𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞

Chapter Forty-Nine

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Imani had known this day would come; she had thought about it, agonized about it, but nothing had prepared her for the gut-wrenching feeling of Matt with another woman. It was more than a kick in the stomach—a brow so hard she broke down, something she often did these days. Even as she cried, she couldn't take her eyes from him.

He wore a fitting black suit, a white shirt, and a black-tie. His hair seemed longer than usual, and his eyes shone brightly even through the camera, almost with mischief, like he was enjoying the company, but who wouldn't? He was with Olivia Henderson, one of the most beautiful women in the world, the Brooke Shields of this generation. Imani watched them interact, feeling a wave of jealousy rush through her like nausea, her head spun with dizziness, and her heart felt like someone was repeatedly pricking a needle on it. But the smile across his lips when he tilted his head closer to hear her was what hurt the most. Imani saw it as flirting.

He had meant it when he said he would find a woman to start a family. This public appearance was Matthew's way of announcing his intent, and the public would soon be caught up in the romantic wave of a billionaire and a supermodel. Imani hated Olivia, not for anything other than her ability to be with Matthew. She knew it was not fair to dislike her; neither did she have the right to the hostility she felt toward Matt that threatened to chock her.

One of the constant feelings in Imani's life has always been loneliness. She had felt it for so long, but when she met and loved Matt, it disappeared. He had been a friend, a lover, and a man she had trusted with everything she had. But thinking of the choice she had made in walking away, perhaps she had not trusted him entirely. Now loneliness had found its way back into her life.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ocean," Matthew had leaned closer to hear Olivia whisper, her warm breath hitting the side of his face. He couldn't remember the last time he attended a charity gala, but he liked this one, not because People sucked up to him, but because he was having a great time interacting with people from all walks of life. There were lawyers, doctors, actors, models as well as wealthy people coming together for a good course. It was also an excellent opportunity to find a woman who could be the mother of his children.

Olivia Henderson was stunning, tall, and slender with an oval face, sparkling eyes, and a smile that made someone feel special, and Matt was no exception. She was the epitome of what society deemed as beautiful. Her brown hair was pinned on top of her head, with a few tendrils falling on her shoulders. She wore a long black gown with a halterneck and a side slit.

"You too, miss Henderson." Olivia shook his hand, feeling the large hand engulfing hers in a tight grasp. She had heard rumors about this man, some so ridiculous that they elicited laughter and seen him in the media enough, but they had never been introduced. Standing in front of him was a dream come true. He was as gorgeous in close proximity as in magazines and videos.

Olivia couldn't control her excitement while speaking to him. He seemed interested in what she had to say because he intently listened. He didn't leer as most men did, which made her think he might be interested in her. When the night ended, she shyly opened her clutch bag and handed him her card, hoping he would call.

Matthew took the card, turned it to read, thanked her, but did not promise to call. He walked out among the first guests to leave, his slow strides giving the impression that he had enjoyed the gala and hated to see it end.

He never told Imani this, but following their reconciliation after his assumption that Jamie was her partner, he had made a choice to marry her based on how much he wanted her—the joy he felt in her company, proposing to her felt like a good idea to keep her forever. He disliked remembering her. That's why he decided to call Olivia on Monday the following week. This time, he wouldn't go for something as flimsy as love—Matthew was looking for compatibility; whether a woman wanted to have children was essential to him.