"Aaron, I don't care. If you are going back to work, I am going back too." I said angrily.

It has been three days since our family lunch. Aaron acted so well the whole time, just like the times before our wedding. He was this teasing, sweet, kind and caring man giving me little pecks on the cheek that left those tingling and gittery feelings. The perfect husband. If I didn't know the truth, I swear I would have fallen in love with him all over again.

Today is Monday morning and Aaron told me an hour ago that he is resuming to go to office from today. I have been trying to convince him since then that he needs to let me go back to work too.

"For the nth time, Amelia, no", he said drinking his coffee.

"You can not decide for me. You know I love my job." He is being insanely difficult right now.

"Which job, Amelia? You are no longer employed at Wellington's?"

What? How? When? Why? Of course, the reason for all my problems. Aaron Kingston.

"What the fuck did you do this time?" I am so fucking angry right now. I loved my job at Wellington's.

"Nothing at all actually. Just my word was enough", he said putting on his shoes.

"You are lying. That's not possible. They would never kick me out and they need a resignation letter signed by me if it is otherwise. One that I never signed," I argued as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Not if their boss says so." He rolled his eyes and continued when I looked at him confused. "I bought out Wellington's two days before our wedding. You need to watch news more often, woman."

"How is it even possible? I don't believe it. I watch enough news."

"Wellington's was loosing all their customers to Kingston Designs anyways. I offered Christian Wellington a high price for the remaining contracts covering all his incurred losses so far. He readily sold it without a second thought," he said with a shrug and rolling his eyes said, "And don't get me started on how much news you watch."

"Chris sold the company to you without a word? Did he not care about any of his employees? He did not even try to negotiate for our jobs? Did he not care at all? Wait! don't answer that. I know he didn't care about anything but himself and his comfort. That selfish man!" I shook my head.

What will happen to Stephan from the reception. He had a family to look after. What about Stacy from finance. Her mom has cancer. Oh God! Damn you, Christian Wellington!

"All you CEOs, what do you think of yourselves? Why do you all have to be such selfish bastards? Can't you think about anyone but yourselves? What had the employees done to you, Aaron? They were good at their work. It was Chris who didn't know how to run the company!", I yelled at Aaron, feeling frustrated.

"None of the employees loose their jobs. If they do their work well and cross the benchmark at the assessment after six months, they can continue working after that too. Until they keep up that good work, that is." He grabbed his coat and laptop bag and walked to the main door.

"Really? Why would you do that?" I asked skeptically.

"I told you I do my research well before taking any step. I know they are good at what they do. We don't fire people for no reason at all at Kingston Designs. I guess some of us CEOs are not selfish bastards", he turned to leave.

"So, you just kicked me out then?" What does he want from me?

"Yup, you are not working anymore. Not at Wellington's. Not anywhere else."

"What problem do you have with me working?" I asked frustrated.

"You love working."

"So?"

"I wanna snatch away from you everything that you love," he smiled sarcastically.

Great, I love you the most. Snatch away yourself too.

"I can't believe you bought out Wellington's with a loss just to stop me from working." It is absurd. I mean he is not gaining anything out of the deal at all. The contracts that we had were really minor compared to Kingston Designs' and the debts were huge.

"Can't believe you think you are that important to me. You think I would take such a big risk for just adding to your torture. I thought you had better brains than that." He took a breath and sat again on the chair nearest to the door.

"There are several other ways to torture you, Amelia. Buying Wellington's is not a part of it. Think from this point, Amy. All the architectural firms in the state are linked to only two major companies. Either Wellington's or Kingston Designs. If I buy out Wellington's-"

"You will have monopoly in the state." I completed for him shocked.

"Exactly. My investments in Wellington's will be covered in no time at all. No matter however minor those contracts are, monopoly over the state will bring more profits. I will use those funds to open branches across the ocean in Europe without disrupting the current profits from this continent", he said with a straight face.

"But, why now? You could have done it before too? Like when you expanded to a different country, you could have set your monopoly here instead? It could have got you more profits and less risk?"

"You strike when the opponent is weakest. When I expanded to the other country, I had my foot set here but Wellington's was not weak at that time. The minute Wellington's broke, I made my move. Everyone saw the investment but none saw the opportunity, so there was no competition as well."

"That is genius", I said still in a daze.

"Thank you. I am not the youngest billionaire for no reason at all. I think about the longer future," he said with a smirk.

"Is that why you chose to meet me at the funeral? Because, you knew I would be broken?" I asked him slowly.

"Yes", he said with a serious tone.

"So, I was just business too?" I asked with tears filled in my eyes.

"No. You are not business. You are revenge. My vengeance." He eyed me with a straight face but his eyes shown with anger and hatred.

"R...Re..Revenge? For what?" Tears were streaming down my face.

"Are you gonna kiss your husband goodbye?" he asked as he got up.

"Go and ask the girl from that night. Maybe she will cause I definitely won't", I answered still thinking about the revenge part.

"Tsk, your loss." He gave me a half smile and left.

My knees were too weak to hold me and I fell to the ground.

Stop it, Amy. What are you sad about? You knew it was all a plan. Why are you doing this to yourself? What is hurting you, Amy?

The fact that he just smashed the little hope I had for us. The little hope that he will stop this nonsense and realize his mistake. But, no he will not realize. Because for him this is what he wants to do. His conscience will never scold him because it is guiding him to do this. To harass me, to betray me and to mock my love for him. The fact that he will never love me because he has never even tried to. The fact that it was all just revenge to him. Revenge for what I don't even know. That is what is hurting me.

I spend the day cleaning the house and watching some sad movies with some ice cream. I had cried my eyes out. I had racked my brains off thinking about what I could have possible done to him.

What you have done is not the reason for this. What you have not done might be the reason for this. What happened in the end is definitely the reason for this.

"You are revenge. My vengeance."

His words kept running in my head. But, I had no freaking idea at all. I hadn't even met him until the funeral. When I had met him again, it was he who approached me.

Flashback

It has been two months since the funeral. Two months since I saw Marcus. Two months since I saw him. You see, I always wanted to work for Kingston Designs since I graduated last year. But, I had to be the best to apply for a job there. So, I had decided to work at Wellington's for a few years before I go for it. But, I had never bothered to know the history of the company or Aaron Kingston. After I met Mr. Kingston, I had read everything about him on the internet. The research started just to ensure if the man I met was actually Aaron Kingston. I do not trust easily so that is natural to me. But, yeah he was actually Aaron freaking Kingston.

To say I was impressed by reading about him would be an understatement. He is amazingly brilliant. He had graduated early from high school at the age of seventeen. He started with nothing but a degree in architecture from Texas A and M University where he studied with scholarship. He used to do odd jobs to manage his expenses and yet, managed to do well in his studies. He worked at a architecture company for two years while in his final two years of university. At the age of twenty one, he took over his dad's small architectural firm that was well known only in a small part of America. Within, five years of it, he had managed to grow his business so much that he became the youngest billionaire at twenty six and his company recently became the best architecture company in North America.

Even though I had read everything about him, I was not dying to meet him again or expected to ever cross paths with him. Firstly, he maybe brilliant but he might be as fake as the crowd he deals with. Secondly, I am an architect in a rival company. The chances are really negligible. Almost none.

Which is why I was surprised to see him at the art gallery, where I came to support a friend.

"Ms. Lawson, what a pleasant surprise to see you here!" someone said behind me as I was looking cluelessly at a painting. When I turned around, I saw a familiar face.

"Mr. Kingston, what are you doing here?" I was surprised to see him there.

"I came to look at the art works just like you did." Of course, Amy. It is an art gallery.

"I...I mean it isn't a place for billionaires so I was surprised to see you here."

"You are here too, aren't you?"

"The organizer is an old friend." I explained and he nodded in understanding.

"So, are you buying something?" he asked.

"I would love to, if I understand any of them." He chuckled and shook his head listening to my answer.

I honestly am not a fan of art and do not even have the slightest idea what the paintings represent.

"Not a fan of art, huh?" he inquired as we walked ahead.

"I do not even have the slightest idea. I mean look at that one. It is just all circles and dots of different colors, shapes and sizes. Why would someone buy that for such a high prize? I can make one for free instead", I whispered confused.

He pursed his lips together to stop himself from laughing.

"Some people like having such paintings and antique art items in their house", he explained after a moment.

"Nah, I would rather hang photos of me, my family and friends instead of overprized stuff that make no sense to me", I shrugged.

"Really? Family, huh? Parents, siblings, cousins, boyfriend?" he asked.

"As far as I know family has only one definition, Mr. Kingston", I said making him chuckle.

"You can call me Aaron. We are friends now correct? And, what I meant to ask was do you have a boyfriend, Ms. Lawson?"

"No, Mr. Kingston. We are not friends yet. I don't make friends that easily. And how does me having or not having a boyfriend concern you?" I was looking at the prize of another artifact.

"So, I have to earn your friendship, huh? How should I do so? And of course, it concerns me if you have or not have a boyfriend. I am meaning to ask you out soon."

"I make friends with people I admire, Mr. Kingston. The day I find something about you that makes me admire you, I will let you know. About the asking out, I am not looking for relationships as of now." I smiled at him and walked ahead.

"So, you saying that after reading all about me for last two months, there is nothing you found worth admiring", he asked with a smirk as he followed behind.

I raised an eyebrow in shock. "If I didn't know better, I would have assumed you were stalking me, Mr. Kingston."

"So, you did look me up. I just guessed cause I am very observant, Ms. Lawson and I observed that you don't trust people easily. Considering that, if a stranger walks up to you introducing himself as a well known businessman, chances are high you would look him up." The man is smart.

"Well, good observation. I did ensure you were who you said you were. Although, I didn't find anything unique that was worth admiring, I did find a few mentions of things that wouldn't make me admire you. You know, womanizing and drinking", I challenged back.

"I am a young man, Ms. Lawson. Doesn't mean habits don't change."

"Old habits die hard, Mr. Kingston."

"I like your wit, Ms. Lawson. I look forward to the day you say yes to both my wishes." He stopped beside me.

"I too look forward to the day I begin to admire you, Mr. Kingston. The dating I am not so sure about", I told him and took a turn to exit.

"Are you leaving already?" he asked behind me.

"Yes, I am. I can not waste my hard earned money or my time on things that I don't understand and will never understand either." I chucked.

"Can I get your number?" he asked surprising me.

"And why would I give you my number, Mr. Kingston?" I asked my eyebrows raised in question.

"Well, to find something that you can admire about me, you need to know me better. The chances to meet you accidentally in such a big city may not always be as quick as twice in two months."

"You know how to make your demands, Mr. Kingston," I nodded as gave him my number.

"Quality worth earning your admiration?" he asked making me laugh.

"I'll let you know." I smiled and left.

Present

I woke up to someone knocking on the door. I don't remember when I slept on the couch thinking about it all. It was already eight in the evening and the room was dark. The knocking increased and that someone rang the bell again.

It must be Aaron.

I got up from the couch and rubbed my face. I switched on the light on my way to the door.

"Sorry, I was sleeping..." My words trailed off as I realized Aaron was not alone.

Aaron walked in with the girl trailing behind him. She was blond, had applied dark red lipstick and was wearing a skimpy tight red dress. My eyes widened and heart beat fastened as I realized who she might be. No.

"A...Aa...Aaron, wh...who is she?" I asked lowly holding my breath.

"Oh that is Ruby. My friend for tonight", he said with a shrug and my breath hitch.

"Aaron....you...you mean...your...one ni..night st..sta..stand?" I asked shaking as my heart clenched.

"You are smart enough, Amelia."

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? Do you really want me to answer that?"

"Aaron don't. Don't do this." I pleaded, my eyes blinding with tears.

"Why, Amy? I thought you don't care? In fact, wasn't it you who suggested it?"

"When did I do that, you asshole?" I yelled as tears streamed down my face.

"Did you forget? A few days ago, in the gym. Didn't you say that I should just go to the girl I spent our wedding night with? And even today morning?" I couldn't take it anymore and I slapped him hard.

"You are a worthless man, Aaron. Revenge is one thing, but you could have at least spare me some respect. You don't even have the courtesy to hide your adultery. You are shamelessly throwing it at my face." I cried.

"So, you would rather have me lie to you and cheat on you behind your back?" he asked rubbing his cheek that I slapped.

"Am I still supposed to be here?" the girl asked with a frown.

"Go to the room on the right. I will join you in some time." Aaron nodded in the direction of the room as I looked away.

"I am sorry", the girl said to me with a sad smile. I didn't bother to see if it was genuine or not.

"Aaron Kingston, you are nothing more than a man-whore. I regret the day I met you", I said after that girl disappeared into Aaron's room.

"Don't worry, Amelia. This is just the start. I plan on making you regret the day you were born."

"Why are you punishing me? Punishing me by making me do stupid tasks was bearable, but this? This is killing me. Why would you do this? Why are you cheating on me? Doesn't your conscience stop you anywhere? I don't even know what I did to you, Aaron", I begged as I held his collar and cried harder.

"What can I do, Amy? I am a man with needs. If my wife doesn't fulfill them then I have to ask someone else." He freed himself of my clutches.

"Are you still the same guy I admired enough to make him a friend? Are you still the guy I fell for? Are you the guy who promised me the world? I trusted you more than life, Aaron. Honesty and loyalty is all that I had asked from you in return. You didn't give me either", I looked at him in disgust and disbelief.

"I am still that guy. You could just never see the real me. You just misjudged me", he said as he walked away from me.

"You were right. I shouldn't trust you. You do not deserve it."

He turned to go without another word.

"And I was right too", I said before he opened the door.

He looked at me and I knew he knew what I meant when I said these words before I left to my room to cry the night out.

"Old habits die hard, Mr. Kingston."