Billionaire’s

Chapter 28

Long after Evelyn’s exchange with Michael, she kept thinking about their conversation and wondering why Michael had chosen not to tell Derek about their relationship.

What was Michael thinking? What did he want? Why was he suddenly being friendly now when he had seemed so bitter towards her in their first two encounters since they met at the company! These were the questions that kept whirling in her mind.

Derek, who had noticed her absentmindedness and had been hoping she would come to him with her worries decided to ask, unable to bear seeing

her so worried.

“Are you okay. Eve?” he asked, snapping a finger in front of her.

Startled, she looked at him, “Did you say something?” She asked apologetically.

Seeing that she had not heard him, Derek asked again, “You’ve been distracted all day. Is there something bothering you?”

Evelyn shook her head. “No. Everything is fine,” she said as she glanced at her wristwatch. She was relieved to see that it was almost time to leave.

“Are you sure?” Derek asked again and she nodded.

Although she was worried about why Michael was hiding their history and had considered telling Derek herself, she still wasn’t sure how he would

reacL

As much as she would have loved to tell him about it herself, she didn’t want to risk him changing his mind and deciding to call off the interview.

It was best she played cool until the end of their arrangement so she could do the interview and leave. Maybe after the interview, she would tell him about it if Michael failed to do so by then.

“Yeah. I’m fine, just tired.

1. Can I leave now since there’s nothing left to do and it’s a few minutes to your close hour?” she asked as she rose, carrying her handbag.

why

the hurry! I could drop you off if you want….

“I wonder why you keep offering when you know I’m going to keep saying no,” she cut in and Derek smiled.

“I told you I don’t give up easily,” he said and she rolled her eyes.

“I’m going home. See you tomorrow,” she said and headed for the door.

Just as she got to the door, Derek stopped her, “There’s something I forgot to tell you about,” he called, his tone casual yet commanding and she turned to face him, her expression impatient

“What is it this time” she asked with a roll of her eyes, expecting one of his silly antics.

“We will be traveling together this weekend for a business meeting, he announced, leaning back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression.

Her brows furrowed slightly and she gazed at him, searching for any sign of mischief. When she didn’t see any, she sighed as she returned to her

Best

“Why didn’t you mention it earlier? Where are we traveling to? And what’s the meeting about?” she asked and he leaned forward.

“The resort in Varis needs more space. We need to buy more of the properties surrounding the resort but one of the owners is being stubborn. He has insisted that I speak with him myself, he said and Evelyn looked at him, suspicion lingering in her mind.

“So, you’re going there to convince

“Precisely that.”

chim

to sell his property to you?” She asked, and he nodded.

Remembering her parents‘ anniversary to be that weekend, Evelyn smiled, taking it as her perfect excuse to avoid going on the trip with him.

to see you in action. I have plans for

“Well, I’m sure you’re going to handle that really smoothly. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to go there with you to see the weekend. I have to be somewhere important on Sunday,” she said, and Derek’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

He could tell she was probably saying that just to avoid going on the trip with him. He relaxed back in his chair and held her gaze. “Did you say Sunday?” He asked, and she nodded.

“Yes. It’s very important. I can’t miss it,” she repeated

Too bad. He had been thinking of asking her to accompany him to the anniversary party.

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that. I also have somewhere I need to be on Sunday. So, we’ll leave after the close of work on Friday and return on Sunday morning. You will be back in time for your plans,” he said, and Evelyn sighed inwardly.

“I hope this isn’t one of your usual antics,” she said and Derek raised a brow

“What do you think?” He asked, leaving her to decide whether it was a trick or noL

She looked at him for a moment and then sighed, “Alright. I will come prepared for the trip on Friday,” she said and Derek nodded.

“Enjoy the rest of your day.” Derek said as he watched her rise.

“You too.” Evelyn called back before walking out of the office.

As she headed for the elevator she quickly booked a ride and by the time she stepped out of the building her ride into the cab.

Was

waiting

outside and she gor ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Michael who had been in his car for over thirty minutes, waiting for her to step out so he could tail her and know where she was leaving now, immediately followed her cab at a discreet distance.

Michael followed her for over thirty minutes and he frowned when the cab stopped in front of a cake and coffee bakery and she alighted from it He watched with a puzzled frown as she entered and was greeted by a young woman with red hair, whom he recognized to be Rayna, Evelyn’s friend from high school.

Inside the bakery, Evelyn’s face lit up with a genuine smile as she embraced her old friend, Rayna.

Rayma had been one of her closest friends in high school and had been on Evelyn’s bride train before she called off the wedding.

Thinking about it now, Evelyn realized that Sandra had always tried to come between her friendship with Rayna, and had not left room for her to be friends with anyone else.

Evelyn had run into Rayna some days ago while she was grocery shopping and they had agreed to meet up at Rayna’s bakery to catch up.

“It’s so good to see you. Eve. You have no idea how happy I was after I ran into you the other day. How have you been?” Rayna asked as she signaled to her waiter to serve them what she had prepared.

“I’m fine, Ray. I see you finally got the bakery you always talked about The place looks really nice.” Evelyn said, looking around the bakery.

progress,” R

Thanks. It’s still a work in

Rayna said, beaming with pride.

“What have you been up to, Eve? What happened? Why did you disappear that way? I kept trying to reach you for some time. Your phones were off, you deactivated your Facebook. Even Sandy couldn’t tell me anything. It was as though you dropped off the face of the earth. What happened” Rayna asked as they were both served to glasses of iced coffee and cake slices.

Evelyn shrugged, “I’m sorry. I just needed some time alone. I wanted to clear my head, Evelyn replied, her smile tinged with a hint of sadness.

Noticing this, Rayna reached across the table to touch Evelyn’s hand. “Why did you really call off the wedding? There were rumors that you called it off because you met someone else, but I don’t buy any of that. We all know how much you loved Michael. Remember how I used to wish to have something as beautiful as what you and Michael had? What really happened, Eve?” Rayna asked, her voice gentle but curious.

Evelyn’s smile faltered for a moment, as she considered confiding in Rayna but after a moment’s thought, she decided not to.

“Nothing really happened. I just realized I didn’t love him as much as I thought. I was getting married for the wrong reasons, hence I changed my mind before I could make the mistake, she said softly.

“Enough about the past. What has been going on with you? Are you dating? Married?” Evelyn asked, changing the subject, and Rayna seeing that Evelyn didn’t want to talk about her past, decided to drop it.

“My relationship status is probably the only thing that hasn’t changed since you left,” Rayna joked a

“What about you?” Rayna asked and Evelyn shook her head.

Evelyn laughed.

“I’m still single,” she said, and for a brief moment, she thought about telling Rayna about Samantha, but decided to wait until she told her father

“By the way, our class reunion is coming up soon. They already booked the bakery for the date. You should come, Eve. It’ll be fun to catch up with everyone,” Rayna said and Evelyn laughed, remembering all those faces from high school.

“That I am sure of, I should definitely come.” Evelyn said and Rayna nodded as they both continued to catch up