Billionaire's Regret
Chapter 21:

Aaron looked out the window. He has managed to effectively vanish from Cape Cove. The moment local artist Annie Black's place was found empty; a full scale investigation was launched. It quickly dawn on him that she clearly was loved within her community even thought she lived slightly apart from them all.

"Sir," follows the discreet knock.

"What is it Mathew?"

"The reservation is in place for tonight. I managed to hire a couple of discreet guards to shadow you tonight."

"My memory in now fully intact," Aaron looks out the window again. "You know I can't believe I had forgotten so much but now that I no longer on any medication, the clarity of truth is vivid. I can't screw this up again." "I have faith in you sir. You know where I am if you need me."

"Before you go tell me how much damage Zac made?" a grim line formed around his mouth.

"The fool managed to steal a few millions but he couldn't really get entrance into your several business towers."

"Keep an eye on him. I will deal with him when he least expect it." Aaron stood when he noticed Annie was heading back towards the beach house. There was such a look of sadness around her. "Annie..."

He watches her look towards him. As always he noticed how she hides her emotions. She slowly smiles but it never reaches her eyes.

"Hello," she said softly. Her eyes slowly travel over his body. As usual she noticed the tall length of his body. Since they arrived on the private island, he mostly dresses very casual. At the moment he wore sandals on his feet. Her eyes keep traveling over the length of his strong legs. A quick warm blush washes over her face when she hurriedly looked at his crotch before forcing her eyes to admire the broadness of his shoulders and the strength in his arms. "How was your day?" he made a point of not embarrassing her any further.

"I am bored. I need to do something." Annie turns slightly to look over the ocean.

"Would you be my date tonight Annie?"

"What," she quickly looked at him.

"I want to take you out to dinner and maybe dancing. It has been awhile and I don't know how good I am."

Annie felt the smile playing around her lips briefly. The day they danced on their wedding, he had two left feet that keeps stepping on her toes.

"What's so funny? Do you know something I don't Annie?" he moved towards her before reaching out to brush the wayward curl away from her lips.

"Oh, I just had a memory about a different time in my life once." Brief sadness flashes in her eyes.

"Are you thinking about Leonardo's father?" he asks very carefully. The surprise was vivid in her eyes. He noticed she can't seem to place the shudders over her emotions.

"It was just a thought. Is it safe to go out tonight?" she changed the subject.

"At the moment yes and I know this past month wasn't easy for you. You can trust the personal around Leonardo."

"If you say so but I learned the hard way that anyone has his or her own price."

"I am aware of that Annie. This island is very small but I am paying everyone a huge salary to be loyal to us. As far as I now the fools who are trying to hurt us are not that well funded. Now go out with me tonight." She just smiles before going inside.

The helicopter circles over the beach house before it landed. Aaron quickly left going towards the waiting pilot. He quickly took the file before going back. He went directly to his office and closed the door. He briefly looked at his watch knowing he doesn't have much time.

"Oh Annie...." A single tear stream down his face before he locks the single piece of very important paper securely in his safe then he removed the wedding ring and put it in his pocket.

Annie carefully bends down to kiss her son goodnight. He was such an easy child. She straightens with the knowing that she needs to talk with Aaron. Her problem though was the fact that he has memory loss. He could so easily just think she was looking for a financial haven.

Surprise she watch the door opening behind her. His dark slightly peppered with gray was looking inside. He smiles in such a manner that she felt her toes curls in coming pleasure.

"Hey,"

"Hello," she stood watching his frame suddenly dwarfing the bedroom. He quietly walked closer to the bed. He bends down and kissed Leonardo on his forehead.

"Are you ready Annie?" he turns to look at her.

"I am,"

Annie was pleasantly surprise when she realized they were at a very secluded part of the island. The single table with the candles stood on the beach. The soft music of the ocean was playing in the background. "Do you like this?"

"I do."

"I am glad. I have discovered I am not the most romantic person but this very idea seemed to have stuck in my mind. It almost felt like a memory but I am not sure." His fingers softly brush over the nakedness of her shoulder. Annie was fighting the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.

"You look beautiful Annie." His now softly brushes with his lips across her hair.

"You look good too," she said softly.

Aaron went and sit across from her. He suddenly looks nervous. Reaching out he took her hand into his. With his right hand he starts to play with the pulse in her wrist. "I have something to ask you. Before you react just listen and consider what I am saying."

"This sound serious."

"Would you marry me Annie?"

Instinctively before she realized the implications her memory was flooded with the first time he asked her to marry him. It was a simple yet intimate ceremony. The twists play around her lips when they had met in the hospital and his idiotic demand that she be his mistress for hire.

"Annie," he looks nervous. A kind of regret was building in his heart making him silently realized she was back in the past judging his behavior. He suddenly fears her answer.