Billionairess's Dilemma: Reclaiming His Heart

Chapter 5: On Ice

Polly-Three Years Later

"Mom, I don't think we need this party. I'd rather wait." A sharp pain in my left hand has me unclasping my hands. Didn't realize how tightly I was gripping with my right hand.

"Polly, you are our only daughter. I want to do this up right. And this is a good time. All our family is in town this weekend." Mom reassures me. Only it doesn't.

"It's not like this is going to happen for at least another two years, Mom. I'm only nineteen. I just think this....this is premature." I try once again to rationalize and get her to see things my way.

"I know. I'm not trying to rush anything." Mom pats my hand before lifting my left one. "Such a big diamond Polly. It's like he was wanting to make sure men on the moon could see you are engaged."

I look at the three-carat diamond flanked by two one carat stones and more inlaid into the band. "You know Archer. He likes to make a statement." It really was too much in some ways. He'd been so proud of it though, gushing about how he picked the stone and designed it himself.

"So why didn't you tell him to wait on the proposal if you think an engagement party is premature?" Mom quizzes me. There's no judgement in her tone, simple curiosity only.

I take a deep breath staring out of the window. Archer and I's relationship has been complicated and long winded honestly which Mom only knows part of. "He wanted me to know he was truly ready to commit to me this time. No more silly breaks or break ups."

She narrows her eyes at her phone before answering. "Guess you ending things with such finality got to him a few months ago."

I nod. "He sunk into depression and decided to grow up finally." Honestly, I am surprised he and I have made it. We've taken so many breaks. He flounders between hot and cold depending on his workload and I had hit my point of no return about six months ago.

"Sorry sugar, let me take this phone call." Mom apologizes before she answers it. I catch the name of her main fabric supplier and tune her out.

My mind begins going over the last three years of my relationship with Archer. The first time I told him to take a hike was two days after Kevin left for Stanford. After him showing up to the ice cream place, I was pissed and let him know about it. He shrugged it off. The next day, Kevin came by to catch up and Archer showed up thirty minutes after he did. Bringing me flowers to apologize for the night before. But then he wouldn't leave. Hung around until Kevin decided abruptly to leave. I told him we were already done. That lasted for a month. He was waiting on the first day of school with flowers and a bracelet. I gave in when he apologized. Apparently, my friendship with Kevin truly bothered him.

The next time was after Christmas. My family had a trip planned to go skiing. He convinced my mom he should tag along without asking me. I was feeling smothered already because he'd been at my house every single day of break save the actual holiday. When we got home, I told him I was done again. He backed off and three weeks later came with a heartfelt apology and the knowledge that he had a bit of a problem thinking he wasn't good enough for me and I'd find someone else. I thought maybe that would be the end of it when I assured him I was not a cheater and no one else was beating down my door to date me at that point either.

But then six months later, he was basically ignoring me and hardly spending a minute to talk to me. So I ended it. He begged me to come back and then the smothering happened again.

The first guy I dated during a break was a year ago. He was ok, kinda boring and we never clicked. Not the way Archer and I did. Then there was one of the football players at our college, but he was controlling and I didn't like where he seemed to be headed fast. The last one I thought was promising for a month until he started trying to tell me how to dress and who I could talk to. Made me more than grateful to have Archer even when he'd get absorbed in school and ignore me.

When he proposed a month ago, I had been shocked. We've joked about getting married but never talked seriously about it. After I accepted, we had to have a long talk about when to get married. He wanted to do it during our Christmas break. I'd told him I felt way too young to get married. I want to finish school and work on building my fashion brand a bit more. He was disappointed but understood. I didn't admit to him I was a bit worried that we'll stick together. I love him but I do not want to rush into this marriage. Brought up couples counseling before I will even set a date. Uncle Henry suggested it while talking about someone else he knows who is engaged. It sounded like a good idea for anyone getting married honestly.

Mom ends her call and I tune back into her. "Henry just sent me a text. Family dinner is tonight. Something's come up for tomorrow night and then the party is of course this weekend."

I nod silently. Family dinner was something I looked forward to once upon a time. Now it's a night to trudge through. Archer swears they hate him which is utter nonsense. They are guarded with him but that's our family. They've been screwed over one too many times and it takes a while for them to welcome someone wholeheartedly into their shiver. It didn't help that he thought it was joke when they called themselves the shark squad. Uncle Henry has invited him several times to come play hockey with them or to come watch but Archer is a baseball guy. Hockey is not his thing. He told them it's too violent.

"Same time?" I ask her.

"Yes. Is Archer going to be able to make it? And for that matter are you coming still?" Her voice is a little reproving. I've skipped a lot of family dinner the last two years since I graduated high school.

"Texting him the change now. He may have to meet me there though. I will be there tonight." She drops me off at my apartment and I hurry to get ready for the dinner. Archer texts that he'll have to meet me there which is what I expected. He's working at his grandfather's company all summer.

I am running a few minutes late myself. I greet them all and sit down. Uncle Henry smiles at me. "No Archer tonight?"

"He's running late since it got moved up." I answer. I catch Aunt Relly's eyes on me. She always stares at me when I talk about Archer. Never says a word but watches me closely. Archer arrives about thirty minutes into the dinner and strangely not one word is said about our engagement party this weekend. I thought surely Uncle Henry would ask a thousand questions.

As they talk about other things, I eat and tune one ear out thinking over my deadline to get my designs done in the next two weeks. Mom is going to let me feature a few dresses in her show at the end of the summer but I need to choose them carefully and tweak them to perfection. My ears perk up when I hear Aunt Coline mention something about Kevin. I missed most of it but I turn her way to listen. "I know she was here for his graduation. He says she hasn't approached him but he did see her a few weeks ago at a coffee shop near campus."

Uncle Kyle leans forward talking lowly to Uncle Ellis. "I worried maybe he was wrong but she did book a ticket from Canada to there. She was working for the magazine it turns out but I don't trust or believe in coincidences."

Aunt Relly shakes her head. "He's more than of age that she can approach him. I should have told her off better at his graduation."

Uncle Henry chuckles. "The hellbitch has nine lives I swear. Goes to prove cats are from the devil himself."

Cora Vincent, they are talking about Kevin's biological mother. The one who abandoned him and signed all her rights away. I wonder how he's feeling but then I shake that away. He left three years ago and didn't look back. I heard from him once or twice after he left but then radio silence after six weeks. He didn't respond to texts or calls. His social media accounts were all deleted and I couldn't find him anywhere. He never came home either. I asked about him a few times but got noncommittal answers from his parents and even his siblings. They stopped talking about him at family dinners too which was odd. It was almost like he died in some ways.

The biggest blow had been when I invited him to my graduation. I figured I'd at least get a card. Nothing. Not a word from him. It had been the final slice of our friendship to me. There was really on that one tie left and that was me holding out against hope more than anything. He had well and moved on from his little friend Polly that he grew up with. I remember the gamut of emotions I went through as he disappeared. From worried to scared and then angry. Finally I was left with bitter resentment and now it's just disappointment and sadness when I think about him. I would ask his parents why he wasn't calling me back and they said he was really busy. Eventually I stopped asking realizing they just didn't want to say that he had moved on from me.

And once again in the same fashion, they move on and change the subject.

Three days later

I smooth down the dark blue dress. It's one of Coline's dresses and it was certainly beautiful. I wanted to design myself a dress but Mom rushed this party and I didn't have time. I shake myself out of that when I hear the knock on the door. "Coming Mom." I call out and open it. She steps in smiling.

"You look beautiful Polly. Are you ready to go down? Archer still running late?" I catch the faint note of disapproval there but he had a flat tire on the way to pick his brother up at the airport. I was a little irritated too but what else could he do?

"Yes but he promised to hurry. It will be ok Mom." I squeeze her arm and we walk down together.

I survey the guests as we step into the backyard under the huge white canopy of the tent Mom rented for this. My eyes wander around as I walk intent on grabbing a glass of punch. I stop short though as I catch sight of a familiar pair of blue eyes and brown hair on the other side of the tent.

"Kevin's here?! At my engagement party." I ask in amazement. My mom nods smiling.

"Yes, he's home for the summer. Going to do some hands on training with his dad and Papa T at the law firm." She drops that bomb like it's old news before she waves to someone and moves their way. I stare for a few moments unable to believe he's here. I ignore everything else as I process the sight of him.

My feet start moving quickly his way. He stands in a dark suit talking to his dad and three other men. He's taller than I recall and he fills out his suit impeccably. I'm about to call his name when I see a tall redhead step up and link her arm through his. He looks down at her with a smile before taking a sip of his drink again and rejoining the conversation.

"There you are Polly." I hear my dad and see he's standing near the group with Kevin. I move his way slowly, willing Kevin to look at me. I haven't seen him in three years. And I want to be furious, but right now, I'm so thrilled to see my old best friend.

Dad moves us closer and calls out. "Andrew, this is my daughter." The man standing across from Kevin looks up and raises a glass.

"Nice to meet you Polly." I smile back and notice Kevin doesn't move. I'm sure he heard Dad.

I step closer to say hello to Uncle Kyle. Once I do, I turn toward Kevin. "Kevin, you came...." I say quietly. His head slowly turns to look at me and I falter seeing the cold, dead look in his eyes. Not a flicker of warmth or even friendly recognition. If I didn't know better, it was like we were meeting for the first time ever. He doesn't react in any way. His voice when he speaks sends chills down my spine. "Miss Barnes. Congratulations on your engagement. Excuse us please." And with that he walked away with his date toward his grandfather leaving me standing there shocked.