The Billionaire's Promise
Chapter 55: Losing the bet

Chapter 55: Losing the bet

"How did you learn to play pool?" Erik asked her, curiosity written on his handsome face.

"A few of the foreign students whom I tutored taught me. There is one particular student who is addicted to playing. He paid me a handsome amount just to play with him when his friends are not available." She answered loud enough for the others to hear.

They all looked at her unbelievingly.

Franco chuckled. "Were you that poor that you took every opportunity to earn?"

"Yes." Aryana’s unabashed smile when she answered Franco hit Erik’s sore spot. He felt guilty.

"Let’s play two more rounds. I think I just got lucky earlier." Aryana suggested.

"I’ll bet a hundred thousand on you Yana." Erik ruffled Yana’s hair before looking at Franco challenging him.

"He he he, let’s get started." Franco agreed and decided in his mind to do his best. It would be a shame if he will be beaten by a woman.

Aryana started first. When it was Franco’s turn he pocketed three balls. When it was Aryana’s turn she pocketed two balls. Franco smiled. In his mind, he thought that Aryana just get lucky during the first game. However, he failed in his subsequent attempts, and in the end, Aryana won both games.

"Shame on you Franco. To think that you manage a club with a lot of pool tables." Marlon mocked him.

"Spend more time practicing." Alex grinned.

"How about you play with her? Let’s see how good you are." Franco retorted.

Marlon became silent. He saw how well Aryana played and he did not want to be humiliated.

"That’s enough. You pay her one hundred thousand and get your asses out of here. You overstayed your welcome." Erik said coldly.

"Dude, the sun is still so high. What’s the hurry." Franco teased Erik.

Aryana blushed.

"Okay, since you ask for it, let’s play one game. You have to double the bet. Whoever wins will get two hundred thousand."

Franco and Erik played three games. Aryana was amazed to see how good Erik was. In the end, Franco lost. He transferred the one hundred thousand to Arayana’s account and two hundred thousand to Erik’s.

"Those are my gifts for you since you got married today." Franco tried to salvage his reputation.

"Aryana, come to Midnight Club when you are free, and let’s play again. You play a lot better than Marlon and Alex." Franco was ashamed to admit defeat but indeed he was defeated.

Erik glared at him while Aryana just nodded casually.

The trio left Blue Bay Villa just before sundown. Erik led Aryana to the master’s bedroom and urged her to change. She went into the bathroom and changed into a comfortable yellow sundress with small flower prints. When she went out of the bathroom Erik had already changed into a cotton yellow tee shirt and black shorts.

Aryana took an intake of air when he saw Erik. He looked younger and even more handsome in casual clothes.

"Come. I want to show you something." He handed Aryana a pair of flip-flops before he dragged her out of the master’s bedroom. They went down a winding staircase at the back of the villa. It directly led to a beautifully manicured garden. There was a rectangular infinity pool and in the middle was a gazebo. The path to the gazebo was made of fiberglass making the illusion that one is walking on water when going to the gazebo.

There was a two-seater couch and a rectangular table loaded with a bottle of wine and two wine glasses. The centerpiece was elegant looking, smooth-sided, and hand-crafted floating candles encased in a three crystal glasses of varying height. The candles were scented emitting a pleasing aroma.

Erik unfurled the gauze curtain blocking the view of the villa. In front of them was an unobstructed view of the west.

"This place is very beautiful." She was awed struck as she looked at Erik and then she withdrew her gaze and shifted it back to the west.

"Let’s sit." Erik pulled her down without warning and she fell on his lap. Aryana quickly got up and sat beside him.

Erik chuckled. "Don’t tell me you are still shy. I’d like to remind you that we are already married, Mrs. Lee." He pinched her cheeks.

Aryana blushed. There was an awkward silence.

To dispel the awkwardness, she took the bottle of wine and was about to pour its content into the glass when she froze.

In front of her, a fiery ball was receding into the water. The sky was splashed with an assortment of shades of red, orange, and yellow. The setting sun seemed to be sending its warmth to her through the yellow hue that extended from the now blackish-red orb and traveled through the waters of the bay and then to the infinity pool.

Aryana stood up.

Erik watched her as she took a few graceful strides and sat on the edge of the gazebo. She dipped her bare feet into the cold water of the pool creating a ripple in the calm water.

Aryana was lost in the spectacle before her. She did not notice that Erik was standing tall beside her. He was lost in his thoughts. Three years ago, he bought this villa as a gift to his bride-to-be. He clenched his fist and his face turned dark at the memory.

"A sunset is the sun’s fiery kiss to the night," Aryana muttered under her breath.

Erik was brought back to reality as she looked down at the woman below him. He sat down beside Aryana, dipped his feet into the water, and held her right hand with his left.

"Do you know what a fiery kiss is?" He whispered seductively to her ear.

Aryana’s heart was beating loud and fast. She waited but nothing happened. Erik just sat still as he looked at the sun as it hastened its descent and disappeared from the horizon. Aryana did not know what he was thinking at the moment but he exuded a cold and gloomy aura.

Aryana chided herself for expecting something to happen. Was she expecting Erik to kiss her? She felt her face heat up. She must be as red as a tomato and she was thankful that the light coming from the candles shielded her from being seen by Erik.

’This is not about love.’ She remembered what Erik told her How can she expect more?