The Billionaire's Mistake (Anya and Daniel)
MISTAKE 52

Chapter 52: Plotting

When the painting, "Anya in the wind," was finally unveiled, Anya's breath caught in her throat. She had never thought she would get to see it again. But as the bidding began, Anya's excitement turned to dismay. The price quickly soared beyond her budget, and she realized quickly that even if she worked for a hundred years, she wouldn't be able to afford it.

Desperation gnawed at Anya as she watched the bids climb higher and higher. She could not. lose this painting again. Her agitation grew as her eyes found their way over to Daniel, who was watching the proceedings with a look of quiet determination. And then, to her utter shock, he raised his paddle.

Anya's heart sank as Daniel's bid was accepted, and the gavel fell with a decisive thud. The painting was his.

After the auction ended, Anya tapped Daniel by the shoulder, causing him to turn. She knew she had to swallow her pride and ask him for a conversation, no matter how much she disliked

the idea.

"Daniel," she said stiffly, her voice betraying none of the turmoil swirling inside her. "We

need to talk."

Daniel turned to face her; his expression remained soft, giving her the delusion that he liked her. As the thought crossed her mind, she waved it away. She could only hope he would be willing to part with the painting. "Of course

Anya," he replied, his tone gentle."Let's meet at the restaurant on the third floor."

Anya hesitated for a moment, steeling herself for the conversation to come. "I will go over and wait for you," she began, her voice steady. "I am guessing you already know what I wish to say, since you did not refuse to meet." Daniel displayed a self-deprecating smile right at that moment. "You want the painting?" he asked, his tone filled with certainty. He was not guessing. This was a fact.

Chipper 5) Plotting

Anya nodded stiffly, her jaw set in determination. "Yes. t holds sentimental value for me, and I would like to have it."

Daniel studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "I see," he said finally. "You go ahead to the restaurant; I will follow you."

After speaking, they both got up to leave the auction hall. Daniel was not interested in anything being sold. He just came for Anya, and Anya was only interested in the painting. Instead of going up to the third floor.

She waited for him to settle the matter regarding the painting at the auction house. It was not that she did not trust him; she was just too anxious to realize that she was glued to his side.

She just wanted to hear everything about the painting. Seeing her reaction, Daniel recalled. what she had said. It held sentimental value to her. He finished with the auction, his eyes never straying too far from her. Only when he was done did she go up together. Unknown to them, Stanley sat a bit away from sight, watching them with interest. Besides him

sat Autumn.

"Isn't that Daniel Shaw, the CEO?" Autumn spotted them as they left the hall.

"You even know him?" Stanley asked her.

"Is there anyone who didn't? But did you know that he was coming?" she asked him.

'And bought the painting too." Stanley muttered, his gaze unreadable.

"Did you want to buy it for the canary?" she asked, eliciting a raised brow from him. "Who is the canary?" he asked.

"Anya, Jones, She closely resembles the canary from my book more than any other character; guarded, innocent, yet gullible."

"These words you have just spouted-don't let them get to her ears. She is already guarded. If she gets uncomfortable. You should know better than to compare people to characters," he scolded.

"Yes, yes, yes," Autumn red and returned to minding her business. Stanley glanced at the door they had just left with dark eyes. He did not like the idea of things getting out of control. He tried to relax and pulled out his phone. The next moment, he sent a message to a number and put his phone away. Daniel and Anya made their way up to a restaurant in silence, neither knowing what the other was thinking. The elegant ambiance of the upscale restaurant couldn't disguise the tension crackling between Anya and Daniel as they sat across from each other. It was already afternoon at this point, and they could see out the window of their room to see the rose garden below. They were not sure how heated the discussion would go and chose to be in a private room.

Anya decided to break the ice after the waiter served tea to her and coffee to Daniel.

"I want that painting," she said, but Daniel did not respond. It was as though I was waiting for her to elaborate.

"I am willing to offer anything for it," she spoke again.

"What do you think I would want for it?" he asked, and she paused. He was right. He was a billionaire. What could she possibly offer?

"I am willing to pay for it at the price offered inside," she said after a pause.

"I know you are willing, but we both know you can't, or else you would have bought it. Besides, wouldn't it defeat my purpose of buying it if I just gave it to you?" he asked. She suddenly understood that he had a reason. It had nothing to do with loving the painting. "Then why did you buy it?" she asked.

Daniel reclined slightly in his chair, his expression blank. "Because, Anya, I know it's worth at lot to you sentimentally."

"You bought it because you know you wanted it?" she asked with a frown.

"Yes." He answered.

Anya's jaw tightened, her nails digging into the fabric of her napkin. "What do you want? I don't believe you don't want something for it. To specifically buy something I desperately wanted, you want something from me, don't you?" Daniel looked down at his cup of coffee, unable to look at her. "You would do anything for it, right?" he asked.

A chill ran down Anya's spine as she became unsure of where this conversation was heading." There is a limit. Holding this painting does not mean that I am for sale."

Daniel's gaze hardened as he looked up at her, his tone unwavering. "This is the only thing I want to hand over this painting to you. That is why I bought it. If you agree, I will and it over."

Anya's heart pounded in her chest as anxiety churned within her. "And what is it that you want, Daniel? A pound of flesh? My firstborn child?"

Daniel's eyes

's eyes pierced hers like an arrow to her being, sending shivers down Anya's spine.

Chapter 5, Plotting

Marry me, Anya," he said, and she seemed to have lost a few brain cells.

"What?" She thought she had misheard.

"Marry me again." There was a bit of apprehension in his voice, but she thought she had

misheard.

Anya's eyes widened in disbelief, her mind struggling to process his audacity, "You... you want me to marry you? As payment for the painting, you want me to marry you again?"

Daniel nodded, his gaze never wavering. "Yes. This time, you get to pick the rules. You get to decide our prenup. I will follow along. Marry Me, Anya."

Fury boiled within Anya as she struggled to contain her emotions. "Why? You were the one who threw me out because I asked you to come to my side when my mother died. What do you mean by what you are doing right now? Are you on drugs? Why would I marry you again?" Daniel suppressed the hurt in his chest as his expression remained impassive, his tone cool and collected. "Feelings have no place in business, Anya. You, of all people, should know that. Now, are you going to accept my offer or not?"