MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(ARIELLE'S

POV)

I walked towards my car, handbag slung over my shoulders, jotter tucked securely under my armpit, its edges poking out slightly from the confines of my arm. On my other hand, I clutched an important file; it contained a mix of the new business plan I had drawn courtesy of Jared's class. The memory of his gift still lingered in my mind, and anytime I recalled the moment and the words that accompanied it, a hue of colors always found its way to my cheeks.

After presenting the gift to me, Jared had declared his decision to leave, citing an unknown appointment he needed to attend. I thanked him profusely again, ensuring that I showed how grateful I was for the gift.

Once he was gone, Rebecca and Stephen took over, never stopping fussing about the sculpture, oohing and aahing over how perfect it was. They insisted on helping me find the perfect spot to hang it, and after much deliberation, we finally settled on the wall across from my desk.

The sudden ringing of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. It came from my handbag, but with my hands full, I kept walking until I reached my car. Once there, I carefully placed the file and jotter on the passenger seat, ensuring they wouldn't slip. Finally, I rummaged through my bag, found my phone, and answered on the third ring.

"Hello?"

""Hey, Arielle! It's me, Margaux Harrison-the blind date? Remember?"

A cheerful young lady's voice filled the line, and it didn't take me long to place it. Margaux, the Harrisons' granddaughter. We hadn't spoken since that night, and I didn't even remember giving her my number. How did she get it?

"Oh, Miss Harrison! Of course, I remember. How have you been?" I asked, leaning back in the driver's seat as I smiled.

"Well, same old. Still being dragged to endless blind dates by the family. You'd think they'd give up by now, but nope," she said, laughing. "Anyway, I'm not calling about that! I actually got your number from my gran-hope you don't mind and I have a proposition for you." "Not at all. What's this about?"

"We'd love for you to be the contracted chef for my family's cruise dinner!" Her voice bubbled with excitement. "You're the first person who came to mind, and Gran thought you'd be perfect for it."

My heart skipped a beat as I processed the invitation.

This was a huge opportunity! The Harrisons were still influential. I could use the influence to my advantage. If handled well, this could open doors I'd only dreamed of.

"That's... incredible. I'm honored you thought of me," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the surge of excitement.

"I knew you'd say yes!" I could imagine Margaux smiled tenderly on the other side. "Honestly, I was worried you might be too busy to even consider it. You're always so in demand."

I chuckled softly. "It's a busy life, but there's no way I'd pass up such an amazing opportunity. How could I say no to your family?"

"You're the best," she said sincerely. "Before the formal dinner, I was thinking it might be helpful for you to come to the private ship early to go over everything. You know, the menu, the setup, all that fun stuff. Does that work for you?"

"Sounds like a good plan," I replied, already mentally bracing myself for the task ahead.

"And do you think you could come tonight?" She added, in a slightly pleading tone. "It'd be great to get started as soon as possible."

On hearing this I hesitated, my thoughts circling back to Maverick. If I boarded tonight, there was no telling how long it would take before everything was settled. Ever since my son was born, I'd rarely spent nights away from him. Before I could commit to anything, I needed to be absolutely sure he'd be okay.

Or should I call Dwayne or Jared now for help? The thought startled me once it crossed my mind. Geez. I was so swept up in today's excitement that I'd even consider leaning on either of them...I rubbed my temples, forcing myself to refocus.

"Tonight's doable," I said after a moment. "I just need to swing by home first to get everything in order. I have a little human to take care of, after all."

Margaux shared in the laughter. "Of course. Go take care of your little one, and we'll see you soon. I'll text you the details."

The call ended, and I let out a sharp breath, my chest practically buzzing with excitement-and a pinch of nerves.

Contracting a dinner on a ship wasn't exactly uncharted territory for me. I'd learned all about it during my time in Italy: you have to contact the cruise line or ship operator, hammer out every little detail-date, time, guest count, menu, pricing, special requests-you name it. Then there's the contract, a binding little piece of paper spelling out all the terms, followed by coordinating with the ship's catering team to make sure everything fits within their capabilities and policies.

Sounds neat in theory, but in reality?

vel.r

A million things could go sideways. Timing issues, unforeseen mishaps, or worse falling short of expectations in front of an elite crowd. And the dinner itself would be the ultimate trial.

However, the payoff is unmatched. This wasn't just any opportunity; it was a golden ticket. A guaranteed guest count meant less waste and more precision, not to mention the exposure. High-end clients, social media buzz, word-of-mouth. All reads pointed to big things for my restaurant.

The potential ripple effect had my head spinning in the best way.

I caught myself grinning, unable to stop the excitement bubbling inside me. This was hands-down the biggest order I'd ever landed since opening my place. What a day!novelbin

Was it Jared's leaving that brought

me this sudden streak of luck? Or maybe it was the blessing of those faithful knives in my old kitchen?? Either way, I couldn't help but laugh at my own ridiculous thoughts.

swnv

"Get a grip, Arielle," I muttered, shaking my head as I turned the key in the ignition. Time to focus. Big things were ahead, and I had work to do.

The driveway felt colder than usual as I stepped out of the car, the weight of the evening settling in. Meredith opened the door before I could reach it, her usual warm smile in place. "Long day?" she asked, taking my handbag.

"Busy, but good," I replied, glancing past her. "How's Maverick?"

Her smile softened. "He's been waiting for you. Bella stopped by earlier, and they had a blast. He's excited for dinner with you."

I nodded, my chest tightening slightly. "Thanks, Meredith. I'll be down in a bit."

In my room, I let the warm water of the shower wash away the day's tension, but my mind wouldn't stop racing. A quick change of clothes later, I packed a small bag, pausing for a moment. Downstairs, Maverick sat at the table in his superhero t-shirt, the one Jared bought him, grinning ear to ear.

"Mommy!" he yelled, jumping from his chair and into my arms.

I held him close, inhaling his little-boy scent of soap and crayons. "I'm home, baby."

"Are we having dinner together?" he asked, his big eyes shining.

"Of course," I said, sitting down beside him.

As we ate, he launched into tales of Bella's visit, his excitement contagious. But the knot in my stomach tightened as I rehearsed what I had to say.

"Mav," I began, keeping my voice light, "Mommy has to go out tonight for work. Meredith will stay with you, and I'll be back soon."

His fork paused mid-air. "You're leaving?"

I nodded, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind his ear. "It's important, baby. This job means a lot, for both of us."

We spent the rest of the evening curled on the couch, his favorite cartoon playing in the background. The clock moved too fast, and soon it was time to go.

Outside, a car pulled into the driveway-the driver Margaux had sent. Maverick hugged me one last time at the door.

"I'll be back tomorrow," I said softly, brushing a kiss against his cheek. His small but determined face tugged at my heart, and I added with a soft smile, "Don't miss me too much."

He chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I won't, Mommy. We'll see each other soon..."

"Oh? And how's that supposed to happen?"

Maverick blinked, his giggle bubbling up like he was holding onto the world's biggest secret. "You'll see, Mommy!"

I laughed, shaking my head at his cryptic tone. "Alright I already saw it. I'll Face Time you, okay?"

"I'll be waiting," he whispered with a grin, wrapping his arms around my neck.