Billionaire's Regret
Chapter 7:

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me." He stood his full length. Slow but steady, a sense of unease was building inside of him. The look in her eyes was unsettling and he doesn't understand why.

Annie stood so motionless; it appears as though she barely breathes. She just looked at the man in front of her. He truly looks like the wicked man from the romance novels she used to love reading. She very slowly starts to blink her eyes. It feels if she makes too sudden moves she might break.

"Let me confirm I heard correctly. Do you mind?"

"Go ahead."

"You, Aaron, are going to help my Mom?" she asks so level-toned it almost sounds normal.

"That is my offer with terms." He said flatly.

"For you to help my Mom financially...you want me to be your mistress?" she asks in the same tone of voice.

"That is correct."

"The contents of this agreement...it is sexual in nature, right?" she asks still level-toned. "Definitely,"

"You, Aaron, truly have the money and power to help my Mom?"

"I do,"

Annie kept looking at him while searching for his horns and red skin but all she saw was a devilishly handsome man ready to help her Mom. The bitter twist played around her lips as she thinks about her past. The man her dad had arranged for her...it was all about what he benefit with no regards to her feelings. At least now she has the choice to safe her beloved mother, like she had rescued her years ago. She had arrived at her door heartbroken from a brief but failed marriage. The longer she just looked at him it was clear he truly doesn't recognized her. This truly puzzles her.

The final private question to herself now...was she capable of sleeping with her stranger ex husband. This man could truly safe her Mom? The resounding inner answer was yes...

Annie focuses on him again. There was now such a cold look in her eyes when she looked into his now guarded eyes.

"I, Annie, agree to your terms with one specific condition on my part."

"No conditions," he said flatly.

"There will be this very specific condition, Aaron. You will agree to it," she demands coldly.

"What is it?" he questions through gritted teeth.

"Apart from the primary doctors and nurses I intent to be physically involved with my Mom's care. Once she is healthy and capable of looking after herself, I will become your whore for repayment of debt. That is my term of condition. I can also promise no one will ever question my reactions in accordance to your wishes."

Aaron Casey stood near the private medical helicopter. He watched the proceedings of medical doctors readying the transport of Hanna Black. He searched for Annie from behind his dark glasses. Since he left the office of Grace, there was a strange feeling clinging to his skin. He also has a deep-seated sense his own mother would disapprove what he just did in regard to Annie's feelings.

It has dawn on him that the Annie from his memory now no longer seems to have a face. The memory was replaced by the reality of this Annie Black.

"Sir, do you have a moment?" Zac approached a bit uncertain. He quickly realized something was very wrong with the man who was his Boss. He thought he knew all about his behavioral moods but something happened when he re-entered the hospital.

"Did you contact Frauline Doris?"

"I did sir. She promises the Town house will be ready on your arrival. Do you wish me to come along sir?"

Zac privately wonders what makes this unknown Hanna Black so important that Aaron refuse to attend his obligations in the Atlantic Ocean. That oil rig is a possible disaster ready to explode.

"No, this is private. Zac find a way to cool the workers on the Rig. I made arrangements with my lawyer and the Rig manager. I want you to be present and report directly to me."

"As you wish sir,

Aaron noticed a man standing motionless on the steps watching the proceedings on the Halo-deck. He remembers the candy-stripe girl mention a husband.

"Zac, I want to know who that man is."

"I will keep you posted. Safe travels."

Aaron was aware of the silently moving Annie. She stops beside him. He briefly looked at her and noticed she still wore the same jeans and shirt. Instead of a handbag or purse at least, he noticed strap on her back was a back pack. "Here," she kept her focus on the helicopter flying away. She handed him the passport.

"Are you ready?" he asks softly.

"I am." She said softly.

Aaron watches his private helicopter landing. He reached for her hand; their fingers entwined. A shudder of familiarity washes over them both but neither looked at the other. The sudden tension was clearly tangible between them. Annie placed her own dark glasses on looking at the approaching Doctor Grace.

"Annie..." she comes closer. She wears a puzzled expression that the other girl doesn't understand. She senses she was missing something. Then again, hiding her own truth; she just hopes Aaron doesn't start to remember before he helped her mother. Her own past certainly blind-sided her but for now, she need to focus on the immediate problems.

"Is something wrong doctor?" she questions anxiously.

"No, I just want to wish you success. Any further questions you have call me." She invites.

"Thank you, doctor."

"Annie...I..." Grace looked uncertain. Her eyes now fixed on the man who silently looked at her before moving away with Annie Black.

"Thank you, Doctor Grace Stevens you certainly are an excellent doctor." Aaron said in a chilly tone Annie didn't missed.

Annie stops a moment looking at the other woman who seemed somehow lost, almost like she lost someone important.

"Are you okay?" she had to ask.

"I am Annie. Thank you for asking. Safe travels."

"Annie are you ready?" Aaron looked displeased with the communication between the two women.

"I am." Annie felt Aaron's strong fingers linked again with hers. She was taking a step into a very uncertain future and this scares her but knowing she can't show her true colors ever around her ex-husband. Apparently, money can buy anything, even her body. Once she deeply loved him but something changed the moment she heard the best news. Before she could tell him he had driven her away.

"Annie...no one will know the truth about our agreement. Do you understand me?"

"Yes sir." She answered flatly.