The Betrayed Billionaire

"Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone's day."

I couldn't remember where I read that, but when I wake up, I expect things to be good. If they are not, then I try to set about trying to make them as good as I can cause I know I'm going to have to live that day anyway. So why not try to make the most of it if you can? Some days, they pan out a little better than others, but you still have to always just try.

Sitting beside my window while the sun embraces me in its warmth, keeps me alive and enthusiastic for the whole day. I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.

"Eve. Eve. Evelyn!"

My chain of thoughts broke when Kat's voice pierced through my ears as she lightly patted my arm. Coming out of the trance, and taking in the surroundings, I realized we had already reached the Walker Industries. Panic whirled inside my mind as I looked at my face in the mirror.

Completely lost in my thoughts, I hadn't even closed the window, and now I ended up having the bird's nest on my head. The tangled mess look didn't sit well with my strawberry blonde locks.

"Kat, I-I can't appear in the interview looking like this," I exclaimed nervously, while subconsciously my hands were searching for the hairbrush inside my sling-bag, and I failed miserably. "I don't think I should go inside."

Kat slammed her forehead into the steering and groaned, her fingers expertly working through my hair. "Eve, trust me. You're not the first person to have a bad hair day before an interview. Besides, messy hair is in fashion these days. You'll rock that 'effortlessly chic' look."

I sighed, trying to calm my nerves. "I hope the interviewers are more focused on my qualifications than my hair."

"They will be," Kat assured me. "And if not, I'll distract them with my dazzling personality."

I couldn't help but smile at her attempt to lighten the mood. "Thanks, Kat. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She winked at me. "Probably have a few more bird's nests on your head. But seriously, you've got this. Just be yourself, and they'll love you."

As Kat parked the car, she turned to me with a serious expression. "Now, take a deep breath, fix that posture, and remember, you're not just interviewing for a job; you're showcasing the amazing person you are."

"Easy for you to say," I mumbled, but I followed her advice, taking a deep breath and straightening up.

Kat grinned. "That's the spirit! Now go in there and show them why they need you at Walker Industries. And, of course, fix your hair first."

I chuckled, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Kat. You're a lifesaver."

"Just doing my job, helping damsels in distress," she said with a wink. "Now go ace that interview, and remember, messy hair or not, you're fantastic."

I stepped out of the car, feeling a newfound confidence. As I walked towards the entrance of Walker Industries, I couldn't help but be thankful for friends like Kat, who knew exactly how to turn a potential disaster into a moment of strength.

Walking in heels was working like an extra salt in my already miserable life, I entered inside. It has been years since I last wore heels and I've been out of practice since then.

I asked the receptionist about the interview, and she guided me to the elevator, another fear to go through. Pushing the button to the thirtieth floor, I was hoping for someone to enter, and as if God himself was on my side today, a girl entered the elevator and from the looks of it, she was here for the interview too.

But, unlike me, she looked really intelligent, elegant, and sharp in her black well-tailored business suit and her brunette locks pulled up in a small bun, while I wore Kat's green business suit which was really tight around my chest and behind, making it look like I intentionally did it.

I froze, when the door of the elevator slid away from one another, almost fifteen women and ten men were gathered here for the interview, half of them looked like they had graduated from a well-known institution.

Sitting beside the same brunette girl, I peeked inside her CV that she had been checking for the last ten minutes. My nervousness heightened as I saw several certificates attached to her file, and I lowered my gaze.

Well, guess who was getting the job?

One by one, a woman in her late thirties called each candidate by their name, and each interview took hardly five to ten minutes and not most of the candidates came out with a smile but a frown.

"Evelyn Williams!" Lost in my thoughts, I heard when the announcing lady called my name. Picking up my file, and taking in a deep breath, I stood up and trudged toward the room.

The doorman opened the door for me, and I walked inside before saying a small thank you, trying my best to keep my face straight. The chair of the C.E.O. was showing its back, looking around and contemplating what to do before sitting on the chair. So, I stood beside it waiting for the approval.

"Please, be seated." A masculine voice said. The voice was vaguely familiar and not to mention- very deep, hot, and husky.

I was still biting my bottom lip when the chair rotated, revealing the C.E.O. to me and I was beyond shocked.

He hadn't seen me yet, and when he finally looked at me, both of us froze for a moment.

I couldn't believe my eyes for a minute. He was there, sitting in front of me, as my interviewer, after five years. I spent years hiding from him and yet destiny has brought us in front of each other again.

Xavier Blake Knight

He definitely changed a lot, but I still remember the most alluring and innocent forest green eyes, which were fuming with anger, and the way his jaw clenched told me that he remembered me too. Worse, he remembered every ounce of pain I've given him and everything I did to him.

He remembered how I betrayed him, how I left him for someone who wasn't worth it... but he was. And he is supposed to be my interviewer when I'm in dire need of it.

Why?!

Just WHY!

But I wouldn't lose hope, not today, not ever, because sometimes against all odds, against all logic, we should still hope.

"Rewinding time is not possible, but 'do-over' is, sometimes we get another chance to do something right the second time that we got it wrong the first time."

Five years ago...

"You're not supposed to sell your daughter! How could you do this to me, Dad?!" I screamed at him, throwing the vase that was placed on the nightstand. The veins in my head were palpating because of the rage that I was feeling and was seconds away from killing someone.

"Please Eve, just listen to me for once." He tried to calm me by rubbing my arm, but my rage didn't fade away.

"Listen to you? I'm not listening to your bullshit! And keep me the hell away from your business." I almost growled, trying my best to keep my demeanor in check.

"Evelyn!" Marcus, my elder brother yelled at me as he stood at the entrance of my room, looking at me with disappointment.

He never raised his voice at me, and today was the first time in the eighteen years of my life that he has ever yelled at me.

"Dad, leave. I'll talk to her." Marcus said to Dad.

Dad left the room after glancing at me, his eyes told me the desperation that he had right now as if my whole future wasn't at stake. I wouldn't going to be emotionally blackmailed by him.

Collapsing on my bed, I hid my face in the pillow. If Marcus thought that he could convince me, he could try. Because no matter how hard they try to persuade me, I would never marry a stranger.

"Eve, look at me." Marcus dashed towards me and sat in front of me in the bed.

Marcus could never watch me cry, and when I lifted my head to look at him, his eyes immediately softened.

My elder brother immediately wiped the tears off of my face, "Why are you crying?" He asked.

"B-Because Dad wants me to marry a stranger." I hiccupped as he gave me a small smile, but I could see the sadness hidden in his smile.

"Correction, he wants you to meet him, just for once." He said while tucking the strands of my hair behind my ear.

"Meet him? And then what? We'll eventually get married to each other." I spoke.

"Eve, your elder brother is here. And I'll not allow you to marry someone that you don't like."

"I know, Marc. I know. But it wasn't supposed to go like this, I was supposed to finish high school, graduate college, get a job, find love, and then get married, not the other way around." I said, my voice laced with grief.

"I know, Eve. But trust me, Xavier is a very good friend of mine. He'll take good care of you." Marc explained.

"But, why did I have to marry him? Why not someone else? And I'm not even an adult yet." I questioned.

Before he could explain anything further, I asked, "Tell me the truth, Marcus. The truth, please?"

"Our grandfather, Andrew Williams, and his grandfather Steven Knight had an agreement signed between them." He mumbled.

"What agreement?" I asked in concern.

"Ten years ago, our company was in huge debt and our grandfather couldn't do anything to save it. But Steven Knight offered to pay our debt on one condition that you need to marry his grandson for that. At that time, you were only eight and he was twelve years old." He said and his eyes lowered to the ground as guilt covered his face.

Tears pricked the back of my eyes as I hid my face in between my hands, "What kind of twisted psychology is it? And what if I don't marry his grandson?"

"Knight Empire will take over Williams Industries." He answered.

"How can Steven Knight be so selfish?" I hissed in contempt. Steven Knight was Grandpa's old friend, and I don't know why he had put that condition in front of Grandpa.

"I don't want any of this to happen to you, Eve. Trust me. I'm so sorry." Marcus apologized.

Why was everything so complicated?

"I don't know what to say," I said, rubbing my temples with my fingers. My head was going to explode with all the information Marcus was bombarding me with.

"We're not forcing you, Eve. Think about it and remember I'm having your back in every decision." His voice was exhausted, and I knew Marcus was trying his best to call off the agreement, and he'd always be there for me.

I felt really bad for putting him in such a situation.

Marcus sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I never wanted any of this for you. But we're running out of time, and Dad is desperate to save the company. It's like a sinking ship, and this marriage is the only lifeboat he sees."

I wiped away the tears, trying to gather my thoughts. "So, I'm just a pawn in their game to save a company? What about my dreams, my life?"

"I know it's unfair. I hate it as much as you do. But if we don't comply, we lose everything. Our family legacy, the company, our home - all gone," Marcus explained, his eyes pleading for understanding.

"Why didn't they tell me about this before? Why keep it a secret until now?" I questioned, feeling betrayed.

"Grandpa thought he could handle it, but his health deteriorated faster than we anticipated. We were hoping to find a way out before breaking the news to you," Marcus admitted, guilt etched across his face.

I took a deep breath, trying to absorb the weight of the situation. "And this Xavier guy? What if he's a monster? What if I end up miserable?"

"I promise, Eve, Xavier is not a monster. He's a decent guy, and I've known him for years. But if you truly can't stand him after meeting, we'll find another way. I'll talk to Dad, and we'll figure something out together," Marcus assured me.

I looked at Marcus, searching for sincerity in his eyes. "You promise?"

"I promise, little sis," he said, giving me a tight hug. "I'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're happy."

As Marcus released me, I sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. "I need time to think, Marcus. This is too much to process."

"Take all the time you need. But remember, the clock is ticking," he said, standing up. "I'll be right here if you want to talk."

I know how hard it was for him to share the news with me. He had never hidden anything from me, not when our mother died. He just came into my room, hugged me tightly, saying, 'Our mother became an angel, princess. And she'll be our guardian angel from now on.' And we cried our hearts out that day in each other's embrace.

Marcus worked day and night on his projects, elevating our Industries from ground to sky. I know how tense he would be, after knowing the truth.

After he left my room, I hugged my knees and rested my head over them. My mind was a tangled mess at this moment. There was a lot at stake now and my decision could change everything. If I reject him completely, we might lose our shares, and If I accept, I would be stuck in a loveless marriage with a stranger.

After taking a shower, I looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes were red and puffy because of all the crying. Once this issue is over, I would be spending a day pampering myself, probably with a nice massage and facial.

Once I dried my hair, I pinned them up in a high pony. Applying a little make-up to hide my puffy eyes and left the room.

At the dinner table, both Dad and Marcus exchanged a few glances at each other. Now that I knew the truth and tension that it had given us, I noticed bags under Dad's eyes and he looked a little older than his age, due to all the stress. I felt really bad because on one side, it was his daughter's future and on the other side, it was our family business.

When I couldn't take the silence anymore, I informed them about my decision, "I would like to meet Xavier Knight."

Dad and Marcus looked at each other as Dad asked, "Are you sure?" Leaving the spoon on his plate.

"Yes. I'll meet him and will tell you about my decision after that."

A smile appeared on my dad's face, whereas Marcus looked worried, but pride flashed in his eyes.

"Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think, not wonder, not imagine, not obsess. Just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best."

The day wasn't peaceful for Xavier Knight as the faded memories of my betrayal were floating right in front of him. He masked the anger on his face gracefully as he averted his eyes from my face.

Losing the extra pounds gave him a more chiseled face than before, that was what you first noticed about him: a hard, chiseled face, like that of some ancient Greek statue. The way his white shirt had covered his forearms was telling me that he had spent his share of time in the gym.

And, then, finally, there was his eyes.... His forest green eyes had horrified me for the last five years. They were dark pools of immeasurable depth, pools of agony that you could drown yourself in and never again come up for air.

Once messy dusty brown hair was now perfectly blended in gel to his right side, and against the current fashion of light beard, he was clean shaved.

But, if the last five years had taught me anything, looks are deceptive. I'm not that girl anymore who ran after everything that screamed beauty, that girl died years ago.

"Miss...?" He studied my face with his calculative eyes, waiting for me to tell him my name.

My file remained untouched as he didn't bother to look into it. He wanted to hear it from my mouth as if he wanted me to feel the pain that he felt in these last five years, the guilt that lived with me corroding every cell of my body.

"Evelyn," I replied, lowering my gaze as I was unable to look into his eyes.

"Evelyn Knight?" He asked as if he wanted me to confirm it.

"Williams. Evelyn Rose Williams." I said, my voice got thickened with guilt.

My eyes flickered to his hands which were now bawled into fists, indicating that he was trying to control his anger, like he was really good at it. A faint hint of a smile played on his face, probably he was thinking about the cruelty of destiny that had brought us together after so many years.

"Williams," he repeated, letting the name linger in the air. A sarcastic smirk crept onto his face, his eyes narrowing with a mix of disdain and amusement. "Well, well, Evelyn. Rose. Williams. You've certainly changed since the last time I saw you."

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words bearing down on me. "Xavier, I..."

"Save it," he interrupted, raising a dismissive hand. "I don't need your explanations. Frankly, I'm not interested in whatever justifications you've conjured up in that head of yours."

His gaze pierced through me, dissecting every inch of my soul. "Tell me, Evelyn, did you think I wouldn't find out? Or were you hoping to keep up the act, deceiving everyone around you, just like you did on the wedding night?"

I bit my lip, trying to find the right words, but he continued without giving me a chance to respond.

"Did you ever consider the wreckage you left behind, the shattered trust and dreams?" he asked, his voice cold and calculating. "Or were you too consumed by your own desires to care about the collateral damage you caused?"

"I wonder, Evelyn, did you find happiness in abandoning everything we built together? Did you find solace in the arms of another, leaving me to deal with the aftermath?"

I couldn't meet his eyes, the shame weighing me down. "Xavier, I never meant..."

"Intentions," he scoffed. "Intentions are meaningless when the actions speak louder. Your actions, Evelyn, spoke volumes that night. Now, here you are, sitting before me as if nothing happened."

A bitter chuckle escaped him. "Tell me, Williams, what was it like watching me search for you, questioning myself, and ultimately realizing that my own WIFE had betrayed me on the very night we pledged our lives to each other?"

The room felt stifling as the questions lingered in the air, each one cutting deeper than the last. I had no answers, only the burden of the past and the consequences of my choices.

He was about to part his lips to embarrass me further with another question when the door opened, and someone walked inside. I kept my face still, even though curiosity arose in my mind regarding the intruder.

"Xavier, you need to be in the conference room. The British delegates are waiting for you." A masculine voice said.

"Oh, the British delegates are here, that would be fun," Xavier said as his lips twitched into a heartwarming smirk. "Chris, continue with the interview." He stood up, giving me the chance to admire him.

"Miss Williams, Mr. Walker will continue your interview. We will meet soon." The last line was for me to hear and for him to see my reaction to it. Keeping my face straight, I gave him a nod and then he walked past me.

The footsteps came closer as I felt the pair of eyes on me. The man started with a quick 'Hello' as he reached his desk, flopping on the chair without casting a glance towards me.

He had a very gentle smile on his face as I said, "You're the CEO, Chris Walker." And instantly regretted it. "Sorry, it's just I didn't know the CEO would be taking my interview."

He chuckled before passing the glass of water to me while watching my nervousness. "It's fine. And the interview is regarding the post of my private secretary, so it'll be better if I take it personally. Hope you don't have any issue with it."

What Xavier was doing here? I thought.

As if he read my mind, Mr. Walker answered, "Because I was busy in the meeting, that's why Mr. Knight was taking the interviews. Shall we start?"

I gulped hard before nodding my head. He passed me another smile and looked into my file. Interlocking my fingers, I looked at his face, trying to read his expressions. He studied my file cautiously after which he closed and kept it away.

"Why did you take a three-year break after high school graduation?" He asked, staring intently at my face.

I can't tell him the exact reason, can I?

"There were some family issues," I told him to which he nodded.

"You had a good GPA in high school. You could have easily enrolled in some best institutes, why community college then?" He asked, leaning back into his chair.

Licking my dry lips nervously, I replied, "Like I said, there were some family issues. And financially I couldn't afford to join any big institute."

He nodded like he understood and asked a question that felt like a kick into my gut, "You had a profound interest in the fashion industry, why did you join the business school?"

Searching through my brain for the appropriate answer but I didn't find any. I pulled my hair behind my ear and tried to think of an answer.

"Yes, I was really into the fashion world. But at that time, I had some big issues to deal with and as time passed, I lost my interest in it." That was my best answer to which he nodded, again like he understood. But I thought otherwise.

"Any special skills, Evelyn?" He inquired using my name this time.

How was I supposed to develop special skills when life didn't give me a chance to learn? I was too busy trying to survive on my own, fighting for the food to eat, and learning special skills were of secondary priority to me.

"I can be a great negotiator, and I make great coffee," I said, and a smirk appeared on his face.

"Great negotiator, then very well. And coffee is a major requirement." He commented.

Mr. Walker was about to ask me another question when a person standing right behind me asked a question that froze every tissue of my body.

"Do you think of yourself as a loyal person?" Xavier asked, while he walked past me and stood beside Mr. Walker as his eyes held me captive.

"What?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Loyalty is royalty, Miss Williams. And a very important quality that we want to see in our employees." He stated in a very cold and distant voice. "So, do you consider yourself loyal?"

I didn't know what to say, and I was not going to give him any reaction that he wanted me to express.

"Indeed, Loyalty is Royalty, Mr. Knight. And I consider myself very loyal to this job." I said and his eyes were now fuming in anger.

"You can go now, Miss Williams. Our team will contact you if you get the job." He dismissed me, sliding my file towards me.

Whispering a small thank you to him, I stood up and walked out of the room, but not before committing his chiseled face to my memory.

We will meet soon.

His words were ringing like a bell into my ears and there was a high chance that we would indeed meet again.