Twisted Devotion:The Billionaire's Regret

Chapter Two

“Hey babe. How’re you?” Bonnie’s voice came through from the other end of the line.

“I’m fine,” Natalie responded, heading towards the adjacent bathroom, her voice still thick from sleep.

“You sound like you just woke up. Did you find a safe haven there? Cause it took you forever to answer the phone.”

‘It’s quite the opposite. Just a crazy afternoon,” Natalie said, placing the phone on speaker as she splashed water on her face at the basin.

“Wouldn’t have been so crazy if you did something other than sleeping and reading every weekend.”

There was silence for a moment, Natalie knowing so well what her stepsister was talking about. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, feeling the weight of the day on her shoulder. “Spare me 5 minutes please, I’ll call you back.” She said, ending the call before Bonnie could respond.

She pulled off her undies and stepped into the shower. In no time, she was done, wrapping herself in a pink towel before heading back to her room. Once settled, she sat on her bed then put a call through to Bonnie.

“Sorry about that, I needed to take a shower.” Natalie said as soon as Bonnie picked up.

“A hot Saturday, huh? Hope you haven’t forgotten about 5p.m.”

“5p.m?” Natalie frowned, trying to remember what was supposed to happen.

“Frank? You’re not bailing on him again, are you?”

“Maybe some other day,” Natalie replied, her reluctance clear.

“Don’t do this to the poor guy again, Nat. It’s just a friendly date, not a lifelong commitment. Plus, who knows? Maybe you’ll actually have fun.” Bonnie paused, noticing that her sister wasn’t buying her persuasion. “Ok babe, do it for me if you wouldn’t do it for yourself. At least, it’s a better way to spend the weekend than sleeping all day, lost in dreamland,” She continued.

“I have better things to attend to. Abby will be back from her music class by 6 p.m., and she’d love to have me home,” Natalie said, trying to push her sister’s urging aside. “He called this morning, and I made it clear I’m not promising anything.”

“You need to stop using Abby as an excuse all the time. Ava’s around for her, and I’ll be at your place before Abby comes back. I’m sure my little angel always loves to have her aunt around.”

“Bonnie, I…” Natalie was about to protest when she heard the doorbell. “Hold on, someone’s at the door.”

“Yeah! That should be the delivery guy.”

“Delivery guy? I didn’t order anything,” Natalie said, exiting her room and heading towards the door.

“Yeah, I did. I found a nice dress online that’d be perfect for the date.”

Natalie reached the door, opening it to find a delivery man holding a package. “Natalie Carson?” he inquired.

“Yes, that’s me.”

She signed the jotter he handed her, then collected the package, balancing the phone between her cheek and shoulder. “Thank you,” she said, shutting the door behind him.

“I never said I was going on the date, let alone needing a dress.”

“Thank you, babe. Please, just meet him at the location when he calls.”

“Will you always be this persistent?” Natalie asked, half-annoyed, half-amused.

“I love you, Sis. Try it on; I’m sure it’ll suit you. I picked one for your perfect figure.” Bonnie said before ending the call.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

The cafe was alive with the soft hum of conversation, occasional clatter of cups and saucers, and the muted footsteps of waitstaff moving briskly between tables. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the cozy interior. Natalie sat opposite Frank, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her coffee cup as she listened to him talk. She wasn’t fully engaged; her mind wandered, questioning why she’d agreed to this date in the first place. It wasn’t like her to let herself be pushed into something she didn’t want, but Bonnie had been relentless.

“Just a friendly date, Nat,” her stepsister had insisted, her tone almost pleading. “He’s a great guy, and you deserve to be happy. It’s not like you have to marry him.”

Friendly. Natalie let the word roll around in her head like a pebble in a shoe—uncomfortable and persistent. She had relented, more out of exhaustion than actual interest. Frank, sitting across from her, was nice enough—handsome in a boy-next-door kind of way, polite, and clearly interested in more than just friendship. She’d rejected his advances before, but he’d been persistent, and Naomi’s insistence that she “give the poor guy a chance” had finally worn her down. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t right. That maybe, just maybe, she was stringing him along for the wrong reasons.

Natalie glanced at Frank, noting the hopeful glint in his eyes as he talked about his work, his recent vacation, anything to keep the conversation going.

“…and that’s why I thought we could take a weekend trip up the coast. You know? Abby coming along.” Frank was saying, his voice tinged with nervous excitement.

Natalie forced a smile. That sounds nice, but…

He cut her off, leaning in slightly, his expression earnest. “I know you’re not looking for anything serious, Natalie, and I get that. But we could just see where things go. No pressure.”

There it was. The moment she’d been dreading. The underlying motive behind the ‘friendly date’ was finally laid bare. Natalie set her cup down, her fingers trembling slightly as she searched for the right words.

“Frank,” she began gently, “you’re a great guy, and I appreciate your persistence, but I don’t think this is going to work. I’m just not in a place where I can give you what you’re looking for.”

His face fell, but he quickly masked his disappointment with a strained smile. “I understand. I just thought... well, I thought maybe we could at least try.”

“I’m sorry, I thought… I mean, I was under the impression that we were just having a friendly date, but.. I think we both know there’s something more here,” Natalie said, standing up and reaching for her coat. “I really have to go.”

Frank stood as well, looking as if he wanted to say more, but he simply nodded. “Yeah, of course. I’m sorry if I pushed too hard.”

Natalie shook her head, offering him a small, apologetic smile. “Thank you for the coffee, Frank. And for understanding.”

With that, she turned and made her way out of the cafe, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. As she stepped onto the sidewalk, the cool evening air greeted her, and she exhaled, grateful to be out of that uncomfortable situation. Her car was parked in the garage just around the corner, and all she could think about was getting home, slipping into her comfortable clothes, and spending quality time with her bundle of joy, Abby, trying to forget about this evening. She made her way to the parking garage, her heels clicking softly against the pavement.

As she approached the garage, her thoughts drifted, unbidden, to the past she had tried so hard to bury. It had been seven years since she’d last seen him, seven years since her heart had been shattered by the man she’d once believed she would spend the rest of her life with. Even now, the memories echoed in her mind, like a ghost that refused to be exorcized. She quickened her pace, eager to shake off those memories. She's way past them now.

“Natalie?” The voice was thick, familiar, and sent a chill down her spine.

She froze, her hand hovering over the handle of her car. Her heart skipped a beat. It couldn’t be. That voice—it was so familiar, so achingly familiar that it felt like a punch to the gut. She blinked, trying to convince herself that she was imagining things. It had to be an imagination. There was no way it could be him.

“Natalie!” the voice called again, this time closer. She heard footsteps approaching, fast and purposeful. Her pulse quickened, and she slowly turned around, not daring to believe what her ears were telling her.

And then she saw him.

Matt. Standing there, just a few feet away, looking as if he’d stepped out of one of her dreams—no, her nightmares. Her heart raced as she took in the sight of him, tall and imposing, his dark hair tousled by the breeze, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath catch in her throat.

It was him. After all these years, it was really him.

“Natalie,” he said, his voice softer now, filled with something she couldn’t quite place. Longing? Relief?

“Is it really you?”

She blinked, her mind reeling. How was this possible? What was he doing here? In Australia, of all places? And how had he found her? Questions swirled in her head, but she couldn’t find the words to voice them. All she could do was stare at him, her heart pounding in her chest.

“No,” she finally managed to say, her voice shaky. “You’ve got the wrong person.”

Matt’s eyes narrowed slightly, but the determination in his gaze didn’t waver. He took a step closer, his eyes searching hers, as if trying to find the truth hidden behind her words. “Nat, where… how…” He was trying to look for the right words, stammering and finding it hard to articulate his words. “ I’ve been looking for you.” He whispered.

Natalie’s breath caught in her throat, a mix of fear and anger surging through her. How dare he show up like this, after all these years? She straightened her spine, forcing herself to meet his gaze with cold detachment. “I don’t know who you think I am, but you’re wrong.

“Don’t do this, Natalie,” he said, taking a step closer. “It’s me. I know it’s you.”

She shook her head, backing away slightly. “I don’t know who you are,” she insisted, trying to keep her voice steady, even as anxiety clawed at her insides. “You’re mistaking me for someone else.”

“It’s me, Matt,” his voice was pleading now, as if he couldn’t bear the thought of her slipping away again. “I’ve been searching for you for years. I know it’s you.”

Panic flared within her, but she fought to maintain her composure. She wasn’t the same woman he knew seven years ago. She was stronger now, more independent. She wouldn’t let him just waltz back into her life and try to ruin her again.

“I don’t know you,” she repeated, more firmly this time, though the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her. She turned to her car to leave, but Matt was quicker.

He grabbed her arm—not harshly, but enough to stop her in her tracks. The contact sent a jolt through her, and she whipped around, her eyes blazing. “Let go of me,” she demanded.

But Matt didn’t back down. Instead, he closed the distance between them in a few swift strides, his hands reaching out to gently cup her face. “I know it’s you, Natalie,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I could never forget you.”

Before she could react, before she could push him away, he leaned in and kissed her. It was brief, just a brush of his lips against hers, but it was enough to send a jolt of electricity through her, awakening emotions she had long since buried. For a split second, she was transported back to a time when they were in love, when the world had seemed full of promises. But that moment was fleeting, and reality came crashing down around her.

Natalie pulled back, her hand flying to her cheek as she slapped him hard across the face. The sound echoed in the garage, sharp and decisive. Matt staggered back, his hand touching the spot where her palm had connected, but he didn’t look angry. Instead, he looked relieved, as if her reaction had confirmed something for him.

“Natalie,” he breathed, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her stomach churn. “You’re still the same Natalie,” he said softly, almost to himself. “I knew it.”

She shook her head, stepping back, trying to distance herself from the man who had once been everything to her. “You’re crazy,” she spat, her voice with a mix of fear and anger. “I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care. Just leave me alone.”

Matt’s eyes softened, and he took a step forward, his hands outstretched as if to comfort her. “Please, Nat, just hear me out. I’ve waited so long to see you, to explain…”

“You heard the lady,” a voice cut in sharply from behind. Natalie whirled around to see Frank standing a few feet away, his posture tense, his expression protective. “She doesn’t know you. Leave her alone.”

Matt’s eyes flicked to Frank, a flash of irritation crossing his face. “You have no idea who I am, do you? This is none of your business. Step away.”

Frank squared his shoulders, clearly not intimidated by Matt’s commanding presence. “It is my business when someone is harassing my friend. If you don’t leave right now, I’ll call security.”

Natalie’s heart was racing, the situation spiraling out of control. She glanced between the two men, her mind screaming at her to run, to escape before things got any worse.

“Frank, it’s fine,” she tried to say, but her voice was lost in the escalating tension between the two men.

Matt took a deep breath, his expression hardening. “I’m not leaving without talking to her. You don’t understand, this is…”

“I understand that you’re upsetting her,” Frank interrupted, pulling out his phone. “And if you don’t leave right now, I’ll make sure you do.”

“Do you know who I am?”

“I don’t care who you are,” Frank shot back, stepping between Natalie and Matt. “She asked you to leave. You should listen.”

But before he could say more, a pair of security guards appeared, moving towards Matt the scene, their stances firm but non-threatening.

“Is there a problem here?” one of the guards asked, his gaze shifting between Matt and Frank.

Matt straightened, his face a mask of control. “There’s no problem. I’m leaving.”

The guards nodded, but standing still, clearly ensuring that Matt would follow through on his word. Natalie watched, her heart in her throat, as Matt was gently but firmly escorted out of the garage. He didn’t resist, but as he walked away, he turned back to her, his eyes filled with a promise.

“This isn’t over, Natalie. We need to talk.”

Natalie watched him go, her heart still racing, her emotions a tangled mess. Frank turned to her, his hands hovering over her arm as if he wanted to comfort her but wasn’t sure if she’d accept it. “Are you okay? Do you want me to drive you home?”

Natalie shook her head, forcing a smile. “No, I’m fine. Really. Must be some crazy jerk.”

Frank hesitated but nodded. “Okay. But call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Frank.” She said, forcing a smile.

With that, Natalie turned and opened the car door, her legs feeling like lead. As she slid into the driver’s seat, she unlocked her phone, dialed the first number on her call log, then started the car’s engine. Her heart pounded in her chest, her pulse loud in her ears. She could still feel the warmth of his hands on her face, the brief kiss that stirred up emotions she had locked away long ago.

She pressed the phone on her ear, still ringing, yet her body felt numb. She could hardly breathe as her mind reeled. Seven years ago, this was the same feeling—betrayal, hurt, confusion. The years she had tried so hard to forget, the nights of endless tears, the heartbreak that had shattered her world. She blinked and suddenly, it came flooding back, each snippet with a force proving to be stronger than the resistance she was exerting to wipe them off her head. Every emotion, every promise broken, every word unsaid. The years fell away like pages torn from a book, and she was back to that fateful day—the moment when her life had forever changed.