The CEO is my Ex

And then, the unexpected happens!

CHAPTER 2

It was still a pretty butterfly despite its bleached state.

Aria took a sip from the half-filled glass of scotch in her other hand as she stroked the carved etches of the butterfly necklace while staring out of the window of her measly one room condo. The window allowed her a dusky view her new neighbourhood, Northwest of The Strip.

This was where blind love brought her.

"Fake gold." Aria let out a mirthless laughter as she clutched the bronze necklace that was once gold in her hand. One of Kevin's parting gifts after using her to fill his pockets.

If someone had predicted that she'll be living in the slums of Vegas years before now, she would have laughed and called that person nuts.

Her grip tightened around the glass as she reflected on how she got here.

She had been in love with Kevin, hiding behind the status of a best friend until she was bold enough to confess. When Kevin had told her the feeling was mutual, she readily agreed to Kevin's suggestion of eloping with him.

She didn't know Kevin had plans of his own, that she was nothing but a card in his game.

I don't regret a thing. Aria recalled telling her mother.

"Well, oh well. Look at me now. Regretting every damn thing." Aria muttered and took another sip.

Kevin knew Aria's love made her gullible. He exploited her loyalty and used it to gain access to her finances which her father had, surprisingly, not blocked her from accessing despite throwing mud to their faces on her wedding day.

But Kevin didn't stop at her personal finances. He discovered that Aria's ill father had put one of the most thriving casinos in Vegas, Aces and Hearts, in her name and had made an agreement with a ruthless creditor.

Aria dangled the necklace at eye height and watched it sway. Left. Right. Left...

"Baby I'm home!" Aria had called out excitedly as she locked the door, dragging her mini travelling bag behind her. She had returned from her weekend trip.

"Baby?" Aria had called again.

Silence. Dead silence, not even a door had creaked that afternoon.

The empty bedroom, wardrobe and neatly-made bed had said it all.

Kevin had absconded.

And like the pieces of a Monalisa puzzle, everything had begun to fit and click in her head. She couldn't reach his phone, couldn't track him and had no idea where he went.

She had been nothing to him but a puppet on his strings.

Few weeks after, she had gotten a visit from the ruthless owner of the loan firm aka Terror. He had informed her of the debt Kevin had collected in her name, presenting documents with her signature and her inheritance as a collateral.

Selling her mansion didn't take care of the loan and the two hundred and fifty percent interest on it. She couldn't ask her father for help, she didn't have the nerve to. Her mother wouldn't even let her in. Even though her father had treated her right in the sharing of his properties, the parent-child relationship had been scarred.

A loud and hasty rap on the door snatched her out of her past and her blurry lenses cleared.

Aria tiptoed to the small round table in the room and dropped her scotch noiselessly before reaching for the gun attached underneath.

She approached the door while c*****g the gun.

The person wouldn't stop hammering.

Swiftly she unhooked the door chain and stepped to the side, aiming the gun at the visitor's head.

"Miss Morgan!" The person cried in a whisper.

It was Denzel. Her PA.

Aria sighed. "Come in and shut the door."

"Why the hell were you about to break my door?" Aria demanded.

"You didn't hear?"

"What?"

"There was an exchange of bullets, two teenage boys and a lady was found dead on the street!" Denzel placed his briefcase on the table.

"So?" Aria shrugged.

Denzel's eyebrows flew up and then eyed the gun still in her hand. "I see, you've gotten accustomed to here."

"Mind your tongue Denzel, you don't wanna lose it. Let's go straight to business."

Aria and Denzel sat opposite each other.

"Why'd you ask me to come?"

Aria took in deep breath. "I want to sell Aces and Hearts."

Denzel's mouth dropped open, his voice in a faint whisper. "What?"

Aria avoided his questioning gaze, downing her leftover scotch.

"W-why?"

"I''ve done a pretty good job managing it." Aria replied sarcastically. "It would be better in the hands of someone else, if they decide to keep it a casino."

Denzel leaned forward. "Something tells me there is more to this than you're letting me on."

"Oh Denzel, always the sharp one. It's why my father sings your praises." Aria crosses her legs and leans forward as well, resting her elbows on the tabletop and clasping her fingers.

"But this once, it's best that you put your intelligence aside and do what I say." Aria reached forward and stroked his beardless chin. "Find me damn buyer, would you?"

Denzel's eyes darted to her fingers and then back up at her.

Aria leaned backward, her lips in a smirk.

"How much are you selling?" He asked.

"Now that's more like it," Aria chirped. "It depends, how much is it really worth?''

"Two point eight billion dollars but because of the recent downscale, it's been estimated at two point five"

Aria's brow went up this time.

More than enough money to restart my whole life.

"Let's sell it for two."

Denzel c****d his head to one side. "You're willing to let go of five million."

"It's need to be sold asap, I forgot to add that," Aria said dismissively, standing up and walking away.

Denzel took the hint, grabbed his briefcase. Opening the the door, he paused.

"This would break your father's heart." He looked at her sadly.

"I know." Aria shrugged. " But I can't break it more than I already have."