Billionaire's Payback Time

CHAPTER TWO (This is Not What I Bargained For)

JUNE POV

I resigned into my room and locked up after getting hit by Wyatt. I could hear Candice screaming to my cousin, Penelope, over the phone about my engagement. Despite sulking from that evening till noon, Candice barged into my room with a makeup artist.

“Be out in ten minutes. Wyatt’s almost ready to leave. He’s so excited like I am,” Candice did a swirling dance, then exited the room. What can I say? I was just a lamb being held to the s*******r. After losing my parents at a young age, witnessing the fall of their company and getting used by Candice and Wyatt, I had no tears to shed anymore.

We arrived at the engagement venue and walked in. Each step I took made my heart pounce in my chest. The air these type of filthy rich people breathed was not for me. My ears echoed with voices and the faces I was seeing began to fade. I slammed my hand on the wall for balance, but Candice pulled me away to her side and led me in.

“This is not the time to have your silly anxiety episodes. The founder of Tech-In is coming towards us. Let’s make a good first impression, shall we?” she whispered sideways to Wyatt and me with a devious grin plastered on her face.

“Excuse me,” I said abruptly, pulling my hand away from Candice. I was out in the open space before she could stop me. I knew she wouldn’t follow because they’ve always wanted to meet the Founder of Tech-In.

My throat went dry with a stinging pain at its back. I was holding back the tears from staining my face with mascara. Initially, I knew nothing about the Welsh family except that they controlled the business world in America and beyond. They were the elitist of the elites. A single search for Amir gave me clues about him. He was Zara’s son adopted into the Welsh family, had a stepbrother around his age and loads of scandals packaged as entertainment news. He was an obvious flirt. If only I could scream to release myself from the pent-up frustration I felt burning inside of me.

“June Baker?” a man said behind me. I could feel his towering presence before turning to face him.

“Miles? Miles Huck?!” My eyes widened, my face was instantly flushed, and my knees grew weak. Miles Huck was the poverty-stricken senior I had brutally turned down in high school. My hands shook, but I placed them on each other to calm my nerves. He could not see me being anxious because of him.

“Who would have thought? The world is such a small place. June Baker, here in Los Angeles. I’m stunned.” He said with an air of affluence. He had changed, although his gaze was still the same.

“Well, I should be the astonished one here. What is the likes of you doing a grand place like this?” I said, bringing out all my weapons, confidence and my long-lost air of superiority to attack him. In a chat with someone like Miles Huck, I had to get the upper hand. I was a sophisticated and wealthy student at Kwine Academy while he was just a poor senior schooling at a prestigious school on a scholarship. His right hand was on his neatly shaved and trimmed beard with an eagle eye that almost made me give my dizziness away. The bright light from the chandeliers illuminated his face, revealing the most beautiful face I had ever seen. His hairstyle gave him a chic and classy look. My eyes trailed down to his face properly, to his pointed nose, more pointed than Amir's... and for a few seconds, all I could see was his lips. I licked my lips… What the hell is happening to me? Why am I gulping down saliva for a man I had not seen in ten years?

“You must really love my lips, seeing how you can’t stop staring at them,” he replied, ignoring my question. He sized me up with his eyes, then walked past me, smiling like a conqueror.

“What’s wrong with him? He must think he’s something because he’s here,” I placed both hands on my waist, glaring at his behind. His tuxedo was apparently custom-made. I could tell it was extremely expensive. I suspended thoughts of him and went back in. Tiny drops of sweat dripped down my face despite the air-conditioning.

“Where have you been? Amir’s been asking for you,” Candice mumbled with her teeth tightly closed together.

I grinned, turning to face Amir, who was already standing next to me.

“You cleaned up nicely,” he said without a glance at my face.

“Whatever,” I muttered, viewing the other side of the room. I needed a distraction so badly.

“June, my dear. You look ravishing, I’m surprised Amir hasn’t started touching you,” Zara said after we exchanged pleasantries and cheek kissed.

I was mortified. I’d rather starve for months than have Amir touch me and what the heck did she mean by touching?

She noticed my widened eyes and chuckled, “Amir has a thing for beautiful women.”

Not that I cared, but I nodded as a response and moved my eyes around again. I still needed that distraction, so I could get away from the party. I could feel the eyes on me; the guests stared and Amir had his eyes sizing me up once more. Such a p*****t.

“My husband is still attending to some very important guests and will be here shortly. Meanwhile, meet my other son, Miles,” Zara introduced.

Miles? Did she just say Miles? The approaching footstep stopped. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the same voice which I heard at the entrance foot few minutes ago greeted. I froze.

The world has turned upside down, and I think I’m going crazy. Miles Huck was an orphan who had lived in an orphanage and survived in the boy’s hostel by doing homework for his rich classmates. How did he ever become a member of the Welsh family?

I turned my head slowly to see him standing in his black tuxedo with his left hand in his pocket and the right hand holding Wyatt’s for a handshake. I was sure that he enjoyed watching my confusion from the corner of his eyes.

“You must be Miles Welsh, the Vice Chairman of JTK Group,” Candice said, grabbing his hand swiftly from her husband. Miles' lips drew upwards with a charming look that made me tremble.

I moved my eyes around once more to hide my shaky hands and sweaty palms and caught Amir ogling my breasts. I held back from adjusting my dress, so I wouldn’t call any further attention to myself. It was all Candice’s fault. She ensured that my dress had a deep cut in the chest area and still went on to have it pulled further down so that my cleavage wouldn’t be scarcely seen.

“This is June, your brother’s fiancé,” Zara did the introduction, while Amir shrugged. He could not hide his dissatisfaction which was a hint that the brothers might have some bad blood between them.

“A pleasure to meet you. I must say, you look beautiful,” he said, taking my hand and kissing the top of it. I froze once more. What was I supposed to say at the moment? Should I bow, curtsy or stand there?

Amir stepped in between us and grabbed my hand swiftly from him with a tight grip.

“That’s enough introduction. Let’s go,” he said and pulled me away. Candice giggled while Wyatt was eager to make conversation with Miles, I presumed.

I was pulled towards the dance floor. Amir’s hand on my waist gave me the most uncomfortable experience ever. He drew me so close to himself, I was breathing his air.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’d stay away from every other man around you. You’re mine and my word is law,” he spat with a lingering tone that gave me cold feet. I pulled away instantly, glaring into his eyes. “I’m not yours, not yet. And for the record, I’m going to be your wife, not your slave, so your words are not law to me,” I can’t stop wondering where I got that confidence from.

“You said what now?” He asked, tightening his grip as he held my wrist. My lips trembled while I did an up and down routine on his face. Red colors appeared from the corners of his eyes, staining the white of his eyes.

“Cheers to our lovely couple, Amir and June. Congratulations,” Mr. Welsh said, while everyone raised their glasses. The scene was weird. We, the couple, were not aware of the speech being made. We could not even join the toast. Amir dropped my arm, moving with giant strides towards his father while I went and sat at the bar. I’m positive that Amir takes drugs. The expression on his face the other time made me freak out. I could only stay calm because of the party.

“June Baker, my would-be sister-in-law. What an irony,” the familiar voice said.