Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion >>
Christopher stood in the corner, watching the scene unfold and feeling unbearably awkward. He had never expected the two to break up just because he stayed at Danika’s for dinner. He also didn’t expect to feel this terrible seeing his original goal accomplished.
“Are you…alright? I promise I didn’t do it on purpose,” he muttered, shying away from Danika’s eyes. She walked past him and into her apartment, not saying anything. Christopher ran after her hurriedly. “I really didn’t expect you two to-”
Danika shot back coldly, “It’s nothing to do with you.” Even if he hadn’t been there, they would’ve broken up when the topic of her being a substitute was raised.
Christopher sighed with relief. “They wouldn’t have broken up just because I stuck around for instant noodles,” he thought.
Danika went straight into the elevator while Christopher followed along.
“Why are you still here?” she asked once she was inside.
“Just here for you if you need me.” Christopher beamed. He needed to grab the opportunity now that Danika had broken up with Eustace.
“I don’t.” Danika closed the elevator doors, disappearing from his sight.
Christopher stayed in place. He knew if he insisted on following Danika, she’d only hate him more, so he turned to go back home. His grandfather would be delighted to hear the news of her breakup.
Back in the elevator, Danika was at her lowest point. She had hoped Eustace would refuse to break up with her, not this.
But what if he did? It wouldn’t have changed her decision to not be with him. She wasn’t going to become someone’s substitute. The breakup was inevitable.
Danika sighed. Things had returned to how they were supposed to be, at least. After all, they were never meant to be together.
When she returned to her apartment, she lay in bed and vowed not to think about it any longer. Meanwhile, Eustace was in his office inhaling a cigarette, its butt soon to join the several others by his shoes. He was in a terrible mood right now.
When Vincent stepped into the office, he noticed his boss’ demeanor and started to worry.
“You called, Mr. Quincey?”
Eustace snubbed his cigarette. “Get two things done: one, spread words of my breakup with Danika, and make sure that man is notified of it too; two, schedule meetings with those directors on the board.”
He firmly believed he could move those old men. He was able to give them whatever Mortimer promised them, and more.
Vincent nodded. “You broke up with… Miss Zellweger?”
Eustace said nothing, which Vincent took as assent.
“But why, sir? Did…did Mr. Mortimer do something?” Vincent asked.
Eustace shook her head. “The reason isn’t important. What’s important is Mortimer won’t mess with her now.”
Vincent wondered if Mr. Quincey had broken up with Danika in order to protect her, then affirmed this guess. His boss could do anything to ensure his loved one’s safety. He was just unsure if Danika knew of this sacrifice.
After Vincent left, Eustace sat alone in his office, letting exhaustion wash over him. He had been riddled with anxiety ever since Mortimer threatened to hurt Danika, never having a chance to truly rest.
Breaking up now was the best choice. He could always explain everything to Danika after things had calmed down.
As for Quinn…
Eustace’s face fell. He called Vincent again.
“Find out who Danika has come into contact with these past few days.”
He didn’t believe Danika would snoop through his study for no reason. Someone must’ve told her something.
The news of their breakup soon spread like wildfire. Almost everyone in Parrington’s upper class came to know of this; they were even more shocked that the two had been dating in the first place.
When Danika came to work the next day, Jade came up to her first thing. “You’re here early. Are you alright?”
“Me? I’m fine.” Danika frowned. Was she not supposed to be? “I’m just here to settle the copyright claim before anything worse happens.”
Jade didn’t know what to say, seeing Danika so unfazed by the breakup. “Danika, about you and Eustace
Danika grew still, then shrugged. “It’s just a breakup, no big deal. Don’t worry about me. I’m not the kind to get all sad and desperate over those things.”
The more she seemed unbothered, the surer Jade was about Danika being upset by it. How she wished Danika would cry it all out. That way her emotions could be sufficiently expressed.
Jade was about to say something again before Danika interrupted her, “Have Felicity come see me. Last night wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for her.”
Yvonne wouldn’t have gotten her hands on her design if Felicity hadn’t been so “kind.”
Jade said nothing else, only had Felicity come into Danika’s office. Felicity had her doubts when she was called in but didn’t dare ascertain them.
“Her actions couldn’t have been found out, right?” she thought.
“You called, Jade?” Jade had lived in the same village as Felicity, but they weren’t really that close. Good thing it didn’t affect their relationship.
Right?
Jade glanced at Danika, saying nothing.
Danika stood up and went right up to Felicity. “What did Yvonne promise you in exchange for your help?”
Felicity’s heart jumped into her throat, though she forced herself to stay calm. “I’m not sure I know what you mean, Danika.”
“You don’t know?” Danika sneered. “Didn’t you steal the fashion drawing and show the finished work to Yvonne?”
Yvonne wouldn’t have created clothes exactly like La Vie Jen Rose Designs if that wasn’t the case.
Felicity stepped back in shock but still acted like she was framed. “What are you saying, Danika? How could I ever do that to you?”
“No? You don’t know my study has cameras installed, do you?” Danika’s smile made the hairs on the back of Felicity’s neck stand up.
“C-cameras…?” Felicity stuttered. “Cameras in her own home? Is Danika some kind of a control freak?” she thought.
Danika chuckled, showing her cousin the clip of her sneaking into her study. “I feel so sorry for Uncle David, Felicity.”
She had really hoped her cousin would turn over a new leaf.
Felicity gaped at the video, then stammered out, “S-so what? You can’t prove that I gave it to Yvonne!”
Clearly, she had prepared herself for a confrontation.
As if expecting the answer, Danika showed her another footage. “This is when you stole the finished clothing from the warehouse.”
“You…”
And another one. “This one’s when you met with Yvonne’s assistant in person, handing her the materials. What else can’t I prove, dear cousin?”
Felicity was truly slack-jawed now. “Where did Danika get her hands on all this footage? She doesn’t have personal cameras in the public street where she met with Yvonne’s assistant, right? What kind of skill sets does Danika have?” These thoughts were running through her mind.
“Report this to the police, Jade.” Danika sighed and waved her hand. She couldn’t tolerate Felicity any longer. La Vie Jen Rose Designs couldn’t fail now, and it was time her cousin tasted the consequences of her actions.
The moment Felicity heard her, she panicked. “Danika, please…please don’t! I was wrong, I’m sorry! I won’t do it again, I swear!” She even held onto Danika’s hand, begging, “Please, please forgive me! I swear this won’t happen again!”
Danika wanted to laugh. She shrugged off Felicity’s hand. “We’re grown adults now, Felicity. It’s time you learned what happens when you make the wrong choices.”
“No…”
Danika got up to leave, trusting Jade to handle the rest. She didn’t have to worry about her cousin, just the matter of telling her uncle about it worried her.
Still, she called her Uncle David.
To her surprise, David wasn’t upset at her. In fact, he felt ashamed of his daughter and regretful about what happened to Danika. He even supported having Felicity arrested. It was time his daughter got what was coming to her.