006 — THE MYSTERIOUS BILLIONAIRE

True to Davina's words, I arrive at the Entertainment Centre to find a group of professionals already working with my team to set the whole place up.

An hour later, the fashion show is already underway and everything is going great. 

But five hours into the show, I begin to feel restless. Davina said earlier that her boss would be here before the show was over, but he's nowhere to be seen. 

When it's thirty minutes to the end of the show and I still haven't seen any billionaire in sight, I decide to shoot her a text. 

"Hey, Davina. Sorry to bother you. It's almost time for me to give my closing speech but your boss hasn't arrived. Will he be able to make it?"

She answers immediately. Weird.

"Yes, he will. 

Oh, and he wants you to acknowledge him as your partner when you give your speech."

I frown. 

"Really?" I type. "How do I address him? I don't even know his name."

After sending the text, I wait and wait and wait but there's still no response from her.  

Suddenly, the hostess' voice fills the auditorium;

 "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, we've come to the end of the Athena Beauty fashion show! Thank you very much for sticking with us for the past six hours.

Now that our last model has strutted across the runway, it's time to call our boss and role model, a super mom and intelligent business woman to give her closing speech. 

Please help me welcome to the stage, Miss Athena Montgomery!"

The audience erupts in a round of applause and my heart swells with pride. I lift my chin and set my shoulders like a queen as I sashay to the stage. By the time I'm given the mic, the applause has morphed into a standing ovation. 

After the crowd finally calms down, I take a deep breath and start my speech;

"Hello, everyone. Welcome once again and thank you for staying with us to the end of this show.

As you all know, I built Athena Beauty from nothing three years ago when all I had to my name were my two children and my best friend's support." My voice thickens with emotion and I blink rapidly to keep my tears at bay

"I faced failure countless times. I was rejected and treated like dirt for months, but I always told myself that I wanted better for my kids."

Before I can continue, I notice a slight commotion at the back of the auditorium. 

My heartbeat picks up when I realise that three armed men just walked inside. I'm about to alert security when another man dressed in a three piece suit walks in behind them, followed by another set of armed guards.

Their faces are hidden by the shadows, making it difficult for me to identify them. 

Suddenly, it hits me.

An expensively dressed man in the company of bodyguards can only mean one thing — Davina's boss and my new  business partner is here! He really came!

Noticing my silence, Jasmine lifts a brow at me and I clear my throat, hurrying to complete my speech.

"I'm sorry about that. As you all know, I named this fashion line Athanasios, after the son I lost during childbirth. That name translates to "immortal" and I chose it because I intend to keep my baby's soul alive forever through the designs I create with my own hands." I blink once more to chase the ugly memories away.

"I'd like to specially thank my best friend, Jasmine, for her support, as well as the rest of my team."

I pause.

"This may come as a shock to some of you, but I'd also like to thank my new business partner and the man who made it possible for this show to hold today. Please welcome him to the stage, everyone."

The crowd erupts into another round of applause as the guests look around, searching for the business partner in question. 

I don't know why, but my heart lurches in my chest as he gets to his feet, surrounded by his bodyguards. He makes his way towards the stage and I can't help but wonder why he looks so strangely familiar even in the shadows.

Finally, he steps into the light. 

Then I take one look at his face and freeze. 

No… it can't be. 

My pulse is currently pounding at a thousand beats per second. I can't move. I can't even speak.

Those familiar dark eyes latch onto my face, pinning me in place. Seconds later, I start to tremble. 

I tried to put my past behind me. I tried so hard to forget about him and move on, but even after three long years, the anger, rage and hurt that I'd suppressed for ages bubble to the surface with the force of a volcanic eruption.

I always thought I'd never have to see him again, but there he is, confidently stalking towards me like he owns the place. 

Hector Kensington. My ex- boyfriend. The man who betrayed my trust. My greatest enemy.

He climbs the stage and stops a few feet away from me, surrounding the place with his powerful, dark aura. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" I ask through gritted teeth, my eyes already sparking with rage. 

In response, Hector's lips stretch in a smirk and he sinks his hands into his pockets.

"Hello, Athena… or should I say, business partner. Long time no see…"