A Secret Affair with the Billionaire

04

“Miss Ciara! Miss Ciara!”

A repeatedly loud knock that echoes in my room keeps on bothering my peaceful sleep. As soon as I opened my eyes, the white ceiling greets me and a severe headache comes in as well. It feels uncomfortable that I just want to hit my head into the wall, thinking that it might disappear.

This is why I shouldn’t drink so hard!

I lazily hop off the bed, stumbling from here to there until I make it to the door, opening it. One of our maids greeted me before entering the room with a tray of water and medicine on it. I just follow behind and let her do whatever it is she wants to do inside.

“Miss, I have prepared a hangover pill for you and a water you can drink now. After this, you should take a shower and join your parents for breakfast. They are waiting for you already.” She pointed out, giving me a worried look.

A sigh escapes my lips, nodding my head. “How does he look?”

She didn’t have to say anything and just shook her head a little with lips pressed together. I guess I am in deep trouble right now.

I took the pill as she instructed and took a shower right away to wash off the smell of alcohol from last night. I can barely even remember what happened last night after I walk away from that man who is trying to hit on me. Heck, I didn’t even remember why the hell I ended up in our family house instead of my place! Everything vanished as if someone erased my memory for good. It’s crazy!

After taking a shower, I dress up in a simple white halter top and a black wide leg slacks with a pair of open-high heels. I match it up with a gold watch, hoop earrings, and a bracelet to complete the whole style. I did the last touches of my makeup and my hair before going downstairs to meet the man who had been waiting for me while still trying to bear with my headache.

The moment I reached the dining room, I instantly felt the heaviness of it and the rise of anxiety forms inside me. I could feel my insides shaking just by the sight of my father, reading some documents on the table with a cup of coffee in front of him. My mother, on the other hand, just calmly eats her food without any worry whether her husband will burst out at any moment. At times like this, I really wish that my brother is around to help me.

“Good morning, Father, Mother.” I greeted, giving Dad a peck on the cheek which he instantly avoided, making me let out a sigh.

“What happened to the deal with Mr .Heins yesterday?” He questions directly with no hesitation. “Did you clear the deal?”

I swallowed hard while thinking of the best answer. “About that Dad… Mr. Heins already made a deal with the other companies.” He let out a sigh right away without even hearing my further explanation.

He closes the folder harshly, making sounds that can cause me trauma, while shaking his head. “I shouldn’t have expected that you would successfully take that deal. Everything I told you to do, you never made an effort to close it successfully anyway. Why did I even bother?” He harshly said.

Of course.

I, Ciara Alaya Montellero, is a big disappointment and an effortless daughter in my father’s eyes,

For so many years, I have been trying to prove myself that I can do so much better than just being in a small cage where everything is laid for me and all I need to do is follow them. Surely, it is a good thing because I wouldn’t need to work so hard just to get such a high position with all the privileges in life that I have. However, what comes along with it is a high standard of my perfectionist father that I probably wouldn’t be able to reach at all.

In his eyes, my older brother is always the promising one and someone who will be his perfect heir. He can lean and depend on him despite the differences in personal perspective. My brother remains the perfect candidate despite having to still learn to reach the kind of perfection that our father wanted while I… I am just that useless daughter who is incapable of doing things perfectly and someone who will never reach my brother’s standing.

We have nothing against one another. I love my brother and he loves me the same way. We are on very good terms because while I wanted to be the heir, I just wanted to become a normal person. However, it was impossible for someone who was born under the Montellero Group. So, since I was a kid, I was already trained to become someone I didn’t want and is molded right now to be the woman that my father wanted me to be.

It’s pretty funny actually. My best friend, my employees, and even our business partners think that I have it all. Intelligence, beauty, elegance, and even an ideal woman. But their opinions don't matter to a father who doesn’t see a single ounce of my effort no matter how much I work hard to achieve one thing he wants me to work on. For him, I am just useless, and I probably wouldn’t get past that level anymore.

“Since you can’t even handle closing such an easy deal, just do one thing for me.” He says in such a defeated tone.

“What is it, father?”

He looks up to me with such a cold gaze. “I already called your secretary and told her to keep your lunch time unoccupied.” My eyes blink twice. “We will be having lunch with the Barnes.”

Barnes… Elijah’s family?

“I will keep that in mind, Dad.” I formally answered.

“You better. Don’t be late as well. Attending that lunch is the least you can do to this family.” He let out another sigh. “Besides, we need to tell you something once everyone arrives.”

During the whole breakfast, I almost had an indigestion already with how hard it is to eat with Dad being around me. It was the first time in two weeks since I sat at one table with him and Mom to eat since I live in a different place already after I turned 21. If it weren’t for someone who decided to take me in my family house instead of bringing me back to my place, I wouldn’t even have a chance to sit down in one table and get scolded by my father.

After breakfast, I instantly excuse myself to head to the office right away. I couldn’t bear to sit and stay longer in that house anymore, not when Dad is obviously pissed for what happened with Mr. Heins. I can only wish that he didn’t witness me drunk last night. If so, it will be a big mess. So, I head to the office without forgetting to pass by to a drive thru to get myself some cofee.

“Good morning, Ms. Montellero.”

Soft tones and wide smiles.

That is what greeted me the moment I entered the company building. I didn’t hesitate to give each employee a smile even up until I reached the elevator and rode it with the other employees.

The ride was silent yet I can only try to give them a comforting smile so they wouldn’t feel so awkward. That is the least I can do when almost all of the bosses in the company are too hard to approach already. I’m pretty sure if someone can cover the daily lives of our employees, they will all be scared to even say a single word, thinking it might be used against them and lead them to getting fired.

“Have a nice day today, everyone!” I said in a friendly gesture before coming down the designated floor where my office is located.

There are only selected employees on the same floor as I am and they are a lot less stiff than those from the ones I met downstairs since we all have been working together for years. I greeted each of them like I usually do until my eyes landed on the woman coming my way with a usual folder in her hand, ready to have me sign the papers in it.

“Good morning, Miss Ciara. I’m glad that you arrived earlier today because you have too many documents to review before you leave for lunch.” Joana instantly said, giving me an apologetic smile.

“Here I thought there will be no documents I need to review and sign anymore after failing to close that deal with Mr. Heins.” I shake my head with a heavy sigh. “You don’t know how hard it is to control myself from answering my father while he was scolding me earlier.”

“It was never a deal that you can close, Ma’am. A company from New York already closed the deal with them before you can even meet Mr. Heins. The appointment was just for formality already.” She reasoned out, which I am not sure is meant to make me feel better or not.

“Nonetheless, I still failed.” I roll my eyes and let out another sigh. “But let’s just forget it! Can you do me a favor and not let anyone enter my office until lunch? I don’t really feel like meeting anyone.”

“Even me?”

My gaze went behind Joana, only to see my dazzling brother s***h CEO standing there with his hands inside his pant’s pocket. Everyone’s eyes are on him, either admiring or respecting him as the head of the company. I form a smirk, shaking my head in return.

“I would say no exception, but who am I to reject you, Mr. Montellero?” I joked, earning a soft chuckle from him. I looked at Joana and gave her a nod. “Please send some coffee to my office for my brother.”

As soon as Joana nodded her head, the two of us walked into my medium-sized office where all of the responsibilities that I didn’t exactly want lie. The whole room is combined with black and white walls and a table in the middle with a few single couches in front of it for the guests. There is a cabinet which stores my few books and some important documents. Despite the simple decoration of it, there is still a beautiful view of the city, making bearing for a day enough for me.

My brother occupies one of the couches in such comfort. He sat there as if he owns this office as well, but he does own the whole company partially. Like always, he welcomes himself as if I don’t exist in the room.

“I heard that you were in the house today, is that true?” He instantly questions.

A sigh can only escape my lips. “It will be shocking if you don’t know, right? But yes! I am.” I roll my eyes upon seeing the snicker on his lips.”How did you know anyway?”

“Dad called. He said that you were drunk.” He shakes his head with a small sigh. “I already told you that I won’t stop you from getting drunk, but at least not show it to Dad. We both know how strict he is with you.”

“How strict he is with me or how disappointed he looks like every single time he sees me in that state?” I frankly pointed out. “Besides, it wasn’t even my intention to come home in that drunken state! The person who took me there decided on his own.”

“His own? Someone brought you home?” I shrug my shoulders innocently, unsure of it, but he seems more amuse. “I am certain that men come after you, but I didn’t expect that you would actually entertain other men besides your long-term love.”

Of course, he wouldn’t miss a time to tease me.

“First of all, nothing happened because I am sure that I completely passed out. And second,” I sat on my chair and crossed my arms to my chest while looking at my sneaky brother. “I am not like you who plays with women at the same time, brother.”

He let out a scoff in disbelief. “Now that hurts.”

It wasn’t a lie anyway. If there is someone in this room who can be easily called as a playboy, it is no other than Francis Andrei Montellero who is on the top of the list. It always makes me wonder how he is capable of keeping his image look good when in fact his handsome look and flirtatious words knows how to make way in every woman's heart so quickly as if he had them captivated. On top of that, it never occurs to me how he still became the perfect heir and son in our father’s eyes despite that reputation.

“Get over it.” I sarcastically said. “Have you heard about the lunch with the Barnes’ today? Did Dad mention anything to you about what it will be about?”

He shakes his head right away. “Dad tells me everything, but you know that he never says a single word when it is about you already. So, I think the lunch will be about you. I just don’t know what it is.” He pointed out.

“It’s not surprising since he already said that attending the lunch will be the last thing I can do after messing up that deal with Mr. Heins.” I let out a deep breath, feeling the frustration once again. “If only I knew who stole him from us.”

“What will you do? Scratch his handsome face?” He teases, earning a glare from me. “Stop thinking about Mr. Heins already, okay? The deal with him is not really that big compared to the ones that we will have next week. Besides, Dad gave up on him already before you even went there and attended the appointment.”

“He… what?”

My brows furrowed, thinking about it. So the whole thing with Mr. Heins is something that Dad is aware that I can never close the deal anymore, but he still insisted. All this time, he knew about it yet… he just really had to shove it in my face that I still failed him. What did I even expect?

“Just stop thinking about what Dad told you, Ciara. You know that he is always like that, right?” He tries to soothe me.

“He is always like that only to me, but never to you. He surely has his favorites.” I roll my eyes on him.

“I doubt that. His high expectations for me also suffocate me, my dear sister.” He stands up and fixes the button of his suit. “But we have no choice! He is our father and we need to follow him. Just get yourself ready for whatever will happen for lunch. I will see you later, okay?”

He didn’t hesitate to give me a small peck on the cheek before leaving my office in silence. I just sat there for a couple of minutes, wondering when will things really be right even just for once? It just feels like everything is in bad shape for so many years now with Dad and there is no way to fix it at all.

I can only hope now that the lunch with the Barnes’ can at least ease his disappointment in me.

For hours, I attended to several documents left and right. I checked several proposals from different departments as the acting General Manager of the company after my brother assigned me and pleaded with me to take the position just so Dad would stop bothering me already. It wasn’t an easy job, but Francis ensured to guide me on how to handle it the first time I took it. However, I also made sure that I accepted it without losing my will to being a potter still.

Few minutes before 11, my brother passed by my office to pick me up so we could go to the restaurant together. I wasn’t sure what to expect but having Francis there for me will be enough. Surely, Elijah will be there as well, but I don’t think I can actually expect anything from him since he doesn’t look so fond of me the other day when we meet one another with Hailee.

After driving for less than half an hour, we arrived at the restaurant where Dad usually calls us to have dinner or lunch. When we arrived inside, only Elijah was sitting on a long table where two families would probably gather as he spoke with someone over the phone. Even from afar, he still looks so good.

“Elijah Aaron Barnes! Surprised to see that you are early.” Francis jokingly said, earning a nudge from me.

He and Elijah are fine, but they aren’t really so close. Maybe when we were kids since we all grew up together, but things are different now—especially when the two of them are CEOs already.

Elijah dropped the call and shook hands with my brother right away. “I was in the area so I thought of coming early already since my meeting ended earlier than expected.” He turns to me and forms a timid smile, leaning forward for a small peck on the cheek. “How are you feeling now, Ciara?”

“What?”

He let out a sigh. “You were so drunk last night that you almost went home with someone you don’t know.” He shakes his head, obviously not so happy about that memory that I cannot remember. “I understand that you want to get drunk, but I really hope you will be responsible for yourself when it happens.”

“You… were the one who took me back home?” I said, blinking my eyes thrice in disbelief as he nods.

“If it isn’t me, then who else?” He exclaims.

Before I can even retaliate, our names were called by his mother who arrived at the same time as my parents. As if the talk about my drunken state suddenly disappeared, everyone at the table turned silent except for the adults who were talking about business as usual. However, my mind just wanders about what Elijah said.

I know so well that my brother will scold me for what happened last night once we get away from this restaurant, but the thought of having Elijah witness me in that state was embarrassing! He even said that I was about to go home with someone? I think I really turned crazy last night! At this point, I don’t even know if I should be thankful to him for taking me away before something bad happens or just want to hide myself after what he witnessed.

I will never get drunk again!

“Ciara? Ciara, dear?”

I flinch upon hearing a voice calling for my name and feeling an elbow nudging me as silently as it can. When I look at my brother, he widens his eyes a bit before nodding towards in front of us where Elijah and his parents are sitting. As soon as I looked at them, I was surprised to see everyone’s eyes on me—even my father’s cold gaze.

“You seem lost, dear. Are you okay?” Elijah’s mother worriedly asked, making me force a smile right away.

“I-I am fine, Auntie! I was just… daydreaming.” I gulp down before forming another force smile.

“You seem to be looking more tired these days, Ciara. Maybe you should be getting more rest from your family business and going on dates instead of working too hard.” She exclaims one more.

I can only smile a bit with her words as I glanced at Dad who remained silent throughout it. He must be thinking that I am crazy for looking lost in the middle of an important lunch. Well, he just had to call someone who is still recovering from a hangover.

“Why does she need to go on dates when Elijah is there?” Mom pointed out, making me look at Elijah right away.

He looks composed and unbothered by my mother’s words. I supposed it can never bother her because… he never thinks of me differently.

“Mom, Elijah is too handsome for Ciara.” Francis teases, earning a glare from me.

“Oh no, Francis! Ciara is just perfect for Elijah. In fact, the most perfect woman whom he can and should marry!” Elijah’s mother exclaims one more.

Marry? Me and Elijah?

“Right! Since you already brought that up, we actually have something important to tell you kids that is why we had lunch with both families present.” Mom gave Elijah’s father a nod.

“Montellero Group and BNS Enterprises are currently planning to have a partnership this year to build the most anticipated five star hotel in the city. However, we thought that having a simple partnership will not be enough and we wanted to have both families to be one completely.” My eyes squint as my brother and I exchange glances, but I can see the worry in his eyes already. “So, we decided to make an arrangement.”

“Arrangement?” I repeated, looking at Dad.

“Both families have decided to have you and Elijah marry one another under an arranged marriage to strengthen the partnership between two companies, Ciara.” Dad revealed, making my lips parted in shock.

Me and Elijah… will what?

“I am not sure if I hear it properly, Dad. Did you say… arranged marriage for Elijah and Ciara?” Francis butted in on my behalf already.

Dad nods his head. “Yes. Ciara and Elijah… will get married in two months.”

I… will get married? I will marry… my childhood friend? My long-time crush?