Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
He had just started dating the woman, a nurse from the same department, albeit he wasn’t happy about the relationship. He felt he deserved better, so he went to confess to Danika again.
“Where did you go?” the nurse asked suspiciously
It Doesn’t Matter to Me
Already in a bad mood because of Danika’s rejection, Jared grumbled, “Do I have to report everything to you? Mind your own business, will you?” “Jared Stewart!” the nurse huffed. “I’m your girlfriend. Can’t I care about your business?”
“You’re my girlfriend, not my wife,” Jared sneered. She wasn’t fit to be his wife yet, he thought.
The woman then angrily slapped him on the cheek. “You jerk!”
She had already been annoyed with Jared for flirting with other women at their workplace, so his words now triggered her to no end. “I know you think I’m not worth your time, so you go and try to move up the social ladder whenever you can, but have you looked at yourself? You really think the other person has eyes for you?”
With that said, her gaze briefly lingered on Danika.
The commotion had long attracted the attention of nearly every diner. Some were amused, and some were shaking their heads in exasperation.
Couldn’t the two lovebirds leave their Romeo and Juliet act behind closed doors?
Jared’s expression had darkened like a storm. “Get the hell out of my sight!”
“Fine! Let’s break up right here too!” the nurse screeched, then added, “I’m the one breaking up with you. Remember that!”
“You-” How could Jared’s ego tolerate being on the receiving end of a breakup?
Before he could finish his words, the nurse stormed out of the room and the restaurant. All eyes turned to Jared the moment she left.
Their department director had a stormy look on his face. He had bore witness to
Jared’s incessant flirting before. “I can tolerate your frivolous attitude at work,
Jared Stewart, but if rumors start spreading about the hospital, I will come after you.”
If that nurse caused a scene, the hospital’s reputation might be damaged.
Obviously, the director wasn’t going to let Jared get away with it if that happened.
Jared understood his words at once. With an awkward smile, he said,” Don’t worry, sir. That won’t happen.”
With that, he stood up and left the room-partially because of embarrassment and to stop the nurse from doing anything stupid. His career was at stake if she did.
After he left, the table erupted into guffaws and laughter.
“Don’t worry about that, Danika. It’s nothing to do with you,” the director consoled.
Danika smiled. “I know. It doesn’t matter to me.”
She didn’t respect men like Jared, so naturally, she would never give him the time of day. They were colleagues, that’s why she had to maintain formalities.
But now that she was leaving, she’d never have to bother with any association with him anymore.
It was 11 pm when they finished dinner. Danika went to call for a cab, wanting nothing more than to go back and sleep off her exhaustion and drunkenness.
A Maybach came to a stop in front of her, and Eustace stepped out.
“Been drinking?”
“Mhm. A little bit.” Danika nodded.
Eustace had a feeling it was more than a little bit, though he didn’t point it out. He knew she would miss her colleagues. After all, she had planned to settle in the city, never expecting the Zellwegers to come into existence in her life. No one would have foreseen that. Not even Eustace.
I Wouldn’t Feel the Same Way
Sleep crashed into Danika the moment she sat back in the front passenger seat. She drifted off almost instantly, trusting the man beside her. Eustace didn’t say anything throughout the ride, he only slowed his driving speed.
They soon reached home.
Just as Eustace was wondering whether to carry Danika back home or wait for her to awaken, she slowly blinked her eyes open.
“Sorry…fell asleep.” she yawned. Embarrassment laced her tone. She didn’t even remember when she started sleeping.
Eustace shrugged and opened the door for her. “Get some rest.” With an arm around her shoulders, Eustace led Danika inside the building.
Danika wasn’t in a rush to go back. Her father was still at her place, so they wouldn’t be able to spend time with each other any further for the night if she went back.
“Can we go to your place for a bit?” Danika asked suddenly.Eustace took a split second to recover from his surprise before responding,” Sure.” He unlocked his door, and the two stepped in.
The apartment decor had taken on a warmer, cozier tone. Danika lounged comfortably on the couch, examining the space.
Eustace brought her a glass of water, sitting down by her side. ‘Something you wanna tell me before you turn in for the night?”
Danika drank her water. “It’s…nothing.”
She didn’t exactly know why she wanted to be here. All she knew was that she didn’t want to go back so soon.
Eustace grinned. “You’re gonna miss me, aren’t you?’
Danika blushed furiously. “No, I won’t, you narcissist.”
“Fine. I’m gonna miss you then. Is that alright with you?” Eustace drawled.
Danika’s blush reddened further. She avoided his gaze. “Have you gone to visit Grandpa yet?”
“Not yet. I didn’t have time today. I’ll do it tomorrow.” He had been too preoccupied to go back to the Old Mansion. Mortimer was also still there, and he was the last person Eustace wanted to see right now.
Danika nodded. “What’ll you do with Grandpa if you go to Bardoff City?”
“I’ll have him stay with me in the city once things settle down. We’ve always lived together.” Eustace shrugged. If the old man didn’t want to leave, he still had his staff to tend to him in the Old Mansion.
Danika erased that worry from her mind, then asked, “You’ve been really busy lately, huh?’
Busy plotting against the Glasses and shifting the company headquarters. Eustace wasn’t one to delegate these tasks to others, unlike Danika. Instead, he put it on himself to get things done.
“Eh. I just have to remember why I’m doing it; to be closer to you. And all the stress goes away,” Eustace said, gazing fondly at Danika.
Her heartbeat quickened. ‘Is it really worth it? I wouldn’t feel the same way if I were you.”
To Danika, giving her all to someone and not even getting a definite answer to a relationship in response was not worth it.
“It is. I’d do anything,’ Eustace said. He had never questioned his actions.
Danika gazed at him, finally asking her something to which she never found the answer. “Eustace, why do you like me?’
I Think You Are
Eustace was somewhat surprised by the seriousness of her question. He gave it some serious thought for several minutes.
After what seemed like a year, he met Danika’s gaze again. “I like how dedicated you are and how strong you make yourself be. I like everything about you.”
The first time Eustace had seen her, she was tending to a patient. The patient hadn’t believed in her skill and had called for the hospital director to vouch for her. Eustace had stepped in to vouch for her instead. He hadn’t thought much of it at first-he just wanted to plant a good impression since he also wanted
Danika to operate on him.
But things escalated so quickly after they met. He never imagined that he would fall in love with her. Only after all the time they had spent together did he realize he had fallen for her the moment he got to know her.
“I’m not as nice a person as you say I am, you know,” Danika huffed. She wasn’t a saint.
“That’s alright. All that matters is that I think you are,” Eustace beamed. Danika was the most wonderful creature he had ever laid eyes on.
Danika stayed quiet as if deep in thought.
“Are you…considering being my girlfriend?” Eustace asked. It was possible, given how sudden this question came. He had truly made a mistake back then. If she gave him another chance, he’d never ever hide anything from her again.
Danika was thinking that too. She did like Eustace, and staying in this weird friends but not quite lovers situation was getting pretty pointless. But on account of
Graham still on the fence about helping Eustace, she decided,” Let’s wait till after we’ve dealt with the Glass family. Your strength will only show in the city if you take care of them.”
She could put in a good word with Graham afterward, too. Though, she honestly didn’t care what Graham thought of Eustace. All she was worried about was if Graham would do something to hurt Eustace in the future when she started dating him again.
Danika suddenly empathized with Eustace for having hidden the situation with Mortimer Quincey from her. She was in the same boat now.
“Okay.” Eustace grinned. A definite answer was better than not knowing where to set his sights.
As their conversation ended, Graham called Danika’s number to check on her.
“It’s late,” he said. “Come home.”
“Get going then. It is late,” Eustace said. He would miss her, but they had all the time in the world now.
Danika stood up. “Sleep early…l won’t be going anywhere tomorrow. Probably just going to plan how to rescue Stephanie. We’ll take action the day after.”
“Alright.” Eustace nodded. “I’ll come with you the day after.”
“You don’t need to. Paul can’t do anything with my father here,” Danika said hesitantly. If Eustace went along with her, there was a good chance his friendship with Paul would end right there. As much as Danika despised Paul, she still didn’t want Eustace to lose a friend.
“It’s okay. He’d have heard about everything even if I didn’t go.” Eustace shrugged. Paul wasn’t to be taken lightly. He had quick reflexes and would make a move the moment Stephanie was gone. Eustace would be in just as much trouble then.
Danika didn’t dissuade him further. She went back across the hallway to her apartment.