can't possibly bring you out here and not take you back home."

I swear I only looked away for a few seconds and the next thing I knew, Christian had gotten down from his car and was standing in front of me.

"What?" I glared.

He quietly took a seat beside me, "if you insist on sitting here, I'll sit with you."

What is he playing at now?

"It's going to rain soon. And you can't stand cold. Don't blame me when you fall sick."

Christian guffawed. The sound of his laughter made me look at him.

"You remember that I hate the cold."

I bit my tongue again, this time with the aim of drawing blood. Why couldn't I filter my words better.

"I can't help what I remember." I tried to get some dignity back.

"Lora," his voice was soft, almost kind, except I knew better than to believe he could ever be a kind person, "it's a contract marriage. Think of it as business. You get to have power as Mrs Christian Gulf," I shuddered, and felt butterflies at the same time, "and I get to have a wife."

"You already have a wife, remember. Leah. The one you said was better suited for the world of the rich than I was. Than I ever could. Your words."

We shared an awkward silence for a split second before Christian spoke.

"I am so sorry for hurting you."

I froze. Christian Gulf had never apologized before. Not to anyone. Did I hear him right?