Chapter 44: In Which He Confronts Her Ex

Aurora lifted her foot, letting the soft sand flowed through her toes.

Once Kate left, that uneasy feeling swarmed up in her chest again. Immediately, she regretted her decision, but it was too late.

Staring at the blue waters, she stretched her arms high up and reached for the sky and then exhaled heavily.

What the hell, Aurora, she mentally chided. Why are you behaving like a scaredy-cat all of a sudden? This is not you!

She frowned at the horizon and heaved another sigh. Come on, girl! You’ve been through things that were a lot sh*ttier than this, so no fret.

“Rory.”

Aurora stiffened. She closed her eyes, wishing that the man would go away, when she felt his hands on her shoulders.

“Don’t touch me!” She flinched as if she got scalded.

Will held up two palms, “Alright, alright. I won’t touch you.”

Aurora shot him an angry glare then turned around and headed for the hotel.

But Will grabbed her by the elbow, “Wait, Rory, listen to me, please.”

“I said, don’t touch me!” She shouted and kicked at the part of him that was the nearest to reach.

“Ow!” Will hopped around, holding onto his shin. “D*mn it, Rory! What the hell did you kick me for?”

“What you did to me and my family, you deserve more than just a kick, you f*cking a*shole,” she growled.

Will was bent over, rubbing his shin, then he lifted his charming gaze and grinned at her, “But I didn’t do anything, Rory.” He straightened then stepped towards Aurora with a confused look, “You took the money from your father, not me.”

“You!” Aurora clutched her hands into fists till her knuckles went white. “You said you wanted to invest and earn the big bucks so you could marry me. You said that my father would agree to the marriage if you have enough money. Oh God, why the f*ck did I listen to you!”

Will snaked his arms around Aurora’s waist and pulled her against him, “You were right, Rory! That’s why I’m back -- to marry you.”

Aurora blinked, “What?”

Will flashed his boyish grin, “I’m back to marry you, Rory. I’m sorry it took so long. You left no contact information and I couldn’t find you. I’ve been trying to find you and just when I had lost all hope, we ran into each other here. It’s a sign! We are meant to be together, Rory.”

Aurora widened her gaze.

She broke into chuckles and then erupted into laughter.

“Oh my God. I can’t believe that I actually fell for this five years ago. Is this how you sounded back then?”

A surprise flickered across those fine features that used to make her swoon. Now, she just wanted to smash sand into that face.

“Let go off me, Will,” Aurora muttered coldly.

Will tightened his arms, “No, Rory. I’m not letting you go this time. I’ve made you wait for too long. I won’t make the same mistake again!”

Aurora struggled to get out of his grasp and when he refused to budge, she raised her right knee high and stamped down hard onto his toes. She thought she heard something cracked.

The con man howled in pain and fell to the ground, holding onto his toes. “You b*tch! Look what you’ve done! I was planning to marry you and you did this to me! You dumb slut!”

“Shut up, Will! Just shut your mouth!” Aurora roared like a lioness with a killing stare.

Shocked by a meek lamb’s unusual display of ferocity, the ex-boyfriend pressed his lips in fear and looked directly at Aurora like a boy about to be caned.

“Don’t come near me ever again,” Aurora warned with an icy tone. “Or I swear to God, I’ll crush your f*cking nose.”

Will shot up his hand to cover his nose. No matter how much that woman was willing to pay, he wouldn’t sacrifice his perfect nose for anything.

As he watched the feisty redhead beauty stalk towards the hotel, he fished out his phone and made a call. The other end answered in two rings.

“I’m not going near that b*tch again, you hear me!” Will stood and turned towards the sea. “I don’t care! Sue me all you want. I’m leaving…. What do you mean you’re not giving me a single cent? Hey, listen--!”

Will removed the phone from his ear and stared appalled at the screen. “F*cking b*tch!” He kicked the sand around like a maniac. This is unacceptable! D*mn these rich f*ckers!

He would not take this lying down. He, Will Fisher, would leave this place with the money, no matter what. His hedge funds depend on it.

It’s time to set up another meeting with Theo Barone.


******


Theo watched his beloved goddess stomped away from her ex-boyfriend.

He bowed over and chuckled. God, he loved this woman so much.

Golf ended early so he returned to the hotel looking for Aurora and bumped into Kate. She updated him about Aurora standing in for the tarot reader at tomorrow’s Gala and then told him, when he asked, that she saw Aurora at the beach, taking a stroll.

When he got to her, that Fisher guy had his arms all over her and Theo nearly went mad. He was about to run out and put his fist in that a*shole’s face, but Aurora stomped on his feet and the man went down like a demolished building.

Theo wanted to go after Aurora but he overheard Will’s conversation. Something told him that it would be better to stay and talk to Will instead.

So Theo revealed himself to the sly fox.

“M-Mr. Barone! What a coincidence. I was on my way to find you. I want to continue our discussion from last night,” the beautiful blue eyes looked slightly shaken.

Smiling at the memory of what he had just witnessed, Theo said, “Of course. Let’s find somewhere quiet.”

They located an empty meeting room.

Once the door closed behind Theo, Will turned to him, “I apologize for the--.”

Theo sighed wearily, “Just get to the point.”

Will swallowed and stammered, “A-alright. I have had a change of heart, Mr. Barone.”

“Oh?” Theo raised his left brow.

“Yes,” Will stepped forward with his regained confidence and smiled. “I’ll let you have Aurora for thirty thousand dollars.”

Theo chuckled, “What?”

The beautiful boyish face began to crack, revealing his desperation, “Thirty thousand dollars. And you can have Aurora.”

“I see,” Theo answered. “And you will leave her alone?”

Will nodded furiously, “She won’t hear from me again. Ever.”

“So you won’t even blackmail her again?”

“Yes,” Will responded. Then, slowly, his eyes widened in realization at what he had just done. He furrowed his brows and snarled, “How did you know it was me?”

Theo grinned, “I have my ways, you a*shole.”

Will swallowed hard. The winds have turned against him. No, he screamed silently, this cannot be the end. He could save his hedge funds! All he needed was thirty thousand dollars!

“Give me thirty thousand dollars,” he breathed. “And I’ll disappear from her sight. I won’t make any contact with her.”

“Mr. Fisher,” Theo shook his head with a smile, then shoved his hands into his pockets and puffed his broad chest, “What makes you think I should listen to you?”

Will raised his brows in fury, “If you don’t give me the money, I’ll tell Aurora what I’ve done.”

Theo frowned.

The slimeball grinned with a menacing twinkle in his eyes and added with a sickening delight, “She’ll be devastated if she knew that I was the one who blackmailed her.”

Theo took his right hand out of his pocket.

Will saw the phone in the billionaire’s hand and gulped with apprehension.

Theo tapped onto the screen and Will’s distinctive voice filled the cold atmosphere.

“I’ll let you have Aurora for thirty thousand dollars...

… if she knew that I was the one who blackmailed her.”

Theo stopped the recording and slotted the phone back into his pocket. Clearing his throat, he spoke firmly in his solid voice, “If you make any move, I’ll send this to the police. There’s CCTV in here, so I’ll have a footage of your d*mn face as well.”

“You can’t do this to me,” Will hissed angrily. He was afraid to speak up, in case he would be recorded again.

“Don’t thank me, Mr. Fisher. This is nothing compared to what you’ve done to Aurora.”

“Alright,” Will relented. Then, he pleaded. “Give me thirty thousand dollars and I’ll do anything.”

“Leave this place immediately. Don’t ever contact Aurora,” Theo growled.

Will exhaled, “Fine.”

“Tell me - who paid you to come here?”

“Audrey Walters.”

Theo’s eyes grew twice as large.