Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
“What are you doing here?”
“Why are you here?”
Both men spoke up simultaneously, surprised by the other’s response.
Eustace’s expression darkened. He stormed past Christopher to find Danika eating instant noodles at the dining table. She had been looking forward to seeing him, too; it had been a while since they had spent time together.
Christopher closed the door and sat down in front of Danika. “Do you want something to eat, Mr. Quincey? Danika can make another bowl for you.”
Eustace gritted his teeth, very upset with what was going on. He had rushed over after hearing what happened to La Vie Jen Rose Designs just to console her. But here she was, holed up with Christopher, having dinner together. Who knows what would’ve transpired if he hadn’t been here in time?
The rage in his chest was ablaze. He had held on all these days just to prevent Mortimer from hurting Danika.
What had she been doing, hm? Turning her attention elsewhere, apparently. She probably hadn’t worried about him, either.
Sensing all was not well with Eustace, Danika said to Christopher, “Are you done with your food? Get out, then.”
“Really, Dani? After what we just…” Christopher hesitated, looking upset.
Danika knew he had said that deliberately to get Eustace fired up. “What the heck are you on about? We didn’t do anything, so don’t try to pull something!” She strode over to the door and opened it, wishing she could drag Christopher out herself.
Pain lanced in Eustace’s chest as he watched them “flirt.” He had come here for nothing.
“That’s enough!” he growled and left the apartment without a second thought. He shouldn’t have come there and ruined his expectations.
Danika’s heart immediately plunged. She glared at Christopher, then ran after Eustace into the elevator. “Don’t listen to him. He’s only saying that to split us up.”
Eustace bit his lip. He knew, of course, but Danika shouldn’t have given him a chance to do so in the first place or even let him into her home. What if Christopher had done something to her?
“Are you done with work?” Danika asked, trying to change the topic, but his continued silence irritated her. “Do you really think you have the right to be this upset over one little thing when you were away for a week, Eustace Quincey?” she said sternly.
Eustace froze in place. He turned back to find Danika looking away, pouting angrily. Regret welled in his chest. He was the one who let things turn out this way in the end.
With a sigh, he reached over to pull Danika close. “I’m sorry. I’ve been really busy with work. I didn’t mean to neglect spending time with you.”
“Busy? Busy with what?” Danika knew Eustace didn’t have a good reason, given not much had been going on with the Quincey Group.
Eustace didn’t know how to answer Danika’s question.
The Quincey Group had only kept him busy for a little. He hadn’t come to find Danika because of Mortimer Quincey. His father had eyes and ears on his tail. Eustace feared he would do something to her if they found out he had been seeing Danika.
Besides, he had been occupied with winning over the board of directors and plotting to kick Mortimer off it. It hadn’t been easy with most of those old men supporting Mortimer. They had been the ones who voted the man for the spot all those years ago and had long been upset about Eustace’s new way of doing things.
Eustace hadn’t told Danika any of this. He didn’t want her to worry or let her know his father was alive.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Danika’s smile fell.
To her, Eustace remained silent because he didn’t know what to say, showing that he actually hadn’t been busy these few days.
Sensing Danika’s displeasure, Eustace explained, “It’s just been a lot of paperwork I have to look through.”
“Oh. What kind of paperwork? If you tell me, I might be able to help.” Danika stepped closer, wanting him to elaborate. Eustace frowned in response because she wasn’t normally this meticulous.
“Do you think I’m lying to you?” he asked quietly.
The elevator reached the first floor, and the two stepped out, the atmosphere still tense.
“Lying?” she thought.
“I’ve truly been busy lately, Danika. Please don’t worry about it, okay?” Eustace relented. He had been responsible for her doubts, after all.”
Danika sighed and sat on a nearby bench. “Promise you’re not lying to me? That you’ve been truthful to me about everything?”
Eustace paused, sensing Danika’s emphasis. “Of course I haven’t lied to you. Even if I did, I’d have a good reason for it.”
Like right now, he lied to Danika to protect her from Mortimer Quincey. That was a good reason for a white lie, right?
Danika wasn’t happy with his answer. With a sigh, she decided to go straight to the point, or she’d be worried forever.
“Then…” She met his eyes. “What about Quinn Blue?”
The moment Danika said that name, Eustace froze. Shock colored his eyes, followed by rage. “Who told you that?” he growled.
Danika had never seen this side of him before. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is who I am to you- Danika or a substitute for Quinn?”
“Substitute?” Eustace gritted out, eyebrows knitting together. “What the hell are you talking about? You’re you, and Quinn is Quinn. What do you have to do with each other?”
“Really? Then explain to me why we look so alike?”
It couldn’t be a coincidence, right? Eustace wouldn’t have chosen her just because she resembled Quinn.
Eustace’s forehead furrowed even further as he stared incredulously at Danika. “You saw the photo?” Danika didn’t respond. There was no reason to deny it.
“You dug through my study?” he asked furiously. He had kept the photo in his study, tucked away in an inconspicuous place. She wouldn’t have seen the picture if she hadn’t been thorough.
Danika wasn’t afraid of him now. In fact, she found it amusing. “Yes, I did.” She was curious about what Eustace would do now.
Right now, he had the urge to hit someone. But not Danika-himself. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. “Things aren’t what you think they are, Danika. Quinn and I have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
“Oh? Then explain to me what the situation is right now. Can you swear that you didn’t approach me in the first place because I looked like her?” Danika demanded and was met with Eustace’s silence.
He did approach her because she resembled Quinn. Later, he grew to like her for her, and it stopped having anything to do with Quinn.
Danika didn’t know this. She stared at him, heart nearly shattering into pieces. Tears welled in her eyes. “Wonderful. Just wonderful!”
She never expected herself to become a substitute in a relationship.
“Dani…” Eustace murmured softly, heart aching for her pain too.
“You’ve said enough. I understand everything now,” Danika sneered, thinking she finally knew why Eustace laid eyes on her. It made sense, too, because a man like Eustace Quincey didn’t fall for just anyone. Of course it would be for someone who looked like the woman of his dreams.
“You don’t understand. Quinn has nothing to do with why I like you,” Eustace tried to explain. He was sure Danika had misunderstood him.
Danika wouldn’t believe a thing he said right now. All she saw was his futile attempt at lying. “I don’t deserve being the substitute for someone lovesick.”
“You’re not-”
“Let’s break up,” Danika cut him off. There was no longer sadness in her eyes, just clear determination.
Maybe she had decided the moment she saw that picture of Quinn Blue but never said anything for the sake of that tiny shred of hope in her heart that it was just a big misunderstanding. But she knew now she hadn’t misunderstood anything. Eustace only liked her because she shared Quinn’s looks.
Her statement left Eustace gaping in shock. He never guessed it would come so easy to Danika. He came to his senses after some time. “Are you sure?”
Danika met his gaze. “What’s there to not be sure about? I know I’m not as rich and powerful as you are, but that doesn’t mean I’ll gladly become a substitute.”
She’d rather be the only woman he loved. Nothing less than that. Yes, she would be sad, upset, angry, but she rationalized things through and told herself to stay collected.
The anger in Eustace’s chest that had burned upon seeing Christopher Spade had begun to spread like a wildfire. But he could only let it burn and burn away within.
“I respect your choice.”
He didn’t say anything more than necessary. Then, he turned away and left, leaving Danika standing where she was in silence.
Danika watched Eustace disappear from her sight, tears burning in her eyes. She wiped them away before they could fall and went back into her apartment.