The Billionaire's Vengeance: My Path To His Heart

Chapter 5: Back out

"Bye, Odella!" 

These words appeared to have reopened a long-untouched wound within Odella.

Odella had never believed Caleb's goodbye was genuine. She had never seen him again after that day, as he had come close to death that fateful afternoon. All of his promises had ultimately proved to be in vain. It had been the very first promise he had broken.

As tears streamed down her face, she was reminded of a painful event from the past.

Odella stood waiting in the school's front yard, holding on to Caleb's promise. She waited for thirty minutes, during which time she grew increasingly anxious.

Thirty minutes turned into an hour, then two hours, and eventually, three hours...

The once-clear sky had darkened, and the bustling atmosphere of students and school staff heading home had transformed into eerie silence. Then, a thunderous roar from above heralded the arrival of cold raindrops that pierced her delicate skin.

Determined to wait longer, Odella reminded herself that it was Caleb, and he never broke his promises. The raindrops stung her skin, and her trembling lips betrayed the cold that enveloped her body.

Refusing to abandon hope, she continued waiting until she finally heard someone calling her name.

"Odella!"

She turned in that direction with a spark of hope, only to find Braud hurrying towards her with an umbrella in hand.

"What are you doing to yourself, Odella? Are you out of your mind? We were so worried! You should've gone home long ago. Do you even know what's happened at home?"

"W-what happened?" she asked, her voice quivering.

"Dad got arrested. Caleb and Mr. Ferell were in a car accident this afternoon, and the police are saying that it was Dad's car that hit them."

"What?" She couldn't believe her ears. While she had anticipated something might have happened to Caleb, her father's involvement and the car accident with Mr. Ferell were beyond her comprehension.

"C'mon, Odella! We need to get home! You shouldn't be here! It's not safe! Odella!" Braud commanded urgently. He grasped both of her shoulders and shook her as if trying to wake her from a nightmare. "They've arrested Dad. Are you even hearing what I'm saying?"

Odella abruptly pushed Braud's hands away. "No! I have to find Caleb! What happened to him?"

As Odella looked into Braud's eyes, she saw a mix of emotions – fear, anxiety, and concern. Before he could respond, their butler and one of the household helpers came rushing toward them.

"Miss, please, let's go home. The villa is in chaos."

At the mention of the villa, Odella turned her gaze from the helper to Braud and began to cry.

How was Caleb? Was he okay?

Odella's legs gave way beneath her, and she trembled uncontrollably. Her body had become stiff from the cold. Before she could utter another word, her vision faded, and she lost consciousness.

The next day she knew she was in her bed...

All their properties were frozen due to an additional predicament that had besieged their family—a fraudulent scheme. Before they could rectify the situation, the Bale family found themselves in dire financial straits as their bank accounts and assets, except for one villa, became inaccessible.

According to the report, Mr. Bale had been selling stocks to various individuals and companies, with substantial sums flowing into The Bale Corporation. Mr. Bale persisted in this stock-selling endeavor, even though some investors received counterfeit documentation. Unfortunately, one of these investors happened to be Caleb's father, leading to a heated confrontation during a meeting.

Mr. Ferell issued a stern warning that he would take legal action against Mr. Bale. Tragically, that same afternoon, Mr. Ferell met his untimely demise, abruptly closing his chapter as he passed away.

At this very moment, Odella's inner demons, fueled by her deepest negative emotions, enveloped her. Tears streamed down her face as she looked back into the past, her sobbing causing the baby blue paper she held to become damp as she read it slowly.

Dear Caleb,

My grandfather recently shared the news that we'll be getting married in the future. I was taken by surprise, but it made me happy. While I'm prepared to wait, I'm also excited about the prospect of starting a family with you. How do you feel about all this? Are you happy about it? I can't help but wonder if you might have some reservations. I don't consider myself particularly attractive, and I'm concerned that you might be disappointed in marrying me. Nevertheless, as I grow older, I'm committed to doing everything I can to meet your expectations. I have faith that I'll become more beautiful over time. That's a promise!

Odella managed a bitter smile as she looked back on the letter she had penned at the tender age of sixteen. Her youth had been a joyful period, largely thanks to Caleb. During high school, he had been her steadfast protector and helper, always ready to offer assistance whenever she needed it, whether in academics or any other aspect of her life. Caleb was an exceptional individual, excelling in both sports and academics, earning a reputation as an all-around high-achiever.

As she contemplated the man with whom she had shared a kiss, it became evident that he had transformed into someone unrecognizable. The man she once knew, with his commanding presence and sharp intellect, was now the source of her pain.

Odella wiped away her tears, closed her eyes, and began to count to ten. With slow, deliberate breaths, she inhaled deeply, striving to regain control over her tumultuous thoughts. This technique had always been her refuge, helping her manage her emotions during moments of extreme distress.

She reassured herself that she should no longer allow him to trouble her. Over the years of living separate lives, she had found her own happiness and no longer needed to be haunted by the past.

"That's right! Why am I crying over a simple kiss?" she asked herself, feeling somewhat irrational.

"I've dated five men, and it certainly wasn't my first kiss! Caleb, you don't even compare to my exes! Your kiss isn't anything special!" Odella criticized, wagging her index finger at the baby blue paper with Caleb's name on it. As she voiced these words, memories of how he'd whispered her name and how his kisses had trailed down her neck not long ago invaded her thoughts.

"Ugh!" She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration, unable to shake the memory of that man's touch.

Odella then calmly returned the letters to the pink box.

"These letters don't matter anymore. I'm no longer the sixteen-year-old Odella! I've grown into a different person, not the same girl who once had a crush on you, the young woman who dreamed of giving you these letters once we were married!"

She was no longer the same Odella who used to sneak glimpses of Caleb while he ran around Ferell's mansion, often without a T-shirt, leaving her mesmerized by the sight of his bare skin.

"Odella, are you all right in there?" Aunt Aurelia's high-pitched voice exclaimed from outside her door, interrupting her thoughts, followed by loud knocks.

"I'm fine!" Odella replied.

"Good! I don't want to find a lifeless body in this house!"

Odella shook her head, wondering if her aunt believed she might consider such drastic action given all the problems she was currently facing. She carefully resealed the box of letters and returned it to its designated spot.

Odella walked over to her open window.

"I need to stop thinking about him," she said as she gazed at the tranquil night outside.

***

Two days had elapsed, and Odella had kept herself occupied in the restaurant kitchen. Yet, she couldn't shake the anxiety concerning the Infinite Company. She feared that Mr. Smith, their representative, might seek her out at any moment.

When the afternoon arrived, Odella was taken by surprise by the request to meet with the man.

"Odella, you have a phone call," Carol announced while Odella was in her office, reviewing their sales for the past month.

Their telephone was located outside, as she preferred not to have one in her private space since she spent most of her day preparing meals. She rose from her desk and headed outside to answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Odella, this is Enrico," the voice on the other end said.

Enrico Bertoli currently serves as the vice president overseeing their hotel operations. He was originally a shareholder, as his grandfather held shares in the company before the Bertoli family sold them to Infinite. Nevertheless, Odella maintained her trust in Enrico, allowing him to continue in his role managing the hotel. They shared a history and a strong friendship.

"Mr. Smith is here."

Odella was momentarily taken aback.

"Did you forget your meeting with him?"

"No, I didn't forget. I'll be there in a minute or so."

Setting the handset down, she couldn't shake her sense of concern. She observed Carol issuing instructions to the kitchen staff.

"Carol, I need to go to the hotel office for a meeting. I'll leave you in charge of the restaurant in the meantime."

"Sure! Go ahead."

The scent of food clung to Odella's upper uniform, prompting her to shed her apron and change into a fresh, comfortable blouse, while keeping her pants on. She stole a glance at herself in the mirror and noticed faint dark circles under her eyes, evidence of her sleepless nights over the past three days.

"Damn it!" She had developed a habit of cursing since meeting Caleb, but she made a conscious effort to clear her mind and pay it no further heed. Leaving her office and the restaurant behind, she headed towards the hotel's main office.

Odella felt a sense of nervousness as she walked to the elevator, her thoughts racing in different directions. She pressed the button for the 32nd floor, which housed the office.

Infinite had warned Odella that they had plans to change the hotel once they gained full ownership, a prospect that weighed heavily on her heart. Her Grandpa Bale had always considered the hotel his most cherished property among all the Bale holdings.

Unbeknownst to her, Odella found herself standing in front of the office's entrance. She pushed the door open and was greeted by the scent of the air freshener used in the office.

"Good afternoon, Miss Bale," greeted the woman at the front desk.

"Good afternoon," Odella replied and continued walking until she reached the conference room. She let out a heavy sigh before opening the door, revealing Mr. Smith, two of his associates, and Enrico inside.

"Gentlemen, good afternoon," Odella greeted them.

"Same to you, Miss Bale."

An indescribable emotion enveloped Odella as she chose a seat opposite Enrico. Mr. Smith initiated the meeting, saying, "First of all, I want to inform you that Infinite has decided to withdraw from the purchase of The Bale Hotel."

Odella was momentarily stunned, struggling to comprehend the news she had just heard. Her lips parted slightly, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events.

"My boss doesn't want to cause any offense to Mr. Caleb Ferell, who is now the sole owner of all the shares that Infinite Company held in The Bale Hotel. We are here solely to convey this information to you," explained Mr. Smith.

Odella's mind went blank for a moment, her thoughts slowly processing the news. She couldn't fathom whether Caleb had acquired the shares from Infinite due to her request for assistance. However, what would be her p*****t in return? It seemed implausible to think that he did it in exchange for a single kiss. The room's door swung open just as she was about to voice her inner musings. All heads turned toward the entrance.

"I would like to speak with Odella," declared the man who had just entered the room.