The Betrayal That Built Her: The Billionaire's Regret

*Alana*

"Alana, the boss is looking for you," Emily tells me.

I nod. "Has the meeting started already?"

She shrugs. "I have no idea, but he did call for an emergency board meeting, and he has been asking for you."

I walk to the boardroom, trying to hide the smile on my face. The thought of seeing Zion, and having to pretend like I didn't get up from his bed, and my thighs aren't a little shaky, makes me giddy.

I take a deep breath, swallow, and I enter the office. The first thing I notice is the shift in the air.

Everyone turns to look at me, but I put a polite smile on my face, and I turn to Zion. "Emily said you've been calling for me."

His gaze is on me, and his jaw is clenched. “You think I do not know what you are, Alana?”

I pause, fully confused.

“Don’t act all confused now,” he says again.

By now, everyone in the boardroom is looking at me. All twelve pairs of eyes are on me. I can’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine. “I do not understand, Zi-”

“Sir!” He interrupts. “You will address me as such.” I freeze.

Yes, he was my boss, but we were not only close to each other in age, but we had become even more than friends. This morning, we might have come in separate vehicles, but I had been in his bed.

We were official. I straighten my back. “I do not understand what you are talking about, sir.”

He glares at me, and my heart breaks. It is devoid of the love he had told me he felt for me just this morning. The way he looks at me makes me want to run the other way, but I don’t cower, especially with the number of people looking at me.

The boardroom is now so quiet that you can even hear a pin drop.

“Tell me now that you are not the one who has been selling secret information about my company out,” he coldly says.

My eyes widen in shock. “What?”

I hear a gasp, but I do not turn to look at where it is coming from. “Of course, I am not the one.”

Zion scoffs in disbelief. “Internal files leaked to a competitor,” he continues, sliding a folder across the table. “Confidential projections. Acquisition plans.”

My stomach drops. “That is not possible,” I quietly say.

His gaze sharpens. “Then explain why every fucking trace leads back to you.”

I pause because I have no idea.

I barely even had time for my personal life. I mean, I fell in love with my literal boss.

When will I be able to execute such plans?

And why will I do such?

I have always loved my job. Not everyone comes out of college and immediately gets a job, especially in one of the most prestigious companies in the world.

A murmur spread across the room, and I can feel it. The great shift.

As they pass the folder that apparently has my name written over it, I can see the trust they once had turning into suspicion.

Just like that, I am no longer an employee of Foster Industries.

I am now the enemy.

My chest pounds, and I can feel the tears well up in my eyes. “Zion,” I call out to him.

He glares at me, and I correct myself. “Sir. You know me. I would never do this.”

For a second, there is a flicker of hesitation, and it seems as though he might understand, but it all dashes away when he replies, “I thought I did.”

My hands are now shaking. Everyone in the boardroom is looking at me, and I am a minute away from turning into a blubbering mess.

“Get your things and get the hell away from my company,” he says flatly. “Security will escort you out.”I am in shock.

“I would never betray you or your company,” I try again.

He sneers. “The only reason you are not being escorted right now with handcuffs on your arms is because of the respect I once had for you. So I will advise you to get the hell out of this boardroom.”

His words hit me harder than anything else. He does not even hesitate to get me out of his life in the most embarrassing way. He did it without even hearing from my side.

True to his word, Sam and Daniel, two of the security personnel, are outside waiting for me. I can see the pity in their eyes, so I look away. The stares from everyone in the company don’t even make it better.

They make me want to peel my skin off.

Sam and Daniel follow behind me closely as I pack all my belongings. All my office files and gadgets have all been taken from me. I walk out of the floor with heaviness in my heart, and I realise that the tears are now dripping.

I look back one more time, and I see him, and in that moment, I realise that he did not just believe I betrayed him and the company...He chose to.

I turn back as I continue walking away.

When I am finally out of the building, I am sure that I look like a mess. Sam and Daniel had offered to carry my box for me, but I didn’t want that.

I want to remember this day.

Not just this day, this shame. Sam orders a ride for me, and I can’t decline. I thank him even though I am a sobbing mess.

As I enter the car, I looked up at the name FOSTER INDUSTRIES. And I know without a doubt that I will be back. But I won’t be the one disgraced anymore.

“Where to?” my driver asks me, pulling me away from my thoughts. I tell him, and he nods as we drive in silence.

Zion Koh Foster...

I will be back.