Her Possessive Billionaire

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Flashback 2

Six years ago...

"Aliyah, you better get yourself together; the exams will happen in a month. No one can help you but yourself," her friend Claire was worried sick about her. She tried to pull her out of bed.

Yet, Aliyah remained in bed no matter how Claire pulled, she had been like this for the past three months.

She lost her job since she couldn't bring herself to get out of bed to go to work. Luckily, she had already completed her two years internship. She had worked with the architectural firm because they made her a regular employee due to her outstanding performance as an intern. She was an asset they wanted to nurture. However, she decided to quit when things went sour with her relationship with Khalan.

She had not been able to drag herself to her review classes, despite knowing she needed to attend them. She knew that every aspect of her life collapsed when Khalan ended their relationship. She was broken. Unimportant. Damaged. Smashed.

His words were gentle, bordering on kind even when he ended it; but still, she felt like a dagger had pierced her heart. Painful. Agonizing. Tormenting. It was too much for her to bear. She buried herself here in the confines of her room for months, but nothing changed. She still lost the one man she ever loved. Had it even been love between them? Did he ever really love her?  She agonized, locked in her own head with no way out in sight.

Claire was crying begging her to snapped out of it and fight for her life, "Aliyah, you deserve a better life than this."

"I'm too broken to start again, Claire." She had cried for the past months, there was nothing left. She wouldn't be surprised if she never cried again. 

Claire was crying enough for the both of them since Aliyah couldn't shed more tears. "Do it for me then, or for anyone who still cares for you. Be the best that you can be. I will help you," she pleaded adamantly.

Claire had been her one constant. She had been with her from the moment she lost everything. Everything?! Including the only thing she could call her own, it was all gone.

"Get your license Aliyah, let's pass our examination. Then we can go somewhere else and have a new start, build our careers and names. Be the best that you can be, Aliyah. I believe in you! Even when you don't believe in yourself. I know you can succeed!" Claire's distressed voice was all over the place.

Aliyah is an orphan. She lost her parents five years ago in a car accident. Claire was now the the closest thing she had to family. Aliyah was able to study in college from the fund left by her parents and from scholarships. She was a consistent award winner and over achiever in school. Many believed in her capability. That all changed when she happened to fall in love and was hurt so early in life, her world became bleak and gloomy.

"Take my hand, friend, and I will not leave you! Bounce back. You deserve better than this," right at that moment, Aliyah knew she could not disappoint her friend anymore. She deserved more than this. She needed to do better. She cannot let hurt rule her life anymore. She would not hurt herself anymore.

As soon as she took Claire's hand, she made the decision to become stronger. She became a better version of herself, a colder version. Her coldness became her best shield. It was her best protection against anyone getting close enough to break her again.

Everything she promised Claire and herself in that moment happened. She received the top marks on her exams, they moved abroad, won many competitions, engaged many clients. She became the best of what she could be. 

Aliyah and Claire agreed to settle back home just a year ago and established their architectural firm with their other architect friends because Claire needed to be back to have a family of her own. 

But for Aliyah, work was her life. Her career would be her whole life. She was good with it being alone!         

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Meanwhile...                               

Aliyah just finished her last draft when Khalan entered the cabin. He looked at her with his sexy dark chocolate brown eyes which could its change color to black likened to bottomless pit when aroused, and he smiled at her as if nothing happened to them a few hours ago.

"Honey, are you done?" Khalan sat on the bed behind her and pulled her closer to him. 

"I cannot fight with her anymore. I need to make amends," he concludes to himself.

Aliyah allowed Khalan to cuddle her. She could still feel good and secure whenever he cuddled her. His warmth radiated to her body stirring familiar pleasures inside of her, but set it aside, "You are not no longer mad?" she prodded disinterestedly.

"Yeah! Let's stop being mad at each other" Khalan swallowed his pride. Being mad wouldn’t work with her. Aliyah would simply ignore him.

Aliyah was still stiff in his arms, but she was not pushing him away either. He decided to adjust the pressure he would use in the future; Staying with him was already progress. He would concentrate on the process of winning her heart in the meantime.

After a while, Khalan asked, "We will be back in Manila in one hour. Can we get your stuff and proceed to my flat after?" He must make her move with him first.

"Can we just see each other instead of moving in?" Aliyah requested, already knowing Khalan would disagree.

Sniffing her hair, Khalan groaned, "Just give me this whole month Aliyah, move in with me, please?" He wouldn't allow her to avoid him again.

She looked at him coldly, "How could I resist his tempting offer when deep within I would like to know the answers to disturbing questions?" she mused to herself. Then she replied, "Alright! I will do it."

With a devilish smile on his lips, Khalan exclaimed, "Thank you! Let's go eat some lunch," He kissed her nape and guided her to the door.         

As soon as they docked at the Yacht Club, Khalan accompanied her to the condominium. It was located just a few buildings away from her architectural office. It was more convenient for her to stay there; however, Khalan insisted she move in with him. His suite or flat was in BGC. The location alone was inconvenient for Aliyah.

"I will make sure you won't have a problem with transportation." Khalan could get her a driver to bring her anywhere she wanted, or he could do it himself.

"Don't bother. I have my driver and car to take me anywhere. It's just the inconvenience of traveling with all the traffic, whereas mine is just a walk away," she emphasized irritably. Realizing the saying that "curiosity kills the cat,"  was so true in her current situation. This agreement with Khalan would inarguably be the death of her in one way or another.

"Would you like us to stay in your place instead?" Khalan offered, it wouldn't matter to him where they stay as long as they're together.

She shook her head slowly, "No way, I don't want you to leave a negative stain on any of my property," she lamented coldly.

"Honey, believe me, I'm here to stay," Khalan would repeat it to her over and over again until it registered to her that he'd stay with her for good.

"In 30 days, you'll be gone." Aliyah insisted, still in an icy voice.

"We'll see about that. I can be irresistible if I want to," He tried to sound confident, but Khalan was unsure if he could crush her coldness within that period.

"Have you had a relationship after you broke up with your fiancée?" Aliyah inquired expressionlessly.

"None! I've been held up with work and family strife. I've been busy." Khalan answered honestly.

"Have you been dating lately?" she tried again. She had no idea about his whereabout and never checked a piece of news about him.

Khalan wanted to tell her, "I've never dated since you," But instead he said, "Just a few dinners."

"Maybe you should consider dating more seriously," she grunted. Aliyah thought she needed to divert his attention to other ladies.

"Don't worry, honey, and we will be dating a lot."

Aliyah sniffed and shook her head, "Khalan, I'm not talking about me. Look for somebody else."

"Let's see Aliyah," he dismissed. Aware that he could not win with her with conversation alone.

They arrived at Khalan’s suite.

Khalan's abode was spacious, occupying an entire floor of the building. The interiors were modern in style. Aliyah knew it was not the same suite they occupied before, but somehow the ambiance was the same. 

"You like it?" Khalan queried when he saw her looking around the place.

"It's nice. Are you here alone?" Aliyah asked.

"A housekeeper comes every day, but yes, I'm alone, but now you are here," Khalan briefly pointed out.

When they proceeded to the bedroom, the first thing that caught Aliyah's attention was a frame with an enlarged picture of them taken almost seven years ago. 

Aliyah wondered why he still had it, but she did not bother to ask. She was simply surprised but she refused to know the reason for its existence.