Billionaire's Payback Time

CHAPTER FOUR (Dinner At the Welsh's)

JUNE POV

It’s been a long time since I visited a posh restaurant and those were the times I spent with my parents in the Netherlands. Taking in the setting of the dining hall of the Welsh home made me reminisce, and my heart leaped for joy till I made eye contact with Miles. I couldn’t move, as if he had hypnotized me. His chiseled chest and broad shoulders with muscular arms made such delightful curves in the shirt he wore and his pants — I should stop thinking already. Why did I think about his pants anyway?

While I was supposedly hypnotized, he walked past me without a word of greeting. He shook his father’s hand and hugged Zara around her neck, then sat beside her on the other end and started serving himself. I gently followed suit and pulled out a chair opposite Zara. I grabbed a plate and served a spoon, looking around for the meal I’d liked.

“Oh no, you don’t have to. Miles prefers serving himself, but you’re our guest today,” she said. I’d love to have some conversation about how I preferred serving myself, but I had no strength for that. Besides, Miles was on the table and I’d never give him any opportunity to ridicule me.

Amir joined the table after a few minutes. He was quiet as well as every other member of the family as we ate. The only contact we had was when I greeted him and he nodded. He avoided me like a plague.

“So tell us, June,” Zara said, which made me drop my fork. Here it comes. I knew the question and answer was the highlight of the evening and I kept wishing it wouldn’t happen.

“How was it growing up? Your parents, school, work?” she asked.

My hands gripped the sides of the chair I was sitting, then I looked up and lit up my face. All eyes were already on me. Even Miles, while Amir pretended not to notice how uneasy I was.

“I — My parents —,” I broke off, then picked up a serviette and wiped my lips. “I’m an orphan. My parents died in a plane crash when I was sixteen, so I’ve lived with my uncle and aunt since then,” I shared, watching their disposition one after the other, though I avoided Miles’ gaze. He probably felt sorry for me or not. I could not see the expression on his face. What if I looked his way and he felt nothing or that I deserved all that happened to me?

“So sorry to hear about that. You grew up in the Netherlands before moving to Los Angeles, right?” Mr. Welsh asked.

“I spent most of my younger years in England, then my family moved to the Netherlands, then I moved here,” I revealed. At this point, I felt they could hear my heart beat. For the first time since I met members of the Welsh family, Mr. Welsh finally spoke to me and I suddenly felt intimidated and shy for no reason. Mr. Welsh exchanged eye contact with Miles while I pretended not to see them. What if he knew that I had history with Miles? I can’t keep calm anymore. My stomach was starting to hurt. I could use the restroom, but I’d get too much attention if I left the dining table now.

“That explains your accent. Where do you currently work?” Zara asked, taking a sip from her juice.

“I’m currently unemployed,” I replied, feeling embarrassed. Candice made sure I left all the multiple jobs I had taken up.

“Hmm — what do you think about my NGO? Candice said she'd told you about it, and you’d visit sometime soon,” Zara said, her bright smile was reassuring.

“You’re doing a really great job and I admire it,” I started, grabbing everyone’s attention. Even Amir had his eyes on me.

“Helping women find their voice with other important stakeholders means a lot. I’ve followed all you do on social media, especially how you step in with other women CEOs to save abused women. I never pictured wealthy women like you being so humble and selfless,” I explained, fluttering my lashes to veil my eyes.

“Wow, thank you. I feel elated to hear this from you. Would you mind joining with me next week to visit the orphanage?” Zara asked.

“I’d love that,” I replied, taking a slice of cucumber into my mouth.

“Really? Although it would be surprising to see how you lack those qualities,” Miles said with his eyes still fixed on his meal. Everyone turned to him. I was stupefied by how he blurted those words out without batting an eye.

“What is that supposed to mean, Miles?” Zara asked, placing her hand on his.

“Humility and selflessness are far from what anyone can use to qualify you. You’re rude, selfish and utterly irresponsible. I guess that’s why the only solution your guardians can come up with is to force you into a wealthy home, but once a pig, always a pig,” Miles said, watching me. He held his glass to his mouth and gulped in the rest of the wine.

“Miles!!!!” Zara exclaimed, turning to check Mr. Welsh’s reaction. Shock was boldly written on his face too. His lips parted but the words never came out as Amir sat upright and pointed his fork at Miles. “You’d better watch what you say, dude or else,” he said.

“Or else what? This woman here is nothing but a scam, and you’re just going to fall for her sneaky tricks along with her family. You’re making a big mistake with this marriage, I tell you,” Miles' deep voice echoed in my ears. I raised my head to check his face again and there he was, taking a piece of meat into his mouth.

“What did you just say? You must be insane,” Amir replied, drawing back his chair and standing abruptly, throwing his serviette on the table. “Don’t you ever disrespect my woman. Put yourself in order, or I might just teach you a few lessons,” he said.

“I’ll like to see you try, Amir. I’ve said nothing against you, but if you choose to move along this route, then so be it,” Miles replied, drawing back his chair and standing abruptly as well. They were both glaring at each other now and if not for the table between them, the dining hall would have ended up as a wrestling ground. I’d never imagined that both brothers detested each other that much.

“Be quiet, both of you!!” Mr. Welsh’s voice rang across the room, bringing order and peace. Zara had her eyes fixed on her husband’s hand which he had slammed on the table. “June dear, I’m very sorry that you had to witness this. I’ll have the driver take you home,” he said, while Zara came to my side and led me out of the room. I could hear the following uproar and voices clash even when we arrived in the parking lot.

“Don’t take what Miles said to heart. He doesn’t mean it that way. He’s not always like that,” Zara said, hoping to cover for him.

“It’s fine,” I replied, going into the car. I still got home late even though dinner was disrupted because Miles couldn’t accept that I was about to marry Amir. His words still stung even as I fell to sleep. I could not stop thinking about how composed he was while making me miserable. Amir’s defense also made me giggle with joy. Who would have imagined that the psycho would take my side? Sleep was far from me all through the night. Then I exploded with delight when I got a call from Amir, asking to see me. I might really detest him, but standing up for me meant a lot to me. While he parked his car outside, I put on simple makeup and checked my hair bun to be sure it was still in place. Then I marched out of the house into Amir’s car.

“Thanks for checking up on me. You didn’t have to,” I said, playing with my fingers.

“I’m not checking on you nor did I argue with Miles on your behalf, so don’t get any silly ideas. I only saved my bruised ego. You're nothing but a pest to me,” he said, looking away.

“Oh—” I commented. His last statement was cruel. That was typical of him and I wished I could get away from his car.

“I noticed that you and Miles have got bad blood, so I’ve come up with a proposition,” Amir said, still moving his eyes around.

“A proposition? What’s that?”

“I want you to spy on Miles then report back to me,” he blurted out.

“You must be insane. Do I look like a spy to you?” I asked, opening the car door to step out.

“Take a step out of this car, and you'll be kissing goodbye to a lot of things,”

“Why are you doing this to me? How am I supposed to spy on him?” I asked, my temper rising.

“You’ve been jobless for a while, so I got you a job as Miles' personal assistant,” he said.

“What?! Me?! You must be hallucinating.”

“You’ve got no choice here. The sooner you take this job, the better. Here’s a list of what I want from you,” Amir replied, throwing a sheet of paper at me.

Funny how I protested against the idea but found myself in front of Miles' office, breathing in and out to present myself to my new boss.