MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(ARIELLE'S POV)

7pm, the Grand Imperial Hotel.

"You've got to pull yourself together," I said to myself, splashing cold water on my face.

The afternoon had passed in a blur-probably because my mind kept drifting.

Stephen had handled everything, and I arrived 20 minutes early. Now, I found myself here, stuck in this awkward limbo.

How hard could it be? Negotiate with dealers, help clients solve problems, assist blind dates, and maybe catch my ex-husband in the act?

"If I get through tonight, I'm buying a lottery ticket," I murmured, a bitter smile crossing my lips.

I checked the time again, then left the bathroom, taking a seat closer to the table with the sea view.

That's when I spotted Margaux, the young woman supposedly the Harrisons' granddaughter, waiting for her date.

She looked delicate, calm, almost ethereal in a beautiful blue dress-something straight out of a French film. She had this quiet, classical elegance about her. It was hard to believe she was the rebellious granddaughter the Harrisons had mentioned.

Her long, curly dark hair cascaded down her back, and I caught the glint of her bright blue eyes. She seemed irritated, though, her gaze sharp, as if she'd rather be anywhere else, and I couldn't blame her.

I continued to watch, glancing every so often at the entrance. What I only felt was an odd sense of anxiety, unsure if I was waiting for something to happen, or trying to avoid it.

All the memories of our recent fight, our past struggles-flashed in my mind. Six years of turmoil. I wasn't anyone to him anymore. Just his ex-wife. That's all.

Except for Maverick. I still needed to talk to him, explain why his father hadn't been around lately.

My thoughts swirled, eventually circling back to one thing: I'd be happy if he really let it go. I should allow him to let it go. I really should. If that's his choice.

And then, he arrived.

Margaux's date.

My heart lodged in my throat as I watched him walk in-charming, tall, sophisticated in a black suit, his hair neatly styled. And his face...

It wasn't Jared.

I blinked, not sure if how I felt, but I was sure of one emotion; relief.

I didn't know why I felt that way about him not being Jared, but I was, regardless.

But my relief was short-lived when I saw... Ashley suddenly appeared from behind the man?

She looked slightly uncomfortable, which didn't take long to explain. This man was Ashley's boss-the one she often grumbled about, calling him a workaholic. I hadn't expected him to be so young and handsome, though. In Ashley's descriptions, I'd imagined someone in his late forties, moderately unattractive at best.

Margaux, however, didn't seem too concerned with the man's appearance or personality. Instead, she quipped, "Do you bring your secretary on every date?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm, though she's still smiling.

The man didn't flinch, simply nodding in agreement. Ashley shot him an exasperated look, as if his confirmation was going to land her in trouble.

At that point, I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath at the growing awkward tension. I made a mental note not to forget to tease Ashley about this occasion.

Margaux, still unimpressed, shook her head and sighed softly. "That's why I always think arranged dates are so boring. Nobody takes them seriously. It's just a waste of time."

Then, as if on cue, she turned gently in my direction. "And what about you? Do you hear enough, Madam?"

A wave of slight embarrassment washed over me as both Ashley and her boss turned to look at me. Ashley's eyes widened, clearly surprised and a little curious.

Not wanting to seem rude by remaining seated, I stood up and walked over.

"Hello..." I greeted awkwardly.

Margaux chuckled and waved me off. "It's fine. know who you are. You're the restaurant lady they can't stop talking about. These old fellows always worry about me. I'm only mad at you because-" she glanced back at Ashley's boss, "-if you didn't want to come, you should've just said it. That way, we could've saved each other the trouble."

The man, who had remained silent up until now, finally spoke, his tone calm and controlled. "It's more convenient this way."

That was clearly the wrong thing to say. Margaux's irritation flared, but Ashley quickly stepped in, trying to ease the tension with a forced cheerfulness. "So, ladies, how about

we introduce ourselves?" she out

suggested, her voice bright, but it was obvious the energy behind it

wasn't genuine.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all, as I watched them. But none of us refuted, and we agreed to the idea, the route of us officially exchanging self-introduction and pleasantries.

"I'm Margaux Harrison, your target tonight," she said with an amused glance in my direction before turning to the man. "And your guest, supposedly," she added, her voice polite, though the coldness in her eyes was hard to miss. "Roman McFadden," Ashley's boss replied, his voice smooth and confident. "I own McFadden Industries."

I froze for a moment. No wonder the

Harrisons had s said he controlled half the state's lifeline. How had Ashley never mentioned she now worked for McFadden? I glanced at her, and she gave me an innocent smile before explaining, "I'm Ashley Thompson, Chief Secretary at McFadden Industries. Sorry, Miss Harrison, my boss is just a bit rude sometimes."

Before Roman could shoot any more fiery glares, I introduced myself. "I'm Arielle Meyers. I run the newly opened restaurant, A&M. It's a pleasure to meet you all, and I'd love for you to come by sometime. Sincerely." Ashley, unable to keep up with the pretense, turned to me and whispered, "Why are you here, anyway?" Her voice was low, clearly trying to figure out if she'd gotten caught.

I smiled, enjoying the rare sight of my best friend being nervous. "I was supposed to have a business dinner with a supplier, but they're... clearly late," I said, glancing at my wristwatch for emphasis.

Okay, so tonight wasn't the disaster I'd feared. I exhaled in relief, turning back to Margaux. "I'm really sorry, Miss Harrison. I didn't mean to spy on you."

But before I could move on, Roman raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp. "I think I know you from somewhere, Miss..." He paused, studying me with a knowing look. "And I thought you were here for him..."

I followed his finger's direction, and immediately, my heart sank.

There, across the room, was Jared, seated at a table with none other than Sofia.

I felt Ashley stiffen beside me, and I knew she was just as shocked as I was.

My heart pounded in my chest, my mind spinning with questions.

Sofia? That Sofia?

Didn't he tell me things were over between them? Hadn't he sworn there was NOTHING left?

I shook my head, trying to shove the bitter thoughts away, but they clung to me, relentless. The sting wasn't as sharp as I expected, but it still hurt, like a dull ache that refused to fade.

And then, as if the universe was playing some cruel joke, he stood up. My breath caught in my throat as he started walking toward us. My heart leaped, a rush of hope flooding my chest. He's coming over to me, I thought, my pulse quickening. But as he got closer, he walked right past us.

No glance. No word. No acknowledgment.

He didn't even spare me a second of his attention-just kept walking, completely ignoring us. Completely ignoring me.