The Billionaire's Bethrothed

Arrogant, obnoxious, elusive, snobbish!!! Splattered on the front page of every single newspaper and tabloid once again.

Daniel fumed as he read through this morning's gossip page. How wrong could they be? Who was fueling this? He had to get to the root of this before it cost him everything he had worked for. Everything he had almost lost his life getting, and would go to the deepest depths to protect. He even proposed to the social climber who was betrothed to him in the strength of friendship of his dad with his old friend. Damn the old man!

Crystel was her name! Crystel Arianna Simmons! After his dad's unexpected demise, his lawyer, Bard, informed Daniel of the clause in the will, which involved marrying the chit to access his inheritance within 3 years. Daniel couldn't let his father's hard-earned wealth go to charity because he refused to marry a woman.

And though beautiful, the chit was giving him a run for his money, spending cash faster than he could fathom. For this reason, he delayed marriage as much as possible, trying to find a way out since he didn't need a wife. He hadn't needed one before, and especially not now. He was raised by his nannies after his mom abandoned him as a kid. And for some reason, his dad never remarried or brought women home, though Daniel wished for the love of a mother.

Once he overheard his dad telling a friend he still thought of a woman, but she was married with twin daughters. The pain in his father's voice had ached the young boy's heart, who wondered how hard love was and why she didn't return his emotions.

Lost in his thoughts, a voice jolted him out of reality to the odd woman in front of him.

"Excuse me, sir," Ari said, losing her accent for a while. She had been shown into the office ten minutes ago, but her new boss hadn't said a word to her. Instead, he stared at her, like he was perusing the pages of a magazine, making her shift uncomfortably in her seat.

What hole had she crept out of wearing those unusual clothes? Daniel thought. And did she think the 14th-century glasses made her look any prettier? And to make things worse, why couldn't she just look him in the face instead of squeaming in her seat like a scrawny mouse ready to leap? After the scene Arianna made the last time with his last personal assistant, Stella, he let her go and put an order not to let Arianna into the company. Oh! The tabloids had spoken about it for days unending. She insisted he call her Crystel, but he loved the name Arianna, and it stuck. She wasn't happy about it, but he had to keep her with a firm hand.

For some reason, on he couldn't put his finger on, there was a sense of deja vu-vu. The woman seated across from him was like a mysterious book, with an unusual sense of familiarity. But giving her a once-over, nothing in the world would have made them meet in the past. Not his businesses and certainly not his personal life.

But the dilemma he was facing had put him on edge. Someone was spreading rumors, and he couldn't let that continue as time was running out. So here he was, the elusive multi-billionaire Danielle Devaras, at a crossroads while in desperate need of a personal assistant.

"Good morning, Miss Rosalinda. I see you are the final candidate for my assistant position."

Daniel said, eyeing her documents on his table. She had excellent credentials and came highly recommended. She was overqualified, but he could use a skilled talent like her.

Ari felt like her head was spinning at the sound of his voice. It had been two years since she saw Daniel, but the shock that flowed through her veins was immense. He was the definition of an alpha male: chiseled abs that hugged his shirt, quads aching for a release, his profile solid and intimidating, and a voice that sent jolts down her spine. As he sat in the leather chair, his aura filled the space between them, giving her the feeling of being swept off her feet.

His office was opulent and stunningly beautiful, and his presence could be felt in every corner of this space. The man she was supposed to marry, if not for her scheming former ex-best friend. After two years, the betrayal was still fresh as she saw them splashed in the tabloids now and then, using her name. Why was Tracy using her name to deceive everyone?

"Miss Rosalinda," Daniel said, staring at the woman in front of him through clouded eyes. The last thing he needed was a woman who was attracted to him. She had been staring at him with an unreadable expression since she walked in, and he needed to get this interview done with.

"Good morning, sir. My name is Rosalinda Natalia Perez, but you can call me Natalia." Ari said, making her Spanish background prominent in her language. She had gone by Rosa in the last two years, but she didn't want him calling him that. Her main aim was to make sure she got this job. He had specified he needed a PA who was fluent in both English and Spanish, and she was the right candidate; she just had to make him see that.

"I need a PA who can start immediately. This job involves late nights, constant traveling, and timeliness. Of course, your time is well paid for with all bonuses attached. Also, I prefer my workers dressed to standard as it concerns my reputation." He said as he gave her a once-over, watching her every movement. He also noticed the prominent Spanish drawl, which was absent when she spoke the first time. This was an important job, as it involved his most personal affairs, and he had to make sure she was trustworthy. The head of human resources had chosen her as the final candidate, and he needed to make sure she could deliver. The background check on her came back clear, even though there were significant gaps, but he would find out working with her.

Ari had worked on her disguise in the past as she sought to take her revenge on those who had harmed her in the past, so she was barely recognizable. After finding out what had happened, she was bent on getting justice for her mum and seeking retribution from Tracy for the harm caused. And her father was solidly behind her, as he was glad to be reunited with one of his lost daughters.

"I assure you, sir, I am up to the task and ready to start as soon as possible." She said she was hoping to get the job and get her plan rolling. She had to unravel all the past secrets and especially get her hands on the letter her father left behind. She couldn't let the letter get into Tracy's hands. After the announcement of their engagement, Ari knew she had to get into Daniel's life and gain his trust. As for Tracy, she would handle her when the time came.

So here she was, set to become his assistant as Rosalinda Natalia Perez. In the last two years, she had developed a mastery of Spanish thanks to her amazing teachers and could pass off as a native. Now here she was, beginning her journey of unravelling the secrets that would change many lives. And amidst all this, she had to find the father of her children.

She remembered everything like it was yesterday.