The Billionaire's Regret

Chapter 1

Chapter 1.

The heavy mahogany doors of the executive boardroom swung open with a muted thud, releasing a scent of expensive cologne and ozone-filtered air.

Evelyn Thorne stepped out, her heels clicking rhythmically against the polished marble of the hallway.

She looked every bit the high-powered marketing department head of Stellar Group. Her hair pulled back into a sleek, indestructible bun, her charcoal blazer tailored to perfection, and a leather-bound portfolio tucked under her arm.

She hadn’t even reached her department floor before the vultures began to circle.

"So? Don’t keep us in agony, Boss. How did it go?"

Evelyn stopped in her tracks due to the fact that a small crowd of her colleagues had gathered near the glass partition of the marketing wing.

They looked haggard; eyes bloodshot from forty-eight hours of straight caffeine and late-night revisions. This marketing pitch she'd just finished wasn't just another win to them, rather it was the lifeblood of their quarterly bonuses and the culmination of six months of grueling market research.

Evelyn let out a long, slow sigh. She adjusted her grip on her portfolio and let her shoulders slump just a fraction. Her expression shifted into a mask of solemn regret.

"I'm sorry, everyone," she said, her voice dropping to an apologetic whisper.

The silence that followed was heavy enough to crush an average person. The junior designers exchanged panicked looks while the head of digital strategy, a man who usually lived on sarcasm, suddenly looked like he was about to be physically ill.

One woman actually leaned against the wall for support. The "gloomy" atmosphere Evelyn had intended to lift had solidified into a thick, suffocating fog of despair.

"I'm so sorry," Evelyn continued, only this time, a mischievous spark lit up her hazel eyes as she finally broke the tension with a radiant, teeth-flashing grin.

"–that they liked it so much they didn’t just sign on it. They went ahead to announce that our bonuses will definitely be payed."

For two seconds, the department was frozen in shock. Then, the explosion happened.

"YES!"

"Oh, thank God!"

" Hahaha, we actually pulled it off!"

Cheers erupted, echoing off the high ceilings of the open-concept office. Papers were tossed into the air like confetti, and the heavy weight that had hung over the floor for days vanished in a heartbeat.

"Gosh, Boss, why would you do that to us?" Marcus, a senior marketing lead, clutched his chest with a look of genuine relief. "I swear, I felt my heart skip three beats. I was already updating my resume in my head!"

"For a moment, I thought all those late nights were for nothing," added Sarah, another senior member, laughing as she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. "You’re far too cruel, Evelyn. Truly cruel."

Evelyn leaned against a nearby desk, watching them with a sense of quiet pride. She knew the prank was a bit childish, but the team had been operating at a breaking point.

They needed the adrenaline rush of the win to wash away the exhaustion.

"Well, would you look at the time," Evelyn said, tapping the face of her designer watch. "That's enough celebrating for now. We've gotten what we wanted, but we still have to keep our best unless we lose the other prizes. We all want that year-end bonus, don’t we?"

"You bet we do!" Marcus shouted, pumping a fist into the air. "This year, Marketing is taking the top spot. We aren't losing out to those snot-nosed pricks in the Legal department again. If I have to see their smug faces at the company gala one more time without a trophy in my hand, I’ll lose it."

"You heard the Boss!" a voice rang out, commanding and sharp. "Back to work, all of you. Let’s clean up this mess before HR thinks we’re hosting a rave."

Maria walked forward, the very picture of corporate elegance. A tall, dark-skinned woman with a sharp bob and a wardrobe that belonged on a Parisian runway, Maria wasn’t just the department’s most efficient coordinator; she was Evelyn’s best friend and the only person who could read Evelyn like an open book.

As the crowd dispersed, Maria slipped her arm through Evelyn’s, leading her toward the sanctuary of her corner office.

"I see you've been in a suspiciously good mood lately," Maria whispered, nudging Evelyn’s side with her elbow. "And don't give me that 'professional satisfaction' crap. This is different. You’ve got that... glow about you again. Is there something I should know about?"

Evelyn felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She tried to maintain her "Director Thorne" persona, focusing her gaze on a distant filing cabinet. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Maria. I’m just happy everyone got what they wanted. It feels nice seeing all of them so happy."

Maria stopped walking and pulled Evelyn into a quiet corner by the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the sprawling city skyline. "Evelyn. You are many things, a genius, a leader, a shark in the boardroom, but you are a terrible liar when it comes to your heart. Spill it."

" What exactly are you hiding from me."

Evelyn glanced around to ensure no stray interns were eavesdropping. Then, leaning in close, she let out a tiny, breathless squeal that was entirely unbecoming of a corporate executive.

"He finally picked a date," she whispered. "Vander called me this morning. We’re getting married in June."

Maria’s jaw dropped. Then, she let out a shriek of joy that made a few people in the cubicles look up. "Oh my God! Evelyn! That’s amazing! June? That’s only four months away!"

"I know," Evelyn said, her eyes shining. "He wants a big ceremony at the Wellington estate. His parents are already talking about canceling all their appointments on the date."

"Honestly..It feels… it feels like a fairy tale, Maria. I can't believe we're finally getting married."

"I am so happy for you," Maria said, her voice softening with genuine affection. "But listen to me carefully, I'll be the one to pick out the dress. No arguments. And I better be the first name on that guest list."

Evelyn pouted playfully. "Well, I think my mother might have something to say about the guest list order."

Maria chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. I won’t be greedy. But I expect the second invite right after Aunty Cassandra gets hers. Deal?"

"Deal," Evelyn laughed.

The afternoon vanished in a blur of spreadsheets and celebratory emails. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in bruises of purple and gold, the office slowly emptied.

One by one, the lights in the cubicles flickered off, leaving only the soft glow of the emergency lights and the hum of the HVAC system.

Evelyn remained seated behind her desk, the blue light of her monitor reflecting in her tired eyes. She was meticulously reviewing the final project briefs for the day, her finger tracing the lines of text.

The door to her office creaked open. Maria stood there, her coat already on, her purse slung over her shoulder.

"You're still here, Evelyn?" Maria sighed, crossing the room to lean against the mahogany desk. "Please don’t tell me you’re planning on doing overtime again. You’ve been living in this office for weeks. You need to take a load off, girl. You look like you’re running on fumes."