Taken By The Arrogant Billionaire

“Honey, I’m so sorry about your dad. My condolences” Mrs Smith sighed sympathetically.

“Thank you mum”

“How is the funeral proceedings?”

“We’ll have it soon. He will be buried and that will be all”

Mrs Smith nodded. “Just be careful. Don’t get too stressed. You know your due date is soon”

Jared looked around the table, looking for the perfect avenue to make his announcement. Everyone, including Jane’s parents, were present. Jane was sitting beside him, eating in silence. Jane could feel him moving farther away from her. He now treated her like she didn’t exist. Before now, he would choose to sit anywhere except close to her, but now he sat beside her without any complaint but treated her like air. It was all because of that witch! If she hadn’t appeared, things would not have become this worse. She bit her lip at that thought.

Jared envisioned that it would be a shock to everyone. He changed his mind and decided to tell the family after dinner, but first he wanted to inform his mother.

He pulled her aside after dinner.

“What is it?”

“There is something I wish to announce, but I think it’s only right that I tell you first” she stared at him suspiciously.

“I’m breaking up my engagement with Jane” Her suspicious expression morphed into shock, then confusion, followed by anger.

“I disagree”

“I don’t think you get this. I am not asking for permission, I’m only informing you beforehand”

“Why so suddenly?”

“Everybody knows I don’t love her”

“Then you should have disagreed when your grandfather brought up the idea”

“I didn’t care back then”

“Now you do? Why?”

“That is not necessary. What is important is that I want to end this as soon as possible”

“You are not going to do that. Your grandfather is in a dire condition now, you think this news won’t make him mad and hospitalized again. Do you want him to die?”

Jared mumbled. “Well he is already old enough”

She glared at him and hit him. “What did you say?”

“Nothing”

“Don’t make any move. Even if you are going to, it should not be now. Wait a little while, okay?”

He nodded hesitantly.

“Any news”

“About what”

“About my daughter”

He pinched the space between his brows.

“Will you stop calling her that?”

“Answer the question”

“No”

“You are doing nothing on purpose, right”

“She’s coming back soon. We’ll conduct a DNA test and tell you the result”

“Do you have to wait until she comes back?”

“Yes, so don’t get your hopes up”

He met the Anderson couple on the way, with Jane by their side. Though subtle, they could feel the tension between the both of them, so in order not to make things awkward, they left quickly. In a split second, Jared saw something at the back of Mrs Anderson ear. It looked like a black mole. He was a very observant person, and he felt like he had seen something like that before.

************

Jared raised a brow when he found Valerie’s seat empty. Will came out of his office to see him staring at the empty space.

“Boss?”

“Why is she not here yet?”

“Oh! Miss Gardner called in sick this morning”

“She’s sick?”

“I think so. She didn’t sound too well on the phone”

In one swift motion, he turned back and began to walk towards the elevator. Will quickly ran after him.

“Where are you going?”

“Clear my schedule for today”

Jared entered the elevator and Will followed him.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m coming with you”

“Get out”

He still stood rigid, but soon, before he could make out what was going on, he felt himself being pushed out.

“Take care of the paperwork” He instructed before the elevator door closed.

Will sighed. He was going to get in trouble at this rate.

Jared rang the doorbell six times but received no response. He thought about calling her but first, he tried the knob and surprisingly, it opened.

The house looked empty. Even Sadie was not in sight.

“Valerie”

He figured she would be in her room so he walked towards it. He knocked a few times and entered.

He only saw a lump under the blanket and he knew immediately it was her. Beside the bed was Sadie, sitting obediently. One would think it was heartbroken that Valerie was sick….. or maybe it really was.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

He sat beside the bed and drew the blanket down a bit to reveal her face.

Her eyes were closed, but he could tell she wasn’t asleep.

“Jared?” She wasn’t sure she was seeing right. Was she hallucinating now?

“Hm. I’m here” He placed his palm on her forehead.

She was burning up.

“You have a fever. Come on, let’s get you to the hospital”

He tried to help her up, but she resisted, shaking her head.

“I don’t want to go” her voice always hoarse and her lips were parched. He knew he could carry her with one hand and take her straight to the hospital, but he didn’t want to use force.

“Then should I call the doctor here”

“I don’t want anyone here except you”

He doubted she said that in her right mind. She was going to be so embarrassed if he told her she said that after recuperating.

He had no idea how to take care of a sick person, so he texted Blake. Instead of receiving a response, he got a call from Blake.

“Are you sick? Should I come over?” He asked as soon as Jared accepted the call.

“It’s not me”

“Someone else then? But why would you want to take care of someone else? That is unlike you. Who is it? Your mum?” He paused for two seconds. “…. or is it her?”

“Stop asking questions and give me answers”

“Alright. I’ll send it to you”

He did after a minute.

“Have you eaten?” She shook her head weakly as she gathered the blanket and dragged it close to her.

According to what Blake send, he instructed her to drink a lot of water.

He went to get it and tried to help her up again, but scrunched up her face in anger, pushing his hand away with the little to no strength in her.

This time, he didn’t budge and firmly, but gently helped her up and gave her the glass, but she refused to drink.

“I’ll make you stand if you don’t drink it” he threatened.

She scoffed. “I hate you”

She gulped down the liquid, making a face.

“I’ll get you another one, so stay the way you are”

He came back soon, and she was obedient this time and drank it without any complaint.

“Good girl”

He dabbed her forehead with an ice pack and beg he knew it, she fell asleep. He made sure her temperature had refused before he left the room.

****************

She opened her eyes slowly and sat up. She felt better, though not entirely. She saw a suit on a side of the bed. How did it get there? She didn’t remember having something like this, then she heard a sound, like that of steel hitting steel. It definitely came from downstairs. Then she heard it again.

Did someone break in? Her eyes squeezed shut when she remembered she forgot to lock the door.

She slowly opened the door, making sure it didn’t make a sound. She tiptoed down the stairs, looking around. The sound became louder the closer she got. A pleasant smell suddenly hit her. It made her salivate and her stomach rumbled.

She traced the sound to the kitchen. She could only see his back, but she knew who it was.

“Boss” It was that of surprise.

He turned to her, feeling a bit disappointed. “Boss, not Jared?”

For some reason, her heart beat became faster. He was in a white shirt, with the sleeves rolled up and a few buttons of his shirt open. He looked extremely sexy that she felt like throwing herself at him. Sadie sat diligently on one of the tables, watching intently.

“Like what you see?” She came to her senses and realized he was staring at her, with a teasing smile hanging on the side of his lips.

She cleared her throat, trying to get rid of the embarrassment, but two patches of red had formed on her cheeks.

“Why are you here?”

He walked towards her. “Will told me you called in sick. I was worried, so I came looking for you. You really were in a bad condition, but you didn’t even go to a hospital” He stopped in front of her, placing his hand on her forehead. She froze from the touch.

“Do you feel better?”

“Uh……. of course. I do. How long were you here?” She changed the topic as she went to sit at the table.

“Since morning”

“Then you have been taking care of me since morning?”

He nodded.

“You are cooking? Can you cook?”

He flashed a proud smile. “It’s almost done. Get ready to taste my magic, Milady” He assumed a bowing stance which made Valerie laugh out loud.

“I look forward to it”

The words rolled off her tongue before she could even think.

“Of course, Milady”

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang. She furrowed her brows and thought hard. Who could it be? She wasn’t expecting anyone. Her eyes strayed to the sexy chef.

“Aren’t you going to get that? Should I do it?”

She hurriedly stood up and stopped him. “I’ll get it”

She opened the door, and she almost lost her balance when her eyes met the visitor’s.

“Mrs Anderson?” she called almost breathlessly.