Million Dollar Mistake

How bad do you want it?

WILLA

The weight of seeing that narcissistic bastard, Matthew, was nothing compared to seeing Damian. He was the ghost I had tried with everything within me to kill for two years. The part of her. It felt like an already healed wound, but I couldn’t explain the level of pain that came from it. His chisel shaved his chin, giving his oval face the desired perfection. His beard had somewhat overgrown, but it was the same figure that blew me head over heels years ago. He was dead to me, he had to be.

“Won’t you guys shake hands?” Matthew’s annoying voice echoed in the background. Damian also struggled to maintain composure, but it felt harder with each passing second because of that face.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. White.”

I greeted, fighting the urge to let the tears in my heart flow freely.

“I need to get those damn papers!” Matthew yelped at his secretary as he marched out of space, leaving both of us alone. It’s easier to keep up the act in the presence of a third party. Immediately, I turned to leave but felt a heavy restriction on my arm. His warm touch reminded me of our last night together when those palms cupped my face to respond to the same vulnerability I confessed.

“Willa?” He tugged at me.

“Yes?” I responded, pushing his hands off mine.

“Can I help you, Mr. White?” I asked, suppressing the pressing urge to sound familiar or petty. We came for business, it would be wise to stick to it.

“Indeed…you look prettier…than I last saw you…”

“What are you talking about?”

Please stop talking, I yelled in my head, praying that he would stop spilling words that would draw me to vulnerability. His wet and pleading eyes snarling me closer to the place I’ve s**t and buried for years.

“I know… I messed up…. I’m sorry, Willa… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t….”

“Mr. White, I'd appreciate it if you stopped this drama.”

“Drama? Why are you sounding like that?”

His hands wrapped my arm again, my heart once again palpated, seeking refuge and help. My walls are falling and, despite the hatred I had bottled up, I’m melting on the inside.

“Hey!” John and Jack yelled simultaneously, rushing at him. My heart leaped for joy. Never have I been so excited about having bodyguards.

They pushed him off violently.

“I know her… I know her!” Damian insisted even as he was being pushed away.

“Boss, do you know him?” John inquired, while Jack used his body as a shield, refusing Damian access. His eyes were glued to mine like a puppy eagerly waiting to receive it from his master.

“No….no, I don’t know him.” Shutting my eyes from his direction, I moved swiftly out of the hotel reception. Only hearing his distant voice from Jack’s grip.

“Willa!“

Doubling the pace of my steps, I locked the doors of my suite. Catching my breath like one escaping a dangerous encounter. Encountering Damian was the worst that could happen to me. The weight of grief that I had continuously pushed aside for those two years suddenly hit. My deferred hope in those last days was the only prayer that laced my lips was that he would change his mind and fight for us, but he didn’t.

“Hey baby!” Christopher’s excited voice arose in the dark room, jerking me out of my breathless position. He reached for the lights, turning them on to reveal himself. What the hell is he doing here? I don’t remember telling him about this trip.

“Chris…what…what are you…”

“I came to surprise my girlfriend.” He smiled, pulling me into his embrace, disregarding my weary expression.

“I’m not in the mood for surprises, I have work to do, Chris.” Shrugging him off, I reached for my phone to call John and Jack. I’ve had enough of men.

“This isn’t the response I was expecting after the award ceremony…”

Raising his hands in the air. I had totally forgotten our encounter at the award ceremony.

“See, Chris… we’ll talk about this when we get back home…”

“Home? Which home exactly? New York or California?”

He scoffed, advancing to the drink tray to pour himself a drink. How did he know about California? I don’t remember speaking of my relocation to California for the company’s expansion.

“You’re surprised that I know? I’m your man, Willa.”

“For now…” I mutter understand my breath, hoping he doesn’t catch the breath of my words.

“You promised to do better, to let me in more, but you haven’t.” His voice cracked, giving way to his years to find expression. Almost like the bastard knows my weakness, and he wastes no time and hitting the cry button.

“Fine! You can stay….and you know how I am, Chris. I told you…to be patient with me.”

“I’ve been. I really have…. When will you let me in? I love you, Willa!” He affirmed. Love? Is it so easy to fall in love? I don’t think so.

“Thanks.” I grinned in response.

“Sometimes I wonder if you’re using me….” He continued to whine. I could almost feel guilty about what I'd put him through. His presence is very vital to not just me but the whole company. He’s one of the company’s ambassadors, using his fame to help boost the firm’s popularity, but then he’s paid handsomely.

“I love you too…”

Lying isn’t really one of my fortes, but a lie is what his persistence seeks. He rushed at me, lifting my face to meet his. Anything to keep the company afloat, but faking intimacy is on another level.

“How about…we go get dressed for the conference…”

“But we still have a lot of time.”

“Two hours isn’t enough time, I need to freshen up.” I pecked him on his cheeks, quickly retreating to the bathroom, ignoring his comment afterward.

Damian

The nothingness in her eyes was scarier than her bodyguards. The Willa I know was soft, gentle and welcoming. This one had this firmness about her that even Matthew had to acknowledge. Denying me like she could swear we had never met. If Matthew didn’t call her by her name, maybe you would have been convinced that, indeed, she was not the woman I longed for or even fantasized about.

“She acted like….she was someone else…like…”

“A boss!” Smith completed over the phone.

“Yeah…how did you know?”

“Are you mad? Two years and you expect the same mild and calm wife that you divorced? Wake up, man….she’s now a boss.” Smith giggled on the phone, the bastard seemed to be enjoying himself.

“What…do you think I should do?”

“You make the decision….how badly do you want your woman back?”

Smith’s question continued to ring in my head. Despite Willa’s coldness, my heart still melted at the sight of her. Her blue eyes that always disarmed me and that shape that appeared even more pronounced. Her boldness makes her even more desirable. She’s addicted. I would give it all up. Picking up my phone, I placed the order for a different outfit for the conference. She always tripped whenever I wore my white shirt, it should work again.

Even as the conference went on, I had my eyes glued to hers. I watched her on the other side of the hall, seated with a man who couldn’t keep his hands to himself. Almost like I dressed to capture her attention, she did the same. Well aware of how red turns me on, she let her sleek red dress call for my attention. Our eyes locked occasionally, but she was quick to take them away before you made an expression.

“This meeting must really bore the hell out of you.” Matthew chuckled, passing me the cognac. My eyes on Willa were more than the condescending conversations I had with Matthew. At the closing remark, I heaved a sigh of relief, determined to get a chance with Willa by any means necessary. My desire was not strong enough to pull the crowd surrounding her or even the young man who made it his Call of Duty to hold her hands, spiting me even further.

“Hey, White, where the hell are you off to? Do we need to meet with my client?” Matthew yelled, but his voice was distant to me even as I pursued her disappearing figure. The crowd bumped into me, making my pursuit even harder. Her bodyguards shielded her from the paparazzi. She finished her interview with some selected journalists before excusing herself to the bathroom, presenting the opportunity I longed for. Her guards didn’t follow her in but waited at a considerable distance from the convenience. Tearing off the veils from one of the tables, I slid into the ladies' room.

“I knew you were desperate…when you chose to wear a white shirt and leave out two buttons to get my attention, but following me into the toilet….that’s on another level.” She laughed, opening one of the toilet doors and revealing herself like she knew I was coming.

“I had to speak to you, Willa…”

She proceeded to the toilet sink, washing her hands and paying my words no mind.

“We have nothing to speak about!” She affirmed, marching towards the exit. My body jolted at the impulse, pulling her hands from the door knob and pinning her to the walk. Finally, I can see that shock in her eyes, the sane innocence snarling at me. I give in to her eye call, forgetting myself and gluing mine to hers for a kiss. Slowly pulling from her to see my Willa again, I met the new boss. Her body raving with anger, slapping the pleasure off my face.

“How dare you?!”