Billionaire's Regret
Chapter 8:

Annie stood motionless in front of the window. Her thoughts circled between Aaron's absence and her Mom's recovery. It has now been a month since she arrived in Switzerland. She was still indecisive if the constant chill in her body was due to climate change or the looming change in her personal life. A new habit she learned was wrapping her arms for comfort around her too slender frame.

"Miss Annie..." Doris called softly from behind her. It was clear she was in her usual state of thoughtfulness.

Annie kept looking at her surroundings, finding a kind of peace but only up to a certain point. Everything stayed foreigner for her. She does admit this is a beautiful small mountainous country located in Central Europe. The country is located between France and Italy. It is also bordered by Austria, Germany and Liechtenstein. As an avid reader when she has the time, this would also be the perfect background for a possible new book. She shrugs her shoulders again like so many times. Always for now, her mom's health comes first.

"Miss Annie..." Doris called again softly. Instinctively right from the start she just knew to handle this girl carefully. There seemed to be something breakable about her. Yet, she also senses an inner strength she was hiding. Taking a deep breath, she moved closer making sure she was in view of the girl's sight.

"Morning Doris I didn't realize you were here." Annie faced her with a warm smile. "Did the car already arrive?"

"The driver is waiting outside Miss." She returns the warm smile.

"Okay," Annie reached for the thick jacket. Silently she has a love/hate relationship with the garment. It was the first thing Aaron bought her when she had stepped down onto Swiss grounds. The chill was quick nearly stealing her breath away. "If I may ask, how is your Mom, Miss?"

Annie instantly smiles again. "She is doing so much better Doris. I was worried when we arrived here but it clearly shows the treatment is working. Only a couple of weeks and she can come home. It would be a huge relief."

"I am glad Miss Annie. The Swiss air is always good for healing the body and the mind."

"I now know. Her progress was faster than what the doctors thought. My Mom is always a fighter. Oh, by the way, Doris I will be back a little later than usual. I am allowed to have dinner with her." "That's good Miss Annie."

Annie wrapped the jacket around her frame. As she steps out of the beautiful town house, the crisp air almost stole her breath away.

Aaron sits in the back of the waiting car. He was carefully reading the progress report of Hanna Black. He already discarded the surveillance photos. It was quickly clear Annie has no apparent intention of cheating on him. Again, he hates the feelings Grace managed to install in him. He was now rich and powerful but it never occurred to him to surveillance his ex-girlfriends.

Annie... the very name makes him frown. He still has no clue about his reactions towards her.

The doctors and nurses were especially impressed with her. She was a constant and eager learning therapist/nurse with her Mom. She apparently was step by step involved with her mother's recovery. The few times he privately observed her it was obvious she loved the older woman deeply.

As he looked through the black tinted windows, he finally noticed her stepping out of the town house. He requested that Doris buy her a couple of warm outfits. He was quick to noticed since he was on the lookout still wondering about that bitter twist around her lips, he further discovered there within her body language pride were concealed.

Looking at the jacket he bought first when they step from the helicopter, it was the only one she ever wore. He kept watching her, frowning as he wonders if it was his imagination but it seems she was a bit too slender, almost skinny. He watches her smile with Doris before moving towards the waiting car.

"I think I made a huge mistake with you. I am just not sure where I made the error." He said softly to himself. The back door opened.

Annie briefly smiled with the driver in morning greeting. She was very careful with her behavior towards strangers and the employees of Aaron Casey. Always consciously keeping in mind there might be a trap waiting to catch her. The current privileges she was having was way above her financial means of income.

"Hello, Annie." Aaron spoke from inside the car.

A quick but not fast enough shudder went through her body, before she settles on the seat beside him. The driver closed the door.

"Good morning Aaron." She answered formally. She took a deep breath before she faced him. She instantly noticed the tired lines around his mouth. She also noticed he was unshaven. "Are you okay?" she blurted the question before she managed to control her thoughts.

He quickly controlled his smile. The brief shudder and instant worry didn't go by unnoticed but he wasn't going to make her aware he noticed. He was however touched by her concern for his immediate appearance. Grace always hated it when he looked like this, not even caring enough to question if he was okay.

"I am just tired. It was a troublesome month on the ocean." He said softly curious about his own behavior. "I know this is your ride to the hospital. Do you mind if I hijack your trip for a brief detour to my Hotel?"

"Okay." Annie looked briefly at her watch. "I always went a bit early."

"You will be on time, I promise."

"It's fine." Annie looked out the window. "I only ever read about Europe. In truth I never even imagine being here. For a brief time when I was younger, I used to have a couple of pen pals. Most of them were from Germany and Italy," she said by way of a conversation.

"Are you still in touch with them?" Aaron watches her side profile, wishing she would look his way. "Ever wanted to travel through Europe?" he carefully queries.

"I lost contact with all of them except one girl living in Yorkshire. We still communicate through emails now but started out with pen and paper." She briefly looked directly into his unguarded eyes. Her next secret confession surprise her "I had a dream once, wanting to travel on the Orient Express first arriving in London, enjoying the sights briefly. Then I cross the English Channel going into France where I booked the train ticket riding through the country side. Once I reached Italy, I want to walk around enjoying the flavor of the food and music. My truly favorite island I want to visit and spend a couple of the days there is Santorini in Greece." When it dawns on her she was actually talking about her personal dreams she quickly becomes quiet. "I am sorry." She said softly.

Aaron said nothing but he stored that information deeply in the corners of his mind.