Potential | The Innocent Billionaire |#1 MacArthur Series|

Forty-One

Diana anxiously waited for Elijah. She wasn't sure if he would turn up, but she was praying he would. She watched the minutes pass by and decided he wasn't coming. She checked her messages, but still nothing.

She assumed he wasn't coming. She got up to leave when she realised he wasn't coming. As she got up, she noticed a figure enter. She sat back down

"You've got five minutes to convince me to stay," Elijah stood over the table

"My dad is threatening me. He's a controlling narcissist. He warned me that if I don't stay away from you, he'll hurt my sister,"

"What changed?"

"I found a way to outsmart him. Please, Elijah. If you'll listen," Diana pleaded

Elijah gave a short nod. "Let's talk somewhere private,"

Diana nodded, getting to her feet. She followed Elijah out to his car. He climbed in, driving to his apartment. He had increased his security after Dexter's threat. He ensured his family and friends were safe, including himself with the added security camera and bodyguards around his apartment building.

It didn't go unnoticed by Diana as she followed him through the building to his apartment.

He opened the door, and they walked in. "I want the entire story," Elijah turned around, dropping his keys onto the table

"Elijah,"

"The full story or I'll have security escort you out," Elijah warned

"Fine,"

"It all started a couple of years ago. My dad set up a business deal with a long-term partner of his. The deal was I married his son, but I -"

"So this entire time you were with someone else," Elijah interrupted her. "You were dragging me along this entire time, knowing there wasn't a way we could be together,"

"Here me out, please," Diana pleaded. "Yes, we were engaged, but we didn't love each other. He was a stranger. This agreement was made when I was a sophomore in college, so I asked my father to wait until I finished college. Colin also agreed because he wanted to move to Shanghai, so dad agreed. After college, Colin didn't come back, so I continued with my life. Dad obviously caught on that we didn't want to be married, which cost him money, so he threatened to marry Nicole off to his creepy businessman. I gave my dad one last offer, which was to move to New York, and by the end of the year, I'll marry him. He agreed, so we moved here, which gave me time to figure out how to get out of the marriage."

"The only plot twist was falling for you," Diana glanced up. "Now dad wants me to marry him so he can benefit from the deal. If not, he's threatening to marry Nicole off,"

"You said you found a way to outsmart him?" Elijah asked

"Yes. You see, I can't marry Colin if I'm already married -"

"I hope you're not suggesting what I'm thinking," Elijah glared at her

"Hear me out." Diana sighed

"No, you've been lying to me since the moment I met you. I can't even trust you, let alone marry you,"

"I know Elijah, but please--"

"No, quite frankly, it's not my problem," Elijah shrugged. "You're a bad dream. I would like to forget," Elijah sighed

"I heard you out, but now I want you to go please," Elijah said

"This, us means nothing to you?" Diana rose up to her feet. "This last couple of months---"

"It was all a lie. A lie you started with," Elijah yelled back

"And I'm asking you to give me a chance to make it right,"

"I don't go back on my word, Diana. You had one chance," He shook his head

"You'll never be happy, Elijah. Deep down, you're still the little boy that had his heart broken so you can hide behind your fame and title, but you're nothing but a scared little boy," Diana yelled

She realized the magnitude of what she said as his face turned red with anger. "Get out!"

"Elijah,"

"Get out my apartment!" He roared, storming off into another room. A while later, one of his guard stepped in. "She's gone sir,"

"Thank you,"

His breathing became shallow as he pressed onto his chest. "Sir, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," He managed to say. He sat down as he counted to ten in his head as he would do as a child to calm himself down.

"Sir, water," a guard walked in with a glass of water.

"I'm okay," He confirmed.

***
A week later, Elijah was focused completely on his business. He wanted to forget Diana but she would seep through in his mind every so often which made it difficult

"Elijah," Silas walked in with bags of junk food

"Silas" He glanced up from his laptop as his brother walked in with a grin on his face like usual.

"Bro, you never have time for me anymore. You're always busy. " Silas threw himself onto the couch

"I'm sorry, baby bro. I've been busy with work. You know how it is" Elijah said, shutting his laptop.

"That's alright because you're spending the rest of your day with me. We're watching Harry Potter, and I brought snacks. "

"Sure, Si."

Three movies in, Silas sighed, rubbing his stomach as he curled up into a ball. "We're getting diabetes,"

"You mean you are," Elijah corrected. "Si, if you're tired, go to sleep. Your room awaits." He pointed to the end of the corridor

"In a bit bro" Silas yawned, closing his eyes shut

"Si, get up,"

"Yeah bro"

He left him be, got up, and went to his room. He dropped on the bed, falling asleep. In the morning, it was hectic. "Si, get up. You're late for school, "

"Urgh," He moaned

"Get up."

"In a bit,"

He walked into the kitchen, preparing breakfast for himself and Silas, knowing Silas would soon be awake

"Bro, I'm hungry," Silas moaned as he walked into the kitchen

"Come here then, breakfast is served,"

"Coming"

He appeared and immediately started munching on the food. "This is delicious,"

Just as that, the doorbell rang. They shared a look of who it could be before Silas motioned that he would go answer.

"E, it's Diana and a guy," Silas yelled

"Don't answer the door," He yelled back as he glanced at his security guards. They nodded as they walked out. Silas re-entered and sat down at the island. "What's going on?" Silas asked

"Nothing bro," Elijah assured

"You and Diana?"

"She lied to me. There's nothing there,"

"She lied, what, why?" Silas asked. "I thought she was the one for you,"

"So did I, but apparently she isn't. Leave it, Si. The entire thing is a headache,"  He shook his head. Silas nodded back

"I'll see you later then,"

"Yeah," Elijah replied

***

Author's note

Not long left to the end now...