Unluckily Fated With the Billionaire

Encounter 3: Good Morning, Enemy

“You look so beautiful tonight.” Lucas sighed as he stared at me while we waited for our food to be served. After their trip had finished, he took me on a date to the restaurant where we always used to eat “to make up for the lost time”, as he said. “So I look ugly on the other days?” I teased. I remember doing this too when we just started dating and the way he panicked just to explain to me was iconic. But now that we’re already five years into the relationship, he handles it just like the smooth motherfucker he is.

“Was there even a day when you were ugly? I don’t remember anything like that.” He smirked and acted as if he was trying to reminisce something. “Oh, shut up Lucas.” I scoffed while blushing a little. It’s amazing how his words still affect me even in the slightest ways.

After a little while, the food had finally arrived and we started eating while talking about our lives and future, and naturally, the topic for the plans for our wedding got brought up.

“What type of wedding would you like? Church? Garden? Beach? Should we get wed at our family resort?” He asked. It’s not obvious that he’s excited, no?

“Views from garden and beach weddings are nice, but I really prefer it to be formal, like in front of God and the church. It’s been my fantasy to walk down the aisle with the high roofs and big chandeliers of churches.” I admitted but kept the last sentence a whisper, but it seemed like he heard it, since his grin just grew wider.

I suddenly remembered that wide grin Liam gave me when he came to my office. Just thinking about it gave me chills and made my blood boil at the same time.

Why am I even thinking of that jerk, when Lucas is just right in front of me?

I was busy brushing the thought out of my mind when his phone suddenly rang.

“Let me just answer this.” He said and excused himself as he strode outside the restaurant. Was it his family? Or maybe from his job. As a manager of a real estate company, he tends to be really busy with his job, but I was too, so it wasn’t that big of a problem with our relationship, since we knew how to communicate.

Thinking about it, our relationship wasn’t really all filled with happiness, but it was definitely good. The trust we have for each other as well as the maturity we have really become the pillar of our relationship. Would our married life be like this as well? I can’t wait to find out.

“Uh, Zai, are you finished?” Lucas said when he came back and unsurely pulled his chair out. Did something happen?

“Not yet. What’s the matter?” I answered. “Well, the company called. There’s been some urgent business that needs to be tended to and I need to be there right now.” He said and spoke as if he was guilty about leaving me alone here.

“Will you be going now? It’s alright, I’ll just go home by myself since I brought my car as well. Don’t worry, hmm?” I convinced him and flashed him a smile to show that it was really fine.

“I’m really sorry. I promise I’ll make it up to you again with no distractions next time, Zai. Take care and get home safely, alright?” He let out an exasperated sigh, put on his coat, then kissed my forehead. “I love you.” He said then smiled before eventually going out of the restaurant.

When he left, I continued eating and ordered a bottle of wine as well. I really needed to unwind since it’s been so busy at the clinic nowadays. I can’t bother Charlotte and Irene right now since they’re probably busy with their jobs, as well as Lucas. It’s not really bad to have some time to myself.

Well, that’s where I was wrong.

“Fancy meeting you here, Doctor.”

Was that how the devil’s supposed to sound? I really hope I'll never get to hear it again.

As if I invited him, he comfortably seated himself in the chair in front of me, where Lucas was previously sitting.

The nerve of this guy, I swear!

“I don’t remember inviting you to sit here, at my table, Mr. Mirren. Why are you even here anyway?” I coldly told him. I really hope it will drive the devil away.

“Is that so? Then consider me as a surprise, or maybe an uninvited guest. Can’t a patient talk with his psychologist? Isn’t that part of your job? And can’t a ‘con CEO’ meet with a client he’s about to swindle in a restaurant?” He said, then ordered a glass of wine for himself. Is he seriously going to drink with me? There was also too much sarcasm dripping in his voice when he said he was a ‘con CEO.’

What, can’t I make assumptions? He was just so suspicious when we first met!

“Hope you won’t mind keeping patient company.” He grinned.

“I DO mind. We’re outside work, Mr. Mirren. I have no obligations with you right now, and in case you haven’t noticed it, I would be pleased if you’d go away.” I retorted, but it wasn't in even the slightest way effective to repel him.

“Did you search me up?” I was startled by his question. The way he asked was so serious and he began to look serious as well as if he was interrogating me. “Why would I tell you?” I scoffed. He definitely doesn’t need to know that I spent the whole night doing a background check on him.

“I might stop pestering you if you tell—“

“REALLY?” I exclaimed. That was such a tempting offer! If he ever wonders why I did, I’ll just tell him that it’s because it’s recommended for psychiatrists to do a background check on their patients so they’ll get to know them better. It’s a win-win situation, he gets his answer, he’ll stop pestering me, and I’ll finally be at peace. He just looked at me after that and crossed his arms, intently waiting for my answer.

“Uh, yeah. I did. Since it’s quite a requirement for us to do background checks on patients—“ I awkwardly let out a cough to hide the embarrassment, but he had cut me off already. “What did you find out?” Why was he so serious about this?

“Uh, things about you, your company, and your family?”

“Can you elaborate on what you know about my family?” What? Why would I need to do that? It’s not as if he doesn’t know his family, so why ask me?

“What are you doing this for? Anyway, you’re Liam Aidan Mirren, CEO of Mirren Group, your father, the chairman, is Lincoln Aislyn Mirren, your mother, the vice president, is Adelaide Mirren, and you have a younger brother who’s managing your company branch abroad, Link Aiden Mirren?” I explained and ended it as if I’m wondering why he asked.

I also just realized that I literally memorized those details about his family.

“Is that all? What about our photos?” He once again asked. WHY IS HE INTERROGATING ME ABOUT HIS OWN FAMILY?

“Photos? Well, I saw family pictures, and I could quite recognize who was who. You, your parents, and your brother.”

“Is that all?” He repeated his question again.

“What? What in the everloving f**k do you want—“ I stopped from cursing him when I remembered something. “Oh, wait. I think I saw one family picture, but there’s a girl included. She looks quite like your father? But I never saw any information about her such as her name, and it’s the only picture she has—“

“Leigh Adelaine Mirren.” He said, and his face suddenly turned into an emotionless one. What did just happen? “Doesn’t that name ring a bell on you?”

“Huh? Well, aside from the fact that it’s obvious she’s your sister, why would her name ring a bell on me? I never personally knew anyone from your family except you. No offense, but although you’re billionaires, it’s really the first time I’ve heard of your company and family since I’m not really into your field of expertise.”

Silence.

There was an obvious tension in the air surrounding us, and it’s really scaring me how the arrogant Liam Mirren suddenly turned into a serious one. Did I say something wrong? But I was just answering him! I was just about to ask when suddenly, a sly grin was back on his lips as he swirled the wine he was holding. There was also mischief present in his eyes as if there was a switch on him and his personality changed in a single snap.

Huh?

“You’re obviously interested in me, Dr. Mendez. You even knew who my whole family was.”

HUH?

“What the f*ck—“ I was just about to raise my middle finger when suddenly, he started laughing like a maniac. It’s good enough that it’s not loud enough for him to gather attention, but what is this motherfucker doing? “Ah, really. What a good psychiatrist you are.” He chuckled and wiped a lone tear from his eye, probably due to too much laughing.

Was this guy on drugs?

“Are you on drugs? But anyway, I don’t care. I answered your questions, so don’t you dare go back on your promise and stop pestering me, Liam Mirren.” I said in a serious manner. This is it. My freedom and peace of mind have finally come.

“Sorry, no.”

WHAT.

I held the wine glass tightly in my hand and trembled. I was actually scared it might break, but my rage has got the better of me.

“Well, I did say about not pestering you anymore if you answer me, but, I said I might stop pestering you.” He said in a matter-of-fact tone and smirked. For the second time, I was channeling my inner Buddha and calming myself down that it almost took all of my energy to do so.

Calm down, calm down. You’re in public, he’s still your patient, he’s a billionaire with lots of connections and money, and he indeed has a point. It’s your fault for not analyzing what he said.

I let out a loud exhale after calming myself and just gulped the wine in one down. Liam looked at me with surprise but I didn’t even bother talking to him anymore and filled my glass to the brim with wine.

I’d rather get drunk and not remember anything than talk with this jerk.

“Hey, don’t tell me you’re going to drink all that—“ He was cut off when I once again drank the wine in one sitting. The way his eyes went very wide and how his body just froze mid-air about to stop me was very irritating and satisfying at the same time. “You did not just drink a full glass of wine in one…” He murmured, his adam’s apple bobbing up and down.

“I did. And if you try the slightest to get in my way, you’re going to have a broken shard of wine glass pierced through your pretty neck.”

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“F*ck, please bring down the curtains, I’m not a plant doing photosynthesis in the sun,” I murmured. My head was throbbing so much as if it was about to be split in half. Just what happened to me that I was this hungover?

“Water, oh God, someone bring me water, I am begging you,” I murmured once again, trashing around the bed I was currently in.

Something feels wrong here.

Suddenly, my head throbbed again and faint memories of yesterday came flashing through.

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“I did. And if you try the slightest to get in my way, you’re going to have a broken shard of wine glass pierced through your pretty neck.”

“You have a pretty neck, can I strangle it?”

“Your attitude’s so bad that Satan is considering you to replace him.”

“F*ck you, Liam Mirren.”

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OH MY GOD. NO WAY.

I immediately opened my eyes wide and sobered up when I remembered the things I’d said last night.

“s**t, no way that did happen, right? I’m probably dreaming.” I tried convincing myself and slapped my right cheek to see if this was all true. Unfortunately, it indeed was. Until I sensed another soul’s piercing stare at me at the side.

“The devil has been awoken.”