Sold To A Billionaire

Never Back Down

“THANK YOU,” Zoe said when the guards let her in. They may act a little bit rude to her earlier; she could understand it. Besides, Helios didn’t instruct them. Zoe heaved a deep sigh and cursed inside her mind when she walked toward the elevator. Ever since she has been an introvert, she will spend her time at school, at home, and vice versa. She’s not fond of socializing and seeing many people, making her feel a little bit anxious. At the same time, she was clueless. She might not be dumb, but she can still feel that jitters in her very first. It took her a couple of minutes before she reached the top floor of the building. The space on the top is vast, and every corner is well-furnished. The dim lights beamed in the hallway, and the indoor plants were quite refreshing to the eyes. The moment she saw Helios’s office, which is just at the center, right after she stepped out of the elevator, she took a deep breath to calm herself. She knocked thrice before she twisted the know and entered. For a moment, Zoe was expecting something, a more high-tech door that would open once it sensed something near it. Well, she expected too much. However, the interior of the floor still shouts luxuriousness. It was just that she sucked at describing things. Soon as she got in, it was Helios’s cold stare whom she met. The man is handsomely sitting on his swivel chair. Helios broke the stare and continued to sign the pile of documents that were on top of his table. Zoe hemmed and cleared her throat. “Good more—” “There’s no good in the morning. You’re five minutes late,” he said coldly, making Zoe frown. She scoffed as she looked at him. ‘Seriously?’ she thought. The building is too broad and high. And the fact that she got a little fuss at the entrance, what does he expect? “You are aware that this is—” Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“It could be the reason that you should wake up early, and move swifter, Miss Levine.” Zoe’s lips parted, shoulders down, and she stared at him, baffled. “Are you being serious? Can’t you be considerate?” Zoe doesn’t know what to feel at the moment. She couldn’t find her exact emotion toward Helios’s demeanor. A part of her urges her to cry and shout in rage at him. ‘He changed since I didn’t accept his proposal.’ To Zoe, all of the things that are happenings between them—all the changes… are all because of her declining Helios’s proposal. Zoe let out a soft chuckle instead. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you. But if you continue to do this, better if I go and find a new job. Instead of here, dealing with a bipolar like you!” she said, wearing all the courage that was left of her. Their gazes met, and Zoe was the one who broke it. “Thanks for offering me a job for me. But I can’t do this… not with you,” she said, and after that, she left the office. Soon as she stepped inside the elevator, tears poured down from her eyes down to her soft, rosy cheeks. How cruel was fate? Of all people, why did He let her meet a person who doesn’t even have an overview of understanding? Helios is a nice guy; she could feel that at first. But as time passed by, since he started to get transparent about what he felt, he changed. Well, all people change. It’s just a matter of time. Maybe Helios will realize that he’s too far. But what else could a mere Zoe do? He saved her life. Did she make the wrong decision? Should she have accepted his proposal? How about her happiness? Could she really feel it when they got married? If it’s true that Helios is head-over-heels on Zoe, then all his words were valid, but the thing is, love at first sight—oh, scratch that, it was love at first sex… for Helios. But what about Zoe? She was sure that and genuine to herself that she didn’t love him. She may be

like him or want it like she always thought, but love is totally different. And if Helios can’t see this, then there’s only one thing she could do. She must distance herself, away from him. It’s the only way. Zoe will choose to stay with her mother than deal with complicated things. But there’s one thing that’s holding her back too. Helios’s father. She heaved a deep sigh, called her mother, and then asked her whereabouts. Zoe was sure enough that she needed her mother in a moment like this. Zoe found herself knocking in front of their old apartment. “Sweetie—” Iris didn’t finish her words when Zoe dashed towards her and hugged her tight. After a few seconds, she felt Zoe’s body slightly trembling. Iris frowned and caressed her daughter’s back. “Hey, what’s wrong?” Zoe didn’t reply and continued crying. She bit her lower lip to prevent herself from sobbing. Afterward, she wiped her tears away. She let go of her mom and smiled. “What’s wrong, sweetie? Is there something that happened between you and Helios? And it was supposed your first day at work,” Iris queried simultaneously as she dragged her daughter gently inside. Zoe sat on their old long sofa, and her mother sat beside her. Iris held her hand and pressed it. “You cried, sweetie. Let me know what’s bothering you. Is it about Helios?” “Mom…” she whispered. “I don’t know what to do anymore. Things were not the same when Helios and I first met. I warned myself that it’s not permanent, and here’s the result.” Iris sighed and caressed her daughter’s shoulder as she enveloped her hand on Zoe’s back. “Things are really complicated, especially when we owe someone.” Zoe’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at her mom’s eyes. Her mother nodded. “Yes, sweetie. In every way, you feel something like that. You will still choose to

stay even if you know that he doesn’t want you.” Zoe frowned. “Mom, we’re out of the topic. I will get straight to the point. I don’t want to leave and work with Helios anymore. Things are not going well between us. For tomorrow…” she flashed a smile in front of her mom, “—I will find a new job and you too.” “B-But—” “No but’s, mom. This is for the better. I will try my best to pay the Lincolns.” “But how about the threat? What if Don Lincoln—” “Then I will not stop seeking for Helios’s conscience if he will let his father get in our way. Mom,’ she held her mother’s hand, “—we must not show that we’re weak. We may be women, but they must not underestimate our power.” Iris smiled. “Girl power!” she exclaimed, making them both burst into laughter.