Revenge of the Billionaire’s Ex-Lover

06. The Billionaire’s Revenge

“THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!”

I shouted at the man in front of me who claims to be the CEO of DTC Group. I am well aware about rumors that the actual CEO of DTC Group is hiding behind his acting CEO, but I didn’t know that it is indeed true! What makes it worse is that the actual CEO is no other than Donovan Tobias Casis!

It is all coming into pieces now one by one. Novan Palace and The Vonod Inferno are both under the DTC Group. If Donovan insisted that he is the owner of those two then… he is most likely to be the owner of DTC Group as well! That means the man that my father wanted to have a partnership with is also the man he used to insult back then. This is making my head spin.

He clicks his tongue then takes a deep breath before standing up to approach me. “I only made Mateo to act like the CEO on my behalf while I am not around, but I guess I let him take the role too seriously for many years, didn’t I?” He exclaimed, even more fond of this headache he just created. Suddenly, he extended his hand which I only looked at. “Although you already know me, I am Donovan Tobias Casis, the Chairman, CEO, and owner of DTC Group and all the businesses under it. You can call me Don, but I will much appreciate it if you call me love instead.”

“This is not funny anymore, Donovan.” I threatened him, not even showing a single hint of mockery.

He lowered his hand. “Don’t you think you are being too formal now, Kaye? Weren’t you so used to calling me just Don? You were even the one who created that nickname for me, didn’t you?” He messed around once again, but I remained stoic that made him just give up. I watch him only in silence as he places his hands inside his pants pockets. “What do you want me to do to prove it to you?”

“Anything will do as long as it is valid.” I only said, doubting him completely even if I already have my own conclusion in mind.

He hummed while looking around the office until his eyes landed on his table again. I almost jumped a little when he loudly placed a hand on top of it before landing his hand again on top of a nameplate. “Is this enough proof for you to believe that I am the CEO? Or do you want me to bring out the titles of this building and the business permits of my businesses?” He exclaimed as my eyes followed his hand to take a look at it.

Donovan Tobias Casis

CEO , Chairman

“I still can’t believe this.” I whispered to myself before looking up to him again. “If you are the CEO, then what about Mateo?”

“Mateo?” He raised a brow as he repeated my words. A scoff escaped his lips as he took his phone out from his pocket. “So you two are on a first name basis now, huh? That fucker. I only told him to look after my company, but there he is flirting with you.”

“Stop messing up with me, Don. No one is flirting with me. I just need an answer.” I firmly insisted, making him glance at me before a sigh escaped his lips.

I watched him fish something on his phone before he showed the phone screen to me which had Mateo’s name in it. The call rang for a few times before he answered the call, making me feel relieved. My eyes remained on the phone as I wait for an answer.

“Bro, didn’t I tell you to look after the company, not to flirt with my woman?” Don exclaimed, making me glare at him.

“I am not your f*****g woman, Donovan!” I stole the phone from Don then gave him a look before speaking up. “Hello, Mr. Concepcion? Can you please explain things to me? This man in front of me keeps insisting that he is the CEO? Can you please tell me what the hell is going on?”

[“I see that the two of you finally met again after a long time.”] Mateo exclaimed, sounding playful like Don. This fucker next to me ended up smirking because of his friend’s answer. I shouldn’t be shocked anymore. [“But to answer your question, yes. Don is the actual CEO of DTC Group as well as the Chairman and sole owner of the company. I’m pretty sure the nameplate on his table can confirm that. You can also confirm it to his secretary, Ian, if you want to, Ms. Moreno.”]

“But how is that even possible? How about you? If you are not the CEO, then what are you?” I asked, desperate to have the answer that I need.

[“I am the lawyer of DTC Group, Ms. Moreno. Actually, you can ask the details to Don, but it looks like you have so much doubt about his words despite everything that happened between the two of you.”] He exclaimed.

I kept my silence after that knowing now that Mateo is also aware of what I did back then. He might even be with Don back then when it happened and I just wasn’t able to notice him before. Nonetheless, these two are indeed making my head spin with all the revelation. I came here today to do business, but it looks like I am leaving all confused and with a headache.

[“You see, Ms. Moreno, Don just returned from the States a couple of months ago but he wanted to make his identity discreet for the meantime until an official announcement has been made. That is why I have no choice but to keep acting like the CEO on his behalf for the past few years since his business expanded globally. But my time is about to end too as the acting CEO. So, if you want the partnership to happen, I suggest you convince that man and do whatever it is he ask for.”] I heard him let out a small chuckle before speaking up again. [“I’m pretty sure it will be easier for you to convince him. After all, the two of you has history.”]

Right… a history. A history that shouldn’t be brought up again.

After confirming, Don and Mateo shared a small conversation regarding some legal matters about their company which I chose to stay silent. I occupied the couch while staring into thin air as I processed all the information I just gathered right now. It is only a revelation yet everything feels so hard to process. From being the owner of the bar and club I usually go to, to being the man I had s*x with, now the CEO, Chairman, and even the owner of a global company. What more do I need to know in just a span of two weeks?

It became more clear now why the Chairman position and the owner name of DTC Group remained hidden. It is because Don chooses to keep it like that since he built it. But why? What was his purpose?

“Okay, bro. I will call you back, okay?” I heard Don't say from behind me as his footsteps became louder as he approached me. He occupied the single couch on my right, adjacent to me, before he locked his gaze on me, observing. “Do you believe it now?”

I look at him, hesitating to ask, but I have nothing to lose now anyway. “Why did you hide from everyone the fact that you own DTC Group?” I questioned right away.

“You know how private I really am, Kaye. Since then, I have always wanted to keep my life kept in the shadows. So, entering the world of business, I needed time to adjust and learn how that world works properly. But in order for me to do that, I need to work secretly to know who has a good purpose for us and who doesn’t. It was a great call for me to do that actually. At least it helped me grow my business more with loyal investors on my side.” He explained patiently with a small smile, like he is some kind of proud of what he did.

If I am being honest, I would feel proud of him as well. He did achieve what he wanted to do since then and achieved more from that goal. When he said that he wanted to have his own business, he really managed to do it. It is something to be indeed proud of. But what only hinders me to admit that is… it is easier for him to take revenge now with all these connections he has.

When I thought that he probably has a purpose for randomly showing up this time of the year, I wasn’t lying at all. He has the connections now and the people to do the job for him. With just one word from him, he can take his revenge on me. I am sure that it is the main reason why he is approaching me right now… and probably the reason as well why our proposal was rejected twice.

“Tell me, did you purposely reject our proposal?” I exclaimed, somehow scared of what I was about to hear. A part of me just wishes that it wasn’t on purpose, but knowing about the past, my only hope is even impossible to happen now. “You… didn’t, right?”

He gazes at me blankly like it is enough answer for me. “What do you think?”

I close my eyes for a second, trying to calm myself down from all these thoughts. I took a deep breath before opening it again to look at him in disappointment. “Why are you doing this?” I almost whispered.

“Shouldn’t you know the answer to that in the first place? After all…” he flattered his eyes once before looking at me meaningfully. “You should know better the reason behind that rejection despite the fact that your father treats your employees like damn robots with no feelings at all.”

It makes me left speechless as I hear him speak more. Those untold feelings he probably kept in his heart for such a long time, he is letting it all out now. The insults he received from my father back then and all the pain I have caused him, it is only right that he really wants to take revenge on me now. Maybe, all those times my father has been calling me useless is my punishment for bringing pain to someone who used to have such a kind heart.

“I will take my revenge on you someday, Kaylie Amber.”

That was what he told me a decade ago, and it is coming into pieces more the more he makes things hard for me. I wanted to feel mad towards him because the pain I had because of my father’s words made me keep blaming myself. However, I can’t even do that because I know well that I have caused him much pain. I ruined his peace with a game that I couldn’t even dare to say no. I ruined what it can be between us.

“This is your revenge then.” I pointed out without breaking my eyes from him.

“Yes, but technically, no. Rejecting your business proposal is just a small thing to do and not even worth all those times you have fooled me back then. Besides, that proposal deserves a rejection considering that it didn’t really reach our standards.” He calmly said without even any sense of pity in him. All I could was lower my head down as I reflect on the mistake I made in the past, until he speaks again. “However, I have a solution for it. I just need to know something from you first.”

“And that is?” I simply asked, feeling the fast beat of my heart as I waited for his words.

“Tell me how desperate you are with getting this partnership?” He exclaimed, without tearing his eyes away from me.

My mentor back then used to tell me that desperation can make people do things beyond their limit because they wanted that one thing so badly. I used to not understand it well before, however, I can now. There are a lot of things that are at risk for this partnership, that even if I want to leave this room already and escape from him, those thoughts hinder me from leaving the room and just abandon whatever it is I needed to do today in here.

Getting the partnership with Don for my father is not just simply to stop a marriage that I don’t even want in the first place. It wasn’t just simply to make my father appreciate me as well and compliment me for once since I was born. That partnership is the equivalent of my freedom. The freedom that I wasn’t able to have since then. Therefore, In order to get that, I… I will do whatever it is I need to do just to make it possible.

I look at him straight in the eye with desperation in my eyes and nothing more. His eyes squint as I stare back at his intense gaze, waiting for my answer that he is probably expecting something big. He got the upperhand in this situation and I… I am just slowly becoming his puppet as well.

“I will do whatever you want me to do. Whatever you want, whatever you need, I will do it all. You just need to tell me what I need to do, and I will do it.” I firmly said.

He was staring blankly at me for a moment before a smirk slowly formed into his lips. “You are willing to risk yourself for me just to get your father the partnership he wants?” He concluded, sounding like he was amazed by it. “I didn’t expect for you to be that kind of person, Kaylie Amber.”

“Because I am not like that. But… I need to be one right now.” I simply explained my side. I gulped down then lowered my gaze to the floor as the thought of marriage came in my mind once again. “Being forced to do something you don’t want in the first place can make you desperate enough to escape from it even if it is your life that you needed to sacrifice. That… That is how desperate I am right now, Don.”

Our gazes locked to one another, and at some point, I saw a glimpse of worry, and softness in it. It is like he sympathizes with me for a moment subconsciously, even though it only lasted for a few seconds. However, seeing it even with just those few seconds, it was enough for me to know that he is actually thinking about it.

He took a deep breath before leaning forward with both of his arms resting to each of the top of his thighs. He looks much more serious now. “I know what I want, and I am pretty sure you know what it is as well. But I want you to know that this whole thing, I am not doing this just to help you escape from the cage you are locked in. I am doing this because I want your life to be harder than it already is, and that is only possible when it is me who is making you suffer.” He exclaimed, making me gulp.

“Just tell me what you want me to do. I don’t care how much I will suffer after that.” I determinedly said, trying to act like I am not scared for my own life now.

“I want you to be someone who planned to be one back then but didn’t push through because you fooled me.” He answered like it was enough to give me the answer right away. He batted his lashes before his side lips rose as a smirk formed his lips. “I want you to be my woman.”

It was as if my world stopped for a moment. There are two things that didn’t happen between us back then, being in an official relationship and with me being his woman. Between those two, what is much worse?

For a playboy like him now, a serious relationship is definitely out of the question because it will hinder him from playing around with any woman he likes to be with. However, with making me his woman, it only means he wants two things: to get his well-deserved revenge and… to keep fooling and using me like he already did the other night. Now… is it even worth it still?

“So? Will you give in?” He continued his words shortly this time, obviously having the time of his life to see me in a dilemma. “You will be my woman and the partnership is possible, or you will remain nothing but I will still be out there to get my revenge while your father despises you for not getting what he truly wants?”

Why does it sound so much worse when he says it? It feels like I am about to meet my dead end now with the choices left. Whatever choiceI make, both will definitely lead me to a worse case scenario. I just need to measure now what will save me from more trouble… if ever the other option will really do save me from it.

“Can you guarantee that the partnership will happen if I agree to be your woman?” I questioned.

“Possibly? I just need to talk with the Board of Directors to have them review your proposal, though we need a much more detailed and revised proposal that will meet our standard if you want the partnership to work. I’m pretty sure that won’t be hard for you considering how desperate you are?” He explained what he plans to do.

…and I only have one answer to it.

I stand up and fix myself before extending my hand, ready to make the worst deal between us. “Fine. I will be your woman. But you need to promise that the partnership will happen.” I said with a bit of a threatening tone.

He looks up to me with amusement in his eyes before accepting my extended hand. We shook hands, but before I could even let go, he suddenly pulled me to him, making me land on his lap. He wraps his arms around me, using it like a cage to trap and prevent me from going anywhere. We just made a deal, but he is already starting.

“Well then, you better get ready for my revenge.”

After those words, he immediately claimed my lips without my permission, deepening it as much as possible. He rested his hand on the back of my head with one free arm kept on my waist still, pulling me closer to him. He lowered his hand down from the back of my head to my neck until it stopped on my shoulder, gently holding me there, when I loosen up. Somehow, it makes me feel soft and there is this tingly feeling on my stomach that I shouldn’t have.

That… That is probably not even the first step of his revenge, yet I already know that I am in such deep trouble.

I sat on the driver seat of my car, leaning to it with my head flatly resting on the head rest while my gaze fixed in front of me. What did I even get myself into? Am I really that desperate to escape from my cruel father now that I even took the bullet and fell for the trap of the person who has so much hatred towards me?

“You are so dead, Kaylie.” I whispered to myself, slowly shaking my head. A deep sigh escaped my lips at the same time my phone rang. Randy’s name immediately showed up on the screen, and I can only expect two things from it. “Hello?”

[“Good day, Ms. Moreno! I am just calling to inform you that DTC Group just reached out to us and informed us about them rechecking the possibility of the partnership. Whatever you did, your father is in a good mood right now. That’s it, ma’am. Have a safe drive back home.”]

Those were the only words he said before bidding his goodbye and ending the call. All I could do was let out a sigh of relief because it somehow lessened the tension now. However, as the tension between my father and I lessened, I need to face Don now. If only Randy knows what I need to sacrifice for that partnership. If only he knows.

“You really know how to put yourself in trouble, Kaylie.”