Billionaire's Regret
Chapter 11:

Annie stood looking at her reflection in the mirror. The first moment she looked at herself, she was shock at what she noticed in her eyes. It has been years since she has noticed such an obvious expression. "My goodness!" she whispered to herself. She studies her twinkling eyes. "The first actual look of seeing Aaron naked...I can't believe I kissed him back."

The blush washes over her face again. She can physically feel the building heat slowly sizzling through her veins. She was suddenly startled when the knock sounded behind her. She quickly opened the tap water before she splashes some cold water onto her face. The heat didn't lessen.

"Annie...are you okay?" Aaron called from behind the closed door.

"I am. Just give me a minute." She called back.

"Okay. We need to leave." Aaron sounded further from the bathroom door. She took one final look at her face, taking another deep breath to try and settle her heart beat. She reached behind her head and quickly pulled her hair into a messy ponytail. One final look before she steps back into the bedroom

"Are you ready?" Aaron turned facing her. Again, he realized when he least expects it there was such quietness about her.

"I am." Annie made a point of carefully avoiding eye contact. The brief but very startling moment she shared with him...her behavior puzzles her very much. As a kind of protective behavior, she pulled the jacket tightly around her frame. She follows him to the door.

Aaron kept his emotions to himself. The truth was he wanted to pull her against his body again. Removing his thoughts from Annie he suddenly focuses on Zac. He starts to notice the changing of his behavior. He definitely doesn't like it. "Annie..." Once they both were seated within the warmth of the car he reached for his phone when the message alerted.

"Yes," she asked softly. Feeling brave enough now she faces him. She carefully studies his now clean-shaven face wondering which she prefers. Point of fact, he was a very handsome man even though his hair was slightly sprinkled with specks of grey hair. This just seems to enhance his maleness.

"I made a deal with you," he starts.

"I know. Financial support for my Mom, in turn repayment my body. You were very clear with your offer." She said solemnly. She looked past his handsome face not even seeing nor enjoying the beautiful scenery.

"You will honor our deal?" he asked watching her. His hands itch to undo her messy ponytail. He didn't place restrictions on her current appearance. He has the odd feeling of wanting to keep her close to him. This was a very strange inclination he was currently experience.

"I will, Aaron. Why are you asking me this again? Did I do something wrong?"

"No," he looked at his phone. "Do you like Zac?" he suddenly questions out of nowhere. The image of the other man intently looking around in the hotel-suite unsettles him.

Annie felt her head snap his way as she frowns heavily. Her intent gaze stayed focused until he looked at her. "I don't know the man," she said softly. A quick brief twist played around her lips. It was instantly gone.

"He is a likeable guy, don't you agree?" he keeps pushing his questioning, as the image of Zac keeps playing in his mind's eyes. There was something he feels he was missing.

Annie bites on her teeth in annoyance but suddenly decide to be honest. The man might as well know what's going on in her mind.

"I don't like him," she said flatly.

"Excuse me?" Aaron was openly surprise.

"Aaron, I..." she looked away hiding the expression of utmost annoyance.

"Annie...be honest. There is no wrong answer with me." He reaches for her folded hand laying in her lap and the moment he touches her he felt her flinched. He quickly understood it was with sheer inner force that she didn't make another

move.

"I suddenly have the feeling I should keep my opinions to myself." She answered after a long pause.

Aaron suddenly has the sense he should listen to her very carefully. Grace has showed him she was a worldly woman, but his own private truth; he needed someone he could trust without being asked.

"What is it about Zac that you obviously don't like, Annie?"

"The man works for you Aaron. My opinion is of no relevance."

Aaron studies her expression but it seems clear she won't give him further detail. The phone in his hand suddenly delivers a message. He looked at it and frowned when he realized it was an international number.

"Who is James, Annie?" he questions with a touch of frost in his voice.

The tone of his voice made her quickly looked at him. She noticed the clear look of displeasure. It instantly dawns on her he thought she lied about their deal.

"James...he is a friend of my Mom."

"Why are he sending messages to my phone?" his fingers curled white around the cell phone.

"I ask you earlier to make a call. It was James I called, knowing he would be worried. I lost my cell phone somewhere," she said straightforward looking directly into his face.

Aaron carefully studies her expression. Her eyes were fixed directly on him. "What did you tell him?"

"The truth that my Mom is here in Switzerland;" She looked confused by his behavior.

"Why did you feel the need to tell him, Annie?"

"Am I your hostage or what, Aaron?"

A quick smile played around his mouth. He found a kind of sudden pleasure in her annoyance. He handed her the phone but she didn't take it. He knows precisely where her own phone was. He found it when they step from the helicopter. Her focused was mainly on her mother, she didn't even notice it was gone. It was clear she wasn't very attached to the device.

"No, you are not. Take the phone Annie."

"I needed to tell James our whereabouts. The man called the police and opened a missing person's file." She said with slow simmering anger.

"You are not serious?" he looked surprise and simply kept the phone now. It was clear she won't take it.

"I am."

"How involved is this man with you?"

"Not me, Aaron. He is my Mom's friend. Do you honestly think I would agree to your terms of repayment knowing I was involved with someone? I don't play that type of games," she burst out completely furious.

The next moment she yelled when the car was hit from behind. The road was icy making it very slippery as they spin across the road bursting through the guard railing.