The Billionaire's Promise
Chapter 165: His Birthday

Chapter 165: His Birthday

"What kind of person do you think I am?" Aryana looked hurt. "Even if you are just an ordinary employee I will still accept you. Did you know that I have had a crush on you ever since I turned thirteen?"

Erik looked at her in surprise.

"Or maybe I had started liking you when you stayed with me during that storm when I was five." She laughed lightly.

Erik gave her a peck on the forehead. Aryana stood from his lap and brought the dishes to the sink.

"Go out so I can finish cleaning up faster."

Erik chuckled. "I’ll wash the dishes. You clean up the table so we can finish early and go to bed early."

Erik has washed the dishes several times so he was already an expert in this task. Erik has never been happy doing the dishes. He was contented with his life. He has a beautiful wife that turned the once, dreary penthouse into a beautiful home.

...

The following day, Aryana cornered Marlon at the office.

"Hey Marlon, I haven’t seen you for a long time. Did you take a vacation?" She playfully gave him a light jab on his shoulder.

"I am busy with a special assignment from our Boss."

"Special assignment?" Aryana’s forehead furrowed. "How special is that? You left me to deal with the Galaxy project on my own."

"Hmm, you can just ask Erik about it." Marlon escaped from her by feigning to have a phone call.

Aryana did not want to let him go so she waited until his ’phonecall’ was finished.

"Anyway, I need your help. Erik’s birthday is next week and I don’t know how he normally celebrates it. His birthday falls on a Sunday. I understand that the directors from Gaeya will be hosting a party for him on Friday night, how about the Lees? Does Erik need to celebrate his birthday at Lee’s ancestral home?"

"Erik does not celebrate with the Lees. He normally celebrates with us at Midnight Club."

"How about a cruise?" Aryana was looking at some great birthday ideas on her cell phone.

"Why not ask him so you don’t have to stress too much."

"That’s a good idea." Her eyes lit up. "Thank you for the suggestion."

At lunchtime, Aryana and Elaine had an appointment with the IT team of Red Phoenix Technologies. They arrived early at the restaurant. Aryana was surprised to find Erik and Marlon sitting at the table along with the other men in casual wear.

"Erik, Marlon, you are also here." Aryana blurted out. Erik pulled a chair for her and she happily sat down.

"They are the software engineers behind u-shoppe and kaleidoscope." Erik introduced them to Aryana and Elaine.

"These two have good feedback on both apps so talk freely to them."

"Yes, Mr.. Pre..sident." a man wearing a spectacle stuttered.

Aryana’s eyes widened as he looked at Erik. Did he call him president? What the heck is going on?

"Are you .. are you the president of Red Phoenix?"

Erik nodded.

"That was the special assignment boss tasked me with," Marlon said casually. "Red Phoenix is officially three months today."

"How come you created apps so fast? For others, it will take at least a year to finish these complicated apps." Elaine was bewildered.

"Prior to creating Red Phoenix company, there were already people working on the applications." Marlon explained patiently. Elaine nodded.

"Shouldn’t I have a discount, since you own Red Phoenix?" Aryana joked.

Erik chuckled.

"I’m not giving you a discount at all." Erik looked at her seriously.

Aryana was disappointed. She licked her lips and looked down and played with her fork.

"I am giving it to you for free as our VIP customer. You have to provide us regular feedback on whether the app is meeting your expectation as a customer or not.

"Oh thank you so much, Boss Erik." Aryana smiled playfully.

"Wow, we don’t have to pay royalty on u-shopee and kaleidoscope?" Elaine could not believe their luck.

Marlon stole a glance at Elaine. He was amused by her animated way of speaking. Her looks was not as remarkable as Aryana’s, but she has her own charm that could place a man under her beck and call.

There was never a dull moment with Denise. Even the aloof introverts from the IT department warmed up to her and found themselves laughing at Elaine’s hilarious jokes. Like Aryana, she was direct and blunt. There was no pretense around her. She was a loyal friend and a feisty one. She was someone that would defend something she loved and cared about with all her might.

During lunch, Elaine and Aryna did most of the talking as they discussed how u-shoppe and kaleidoscope can be improved. The six men who came with Erik and Marlon kept on nodding and taking down notes on their cell phones.

After a fruitful discussion, Aryana and Elaine rode with Erik and Marlon back to the office.

Erik had a client meeting that evening. Aryana spent an hour practicing martial arts and she did yoga stretches. When doing yoga, it was her habit to ensure that her stretches were being recorded. She will upload it later on her social media account.

When Erik arrived, she has already showered and changed into her pajamas. Erik freshened up and laid down beside her.

"Erik, what do you want to do on your birthday?"

"I had forgotten when my birthday is."

"Silly, your birthday is next Sunday. The directors at Gaeya are hosting a party for you next Friday. Do you want to go on a cruise after?" Aryana propped herself on her elbow and watched Erik intently.

"Hmm. How about we go to Korea or Japan or Hawaii? We leave Friday morning. Tell Camille to reschedule the party on a Thursday instead and cancel my meetings on Friday.

"Are you not going to celebrate with your friends? Marlon said that you celebrate with them at Mindnight Club."

"I have been celebrating with them every year for a long time. This time, I want to spend it with you."

Aryana smiled brightly. "Hawaii then. When do we come back?"

"Monday evening. I need my vacation as well."

...

On the other hand Cassie wanted to arrange a surprise birthday party for Erik. She asked Franco if he can invite Erik on a cruise during his birthday. Franco told her that Erik will be out of town during his birthday.

"What?" Cassie’s voice trembled on the phone. "When is he leaving and with whom?"

"I don’t have an idea." Franco lied. Of course he knew that he will be with Aryana. "Why not invite him directly. He might change his mind if it is you."

"But if he knew about it, then it is no longer a surprise party." Cassie said feeling dejected.

Franco sighed on the other line. "It is much better compared to preparing something and then the celebrant could not come."

Cassie hesitated. "Okay, I’ll visit him at the office tomorrow."

...

Early the following morning, Cassie has gotten an appointment with Erik on the spot. Camille allowed her to come in since she was Erik’s friend and the CEO has nothing on his calendar at that time.

"Good morning Erik." Cassie greeted him in a sweet voice and a charming smile.

"Morning." Erik wondered why Cassie was seeing him so early in the morning.

"It is your birthday on Sunday and I plan to arrange a cruise ship for the party." Cassie said shyly.

Erik twirled the pen on his finger.

"I have other plans Cassie. I’m sorry." Erik’s tone was apologetic.

"What a pity." Cassie was dejected. She did not anticipate Erik to reject her outright.

"There is a party arranged by the company on Thursday. You can come there if you like."

"Maybe we can just have a small gathering at Midnight Club next week." Cassie proposed an alternative.

"Sure." Erik was decisive with his answer.

"I will not keep you. I know how busy you are as the CEO. Our time is precious." with that Cassie left.

...

Two days before Erik’s birthday, he and Aryana sat beside each other, in the luxurious first-class cabin of an international airplane bound for Hawaii. Aryana was smiling at Erik’s attempt to tell funny jokes. They were so immersed in one another that the people around them seemed to fade into nothingness. There was only him and her.

Erik chose to spend his birthday away from the country so there was a lesser chance of them bumping into people they knew. He and Aryana both loved the beach, hence he readily agreed when Aryana suggested the island of Hawaii.

Hawaii was an enchanting place to be. From the clear blue skies to the deep blue of the ocean to the white sandy beach, the island was indeed a refreshing place to visit.

Erik rented a villa with a beautiful view of the beach. The villa has only one bedroom, a receiving area and a small kitchen. It was very basic compared to a hotel but that was enough for both of them.

"I can’t wait to devour you." Erik said while helping her unpacked. "You have awaken a beast in me that I never knew I had."

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