Emery's unconscious twiddle of her ring drew Nicholas's attention to the expensive diamond.

His fist tightened around the wheel and he wanted nothing at that moment than to slide the damn thing off her finger.

Parking his car on the rough road across the glade, Nicholas pried off his seatbelt and turned in his seat to face Emery.

"Look at me," he seethed. In hesitancy, Emery glanced his way.

"You told me you were to act like this Billion guy's girlfriend, in exchange for the money you needed for Chris's operation right?"

Emery nodded stiffly. That was her version of the truth she had told him after all.

"Then why is it all over the news that you two are getting married? Was that part of the deal as well?" Nicholas demanded.

"I'm sorry," Emery muttered, looking away out of abashment.

"Fuck this! You lied to me about the true extent of this contract, didn't you?!" Nicholas accused.

"I wasn't allowed to tell you anything, Nick. But, believe me, nothing is going on between Billion and me outside the deal. It's all false and after six months, we're over," Emery defended.

"Anything can happen in the span of six months, Emery! You've been lying to me ever since that rich brat came along!" Nicholas scurried out of the car after his outburst, and slammed the door shut.

Emery flinched at the loud bang but made no attempt to go after him. She took in a couple of deep breaths and watched him as he paced in front of the car like some deranged person.

Seconds later, Nicholas rounded the car to her side and yanked her door open. "Come with me," he intoned.

Emery bit her lips, hesitant to go anywhere or be alone with him but she was alone with him. She stepped down and straightened her skirt which had ridden up from the long minutes of sitting.

Nicholas seemed to have calmed down for the time being since he took her hand gently this time, and led her through the glade—where they spent their one year anniversary.

The memories were vivid and Emery recalled her excitement while they toured the city. He had come back home from college just to spend time with her on their anniversary.

She smiled in resignation when she reminisced of her Victoria secret shopping with Natalia the day before Nichols's arrival.

They had bought some naughty feminine stuff and Emery had prepared herself mentally and physically, ready to take their relationship to the next level.

But unfortunately, her mother called her to pick them up as their car had broken down on their way back from Church.

The young couple's evening rendezvous was completely ruined. That was the last time Emery saw Nicholas one-on-one since the latter had to go back to college the next day.

Now here they were, a year later, in a more compromising situation.

The gush of water greeted the silent duo when they broke through the woods. Emery looked up at him in a silent question when they got to the river, and Nicholas drew her into his embrace.

"I remember the first time we came here, you were so excited and you wanted me to teach you how to swim, in the rapid." he mirth with a soft smile.

"You still remember don't you?" he asked, kissing the hollow of her neck.

Emery shuddered at the contact. "Nick, please stop." she stepped out of his hold.

"You always liked it when I touch you. What changed?" Nicholas steered her to face him. "What changed, Emery?" he asked again.

He looked so vulnerable at that moment, and Emery felt her heart clench as she regarded his lack of composure.

She took his hand and traced her finger across the gauze on his left wrist. Nicholas refused to tell her what happened to him when she asked earlier, but Emery was wise enough to know he had harmed himself.

Because of her.

"From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry for everything, but as long as I'm wearing this..." Emery showed him her ring. "we can't meet like this again..."

"Do you still love me?" Nicholas asked as if her words sprinted past his ears. He placed two fingers underneath her chin and made her look him in the eye.

"Do you love me?" he pressed.

Emery's heart skipped a beat at the question and she took the action to be a positive reaction, to her conflicted emotions.

"I love you and you know it," she mumbled.

"Then I'll wait for you, so don't let me down." Emery nodded hesitantly.

Stroking her cheeks gently, his lips met hers in a hungry kiss. Emery shut every thought out instantly and kissed him back with her all, until they were both breathless.

However, Emery waited for the spark, tingles, and electricity that zapped her skin when Billion kissed her the first time in the Bahamas, but none came. In perplexity, she broke the kiss and wrapped her hands around his torso instead.

"We can't do this again," Emery mumbled into his chest.

Nicholas nodded. "But, I'll see you again right?" he asked. "I can pick you up tomorrow for coffee."

Emery shook her head. "Nick, we can't."

"Emery please, I just want to spend some time with you before.... look, this is all that I'm asking for."

Emery regarded him intently before throwing caution to the breeze with a nod. Nicholas smiled widely at her consent.

"Call me whenever you're free and I'll pick you up OK?" Emery nodded once again.

Cupping her face in his hands, Nicholas gave her goodbye for now kiss and led her back to his car. They drove off with their fingers intertwined.

· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·

"Are you OK?" Natalia's question stirred Emery out of her deep thoughts.

She has been absentminded since she arrived at her friend's boutique and for a moment, Natalia thought her silence was because of their trip back to the hospital, but upon a closer look, she knew something else was bothering Emery.

"I'm good." Emery offered her what she thought to be a genuine smile.

Natalia did not press her further and rather returned the smile as they walked into the hospital.

"Are you sure you want to tell Chris about your engagement now?" she pointed to Emery's ring.

Emery shook her head and quickly pulled off the ring. She stashed it inside her handbag. "I'll tell him when he comes home. When I'm certain he's OK for more news." Natalia nodded in agreement.

When they strode into the recovery room, Christopher was awake. He looked up from his phone at the sound of the door opening. The siblings shared a smile when he spotted Emery.

However, Emery's smile wiped off when she saw their aunt seated by the window. Hopefully, she had not told her brother about her shameful deed.

"Hey…" Emery was pulled into a hug when she hopped onto the bed.

"Are you OK?"

She nodded. "How are you feeling?"

Christopher shook his head but before Emery could ask him what the problem was, Natalia joined them on the bed.

"I miss you." Natalia leaned in and kissed her boyfriend on the lips.

"I miss you more, angel."

Emery gave the couple some alone time and went over to her Aunt who hadn't uttered a word since they arrived.

"Aunt..." The woman glanced up. "I'm sorry," she said to Diana's hearing alone.

Diana only gave her a nod and returned back to her phone. Emery sighed and shuffled over to the unoccupied visitor's chair and plopped into it.

Her brother was doing well after and that alone made Emery's day. They kept him company for hours, just chatting and briefing him on what he had missed during his deep slumber.

Emery left the hospital alone, somewhere around 6:55 in the evening since Natalia decided to stay with Christopher for the night.

She hailed a cab home and checked for messages or even a call from Billion, but there was nothing.

Not even hi, how was your day?

Emery scoffed at the thought. With the manner in which they parted ways this morning, she doubted he was even over their disagreement.

She leaned on the side window and got lost in her own mind for the rest of the drive home. Not really home but his suite.

· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·

"I know I was the one who brought up this whole settle down idea, but she needs to understand who is in charge here, Miles."

The activities going on inside the VIP section of Menzgold went past Billion's sight as he mulled over Lewis's advice.

He mounted his whiskey glass on the end table and looked back to the stage, where some girls were giving the men a private show.

"You've shown her kindness, cared for her and given her too much attention. I'd even dare say you've fallen for her if I didn't know you better." Lewis continued.

"I'm not in love with Emery," Billion seethed.

Lewis shrugged. "Whatever makes you sleep at night, boy. But take this from a fellow married man, women tend to get air-head when they feel like they're the center of your world. Make Emery need you enough to come to you."

"Her head is not in the game and I don't think it'll ever be," Billion said, his voice rarely dejected.

"Then I think it's about time you tell her about, you know? Maybe that will settle her down."

Billion's eyes widen at the suggestion. "Are you serious right now?" Lewis nodded firmly and took a long sip of his dry martini.

"I know you promised to tell her after you've gotten HOPE back but-"

"Nah man I can't." Billion shook his head "At least not right now." he loosened his necktie and went ahead to refill their glass.

"We've come a long way, and I can't have her flipping out because of that damn college boy or any other reason for that matter," he added.

One of the girls on stage spotted the duo and sashayed over to their berth. Billion watched in blank amusement as the petite silver-hair girl made her way towards him.

"Hi Miles," she purred, sliding her hands across his thigh. "I was waiting like you said the last time but a little birdie told me you've been taken," she whispered into his ears.

"Nice to see you again, Angel." Billion returned her lopsided smile. He drew in a sharp breath when the girl climbed onto his lap.

"Haven't you missed me?" she asked with a pout, dragging a finger across his chest.

"Sorry for ignoring you, but I've been busy." her red painted lips stretched in a sly smile.

"We can make up for the time lost," she suggested, her big sapphire eyes holding his captive.

Not all of his female employees in Menzgold dare to approach him or worst, try to get this intimate with him, but Angel was once his bedmate so she had the red card to play.

"I might take you up on your offer, love but not tonight." Billion kissed her on the cheek and untangled her lingerie limps from his torso.

"I was enjoying the show!" Lewis cackled when the annoyed girl stormed out of their berth.

"Remind me to tell my cousin the kind of show her husband enjoys," Billion gibed.

He looked over Lewis's shoulder just in time to see Samuel Cooper walk into the VIP section.

"I'll be right back." Billion patted Lewis on the back and met his bodyguard halfway. He cocked his head towards the exit and Samuel followed him.

"What happened?"

"I followed her to C&D like you said, sir," Samuel said, looking around as if he was trying to detect a third ear for what he was about to say.

Not appreciating his delaying tactics, Billion fired questions at him, "Where is she? Is she OK?"

"Miss Hamilton didn't spend much time in C&D but when she came out, she got into a car with some guy." Billion frowned at the guard's report.

He had instructed him to follow his fiancée when she had boldly walked out on him in the name of economic freedom. Only because he didn't trust Dean Clifford.

However, it seems like Dean was not the only untrustworthy person at the moment.

"Did you see this guy?" Billion demanded.

"From where I parked, I only got a clear view of his car. I'm sorry, sir."

"It's alright, you may leave." Samuel gave him a polite nod and walked back into the elevator.

Billion didn't go back to the club and head to his suite with the intention of apologizing to Lewis later, for ditching him.

There was no sign of Emery so he knew she was still out. He poured himself a glass of Chardonnay and perched on a stool in his home bar.

A guy?

Could it be the college boyfriend?

He debated, trying hard not to let his mind wander off into some nasty think tank. After all, he had not met her entire male relatives.

Minutes later, his attention was drawn to the door as it was opened and the clack of heels echoed in the suite.

When she walked into the living room, Billion didn't know whether to accost her for answers or let it be.

It could have been anyone.

Her steps faltered at the sight of him. She was probably not expecting to see him at the suite. And Billion caught onto the surprised look that crossed her face before she could compose herself.

"It must have been one hell of an interview if it took this long."

"I passed by the hospital to see my brother," Emery blurted.

For some unknown reasons, she could not look him in the eye and that didn't go unnoticed by the man who was regarding her through the rim of his glass.

"I see... so how is your brother?" His gaze was still fixed on her.

"Alright I guess... he will be fine." She was looking anywhere but at him.

Billion nodded. "Is there anything else I have to know?"

Emery frowned at the question but quickly shook her head. "No... excuse me."

She hurried out of the living room, her steps getting stiffer by the second as she felt his gaze on her.

Emery released a deep breath when she rounded the corner leading to the bedroom. But lost in her mind, she did not notice the man trailing after her.

She placed her handbag in the armchair by the vanity and straightened up only to bump into a hard chest.

Emery whirled around, gulping harshly when her gaze met his stormy one. He stood so close that she was practically inhaling him instead of actual air.

"God, you... you scared me." She mumbled, feigning a smile.

"Did you see Nicholas today?" Billion finally asked.

Emery's heart flipped at the question. "No...no."

But her unsettling wide eyes and antsy behavior told of a different story. It didn't take Billion much to connect the dots and though it was a lucky guess on his part, a knot tightened in his chest, knowing she was with him and she was lying about it.

Without warning, Billion closed the little space between them and the unexpected act made her stumbled into the armchair. Placing his hands on either side of the chair, he looked her straight in the eyes.

"I trusted you."

He knows.

Emery's gaze lowered, unable to withstand the hurt in his eyes or voice. "Bill, I'm-"

"If you give the media a reason to jeopardize my plans by fooling around with that college boy, you'll see the other side of me," Billion said sternly.

A shudder ran down her body when his words settled in. Although part of her regretted her actions at that very moment, she dare not utter another word. Not after the threat anyway.

"Guess I was wrong about you," Billion said in disdain.

With a scathy mind, he stormed out of the guest room and slammed the door after him.

──────────────•••─────────────
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs ғᴏʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ❤

ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴡᴀʀ ʜᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇɢᴜɴ ☹️

sʜɪᴘᴍᴇɴᴛ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ's ɪᴛ ɢᴏɴɴᴀ ʙᴇ; ᴇᴍᴇʟʟɪᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴇᴍᴇʟᴀs?

ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ, sʜᴀʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠᴏᴛᴇ.

ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ sᴏ sᴛᴀʏ ᴛᴜɴᴇᴅ.