Home / Romance / The Billionaire’s Regret / 155: FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES

Share

155: FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES

last update Last Updated: 2025-04-08 23:47:16

ELARA’S POV

For most of the time now Kyle has been quiet while Mimi does more explaining.

Kyle is still holding my iPad swiping g through the sketches. With an expression I can’t quite explain.

His hand slightly brushed mine as he turns the iPad to me.

“This is good,” Kyle murmurs, his voice low and thoughtful as he studies the design on my iPad.

I try to swallow the sudden lump in my throat.

Why the hell am I feeling nervous now? It’s just Kyle.

Just a stupid couch.

Just… expensive cologne and annoyingly attractive…

Pull it together, Elara.

“But I don’t think there’s an exact design like this here,” I say, clearing my throat and pointing toward a set of couches arranged nearby.

“So, what if we swap it out for one of those? Just for the prototype, I mean. If you don’t like them, we could… maybe look somewhere else.”

I lower my voice at the last part, just loud enough for him to hear.

The last thing I wanted was to offend Mimi by talking about scouting o
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Related chapters

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    156: THE STAR OF THE DAY.

    Nate’s POV“Congratulations, brother.”Angelo pulls me in for a quick bro hug, his signature grin stretched across his face.“Thanks, man,” I reply, patting his back before stepping away.“What is this, your millionth project now?” James jokes from the side, his tone casual but curious.I shrug with a smirk. “Could be. Who’s counting anymore?”The event kicked off earlier than planned because of the product showcase Marcus insisted on adding. He said it’d help widen our customer base and give the brand a more approachable image. He even suggested slashing some of our prices to attract more interest.Which, of course, I didn’t agree with.Our company has been doing just fine with the current pricing more than fine, actually. If it’s not an increase he’s proposing, then I’m not interested. But this entire branch is going to be his soon. A few more weeks and I hand over the reins. After that, he can do whatever he wants with it. For now I want to make this event is a success. To be hon

    Last Updated : 2025-04-09
  • The Billionaire’s Regret    157: BAD EGGS AROUND HER

    NATE’S POV A few months ago, when Jenna reached out and proposed a deal to me about helping me keep an eye on Elara, I was stunned. Gobsmacked even. She wasn’t just Elara’s assistant but her friend also. So if Ask me, I thought I’d be the last person she’d want to help, especially considering how rocky things are between Elara and me. I expected her to do everything in her power to keep me away from my wife… not offer to play matchmaker for a price. She claimed she wanted to help us “fix things.” Said she could keep me in the loop, provide updates, even talk Elara into showing up when I needed her to. Even though I agreed to this arrangement, I found it a little suspicious and with time I kept seeing weird patterns and I don’t think money is all she wants I think she wants more that but then again. She didn’t do it out of loyalty. No, backstabbers like Jenna always have a price. And hers? Pathetically low, if you ask me. Once everything is back to normal bet

    Last Updated : 2025-04-10
  • The Billionaire’s Regret    158: SHE COULD BE SLIPPING AWAY.

    NATE’S POV “Right,” the valet mutters, fumbling with the keys in his hands as he searches for mine. It feels like it’s taking forever. My foot taps impatiently against the marble floor while my mind spins with the worst possible scenarios. Each second wasted here is another second Elara could be with him laughing, smiling, looking at him the way she used to look at me. But then, as the valet continues to sort through the keys, I spot a familiar keychain the sleek black one with the silver initials that belong to Marcus’s car. “I’ll take these,” I say sharply, snatching them before he can react. The guy blinks, mouth opening as if to protest, but he must be smart enough to read the expression on my face. He doesn’t ask questions, doesn’t try to stop me. Wise choice. I press the unlock button on the fob, and the car beeps in the distance before I even reach it. “Nate!” I hear Marcus call out behind me. I don’t turn around. I don’t have the time or the patience

    Last Updated : 2025-04-10
  • The Billionaire’s Regret    159: PSYCHOPATH HUSBAND.

    NATE’S POV I yank my phone out of my pocket, hands trembling as I dial Dave’s number. He picks up on the first ring. “Dave.” “Yes, sir,” he responds, sharp and ready. “I just sent you a number. I want the exact location. Right now.” “Got it, boss.” I don’t know where to start looking for her since she wasn’t at home, but I hit the main road anyway. My foot is heavy on the gas pedal, heart pounding against my ribs like it’s trying to break free. The phone buzzes again a moment later. “Do you have anything?” “Yes, sir. 288 Flitwood. It’s pinging to a Boho-style interior show room, place called Mali.” What the hell? I hang up, quickly typing the address into the GPS. A shortcut lights up on the screen. I take it without a second thought. Why the fuck would she be in an interior design place with another man? I slam my hand on the steering wheel, jaw locked as I try to shake the thought. My mind is spiraling images of her laughing with some man, touching him. Whil

    Last Updated : 2025-04-11
  • The Billionaire’s Regret    160: I AM NOT YOUR WIFE.

    ELARA’S POV I wish the earth would open up and swallow me whole. “Kyle,” Mimi speaks up before I can respond to him. “I need all of you to leave right now.” The smile I thought was permanent is long gone from her face. Even though she isn’t frowning, she doesn’t look happy. “Mimi—” Kyle begins. “I know it’s not your fault, but I need you guys out while we assess the damage.” Her tone is clipped, but her anger is evident and I don’t even blame her for getting mad. Nate broke two luxurious bed lamps during the stupid tussle. Thankfully, we were the only people around. What if she had customers in here and he came in making this mess? That would’ve been even worse. Kyle turns and gestures for us to leave while trying to straighten the wrinkles on his shirt. “I’m really sorry about this, Mimi,” I whisper, slipping my business card discreetly into her hand. “Please send me the invoice. I’ll make sure the damages are covered.” “There’s no need to apologize. It’s not your fault, dear,

    Last Updated : 2025-04-15
  • The Billionaire’s Regret    161: CAN YOU BE A LITTE GENTLER?

    ELARA’S POV “El, I know what—” “Save it. I don’t want to hear it,” I cut him off coldly, my eyes fixed on the road ahead. Even though I barely paid attention earlier when Kyle drove us to the showroom, I somehow managed to trace my way back around the area. It took longer than it should’ve, especially considering how urgent it was to find a hospital or pharmacy. His hand was wrapped in a handkerchief, but that wouldn’t hold for long. I needed to be fast. But the truth is, I don’t know my way around this damn place. I’ve been living in Vegas for a while, and somehow, I still don’t know the roads around here. “Do you even know where you’re going?” Nate asks, his voice low. “I do,” I snap, gripping the steering wheel like it’s the only thing keeping me from losing it completely. In reality, I have no idea how I’m supposed to get us back to the main side of the city. “I don’t think—” “Can you just shut up for once in your life?” I bite, my voice rising with my rising panic. “I’m

    Last Updated : 2025-04-16
  • The Billionaire’s Regret    162: I CAN’T LOOSE HER.

    NATE’S POV In a few days I will be handing over the vegas branch and everything that has to do with hales mining & co. to my brother, and will let loose of all my ties to the company. Everything is falling into place but I’m losing the one person I’m doing all of it for. And it’s all due to my actions it seems. And the fact that the realisation is only hitting me now made me feel worse than I already do. Everything she said was true, I am stupid. i didn’t think there was much harm in the things I’ve been doing… heck I’ve only been trying to get my wife back, have her forgive me. have her see how sorry I am and how much I want to make things right. Even though I don’t deserve it, while clinging to hope that she will give me a chance since I’ve been trying. But then in the silence in the car I started rethinking it all, it seems I have been doing it all wrong. She was also right for calling me a barbaric imbecile. I have been letting my anger get the best of me, and instead

    Last Updated : 2025-04-17
  • The Billionaire’s Regret    163: I DON’T FEEL ANY BETTER.

    NATE’S POV I switched into a pair of grey sweatpants, and the whole time, it felt like the space around me was closing in. I needed to speak with Dave, but I didn’t have a phone. Then again, there might be one in the car. I never forget to keep one lying around. One important thing I completely forgot? This wasn’t my car. Apart from the perfume bottles, random documents, and candy wrappers, there was nothing close to a phone in here. And that only made my anger worse. I can’t believe I came down here for nothing, I slammed the car door shut and leaned against it, staring out into the dim parking lot. I needed to clear my head. But Even a glass of alcohol didn’t seem like the right thing. hell, I don’t even want to smell it right now. The last place I wanted to be was in that penthouse. It didn’t feel right anymore. Nothing did. Not when all I could think about was how much of a damn fool I’d been today. From the corner of my eye, I caught the sign for the i

    Last Updated : 2025-04-18

Latest chapter

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    181: NEW ARCHITECT

    ELARA’S POVThe drive to the site is quiet, no music, no calls. Just the hum of the engine and the slow, sharp creep of the headache pulsing behind my eyes.“You’re late,” Kyle greets me the second I step inside, his usual frown in place. “Again.”I almost smile. His grumbling’s basically part of our routine now.We don’t even have a fixed schedule for my visits here, but he complains every time, and I let him. Maybe because I find it a little amusing. Maybe because he hasn’t been around much lately, thanks to the whole architect mess. These days, it’s mostly me and the new designer… or Rob.“Good morning to you too, Kyle.”“It’s twelve in the afternoon.”“It’s all the same, Kyle.” I roll my eyes with a small smile.“The items you ordered were already delivered.”“Already? I thought they weren’t coming until twelve-thirty?”“Well, they turned out to be efficient and punctual—unlike somebody else.”“Somebody else has other jobs to handle, you know.” I follow him through the entryway.T

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    180: I'M FINE

    ELARA’S POVIt’s been a week since I last saw Nate— or heard from him.It’s nothing new. We’ve gone years without talking before.So going a week without his appearance should not feel like this.It's not new to me, plus all the times I've seen him, I couldn’t stand being around him; I always end up getting mad at him for the stupid things he does. but its not his first time going MIABut this time… this time feels different.Maybe it’s because of how we left things.After all he said, I knew I was wrong for once, but then again, I was frozen in place. His words echoing in my head, repeating like a broken recordI couldn’t shut off. I couldn’t stop.And I couldn’t even bring myself to text him.Or call.Or try to clear things up.It was like my whole body locked up.I couldn’t.I just couldn’t.And for the rest of the week I culd even search up his name on my contacts.“El?”Elliot’s voice cut through the silence, snapping me out of my haze.“Yes?” I blink, sitting a little straight

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    179: IS HE WORTH IT?

    Silence takes over, and then only thing I can hear is my beating heart and the sound of cars, passing through the streets. “I checked into the guys,” he said quietly breaking the silence. “It seemed they got the wrong house. And… well, they aren’t any threat. In the end, it was just like you predicted.” I couldn’t utter a single word. Only stared — like something had gotten hold of my tongue and refused to let go. “I guess my mess-ups were worse than I thought,” he let out a chuckle, but it came out hollow. Sad. His face didn’t show much, but his eyes… his eyes gave him away. “I’m sorry for the inconveniences I’ve caused. I know there are a lot of them,” he continued. “There isn’t anything I can do to make it up to you… right?” I swallowed a lump I didn’t even know was there. My mouth had gone dry. I was out of words. Heck could even think of anything to say “Nate…” “No. El, you don’t have to say anything. I understand.” But you don’t’ I wanted to say but I couldn’t.

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    178: THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING

    ELARA’S POV He stood there like everything was fine. I didn’t know what made me angrier: the fact that he was still smiling after what he did, or the fact that a part of me still reacted to him. Still felt something when I saw that smile. I wanted to turn around. I wanted to walk right past him and pretend he didn’t exist. But I couldn’t. Not this time. I stepped closer, heels clicking against the pavement like warning shots. He straightened up when he saw me coming, and I swear, he had the audacity to look relieved. Relieved! I stopped just short of him, eyes locked onto his. “El,” he waved. “Why are you here, Nate?” I snapped. “Did your minions tell you I found the tail you sent to follow me, and now you’re doing it yourself, or what?” “Minions?” “Don’t play dumb with me, Nate. I know you sent that guard or whatever to tail me,” I spat, running my hand through my hair with zero care who might be watching. “I don’t know why I keep thinking you’ll ever change.” “

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    177: YOU’RE NOT MY CONCISE

    ELARA’S POV Nico’s words struck something in me. I hated that he was right. Hated it even more that I couldn’t argue back. But can I really blame him? I let this happen. Asher said he was told to keep an eye on Mrs. Hales. Only one person would call me that. Nate. Mimi called him my husband too. Of course it was him. Who else would have the money, the reach, or the nerve? He said he was changing. Said he wanted to be better. And after Mimi called me, and told me what he did… a little part of me wanted believe that he was maybe changing. But then he does this? Hiring someone to follow me without saying a word? He’s going back to doing that again. Acting like he knows what’s best for me. “Asher, right?” I ask calmly, even though my chest feels like it’s twisting in on itself. He nods, eyes down, clearly uncomfortable. “You can go.” I hand him his ID card. “What do you mean he can go?” Nico snaps, cutting through the moment like a blade. His fists are clenched. He look

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    176: YOU MIGHT BE IN DANGER.

    ELARA’S POV “Why were you following us?” Nico barked, tightening his grip around the stranger’s throat. The man shoved at Nico’s arm, trying to break free, but before he could get a good grip, Nico slammed him back against the wall again. His fist connected with the guy’s jaw, knocking the sunglasses clean off his face. Even though he was muscular, the man looked young. Maybe nineteen, maybe even younger. “I. Was. Not. Following you!” he spat, trying to wriggle out of Nico’s hold, but Nico was stronger and his grip firm. “Who sent you?” Nico growled, jaw tight as the man’s face began turning red. “Call the cops, El,” Nico ordered, My hands fumbled with my bag as I scrambled for my phone, nerves making my fingers clumsy. “Wait!" i pause,"Please, it’s not what you think,” he forced out, voice tight. Nico’s grip didn’t waver. His arm locked the guy in place, pinning him hard against the wall. He opened his mouth again, tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. “Please,” he

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    175: I WASN'T BEING PARANOID.

    ELARA’S POVI simply stared at him, no words coming out.I was still trying to process why he was here. Now, of all times — after being gone for what felt like forever. It had been months, and the last time we saw each other, we didn’t exactly part on good terms.At least, that’s how I remembered it.“It’s been a while, El,” he said, his smirk widening as he lowered himself into the chair across from mine. He pushed a cup across the table. “Have the coffee. It’s just the way you like it in june- full of ice, lots of milk, and extra whipped cream.”My gaze dropped to the cup in front of me. It was sweating lightly, the ice already beginning to melt. As tempting as it looked, I didn’t take a sip. Instead, I reached out and moved it to the side of my desk.“Thank you for the coffee,” I said, forcing a small smile.“It’s been a while, Nico. Where have you been?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.He leaned back in his chair, one arm slung casually over the side. “Well, you know… business h

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    174: BECAUSE I LOVED HIM.

    ELARA’S POV His words were all I could think about when I got to the office. I’m going to change, El. It played in my head like a broken record. But was that really possible? Nate? Change? Those two can’t be in the same sentence. It was a little hard to believe. No! scratch that it was very hard to believe. Nathaniel Hale never changed for anyone. He expected the world to adjust to him, not the other way around. I knew that because I had done exactly that for him… over and over again. I gave up a lot back then. Things I once loved. Things that made me me. Like my regular visits to *** the After my father passed, I stopped going not because I wanted to, but because Nate never liked me going there. Said it was too far out of the city. And when his new circle of friends started whispering in his ear, questioning why I kept going… well, it became easier for him if I just stopped. And so I did. Let’s not even talk about how I had to reduce my work hours, put dreams on

  • The Billionaire’s Regret    173 : PLEASE BE CAREFUL

    ELARA’S POV When I woke up, the first thing I did was glance out the window. I don’t know why I cared, but… his car was still there. Something fluttered in my chest relief? No. No, it couldn’t be that. After getting ready and filling Milla’s bowl, I made a second cup of coffee. For Nate. He spent the whole night in his car. I never asked him to, but still making him coffee wasn’t a big deal, right? Just… basic decency. Pouring it into a mug, I grabbed my bag and double checked the locks on my door. Maybe triple-checked. Just in case. Before I headed out. “Good morning,” he said, rolling down his window. He looked terrible. Dark circles sagged under his eyes, his shirt was wrinkled like he’d been dragged through the night. His hair stuck up like he’d run his hands through it too many times. Guilt twisted my stomach. It must’ve been hell, sitting out here all night. “Coffee,” I said, handing him the mug. “Thanks.” His lips curled into a half smile as he

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status