The Billionaire's Promise
Chapter 184: Our President Is Already Married

Chapter 184: Our President Is Already Married

Erik’s lips curved up slightly when he heard Elaine.

"The bidder wants the gown to be delivered in three days. Let’s have it cleaned tomorrow then." Elaine marked the Galaxy at Night as sold.

The waiter came again with their wine and a fruit juice for Jessa. Aryana threw a questioning look at Vince and Jessa.

Jessa blushed as she looked shyly at Aryana then to Vince.

"Jessa is eight weeks pregnant so she cannot take alcohol." Vince announced proudly.

"Wow! Congratulations! The baby in Jessa’s womb must be your lucky star Vince. You won two awards tonight." Aryana beamed at the couple. She was genuinely happy for them. "Can I be the godmother?"

"Me too." Elaine interjected.

Vince and Jessa laughed at the same time. "Of course!"

Erik watched Aryana as she chatted with Jessa about how she felt when she learned that she was pregnant. His gaze subconsciously went to her stomach and he imagined it with a bulge. He smiled in amusement then he drank his wine.

On the way to back the penthouse, Aryana checked her social media. She was shocked to see that her name was on the trending topic.

#Aryana , The enigmatic Queen of the Night

#The bad taste of the judges

She clicked on the second link and saw photos of her and Cassie walking at the ramp. A lot of the netizens were berating the judges.

’I can clearly see that Aryana’s gown is a clear winner. Were the judges blind?’

’Well, they say that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Let us just respect the decision of the judges. Dulce’s design is not bad actually. The problem is, it looked plain when it was placed side by side with Galaxy at Night.’

Aryana continued reading. Other people were also scolding Cassie. They were saying that Dulce and Cassie colluded and did underhanded tricks that’s why they won the first price.

’People, why are you scolding my idol Cassie? She is just a model. She is not a judge.’

More people came out to defend Cassie. Aryana thought that Cassie might have paid keyboard warriors to protect her reputation.

"What is the internet saying?" Erik inched closer to her and looked at her cell phone.

"They are saying that the judges were blind and people should not scold Cassie because she is just a model."

"They made sense." Erik was casual about his comments.

"Yes, you are right." Aryana agreed lazily. She was sleepy and she yawned. It was only now that she realized how tired she was. She leaned on Erik’s chest and closed her eyes.

"You were so good in the catwalk earlier. Did you use to do modeling when you were in high school or college?" Erik looked down at her waiting for the answer. He tucked the few strands of the hair that fell and covered her face.

"It was my first time walking on the catwalk today. Would you believe if I tell you that I looked plain when I was back in college?"

"I believe you. You purposely make yourself ugly by wearing loose clothes and wearing an oversized black rimmed eyeglasses. I remembered back in Paradise Island, your cousin’s friends did not recognize you and were drooling on you."

"Ha ha ha." Aryana chuckled, her eyes still closed. "You still remembered that. Fate does work in strange ways. Who would have thought that I would bumped into you at that time. If not for that, maybe I still have a grudge with you until now."

"You have a grudge at me?" Erik asked her in surprise.

Aryana wanted to straighten up and leave Erik’s chest but he held her firmly.

"Well, you spend more time with my father. He has not attended any of my school activities that required parent’s attendance. He would tell me about yours every time."

Erik tried to discern if there was a hint of sadness in Aryana’s voice but there was none. It seemed like was she just shared has nothing to do with her.

Erik hesitated before asking. "Then, did you hate me?"

"I did!" Aryana answered honestly. She felt the muscles in Erik’s chest tensed.

She tilted her head and looked at Erik’s eyes. Their face were so close that she could feel his warm breath on her face. It was like soft feathers caressing her.

"But when you saved me twice in Paradise Island, all the hate disappeared."

Erik sighed in relief. He cupped Aryana’s face and placed his lips over hers invading her mouth. They were both breathless when he let her go.

...

Three days after the fashion design competition, Aryana received a package from CoChi. She frowned. Did Elaine or Vince sent her something? Was it a new dress for her to showcase in her social media? Normally, they would send the clothes personally or she will pick it up from Vince’s place.

She opened the package and was surprised to see that it was the gown she wore during the competition. So it was Erik who bid five million. Aryana felt overwhelmed as complex emotions engulfed her.

She took the package with her and went to look for Erik at his office. Camille was not at her desk so she knocked twice but without waiting for a reply, she went inside.

Erik has guests. It was George Lee and a lovely and elegant woman whom she never saw before.

Erik looked serious and has a frown on his face.

George Lee glared at her.

The woman sized her up before smiling arrogantly.

"I’m sorry." She apologized and hurriedly left and went back to her desk.

’Who is that woman? Is she another of the dates that George Lee arranged for Erik? But didn’t his grandpa already knew that Erik is married?’

Aryana tried to calm her nerves. But when she remembered the pretty face and dignified aura of that woman, she cannot relax.

She sent a message to Camille. ’Who are the people in Erik’s office?’

Camille’s reply was instantaneous. ’That should be George Lee and Katherine Lustre, the daughter of the second biggest shareholder of the Lee Conglomerate.

’I thought that the Lopezes are the second biggest shareholders.’ Aryana replied back.

’Previously, it was them but now it is no longer the case.’

Aryana thanked Camille then she went back to her work while thinking about why that Katherine would come at Gaeya Corporation together with George Lee.

The night before, Erik told her that they should have lunch together. It was already past 12:00 pm but Erik has not called her yet. She has a hunch that George Lee have invited Erik to accompany Katherine for lunch.

She sent Erik a message.

Aryana: I suppose you are busy. I’ll just take my lunch in the cafeteria.

Erik: Sorry. Grandpa made arrangment.

Aryana: It is okay. I understand. You take care.

Aryana sent a message to Elaine and told her to wait for her at the cafeteria. Elaine has already tendered her resignation but she still needed to report for one month to hand over her work.

Aryana headed for the elevator to go to the 12th floor to have her lunch. Elaine was already waiting for her at the entrance of the canteen.

When they were queuing to pay for their food, Aryana heard gossips about today’s guests. The three employees behind them were extremely loud while gossiping.

"Did you see the woman that came with Chairman Lee today? She is even prettier than Julia and Cassie." The employee wearing a rimless eyeglasses said.

"I heard that the Chairman is acting as a matchmaker because he likes that woman to be his granddaughter-in-law." The woman wearing a blue blazer interjected.

"But I thought that the president is already married." The youngest of the three spoke.

"Huh? Who told you that? Our president is still single."

"I just heard some rumors and doesn’t our president wear a wedding ring? I saw it when my boss asked me to deliver a document for him. Camille was not at her desk at that time so I went in. He was playing with the wedding ring before he slipped it back on his finger."

"That is just baseless rumor. Maybe it isn’t a wedding ring." The woman with the glasses said.

"Are you saying that I cannot tell whether the ring is a wedding ring or not?" The young lady seemed angry.

"I did not say that. If the president is indeed married, how come we never saw his wife? So you see, he is still single."

"Stop gossiping. It is alright if you are talking about other employees but you are gossiping about our president. Aren’t you scared that you will lose your job or your tongues will be cut off?" Elaine berated the three women and they became silent.

Aryana felt uncomfortable listening to their gossip because they were talking about her. Deep inside, she was happy to know that Erik was wearing his wedding ring. She brought her hand to her chest and felt the ring that she has made into a pendant.

Maybe, it was time for her to start wearing her ring where it was supposed to be worn.