MR BILLIONAIRE'S REGRET: CHASING HIS IRRESISTIBLE WIFE

(ARIELLE'S POV)

I relished the meal, savoring each bite and enjoying the feel of each flavor on my plate. As much as I wanted to eat more of the delicacies, I had to settle for lighter meals. My stomach soon got filled, and being the minimalist I was, I had to stop. Eating beyond that point

was gluttony, and I wasn't one.

I covered the plates and pushed the tray aside, turning to thank Ashley. "Thank you so much, I enjoyed this."

"You're welcome, even though you didn't eat as much as I wanted you to," she said, feigning a pout.

"Overfeeding me is not part of the plan, is it?"

"You're right, it isn't," she smiled ruefully and put the tray away.

"Now, you have to rest a little before we get down to business. We've got a lot planned for you today."

"You're still not gonna tell me about this plan, aren't you?"

"You're right, I won't," she said, winking.

I nodded, resigning to my fate. As much as I wanted to be privy to what was being planned, I also enjoyed being in the dark. It helped amplify the tension and anticipation I was feeling inside.

Lounging comfortably on the chair, I exhaled in contentment. Life was indeed good with the people you love and who love you right back, in it. As I rested, I thought of Maverick. I hadn't seen him since the early morning surprise, and it was so with everyone else. Was keeping everyone away from me, part of this secret birthday plan?

So I leaned a little close to Ashley who was seated in the chair close to me, typing away on her phone. "Where's Maverick, and everyone else?"

"Maverick is with his grandma," she said, looking up from her phone. "And for everyone else?" The look of mischief was back on her face now. "You'll find out soon."

I nodded, but then my curiosity was not satiated. I was tempted to ask about Jared's whereabouts. If he had sent any birthday wishes, but I bit the words back. I didn't care if he wished me a happy birthday or not. Or at least, that's what I told myself. I tried to push the thought of him out of my mind, but it wouldn't budge, refusing to be ignored.

Soon, it was time to get started on the next activity. I walked over to the dressing table where the two ladies were waiting. They introduced themselves as Candice, the makeup artist, and Lola, the stylist.

"Hi, I'm Candice," she said, smiling. "I'll be doing your makeup today." She was a tall slender woman with a stylish fashion sense.

"And I'm Lola," the second woman introduced, smiling, too. "I'll be styling your hair and helping you get dressed." She was a chubby lady with moon-shaped dimples on both cheeks.

I smiled, feeling flustered by the arrangement. Oh, Ashley, how do I love you less?

"Hi, nice to meet you both."

Candice and Lola immediately got to work afterward. Candice worked her magic with my makeup, amplifying my facial features and making my face glow. She used light products, focusing on enhancing my look without tampering with my natural beauty.

While Candice worked on my face, Lola worked on my hair, styling it in loose cascading waves that fell on my back. She used a curling stretcher to add some bounce to my hair and then finished it off with a center-parting fringe.

As they worked, I couldn't help but feel like royalty. I had never felt so indulged in my life. The attention was mind blogging, and I felt like a princess.

Hours later after they were done, and stepped away for me to stare at myself properly in the vanity mirror, a gasp tore from my lips. I stared back at a version of myself that looked too good to be real. I looked incredible. My makeup was flawless, my hair was stunning, and I felt like a million dollar bucks.

"Wow!" I finally mouthed. I still can't believe the transformation. I looked like a completely different person.

Lola and Candice smiled, looking pleased with their handiwork.

"You look amazing, Ma'am," Lola cooed. "But we're not done yet. We will have to get you dressed."

I nodded, head bubbling with excitement. I couldn't wait to see my outfit. At the same time, I was curious about where I would be going because there was no way I was going through all of these just to sit back in my room. I just can't wait to find out the rest of the plans. Lola walked over to a dress bag that was banging on the back of the door and gently unzipped it to reveal a dress. My eyes rounded like saucers as I took in the sight of the stunning gown. It was a customized strapless Chanel evening dress, with meticulous beading and embroidery that shone and sparkled like diamonds in the dark. The champagne color was alluring and screamed glamour. It was a truly breathtaking piece, and I couldn't help my Jaws dropping at the sheer beauty of it.

"Oh my goodness," I covered my mouth with my hand when I felt the material and how soft it felt. This was too good to be real. It was like something out of some fantasy movie.

Candice smiled, clearly enjoying my shock. "Wait until you see your other accessories."

At her words, Lola walked over to a nearby table that had two boxes placed on it. Out of the first large box, she took out a pair of Christian Louboutin heels with delicate straps and sparkling buckles.

"Wow!" Was all I could say, as I watched the unboxing scene before me.

Next, she opened the smaller box and took out a diamond-engraved necklace and earring set from the popular jewelry brand Tiffany &Co Next was a pearl beaded bracelet by another popular jeweler, Oscar de la Renta. And next was a luxurious black Chanel purse, designed with diamond-engraved clasp.

I was suddenly overwhelmed, my emotions threatening to get the better of me. My eyes swelled with joy at the items before me. Ashley, noticing my emotional state, quickly stepped forward, a feigned stern look on her face. "You'd better not ruin that make-up."

I smiled, sniffing back the tears. "I

won't," I promised, even though it

was hard keeping to that promise. This is just so flabbergasting. The beauty of the dress, accessories, and the love, care, efforts, and finances that had gone into planning this special day for me. It was just too much.

"Thank you," I mumbled, my voice cracking slightly.

Ashley smiled, her eyes filled with compassion. "You're welcome. Now, let's get you into these beauties to complete your look."

I nodded, my excitement and

anticipation returning. Candice and Lola approached me, as they helped me into the dress, shoes, and jewelry. By the time they were done, I twirled around in front of the mirror,

giggling like a high school gir preparing for her first prom. The dress hugged my body like a second

skin, accentuating all my curves and edges.

At this point, it was safe to say I looked like the most beautiful woman in the world!

Ashley seemed to agree with me on that because her eyes lit up in delight as they scanned me over. "Oh my goodness! Aren't you the most beautiful woman that has ever walked the surface of the earth?" The sheer admiration in her eyes made my head swoon and I made a mock courtesy bow, like the ones I saw in Maverick's cartoon. "Thank you, my lady."

"You're welcome. Now, are you ready for the next phase of your birthday celebration?"

I nodded eagerly, my excitement and anticipation building up again. "Yes, I'm ready!"

Ashley smiled, a mischievous look appearing in her eyes. "All right, let's do this!" She said and approached me with a thin material. The smile on my face instantly faded as I recognized what it was. "A blindfold?" I asked, skeptical.

She nodded, her smile growing wider. "Yes, my sweetie."

"Oh no, my makeup will get smudged," I refuted, moving away from her. My heart was racing with doubts now. What does she need to blindfold me?

Ashley burst into laughter, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't worry, that was why I asked Candice to use smudge-proof makeup. It's specially designed to stay in place, no matter what."

I still looked skeptical, not completely convinced. Candice stepped forward, a reassuring look on her face as she gently touched my face. When she withdrew her hand, it was stain-free. "See? It didn't smudge," Candice said, smiling. "It can only be wiped off by certain products."

I relaxed at this point, now convinced. So I let Ashley walk behind me, her hands gentle as she tied the blindfold over my eyes. It was light and comfortable, but I couldn't see through it.

"I hope whatever you all are planning is worth it," I grumbled playfully.

Ashley chuckled. "It sure as hell is," she responded, as she gently nudged me forward.noveldrama

I followed meekly, my heart racing with anticipation. We walked through the deck and everywhere felt unusually quiet. I was tempted to ask questions, but held back, deciding to see where all of these went.

After a few minutes of walking, Ashley stopped, and I took that as a cue to stop too. I sensed her walk behind me and slowly untied the blindfold. I held my breath as it took unusually long, more like Ashley was deliberately being slow to heighten my tension. Finally, the blindfold went off, and my heart skipped a thousand beats as I beheld the sight before me.