Appointed by a Billionaire to be his Heir's Girlfriend

Chapter 13

Nate Van Warner POV

I only need common sense to do what I have to do and run after her, ignoring Maddie’s protests.

Oh crap. I shouldn’t have done that. Why didn’t I think that she’ll get mad at me for doing that? Haven’t I reminded myself enough that she’s a thousand ways different from all the girls I’ve met?

I saw her running towards a bench and sat there. She was covering her face, apparently crying her heart out.

I stopped on my tracks and stared at her for a minute. She seemed to be unaware that I was watching her.

I started walking again and sat beside her, mentally preparing myself for the words that may come from her sharp tongue.

“Hey.”

Gee. I’m getting stupid. Why did I say ‘hey’? ‘I’m sorry’ is much appropriate.

She removed her hands from her face and looked up at me, her brpwn eyes burning with anger.

“You’re annoying, rich boy, you know that?! You think you’re everything just because you’ve got the looks and the money! You think you can do everything you want just because you’ve got a higher social status than mine! You think other people’s got no feelings! You think you are the only one who matters in this world! You never respected other people!”

She paused for a second before continuing, “I thought that even just a little, you’ve changed for the better. But I was wrong! You’ll never change. Never. You’re hopeless.”

She was now glaring at me with red puffy eyes.

I kept quiet the whole time.

Why is she so angry at me? I don’t get it, seriously. True that I might have gone overboard because I kissed him without permission when we are just fake-dating…but still…

“Speechless, huh?” she muttered, looking away from me.

Just say it, Nate. Just say you’re sorry. I know she wants to hear it. But why can’t I say it?

“It’s just a kiss. No big deal. No need to get this angry at me.”

Okay. What on earth did I just say?

She looked again at me, “It’s no big deal for you since you already had 127 girls! But it is for me since that was my first, you stupid brat!”

I was taken aback by her answer. Once again, I did not answer her which is convenient since she stated two words that made me stood up in protest.

“I quit.”

Athena Vanderbilt POV

In this lifetime, I wouldn’t really know why I’d say this two words to him when I just realized that I was falling for his kindness all along.

Maybe it’s because I really had enough of his inflated ego.

Maybe I had enough of his brat attitude.

Maybe because I think that he is a very hopeless case.

Or maybe…just maybe…

That I’m falling for him and I know it will never be possible between us.

Oh no. Scratch the last. There’s no way I’m falling for that jerk!

“I quit.”

Nate stood up, looking at me with wide eyes.

“You can’t.”

“Oh yeah? I can, actually.” I muttered.

He was silent for a moment as he sat again.

“Don’t worry. I’ll pretend that we never met each other, agreed? It’s what we all want, isn’t it? Go back to our carefree life, especially now that you have your true love back. Everything will be as it used to be.” I said non-chalantly.

But if truth to be told, why do I feel so sad?

I have every reason to be happy now.

I waited for Nate to say something… Like what, Athena?

Am I waiting for him to stop me from leaving? Am I really stupid to believe that this Casanova beside me will do that? I must be out of my mind if I believed it even for one second.

“Bye, Nate.” I said with finality, stood up, and ran and ran until I got inside a cab and drove away from the guy who kept me company for the loneliest days of my life.

Athena Vanderbilt POV

It’s been a few months since that lonely goodbye on a bench in Central Park. Snow is already falling. The Nights are getting colder and longer. The Christmas holidays is visible in the horizon.

Mom and Iris got back already and they won’t be returning to Connecticut until the fist Monday of the new year but it’s still a few weeks away.

I returned the money to the Van Warners and I have no more communication with them, especially that jerk s***h heir to a multi-billionaire s***h “ex-boyfriend”.

I sighed.

How I wish I could state that as a fact. But no. I’m here, stuck again in our old apartment, my only refuge in this troubled time.

It’s only been a few hours since that lonely good bye on a bench in Central Park. Instead of snow, orange and yellow leaves are falling. The Christmas holidays are still far away. Mom and Iris aren’t back yet.

My only friend deserted me. My mom and sister are miles away. My dad is stuck in a coma in a hospital and I’m f*******n to see him. And I let go of the only one I could depend on the past few days. Wait, he was never mine to begin with. Sucks being me, right?

Now that I’m not clouded by anger and confusion, I really don’t know how I came up with the decision to quit. I clearly remember how my words shocked Nate. Did he want me to leave?

I groaned to my pillow. Why should I care? I severed my ties with him the moment I said those two words.

Oh gosh. Why do I sound like a lovesick highschool girl? I’m being weird. I don’t sound like myself at all.

Stupid Nate. He ruined everything. We were getting along already. Why does he have to ruin it by kissing me?!

Yes, stupid as it sounds, I care so much about my first kiss. It made me feel like something of great importance was stolen from me. I felt weird, you know. It feels like someone disrespected me. I feel like I’m violated. Yeah, I sound exaggerated but you should know by now I’m a conservative person, a rare breed in this generation and in this liberal city. Which is the truth.

Stupid Maddie. Why does she have to come back from London? Nate and I are getting along fine. Why does she and her stupid past with Nate have to return to ruin everything?

Which sums up that why do problems have to arise when we’re getting along fine?! Ugh. This is completely stupid.

All that food fight, the breakfast he sent me, my own room in his penthouse… Did all of that really happened this morning? It seems two lifetimes ago.

A faint knock on the main door broke my reverie and I almost jumped out of my bed in fright. The sun has already set down and I haven’t turned on a light since I got here so it was pitch black in the whole place.

I felt like a blind person while caressing the wall for the light switch. It took me a few seconds to find it and switch it on. My eyes hurt from the sudden brightness, especially when they just underwent 3 hours of crying non-stop.

I heard faint knocking again. Ugh sheesh. Who can this be?

I grabbed my school bag and rummaged for my glasses. Yeah, I somehow need to hide my eyes.

Then I ran outside my room to get the door. Why do I sense déjà vu?

“Good evening, Miss Vanderbilt. Would you like to invite me inside?”

I knew it before I even twisted the door knob.

“Hello, Mr. Charles. Come in then.”

I led him to the old white couch he sat on before and went to the kitchen and prepared refreshments.

I handed him a cold glass of juice and he said a thank you before looking at me intently, clearly here for business.

“You probably know why I’m here already, Miss Athena.” He said quietly after sipping from the glass.

I looked away from his eyes, which are like a carbon copy of his son, Oh wait. Nate’s eyes are the carbon copy. Oh nevermind.

“About Nate.” I muttered.

“Yes. I see you’ve returned the money I deposited in your account. You shouldn’t have done that.” He said,.

I sighed, “Why? If you still don’t know, sir, I quitted already. And seeing I’m not successful, I’ve decided to return it whole.”

Yeah. That was really the reason behind it. I don’t even know where to use that money. I only accepted it because I thought I can save Dad but no, his family remained ever stubborn not to let us see him.

“No, it’s not that. Just take it. I’ve returned it back to you.”

I was about to open my mouth to protest again but he held up his hand as a gesture for me to be silent. And yes, I shut my mouth again, remembering that this person in front of me is the power behind New York city.

“I did not come all the way here to discuss the money. I came here to discuss about Nate.” He said.

This time I looked at him in the eye, “What about him?”

He sighed heavily, which made him look like a weary old man, “Why did you break up with him?”

I wish I could say it’s none of his business so he’d shut up but I can’t since if this thing is anybody’s business, it would be his.

Why?

It took me a moment to answer. Truth to be told, I really don’t know!

“I think I can’t do it, sir.” I just said, stooping down to my toes. There, it seems reasonable enough.

“You thought you can’t? You’re wrong.” He said, a slight urgency in his tone.

I looked p again to meet his eyes, “And what made you say that, sir?”

Once and for all, Mr. Charles smiled a tired smile, “My son and Alex came home a while ago. Nate locked himself in his room after that. He did not talk to anyone even. When I asked Alex about it, he told me your name. I got it.”

I returned his tired smile and said, “He’s probably pissed at me or something.”

“When Nate usually breaks up with someone, he never shuts himself to the world. He continue partying, drinking. I hardly seen him do that the past days.”he explained.

“Okay, I get it.”, I said, accepting the fact that any argument is invalid with this man.

“You do?”

“Let’s get this straight, Mr. Charles. Are you here because you want to talk me into getting back with this deal with your son?”

“Well, yes. That would be it.” He answered.

I pursed my lips into a tight line and let my brain and heart wage a war.

My brain says that I should stop all this non-sense already, that it was a big mistake agreeing to it, to begin with.

My heart voices a different opinion. I should help this old man. I should be with Nate.

My brain asked, “Why should you be with him when he just brought you problems? Look at Chloe!”

My heart replied, “But don’t deny he made you happy even just for a short while. When no one was here for you, he was there.”

My brain retaliated, “and that is enough reason to go back to his side, isn’t it? We’re talking here of going back to the deal. The deal’s worth more trouble than it is!”

My heart said, “It’s not. Athena knows she wants to be with him though she still deny it.”

My brain yelled, “ She doesn’t like the guy!”

Okay shut up now, I told them both, which made me think I’m going insane.

“So, erm, what’s your decision? I insist you do not back out of this.” MR. Charles said politely.

I sighed and buried my face in my hands. MY brain is right. I shouldn’t have agreed on this in the first place.

“Can you please give me a few days’ time to think about it?” I said, looking up from my hands.

“What do you need to think about, Athena?”

My head spun around to the door to see my mom and my little sister standing there. My mom’s eyes were wide in shock as she stared at Mr. Charles. Iris was waving at me gleefully, oblivious to the tense atmosphere.

They were supposed to return in two weeks time!!! Why so early?

I stood up, the same time with Mr. Charles and we both said something at the same time too.

“Mom!”

“Hera!”

She returned our smiles for a moment before turning to my sister Iris, “Iris, go to bed honey, okay?”

Iris nodded and waved to me again and politely said, “Hello mister!” to Mr. Charles before obediently running to her bedroom.

Mom came down to site beside me and sighed heavily.

“Athena, you tell me what is this all about. How did you know Charles?”

I bit my lip. The confession time came sooner than what I’ve expected and it came much unexpectedly.

I launched into my tale, with the help of Mr. Charles, starting from the very first time I personally met Nate in the Palace hotel, to the time he bothered me at school, to how Mr. Charles came with a deal with me and how I accepted because he was her friend.. I skipped the details with how I’ve been getting along with Nate but I gave mom the general idea. Then I told her I quitted already but Mr. Charles want me back.

She accepted the story with no interruptions and I was waiting to see how she would react. Mr. Charles seemed to be waiting too.

But she being my mom, she just sighed anxiously.

“I know I’m just your mother, Athena, and you’re almost of age now.I still want to give you free will over matters like this but I think you ought to help the boy.”

“Mom---what?”

She smiled, “Honey, did you know I used to be like you? I also helped a boy from his trashy lifestyle and look where he is?” She gestured to Mr. Charles.

My eyes widened, “Mr. Charles, you used to be like your son? And that’s why you said you’re confident I can do this because I’m my mother’s daughter?”

Mr. Charles chuckled, “Oh yes. I remember the days. My mother forced Hera to do it also.”

“Not forced. I was glad to help you. You’re my childhood friend after all.”

This. Is. Weird.

My mom and I sitting in our living room, talking with Nate’s father, a very powerful tycoon. Really weird.

“So I have your support then? That Athena will continue his fake-dating with my son?” Mr. Charles asked hopefully.

My mom laughed, “Of course. As long as your son doesn’t do anything bad to my daughter.”

This is seriously getting absurd. I expected mom to get angry, not this.

“Athena, what’s your say?” mom asked me.

Well, if mom is all for it, then what could go wrong? I’ve always trusted mom’s judgments. Mothers know best, that saying’s true isn’t it?

“Well, I suppose yeah.” I said in defeat.

“Athena, you better return the money, alright honey? It’s not really necessary.” Mom told me kindly.

“I did return it mom. He just returned it back to me.” I muttered.

“It’s fine, Hera. Let me help you as you did help me back then, okay? Don’t object please.” Mr. Charles said.

“Okay. I’m going to bed.” I declared, standing up, when I didn’t even remember sitting.

As I enter my room, I could hear them talking and laughing. How good it might be to have a friend be there for you even if you haven’t seen each other for years.

Cuddling to my pillows, I could feel my heart rejoicing.

My poor brain... She was subdued again.