Filed to story: The Regretful Billionaire: An Unpredicted Reunion
“What?” Eustace blinked, not understanding her question.
“Randy Glass is dead.” He was found dead in his cell before the date of his trial, which, to Danika, only indicated that something was wrong.
The only person she could imagine having sent the kill order would be Eustace.
The man instantly understood what she was asking. He shook his head. “Wasn’t me.”
Danika frowned. “Really?”
Who could it be, then? It couldn’t be her father, right?
Yeah, impossible. He had already left Bardoff. Plus, if he’d wanted to do something to Randy, he wouldn’t have waited until now.
Eustace smiled bitterly. “Am I that untrustworthy to you?”
“I don’t mean it like that. I just can’t imagine who else it might be.”
As much as she hated Randy, she didn’t want him to die just like that. The law was always the way for Danika. If the court held that Randy was to be sentenced to capital punishment, then he would be. If otherwise, Danika wouldn’t complain either. But now, the cause of his death was a mystery.
Eustace tried guessing who it could be but didn’t reveal it to Danika when a possible candidate surfaced.
“Don’t worry. We didn’t do it, so we have nothing to be afraid of,” he reassured her with a smile. “By the way, you haven’t answered me about lunch.”
“Don’t you have work to do? I heard Xavier and Yakov are teaming up. Aren’t you worried?” Danika had been paying attention to the Quinceys as well.
She got the most important news from the bar Alfred opened. After vigorous training, Melissa had now become its owner as well as her primary source of underground information in Bardoff.
“Is that concern for me that I hear?”
Danika responded with an eye roll.
“I have everything under control. Things would actually suck if they didn’t take action since I’ve done all the preparations to meet them head-on.” Only by seeing what tricks those two had up their sleeve would Eustace be able to retaliate properly.
Danika didn’t understand those tactics, however. “Just be careful. Don’t overestimate yourself.”
Eustace’s luck might run out if the Quinceys went after him again.
“I’ll be alright.” No way would he tolerate losing his memories twice.
In the end, Danika went to lunch with Eustace, deciding to pay for it in return for him saving her life. Eustace, however, saw it as progress in their relationship.
Do You Wanna Take His Place?
Evan walked out of Zellweger Inc building and got into his car, the pleasant smile on his face disappearing instantly.
“It’s done, Boss,’ someone reported to him.
Evan nodded. “No traces?”
“None. You can trust our skill, Boss.”
Evan nodded again, satisfied.
But the man continued, “But Boss, how did that Glass kid piss you off for you to have sent us after him?”
That was the first time the Boss had sent them on a job after returning to the country, so they were quite interested to hear the reason behind it.
“He nearly killed someone I care deeply about.” Came the response. “That’s why.”
If his trial had landed him in capital punishment, Evan wouldn’t have done it. He couldn’t tolerate Randy being alive any longer after nearly taking Danika away from him.
The men didn’t know who this person Evan cared about was, but they didn’t pry. So long as their Boss tasked them with a job, they’d get it done, no questions asked.
“Any updates on Eustace Quincey?”
“No, sir. He lives a very routine life. We didn’t discover anything special.”
Evan cocked his head curiously. Eustace would lose his neck at any moment now that those two Quinceys were working together. Was he really that unconcerned?
Evan hummed. “Keep an eye on him.”
“Yes, Boss.’
After getting more updates from his men, Evan left the car in silence. He didn’t want anyone to find out about his other identities, nor did he want these gangs of men working for him revealed. All he wanted sometimes was to continue working like a normal person at Zellweger Inc. Of course, marrying Danika would be the ultimate goal.
With that in mind, he called her number, thinking of asking her out for lunch.
“Sorry, Evan. I’m occupied right now,” the response came over the phone. Evan seemed to sound cheery when he replied with, “That’s alright,” but his expression immediately darkened once he hung up.
Danika, meanwhile, tucked her phone away under Eustace’s inquisitive gaze.” Was that Clarke?”
“Mhm.” Danika nodded, taking a bite of her burger.
“Are you really okay with him marrying into your family?” Eustace asked worriedly.
The sudden question threw Danika off. “That’s none of your business, now is it?”
Eustace pouted slightly. “Sorry. I’m just…worried.”
Danika sighed. “What about? This has nothing to do with you.”
“Of course it does. If he does this, I have no chance with you anymore.” Danika’s close relationship with Evan had never stopped worrying him.
Danika groaned tiredly and huffed, “So? Do you want to take his place?”
“If you’ll have me, sure.” As long as he could be with Danika, it didn’t matter whose surname he had.
Danika felt a mix of surprise and shock. “You’d really be okay with that?”
“Of course. The question is: would you?”
You’d Gain A Lot From Marrying Me
“What about the Quinceys?” Danika asked curiously.
Eustace grinned. “They’ll be my dowry. That way, the Zellwegers will be number one in the Ten Elites of Bardoff. What do you think?”
“Sounds like a dream.” Heck, she had a feeling Eustace might not even be bluffing.
But…
Did she actually want that?
There was no decipherable answer she could find from her heart.
Her silence encouraged Eustace to continue, “Well? What do you think? You’d gain lots from marrying me.”
Far more than marrying Evan, in the least.
“Ugh.” Danika rolled her eyes again and dropped the topic. Besides the fact that Eustace marrying into the Zellwegers was incredibly far-fetched, there was still the fact that she didn’t want it to happen.
The family was already occupied enough with Evan in the picture. They didn’t need Eustace getting in the mix.
Eustace smiled but decided not to respond. Of course, having Danika marry into his family would be more ideal. Still, he didn’t mind the opposite, as long as Danika allowed it.
While the two had their lunch, Evan stopped by the restaurant. He’d investigated Danika’s whereabouts, as she wouldn’t be occupied for no good reason. Sure enough, here she was, having lunch with Eustace. He got out of the car and walked steadily into the building, right up to
Danika’s table. “What a coincidence!”
Danika was surprised to see him. “Evan?”
“I thought to come by here for lunch. I didn’t expect to see you here!” Evan gasped in faux surprise.
Eustace scowled internally at his act. He refused to believe Evan didn’t purposely look for them. What was important was whether Danika felt the same way, however.
Danika actually did. She wasn’t young and foolish anymore, so she wouldn’t rip off Evan’s mask, either. “Yeah, Mr. Quincey asked me out for lunch.”
“For a business deal?” Evan asked, sitting down comfortably beside Danika.
Eustace’s face darkened. “For private reasons.”
In other words: stay the fuck out of my business.
“Is it over?” Evan asked.
Eustace was about to say no when Danika said, “Just about. We’ve finished lunch, too. Can you drop me off back at the hospital?”
“Why the rush? I haven’t eaten yet. You don’t mind, do you, Mr. Quincey?” Evan shrugged. He wanted to see just what Eustace had in mind.
Coincidentally, Eustace felt the same.
The two men sat across one another, seemingly polite, though Danika knew better.
That’s why she wanted to leave.
“If memory serves me right, it’s been at least two years since the divorce happened between you and Danika, right, Mr. Quincey? What private matter could you have sought out Danika for in that case? You’re not using it as an excuse to pester her, are you?” Evan asked harshly.
Eustace’s smile grew wider. “Yes, we divorced a while back. But that doesn’t stop me from pursuing Danika a second time. I’m sure you can understand, Mr. Clarke.” “Of course I do.” Evan gritted his teeth. “But you should know that pestering someone will only make them hate you more.”
