MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE novel Chapter 202

(ARIELLE’S POV)

I walked towards my car, handbag slung over my shoulders, jotter tucked securely under my armpit, its edges poking out slightly from the confines of my arm. On my other hand, I clutched an important file; it contained a mix of the new business plan I had drawn courtesy of Jared's class.

The memory of his gift still lingered in my mind, and anytime I recalled the moment and the words that accompanied it, a hue of colors always found its way to my cheeks.

After presenting the gift to me, Jared had declared his decision to leave, citing an unknown appointment he needed to attend. I thanked him profusely again, ensuring that I showed how grateful I was for the gift.

Once he was gone, Rebecca and Stephen took over, never stopping fussing about the sculpture, oohing and aahing over how perfect it was. They insisted on helping me find the perfect spot to hang it, and after much deliberation, we finally settled on the wall across from my desk.

The sudden ringing of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts. It came from my handbag, but with my hands full, I kept walking until I reached my car. Once there, I carefully placed the file and jotter on the passenger seat, ensuring they wouldn’t slip.

Finally, I rummaged through my bag, found my phone, and answered on the third ring.

"Hello?"

“Hey, Arielle! It’s me, Margaux Harrison—the blind date? Remember?”

A cheerful young lady’s voice filled the line, and it didn’t take me long to place it. Margaux, the Harrisons’ granddaughter. We hadn’t spoken since that night, and I didn’t even remember giving her my number. How did she get it?

“Oh, Miss Harrison! Of course, I remember. How have you been?” I asked, leaning back in the driver’s seat as I smiled.

“Well, same old. Still being dragged to endless blind dates by the family. You’d think they’d give up by now, but nope,” she said, laughing. “Anyway, I’m not calling about that! I actually got your number from my gran—hope you don’t mind—and I have a proposition for you.”

“Not at all. What’s this about?”

“We’d love for you to be the contracted chef for my family’s cruise dinner!” Her voice bubbled with excitement. “You’re the first person who came to mind, and Gran thought you’d be perfect for it.”

My heart skipped a beat as I processed the invitation.

This was a huge opportunity! The Harrisons were still influential. I could use the influence to my advantage. If handled well, this could open doors I’d only dreamed of.

“That’s… incredible. I’m honored you thought of me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the surge of excitement.

“I knew you’d say yes!” I could imagine Margaux smiled tenderly on the other side. “Honestly, I was worried you might be too busy to even consider it. You’re always so in demand.”

I chuckled softly. “It’s a busy life, but there’s no way I’d pass up such an amazing opportunity. How could I say no to your family?”

“You’re the best,” she said sincerely. “Before the formal dinner, I was thinking it might be helpful for you to come to the private ship early to go over everything. You know, the menu, the setup, all that fun stuff. Does that work for you?”

"Sounds like a good plan," I replied, already mentally bracing myself for the task ahead.

“And do you think you could come tonight?” She added, in a slightly pleading tone. “It’d be great to get started as soon as possible.”

On hearing this I hesitated, my thoughts circling back to Maverick. If I boarded tonight, there was no telling how long it would take before everything was settled. Ever since my son was born, I’d rarely spent nights away from him. Before I could commit to anything, I needed to be absolutely sure he’d be okay.

Or should I call Dwayne or Jared now for help? The thought startled me once it crossed my mind. Geez. I was so swept up in today’s excitement that I’d even consider leaning on either of them…I rubbed my temples, forcing myself to refocus.

“Tonight’s doable,” I said after a moment. “I just need to swing by home first to get everything in order. I have a little human to take care of, after all.”

Margaux shared in the laughter. "Of course. Go take care of your little one, and we'll see you soon. I’ll text you the details."

The call ended, and I let out a sharp breath, my chest practically buzzing with excitement—and a pinch of nerves.

Contracting a dinner on a ship wasn’t exactly uncharted territory for me. I’d learned all about it during my time in Italy: you have to contact the cruise line or ship operator, hammer out every little detail—date, time, guest count, menu, pricing, special requests—you name it. Then there’s the contract, a binding little piece of paper spelling out all the terms, followed by coordinating with the ship’s catering team to make sure everything fits within their capabilities and policies.

"Are we having dinner together?" he asked, his big eyes shining.

"Of course," I said, sitting down beside him.

As we ate, he launched into tales of Bella’s visit, his excitement contagious. But the knot in my stomach tightened as I rehearsed what I had to say.

"Mav," I began, keeping my voice light, "Mommy has to go out tonight for work. Meredith will stay with you, and I’ll be back soon."

His fork paused mid-air. "You’re leaving?"

I nodded, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind his ear. "It’s important, baby. This job means a lot, for both of us."

We spent the rest of the evening curled on the couch, his favorite cartoon playing in the background. The clock moved too fast, and soon it was time to go.

Outside, a car pulled into the driveway—the driver Margaux had sent. Maverick hugged me one last time at the door.

"I’ll be back tomorrow," I said softly, brushing a kiss against his cheek. His small but determined face tugged at my heart, and I added with a soft smile, "Don’t miss me too much."

He chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I won’t, Mommy. We’ll see each other soon…"

"Oh? And how’s that supposed to happen?"

Maverick blinked, his giggle bubbling up like he was holding onto the world’s biggest secret. "You’ll see, Mommy!"

I laughed, shaking my head at his cryptic tone. "Alright I already saw it. I’ll FaceTime you, okay?"

"I’ll be waiting," he whispered with a grin, wrapping his arms around my neck.