Loving The Vengeful Billionaire

Cali couldn't see what was ahead of her. The heavy rain is obscuring her vision. She could see nothing but the dark and damp trees close and the curving road, which was becoming increasingly muddy and slippery. She should have verified the weather prediction before entering this valley. She should also have fully charged her phone.

Should have been. She is now chilly, soaked, and completely lost. The wooden signpost with the charming owl on top has vanished. During her random trek, she hasn't met a single soul. The day is becoming darker by the minute with the heavy rain and dark clouds.

She is afraid to return since she is unsure which path leads to the valley's entrance. She's taken so many diversions that she needs to track them.

She barely recalls that the last signpost suggests a log cabin for hikers along the road she is currently on. She needs to find it quickly. She is trembling as a result of the loss of temperature.

What a silly and reckless woman she is! She had gone to the valley on a whim. She only wanted to spend a few minutes exploring this strange land. Sophie would be distraught if she returned to the hotel and couldn't find her.

"Damn," she says as she pounds her feet. That was a terrible move. She loses her footing on the slick road and collapses on all fours. She tries to look at her hand because it hurts so much. Great, she sighs internally. Her right index finger has been slashed by a sharp stone, and she can see a trickle of blood seeping with the fainting light. The filth on her face no longer seems to bother her.

When she finally gets up and looks up, she notices an orange light in the distance! It must come from the log cabin, and it has to have people.

She gathers all her remaining energy and moves carefully but hopeful towards the light.

She could see the shape of a wooden cabin as she approached the light. She is overjoyed to see another human!

The cabin's door is open. Cali noticed a tall man with broad shoulders peering out the window, his hands in his pockets and his back to the door. Even though Cali couldn't see his face, the man appears to be in command of the universe simply by standing still.

Cali becomes acutely aware of the mud on her face and clothes. She is not a pleasant sight.

"Hello," Cali says anxiously as she stands at the door, nibbling her bottom lip.

The man turns his face devastatingly beautiful, a look that would make many ladies weak in the knees. Also, Cali. His dark hair is slicked back, still damp, with a few locks thrown across his brow, giving him a carefree and immensely attractive appearance. His blue eyes are so blue, such a deep blue, that you could get lost in them. His high-bridged nose, strong jawline, and delicate lips intrigue Cali.

"Are you alright?" The man's question jolts Cali out of her reverie.

"Uhhh, I'm alright," Cali stutters, embarrassed by her showy stare. He must receive a lot of it.

"There is a basin over there," the man points out to Cali. His lifeless, frigid blue eyes.

"Uhhh?" Cali takes a few seconds to understand what he's saying. Cali flushes and feels self-conscious about her unkempt appearance in front of this astonishingly attractive man. Messy is an understatement for how she now appears.

Cali enters the cabin and rushes to the basin. She rinses the mud from her face and palms, carefully cleans the cut, and is relieved to see that it has stopped bleeding, but she stares hopelessly at the muck on her hooded sweatshirt. She decides to let things go because there is no way to fix it.

After she finishes the cleaning, she takes a deep breath and turns to face the man. "I don't think I've introduced myself. I'm Cali. Are you also caught in the rain?"

"Obviously," the man responds in a grating tone, as though he dislikes talking and prefers to be alone. He doesn't even raise his head. He's now seated on the bench, both elbows resting on his lengthy legs. He's in a reflective mood. Cali noticed black clouds hovering over his face. Cali couldn't resist the impulse to remove the frown from his face, even if it made her feel more uneasy than before. She is perplexed as to what is happening to her. She never lost her cool in front of men. And she had never been so preoccupied with a man she met for the first time.

Cali walks to the window and glances outside, trying to get the thoughts from her head because clearly, this man doesn't want to talk to her. It is now entirely dark. The rain hasn't stopped and is picking more speed thanks to a storm. The rain is pelting the windowpane and making a lot of noise. Cali thinks, "That'll cover the awkward silence." When is she going to be able to leave? Sophia must be insane; she has most likely gone missing.

"You're bleeding," Cali exclaims in response to the man's abrupt remark.

"Oh, nothing but a small cut," Cali turns around, looks at her bleeding thumb, then looks at the man.

Their gazes lock. Cali senses lightning coursing through her body. Her entire body is tingling. She is lost in the man's beautiful blue eyes, now exhibiting concern and possibly surprise. But what surprised you? These feelings fade soon.

"You should take care of it. Do you have a Band-Aid?" The man asks.

"Oh, I forgot to bring an emergency kit. I just went for a random walk and ended up getting lost. Stupid me." Cali sighs.

The man takes a big stride and collects his rucksack, a professional hiker's rucksack, without saying anything. He pulls out a Band-Aid and hands it to Cali.

"Thanks," Cali says with a smile. Her stomach churns when she sees the man's expression on her.

His piercing gaze also causes her to stumble. She tries to stick the Band-Aid to the injury on her index finger, but it falls to the ground. She groans to her clumsiness.

"I think I'd better help you," the man says as he rises from the bench and moves to Cali.

"I know I can do it. I'm just not very good at using my left hand." Cali tries to justify her clumsiness.

"Only two bandages are left, and you just dropped one." Cali's face flushes.

He is now closing the space between them. They're so close that he towers over her, and she can hear his breath and feel his heat. Cali's heart begins to pound frantically.

When their gazes meet, Niklaus is taken aback by the stunning beauty of the woman who introduces herself as Cali. She looks seductively wonderful now that the dirt is gone (despite the mud on her sweatshirt and leggings). She has beautiful black almond eyes and a heart-shaped face. A freckle stands out on her straight-edged nose, giving her a dynamic appearance. Her full lips are delicate and barely parted. Niklaus couldn't take his gaze away from her.

He now feels he was a jerk for initially being harsh and upset at her. When he was disturbed in his grieving, he couldn't control his attitude, whether she was lovely or not. He expected to have complete privacy and quiet on this particular day. That day meant everything to him and forever altered what he was.

Ever since he was old enough to travel alone, Niklaus has made an annual solo trip to this valley in German town. This hazy, less trafficked area is his haven.

All of the buried memories, the dark ones, the good ones, the bitter ones, are alive in this area, allowing him to travel back in time and relive the moments before that fateful day. He relies on these memories to stay going.

Niklaus doesn't recall meeting anyone during his prior stays because travelers and locals rarely take the route he does. However, the appearance of this girl disrupts his cycle.

He approaches Cali, takes the last bandage, and raises her hand. Electricity is coursing through his body. Her pupil dilates, and her luscious lips part as if in amazement, indicating that she feels the same way. Niklaus couldn't resist the need to shape her petite, slender body into his own and kiss her.

"Emmm, thank you," Cali says as she withdraws her hand, breaking the connection.

"You are welcome," Niklaus says, returning to the bench, irritated by his reactions. He's never felt this way about a lady before. This is strange. Perhaps it's the weather. Maybe it's because he hasn't had sex in two months following his messy separation from Tina. He needs to get banged after his brief sojourn in Germany.

"Can I sit down?" Cali asks.

"Of course," Niklaus says, making room for Cali to sit next to him. There wasn't enough space for them to sit close together.

"I'm also caught in the rain." Niklaus murmurs.

"What?" Cali fails to apprehend him.

"I said I'm also caught in the rain." Niklaus turns to face her. The yellow light from the fireplace casts a lovely thin veil across her face, emphasizing her dark, beautiful eyes, which promise a country of warmth and tenderness. Her hair, which was previously in a sloppy bun, has been let down. Her long Barkley hair falls to her shoulder, and her lush curls beg attention.

"Oh, this is your first time here?" The way he looks at her makes Cali's heart skip a beat. Niklaus sighs. He doesn't want to answer this question. Sensing his reluctance, Cali fears she may stumble on something sensitive and struggles to come up with another topic to discuss. But she could not think of anything to say.

"Is this your first time visiting here?" Niklaus breaks the tense silence.

"Yeah. I came here with my friend Sophia. Sophia, Oh!" Cali screams.

"May I use your phone?" I need to contact a friend. She must be worried right now. My phone's battery died two hours ago." Cali begs quietly.

Niklaus opens his iPhone and delivers it to Cali, their fingertips brushing against each other. Both of them feel the energy once more.

Cali hastily takes the phone and walks to a corner of the cabin, attempting to conceal the effect of his touch on her. Niklaus's gaze follows her every step.

Cali calls Sophia's number rapidly. And gladly, she answers the phone right away.

"Hello, Sophia. It's Cali." On the other side, Cali hears a scream.

"Where have you gone, girl? I'm unable to contact you. I assumed you'd been kidnapped. I'm about to call the cops!"

"I'm OK. I got lost in the valley. I should not have strayed for so long. My cellphone's battery died."

"Are you all right now? Where exactly are you? It's raining cats and dogs outside. Which phone do you have?"

"I'm staying in a valley cabin. Don't be concerned about me. I'm not alone."

"What are you doing? Is it a man or a woman? You're not in any danger right now, are you?" Sophia's voice sounded worried to Cali.

"He..." Cali approaches Niklaus.

"Nik." Cali had no idea how he figured out what they were talking about.

"I'm with Nik." He is a nice guy. Don't be concerned about me. When the rain stops, I'll return to the hotel."

"Oh, Cali, the weatherman says the rain will last until tomorrow morning." "Should I call for help?"

Sophia's words seem like they could be more promising. Is she required to spend the entire night at the cabin? With this stunningly attractive man?

"No. I suppose I'll spend the night in the cabin. It will be tough for park guards to enter as well."

"Are you sure you'll be safe with Nik? Is he attractive? Does he have a nice body?" Sophia laughs.

"Sophie!" Cali exclaimed.

"All right, OK. "Can you tell me the name of the cabin?" Sophia has become solemn.

"Bergparadies." Cali is still determining her own pronunciation.

"Well, tell Nik that I will notify the police of your whereabouts. I also have his phone number." However, Cali knows deep down that Nik will never hurt her.

Her sudden faith in him astounds her. She believes she no longer recognizes herself. She is not the impulsive type. She always considers her options before taking a risk. Nik, the man she only met briefly, turns her into a different person.

"Yes, Madam," Cali responds as she kisses Sophia goodbye and locks Nik's mobile.

Cali returns to the bench and delicately holds the tip of the phone to Nik, avoiding any touches that would cause more confusion. Nik is conscious of her efforts.

Nik accepts the phone despite being unhappy with her attempt.

"My friend says the rain will last until tomorrow morning," Cali couldn't help but start a discussion.

"Then we'll have to sleep overnight in here," Nik teases, his use of the words "we," "sleep," and "alone," causing Cali's mind to wander and her face to blush.

Niklaus can read her mind and finds her flushed cheeks endearing.

He wants to tease her even more, to kiss her for no reason. He has been aroused.

This is dangerous. This is not something you want to do. She is not the type of lady with whom you can have a fling and then walk away nonchalantly. He cautions himself. He has had several relationships with women who want to date him, bed him, and have his children. He is often in the news as the richest eligible bachelor. They recognize him before he recognizes them. These women sometimes make him feel confined. He goes along with it, dating models with long legs and actresses who want him to walk the red carpet with them.

But this woman is unique. He was able to tell. She has no idea who he is, yet she is drawn to him and he to her. She is unique in so many ways. She is not arrogant; she has a genuine grin and is a little awkward in an appealing manner. When she looks at him, her eyes sparkle with sincerity and warmth, yes, warmth, which he has been missing for so long since his mother died. She is a little shy and self-conscious in his presence. Has she dated a lot of men?

Niklaus is amazed that he has picked up on so many details about her in less than an hour. Maybe it's because he's tired of ladies continually fluttering their eyelashes at him, attempting to seduce him. Cali is unique and exciting. She even sought to avoid physical contact as minor as a fingertip touch.

It had to be the two months of celibacy he had maintained. He needs release.

Niklaus stands up hastily to conceal his desire. He walks over to the window and pretends to be watching the rain. It also works.

"The rain will probably flood the roads," Cali predicts.

"Yes, it does," Niklaus replies. "What are you doing in this town?"

"My colleague Sophia works for a German firm. She has a business trip in town and has requested me to accompany her. This is the first time I've visited Germany. So here I am."

"Do you enjoy the trip?"

"Yes, except for being lost in the valley." The truth is that getting lost in the valley has led to Cali's most memorable encounter.

"You should take off your sweatshirt..."

"What?" Cali exclaimed. Her head is full of filthy thoughts.

"For drying your clothes. It's wet." Niklaus said the obvious. Cali's face is the color of a ripe tomato. Niklaus is trying hard not to bust out laughing.

He enjoys how nervous she feels in his presence. He appreciates how she has brightened his day on this gloomy day.

Cali is relieved she has a T-shirt underneath and uncomfortably removes her sweater.

"Let me," Niklaus says, placing the sweatshirt near the fireplace to dry.

Then he removes his dark jacket and hands it to Cali, even though he likes Cali in her white T-shirt, which hugs her body wonderfully and emphasizes every curve.

Cali admires Nik's bravery. She slips on the oversized jacket, surrounded by his aroma, a combination of rain, pinewood, and freshly cut grass, her favorite scent.

She couldn't stop glancing at Nik, dressed in a dark T-shirt and jeans. When he wears the jacket, he appears lean. Cali realizes he appears thin but muscular and athletic, perfectly her style, not too buff like some men who make her feel threatened by their presence.

Niklaus takes a seat beside her, his knee accidentally touching hers. She was on the verge of jumping. Niklaus laughed. Cali's cheeks turn bright red once more.

"Have you been here often?" Cali attempts to hide her humiliation through talk.

"Yes," Niklaus's face shifted from a light to a somber, even painful, expression. Cali is aware that she has touched a sensitive area again in haste. She hoped she could retract it.

"How long are you going to stay here?" Niklaus is attempting to change the subject. Cali is aware of this. She could see that this place was weighing him down. Is he reminded of anyone by this valley? Someone who means a lot to him? Maybe an ex-girlfriend? Cali feels a twinge of envy.

"We will leave on Friday," Cali responds.

"In town, there is an Italian restaurant called Baroque's Pizza. Try it. It serves the world's best seafood spaghetti. ...I used to..." Niklaus comes to a halt. His expression is loaded with anguish.

Cali wishes she could stomp off his sorrow. She wishes she could hug him, comfort him, and never let him go. But she is aware that she is daydreaming. They are, after all, simply two people who happened to be in the same cabin on a rainy day. An attractive man like him will likely have numerous ladies admiring and pursuing him. But she's simply a regular girl living an average life.

Niklaus is taken aback by this. He was on the verge of revealing his secret. The secret he'd kept hidden in his heart since that fateful day. He wants to continue telling her what has happened to him and what causes him grief every day. He couldn't, however. He couldn't drag her into his insane world, filled with hatred, intrigue, calculating, and malice. They will split up. She will be free from the bitter turmoil of his life, leading a serene existence full of laughter.

"Cali, wake up, wake up, wake up." Cali feels someone shaking her as she attempts to open her eyes.

It's not Nik, but a man in his forties wearing a North Face jacket. Cali checks the cabin swiftly. Nik's jacket covers her as she lies on the bench. Her sweatshirt is folded and tucked beneath her chin. The fire in the fireplace has been extinguished. What happened to Nik?

Cali stands up and asks the man, "Who are you?"

"My name is Kris Schulz. I'm in charge of tourist safety at Amalia Valley." His speech has a strong German accent.

"How did you find out my name, I wonder." Cali is on high alert.

"Niklaus called and said you need help getting out of the valley. He informed me of your location."

"Do you know where Nik is?"

"He had to have left early." He stated that he had an early flight." As a result, he left. Cali believes she has lost something she can't place her finger on.

"Do you happen to know each other?" Cali couldn't help but inquire. When Kris mentions Nik, she feels a similarity in his tone.

"Come on, I'll explain on the way out." In a few hours, it will rain again."

Cali quickly stuffs her belongings into her bag. She considers wearing her sweatshirt but instead opts for Nik's jacket. It reminds her of his aroma, of the times they spent together.

Then she takes one more long look at the cabin. Yesterday seemed like a dream. Yesterday WAS a dream. She told herself this. Then she and Kris leave the cabin.

Niklaus notices Cali's small physique with Kris while standing behind the large shrubs that conceal him entirely. She is still dressed in his jacket. She is returning her gaze to the cabin. Is she thinking of him? Is she upset with him since he didn't say goodbye? When Niklaus left the cabin and called Kris, he thought he had made the right decision. But he now sincerely regrets it. He hoped he could accompany her back to her hotel, talk to her, and enjoy her smile one more time.

How could she have had such an impact on him in such a short period? He is the type of man who makes decisions and never looks back.

Cali and Kris vanish at the road's end. You must wage a war. It is time to go. Niklaus reminds himself to stop running towards them. Niklaus sighs and heads in the opposite direction, saying, "Get the jet ready."

Cali isn't feeling well. Her entire body screams pain. Her heart has been shattered into a thousand pieces. The term "broken" surprises Cali. How could she be heartbroken when she does not know Nik's last name? He never even said goodbye to her. She is merely a passer-by in his life. Cali tries to console herself but fails horribly when she considers how little she knows about him.

Her thoughts return to last night. When did she go to sleep? There were light discussions about terrible German food, extremely slow trains, and gorgeous forests. Then she fell asleep, sitting close to Nik with her back to the wall. She had a faint memory of leaning on Nik's shoulder for comfort. The rest is a haze.

Kris asks her, "How do you know Niklaus?" as she carefully walks the muddy route in pain and silence.

Cali is at a loss for words. Instead of responding, she inquires, "How do you know Nik?"

"Oh, Niklaus. So you must be pretty close because you are using his nickname."

Cali muses to herself, "So his first name is Niklaus."

"I've seen Niklaus come through the valley since I took over." Every year, he visits the valley on the same day. That's how I got to know him." Kris goes on.

"Does he come with any other people?" Cali's actual question is, does he come with a woman?

"Nope, always alone on the same day. Don't you think it's a little mysterious?"

"Yes, it is," Cali replied casually. She feels a wave of relief rushes over her.

"Do you know his last name?" Cali finds herself poking. She's still determining what she'll do with the information if she knows his surname. Look him up on the internet?

"Nope. I assumed you were aware. He never gave me his surname. When he asked me to help you get out of the valley, I assumed you two were friends." Cali noticed Kris stealing a glimpse at her from the corner of her eye. She flushes at the suggestion. She wished she could.

They went silent for the rest of the journey.

Cali is ready to thank Kris and say farewell when Kris and Cali arrive at the valley's entrance. On this exact site, she entered the valley the day before. But what follows surprises her.

"I'm sorry, but I must accompany you to the hotel." Niklaus promised me you'd be safe and sound when you returned to your hotel."

Cali is at a loss for words in response to his remarks. Nik clearly worries about her and her safety. He summoned Kris, urged him to assist her in finding her way back, and even had him commit to accompany her to the hotel. This must have some significance, right?

Despite this, he went without saying goodbye, providing her his last name, or leaving any message or contact information.

That may be for the best. Perhaps someone is expecting him at home. She is an accidental experience for him that he should swiftly forget.

So why is she experiencing despair in her heart?

"Are you ready to go?" Kris asks, pointing to his car at the valley's entrance.

"Yes," Cali said, nodding. No, not yet. No, not yet.

When Kris lets her off at the hotel gate, Sophia runs to her.

"Oh, my goodness. You've returned in one piece!" Sophia goes overboard.

"Hey, this is Kris. Kris assisted me in getting out of the valley. This is my friend Sophia Kris." Cali introduces herself.

"Thank you so much for all of your help," Cali says to Kris as he starts the engine.

"No worries. Hopefully, you won't get lost in Amalia Valley the next time." Kris waves goodbye with a wink.

"Tell me what happened with that Nik guy last night. Is he from Germany? The type of German with long legs?" Sophia clearly desires some juicy material.

Cali sighs and says, "Nothing happened."

"You're a jerk. Are you aware of this? Girl, you need to unwind and enjoy yourself!" Sophia is the same old Sophia.

"What are you on about? He has the potential to be dangerous."

"Does he pose a threat? Is it dangerous in a hot way? Please tell me about your night with the attractive guy." Like the cat in the animated film Shrek, Sophia pleads with her large Barkley eyes.

"You're not disputing it. So he's quite hot, right?"

Cali shook her head. "I'll tell you after I take a long hot shower," Sophia screams.

Cali decides not to tell Sophia the entire story while taking a shower. She will exclude the moments she wishes to keep for herself.

"You have a bad mood. You've been staring at your phone for a long time. "Are you waiting for a call?" Jack Collins, Niklaus's most trusted advisor, inquires. They are now aboard a private plane, preparing to take departure in a few minutes.

When Kris's phone number displays on Niklaus's iPhone screen, he instantly answers it.

"She's safe and sound in the hotel," Kris said from the other end of the phone.

"Thank you very much, Kris; I really appreciate it." Niklaus couldn't tell if he was relieved or sad. His bond with Cali has been cut at this point.

"Did something unexpected happen?" Jack expressed his worries.

"Nothing. How are they behaving in New York while I'm gone? Should I be concerned about them?" Niklaus has returned to his business model.

"Do you want anything else besides the whisky, Mr. Pierre?" The flight attendant with blond hair, beautiful legs, and large breasts interrupts them by batting her thick, long eyelashes at Niklaus.

"No. "I prefer not to be disturbed during the journey," Niklaus adds harshly, his face icy and indifferent. The flight attendant is taken aback and departs in despair.

Something must have occurred. The flight attendant is just like his boss. Jack thought to himself.

Jack finds Niklaus staring at him with impatience.

"Oh, they seem to be planning something on your father's 65th birthday. Things don't look good."

"Get to the bottom of what trick they are playing this time."

"Yes, boss."

Niklaus looks out the window and is lost in thoughts. Will he see her again?