The Billionaire's Promise
Chapter 49: He Shall Be Mine

Chapter 49: He Shall Be Mine

"Then, can you ever love me?"

Aryana’s voice was so soft it was barely audible. She felt Erik stiffen. Aryana dared not lift her head up and look into his eyes. She was scared that what she will see will hurt her deeply. She was stupid to ask such a question. Erik has already told her it was not about love. Well, she will be contented to help Erik by acting as his shield.

"Don’t think too much." He was back to his cold expressionless voice.

’What happened to him in the past? Was he hurt before? Was it his first love?’ Aryana was lost in her thoughts she did not realize the awkward silence between them. She lost focus on the dance and she stepped on his toes.

"Sorry." She apologized.

"Let’s go back to the table and finish the wine and dessert. You must be tired. You are missing your steps." He tried to smile to ease the tension between them.

The moment Erik sat down, his cell phone vibrated. He looked at the caller ID and frowned.

"Sorry I need to take this call."

Aryana watched him walk to the left wing of the balcony and shifted her focus to the ring on her finger. The center stone was a round diamond and the ring was made from white gold. There were a total of ten accent stones, five on each side of the ring. It must be very expensive.

Aryana sighed. She was from a family with no background and Erik was such an outstanding man. She regretted agreeing to his proposal. She deemed herself unworthy to stand beside him.

Before she started wallowing in self-pity, Aryana stood and started taking selfies. It will be a pity to not capture the lavishly decorated place. She snapped pictures left and right when suddenly she paused. In the frame of the camera, he saw Erik behind her smiling. She snapped a photo before facing him.

"You want to take photos?"

She nodded. Erik called a waiter who was standing by and handed him Aryana’s cell phone. He took a few photos of him and Aryana. The quartet has ended their singing and we’re now watching the couple doing their candid poses.

Erik received a notification from his cellphone. He glanced briefly at the message before putting it back in his pocket.

"I’ll send you back." Erik stood there waiting for her. She was unsure whether she should hold unto his arm or not.

’Well I am now his fiancée.’ She clasped her hand on his arm and he guided her down the stairs to the entrance of the restaurant where Ace was already waiting holding the door for Aryana.

There was an uncomfortable silence in the car. Aryana cleared her throat.

"I suppose tomorrow when I wake up, I will realize that this is all but just a dream," she murmured but loud enough for Erik to hear.

"Huh? Tomorrow, wake up early and we will get married." He moved closer to her and ruffled her hair.

When they arrived at Aryana’s apartment, Erik got out of the car and opened the car door for her. When she got out, he put his hand on her head to protect her. He held her hand and pulled her gently towards him before giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. He walked with her towards the elevator and he pressed the button for her.

"No need to send me up Erik." Aryana said when she realized Erik’s intention of going with her.

"Okay. Good night then. Sleep early. I will pick you up at eight o’clock. I’ll have your dress delivered earlier."

"Okay. Good night. Be safe." She replied.

Erik waited for the elevator to close before walking back to the waiting car. He looked up to where Aryana’s apartment was located. When he saw the light upstairs coming on, he get inside the back of the car.

"Where to boss?" Ace asked looking at him through the rearview mirror.

"Midnight Club."

It was already nine o’clock when Erik’s car arrived at the club and there were a few reporters crowding at the entrance. The bodyguards following them in a separate car cleared a path for Erik.

Ace got out of the car first and opened the rear door. Erik then got off, with his handsome expressionless face and he walked towards the entrance in big but unhurried strides.

A reporter shouted from behind. "Mr. Lee, are you engaged with Miss Julia Lopez? Are you meeting her inside?"

Erik’s footsteps halted. He turned around and glanced over with his sharp eyes directed at the reporter who asked the question. The reporter felt a chill down his spine. His gaze darted away and did not dare to meet Erik’s gaze.

Erik continued walking. ’Julia is inside? What is she planning this time?’ He climbed the stairs to the second floor and entered VIP Room 1. The room was for the exclusive use of platinum members and they were the four shareholders of the club holding an equal share of twenty-five percent.

"Finally, you arrived." Alex Yan greeted him warmly. He was the doctor who treated Aryana.

Marlon passed Erik a glass of whisky. Erik held unto the glass and surveyed the room. He noted that everyone has arrived. The four of them were buddies and classmates in college. Except for Erik, they were second-generation rich heirs.

"How did the date goes?" Marlon winked at Erik mischievously. Tonight, he was Erik’s friend and business partner and not his subordinate.

"He went on a date? Is there a girl who can awaken Erik’s cold heart?" Franco Seba directed his question to Marlon.

Marlon just chuckled.

"Let’s get to business first," Franco said. He passed them a blue folder that contained the quarterly report of the club’s performance.

Erik scanned the documents and regarded Franco with interest.

"Great job Franco. This is a stellar performance. The profit is at thirty percent." Though what Erik said was a compliment, his facial expression was cold as ever.

Alex drank his whisky. He has no interest in business at all. He was just interested in getting his profit share.

"We will be opening two branches next month. One is in Green Heights and the other one is in the North Region. We will have ten branches at the end of next month." Franco said with pride.

Erik looked at him with approval. "Since you did a good job, you deserve this." He passed him his keycard to Hotel Olympus, the only seven-star hotel in the Central District.

"I am booked there tonight. Go enjoy the massage and the experience of being served by goddesses."

"How about me?" Marlon asked with puppy eyes.

"Yes, me too." Echoed Alex.

"Get a room by yourselves."

The room opened and Julia clad in a seductive spaghetti-strap black dress appeared.

"Hello guys, can I borrow Erik for a moment? I’ll just introduce him to a future client." She said in a coquettish voice.

Erik briefly looked at Marlon before he stood and went towards Julia. "I’ll be back."

Julia clung to Erik’s arm as she lead him to their VIP room. Erik smirked when he noticed a paparazzi stealthily taking photos of them.

"How did you know I was here?" He asked Julia coldly.

"My friend Mia saw you." She replied gently.

The moment they entered the room, Erik was shocked when he saw that everyone in the room was a woman.

"You said that you want to introduce a client to me. But looks like I am out of place here so I’ll go back as I have important matters to discuss with Franco." Erik said impatiently.

"No, Erik we really have a prospective client." Julia panicked. She led Erik to a lady sitting on the couch. "Chloe Yap is my best friend. Her family is planning to open a branch of their apparel where ever Gaeya Corp has a mall. Chloe, this is Erik but of course, you already know him."

Erik extended his hand and Chloe took it and clasped it tightly. He felt her thumb caress his hand. He felt disgusted so he withdrew his hand and narrowed his eyes.

"Julia, you can arrange lunch with Miss Yap so we can properly discuss the collaboration. If there is nothing else I would like to go back." Erik turned to leave.

"Wait, Mr. Lee. How about a toast before you leave? " Chloe handed him a wine glass. Erik simply looked at the wine glass then gestured at the waiter. The waiter went out quickly and came back with a new wine glass.

"To our future collaboration." He downed the entire glass and without saying anything he left.

Chloe looked at Julia. "I am sorry Julia. He did not drink the drugged wine."

"Never mind. Looks like we need to execute plan B. I cannot fail tonight. Erik shall be mine!" She smiled cunningly while twirling the red liquid inside her glass.