The Billionaire's Second Chance At Love

ELEVEN

MEREDITH:

“Please, give me more time. I know that I'm late for the payments, but I promise that I'll clear half of it by the end of the month,” I lied. End of the month? That would only happen by a miracle. I couldn't let him know that. Couldn't let him drop the case because it would be wasted energy and abandoning my brother. I deserved to know what happened to him. To get answers. Whatever it took, I was willing to do.

His voice was subtle, although I could hear the strain of him trying to control lashing out. “Miss Tate, I wish things worked like that. I would've been more than happy to help you. But, they don't. I need to facilitate the team and, considering that it's a very private investigation, that's why it's harder. I'm sorry.”

My heart ruptured into a billion pieces. Who would I go to? How was I going to turn back now and let go? “How about you give me an extra week? If I don't get back to you, then you can drop the case.”

The phone went silent for a while before his voice reluctantly came to life again. “Okay, Miss Tate. I'm doing this because I believe that your case has potential, and I have seen a lot like yours that gets swept under the carpet. One week is as far as I can extend this. Not more than one week, Miss Tate.”

Excitedly, “Thank you.”

“Please contact me before the end of the week,” he simply said, ending the call.

At least a crisis has been averted. Hopefully, I will figure something out. A weight from nowhere took over my tired body. In times like this, it was only food or snacks that made me happy. "Yes, watch the weight! Get in shape. The world is ending," everyone said to me. I was dealing with a lot, and if you get through each day without turning over to drugs for help, then, I would hear you out.

The function was still ongoing and neither Miles nor Brandon had reached out to me. That would only mean that they had no use for me yet. Locating a snack shop at the end of the street, not far from where I was, I strolled down there. I bought a bar of chocolate, a mini-box of doughnuts, and a chicken sandwich. Those should calm me down.

I started with the chocolate, enjoying the melting sensation it gave my mouth. Secondly, the doughnuts. They were everything; tasty, soft, and creamy. Lastly, the sandwich. By that time, I had gotten back to where I was, and the function was still not over. Neither was Miles nor Brandon out of the hall. But, I did get a glimpse of one of the rich guys being chased by the paparazzi. How great his life must be. If only I could own half of what he had, that would make me a happy lady. Until then, I had my sandwich to eat.

Taking a large bite, as that sour-sweet taste hit my taste buds and I chewed greedily every ounce of the bite, I heard that familiar voice that walked out on me months ago. “Meredith?” it called out, sounding unsure.

I didn't need to turn to know who owned that voice. Why did it have to be now after all these months? Why?

“Oh, you're wearing one of the dresses I got you,” he said. His voice sounded a bit mocking and somewhat happy.

“Alan,” I said, turning to squarely face him, the sandwich in my hand and the remnant of what I had bitten in my mouth. The sandwich left the appropriate track for another, and I choked a bit.

Alan looked more breathtaking than ever. His body was more amazing, and the black suit with a blue linen shirt underneath made his eyes glow as well as his skin. He looked like a supermodel, and here I was wearing one of the dresses he got me. Had I known I would encounter him, I would have chosen a different outfit.

“Oh, My God! What happened to you, Meredith?” he questioned. “You look like a balloon ready to explode.”

Irritated, I grabbed the hem of my dress to calm my nerves. “We haven't seen each other in months, and the first thing you pick out is my weight? How disgusting of you. Were you with me because of my body, and when it started to change, you changed too? Was that the reason you left? Because I have been trying to understand why you broke up with me.”

“You're still hung up on that? You haven't moved on?”

I wanted to dab my sandwich on his face and pour the glass of champagne he had in his hand all over him. I won't, though. I'm not barbaric.

Alan began to go on and on about things that got to me, and I just happened to lack the words to say to him. I just stood there, frozen and thoughtless. There was nothing I could comprehend except his mean words, and I felt a pull of liquid gather in my eyes. From the back, surprising us, Miles cut in.

His confidence and the fact that he wasn't concerned about Alan or his physique were so sexy. The man was created with a whole other level of morale in his head, and he happened to have put Alan in his place. However, something got to me. The fact that Alan was the CEO of such a huge project was another astonishing thing. This was what we dreamed of. Our vision. For him to be successful and with me by his side, we would take the world by storm. Well, he kicked me out before I got to see that.

Miles was handling things pretty well, defending me? Defending me? Miles Pierce, a selfish asshole, was defending me. Somehow, “he's my boyfriend,” escaped my throat, and Alan's eyes almost popped out of his sockets. He was speechless for a while, and the fact that I grabbed Miles by the waist, and he didn't pull away made it more believable.

“She is indeed my beautiful, chubby girlfriend. A clumsy one who smears sauce around her mouth like a child. The more reason I love her,” he said, rubbing my head. Since he towered over me, it was easy for him to play with my hair.

Hearing what Miles said, I almost disappeared with the sand. I had sandwich sauce around my mouth the whole time, and Alan didn't bother to tell me. Could that guy be more terrible? And I had been running my mouth. “I'm sorry,” I said, fumbling with the tissue that the sandwich was once wrapped in.

Before I did anything, Miles reached down, used his thumb to clean the sauce, and wiped his hand on the tissue. He did it so slowly while gazing into my eyes like he was in love, that for a moment, I felt desire burn through me, and his stare weakened my knees.

“If you're done here, we will be on our way,” Miles said, steering me toward the direction of the car.

“It was nice seeing you, Meredith. I hope you change your mind, Mr. Pierce,” Alan said, stretching forth his hand for a shake once more.

Miles didn't take it. He just looked at him from head to toe, smirked, and began to walk away. I felt a bit bad for Alan, but Miles just rescued me from the total embarrassment that would have led to me crying.

We barely made it halfway before hearing a female voice.

“Baby, I have been looking for you everywhere,” the melodious voice said.

I was so tempted to turn and catch a glimpse of the girl talking to Alan, but Miles held my neck tight, keeping me from staring.

"Don't even dare slow down. Let's get to the car quickly," he commanded. The way he hurried felt like he was running away from the situation.

I didn't disobey. I just increased my own pace to match his.

“Oh, I was talking to Mr. Pierce and someone I knew,” Alan explained.

“Mr. Pierce? That sounds familiar. Do you mean Miles Pierce? Because he is the only famous Pierce in this city," she said.

“Yes, that one.”

“Is he the one over there? I know him.”

Miles likely caught wind of the conversation as he quickened his pace. It seemed he was deliberately avoiding encountering her. However, his attempts to evade were futile as the person he was trying to avoid caught up with us, tapping him on the back and calling out, "Miles?"

It was as if Miles froze for a second. Quickly, he released me. Standing a bit away from me, he called out her name, “Louis.” His expression was emotionless, and he didn't look delighted at all with her.

Alan moved over to meet us. He snaked his arm around her neck, kissing her deeply.

“This is my fiancée, Louis Theodore,” he announced. “Babe, this is Mr. Miles Pierce. You already know him. And, this is Meredith, someone I knew who happened to be Mr. Pierce's girlfriend,” he introduced.

My heartbeat quickened, and my breathing became insufficient. The oxygen around me wasn't filling my lungs enough. Everything faded out. Just the four of us, staring at each other.

“This is your girl?” she asked, her voice condescending. “Come on Miles, you could have done better,” she chuckled, leaning further into Alan's arm. Alan had an amused look on his face.

“Well, baby," she said to Alan. “Miles was my ex-boyfriend.”