The Billionaire's Proposal

Chapter 3

Isabella exited the scene as fast as she could, she couldn't tell if her heart was racing from running so hard, the residue of fear from what could have happened if Alexander wasn't present, or that minute-long eye contact she held with Alex.

Taking a minute to calm her heart she picked up her phone to call her boyfriend Sam he introduced her to Shanks and is someone she depends on emotionally, whenever anything happens she always felt the need to tell him even if he doesn´t pay it much attention she just feels relieved with him listening.

´Hi Sam´ Isabella dialed his number and recounted the incident to him but before she got to the part where Alexander interfered Sam suddenly lashed out in fury when he heard she inflicted bodily harm on Shanks, that old man is known for being so petty he definitely wouldn't let him off unscathed.

´Isabella do you realize what you have done?! Do you want to ruin my life? All I did was help you get a higher paying job as a lowly bar singer don't you know your place?/ or do you think the chump change I earn as your manager gives you the right to cause me so much harm?´

´but-´

´but? Are you still trying to argue?? Do you think Shanks will let me off? Having a pretty face isn't everything, you need power and skills to survive but you have nothing, don´t call me for a while, if it's important to send a text I'll reply when I see it, of course, that's when I see it doesn't have a specific period.

Isabella´s heart dropped, she was once more reminded of her insignificant presence in the world and by the person she connected with emotionally. She noticed Sam got vulgar with her after her family fell off but paid no attention to it.

He didn't know about their bankruptcy when they started dating two years ago because he moved away when they were fifteen and only came back when they started dating. She didn't mean to hide it on purpose, they were childhood friends but she didn't want to depend on him so she said no word about it.

After two months of dating he asked to meet her parents only to realize they moved to the poorest part of the city and their house was in shambles. There was barely space to sit, he faked a smile throughout that his cheeks hurt later.

After that day he didn't contact her for a few days and came up with an excuse letter before proposing to be her manager as she was a child singer and could make a fortune from it and naturally she agreed.

Singing did pay off more than measly part-time jobs mostly because of her pretty face she got jobs but within 2-3 times of singing for them they began to make advances towards her and she got fired for resisting.

She felt even more guilty towards Sam that ´worked hard´ to get her those jobs so she agreed to sign a five years contract that states he would get seventy percent of her fortune and she gets to keep thirty percent. It was a slave contract but she agreed to it since she wouldn't get the jobs without his help anyways.

He never fulfilled his duties as a manager except for sending the address of the club, she doesn't know the price they pay except the money she gets from Sam and no assistant, security guard, or manager to accompany her.

Sam did go along with her in the beginning but later he started coming up with excuses and later stopped. She wiped the tears threatening to fall from her eyes, held her dismantled clothes together, and called for a taxi, cursing Shanks for making her spend extra on the taxi when she usually takes the bus.

The taxi stopped in front of her university hostel. The taxi driver was a gentleman and realized her clothes were badly torn. His father's instinct kicked in and he offered her his jacket.

Isabella accepted it gratefully, if she had to enter the hostel with badly torn clothes her reputation would hit rock bottom. She covered herself with the mint-scented jacket and took fast long strides to her hostel room, she looked terrible and reeked of alcohol, even without seeing her torn clothes anyone can guess she came from a club.

Thankfully no one saw her and her roommates were fast asleep, she took a long shower paying extra attention to washing the part of her body Shanks touched thoroughly until her skin became red.

She came out of the shower after a while and disinfected her wound before sleeping, she thought of how to make money now that Sam abandoned her and decided to check a few part-time jobs before lectures resume fully her eyelids gradually felt heavy and she fell asleep thinking of the deep lukewarm eyes that sized her up like a scanning machine, her heart rungs into a knot.

´Isabella wake up, wake up a fancy package from Stone group came for you´ One of Isabella´s roommates Angell shakes her till she opens her eyes.

´huh?´ Isabella asks drowsily trying hard to open her eyes, her body felt so sore all over.

´From the Stone group!´ Angel repeated excitedly ´There is a letter, I'll read it out loud hehe, On behalf of the Stone group this is a letter of invitation for Miss Isabella Rodriguez as the main singer for the 10th anniversary of the Stone Group, a car would be coming to pick you up by 4 pm to escort you to your hotel room where a designer, makeup artist and assistants will be waiting.´

´Issy! How did you hit such luck tell me! ´ Angell tugged at the stunned and fully awake Isabella, the other two roommates pretending not to her were equally stunned, their facial expressions thick with jealousy.

´I- know it could be a trick´ Isabella thought of Shanks but will he go through the lengths of getting her exotic flowers, offending the Stone group by using their name to kidnap her, and sending well-dressed people to deliver the letter as Angell described?

Alexander crossed her mind but she shook the thoughts off immediately, just because he helped her once doesn't mean he would show her such special attention. She thought of it as a prank and decided to wait till four (4) pm.

She searched the internet and saw that they indeed had a party scheduled for 8 pm, her heart jumped excitedly. She did sing at one of the bars under the Stone group. Maybe she got lucky and the recruitment worker was present.

She checked the time and saw that it was 2 pm, taking a quick but thorough shower. She applied her skincare and waited patiently while practicing the list of suggested songs attached to the letter, thankfully she knew them well.

At exactly 4 pm someone knocked on Isabella's room, she jumped from her dressing table reaching for the door, she opened it to see Alexander´s assistant standing at the door, she was startled, Luke probably never leaves Alexander's side but he was sent by the company to pick her up, even a dumb person will know Alexander invited her.

´Miss Isabella I was sent here to take you to your hotel room for preparation´ Luke said in a gentlemanly tone, flashing a handsome smile.

Angel squirmed, using her hands to cover her mouth and red face from Luke´s curious and startled gaze she waved Isabella bye with a pure smile while the other two’s mouths were too heavy to say a word.

They all recognized Luke, he was on the news occasionally for gentlemanly deeds and his good looks, and being Alexander´s only personal assistant he was often photographed together.

He is even on the list of The most Handsome Businessmen every year, His visuals are second only to Alexander.

Isabella followed Luke quietly, their presence a bit of attention, they both had pure kind fragile beauty so it was inevitable.

Isabella didn't say a word until they arrived at the hotel room, her mind kept drifting to the cold and peerless young master and his reason for inviting her, she didn't wish for him to be like those perverts with wild fantasies towards her, he thought better of him.

They arrived at the hotel in mere minutes due to Luke´s fast, smooth, and comfortable ride Isabella felt like she was flying. He escorted her to her hotel room and gave instructions to her assistant and bodyguards as well as the people responsible for her looks.

He left after flashing her a reassuring polite smile and Isabella nodded nervously in response.

´She's here´ Luke informed Alexander in the hotel's penthouse on the topmost floor.

´mmh´ Alexander nodded in response, busying himself with work before the event. He looked unfazed at the moment like he didn't ask to send her an invitation. Luke exited silently to make other preparations.

It was soon time for the event, heavily dressed conglomerates and celebrities came in with their invitations in hand as an important requirement for entry.

The women donned heavy makeup, expensive jewelry, and clothes made by famous designers, flaunting their wealth to one another with hypocritical smiles on their faces. While the men donned custom-tailored suits with minimal but expensive accessories.

The businessmen and women took the rare opportunity to connect with other businessmen and women that could be useful to them and the bootlickers that got the invitation through underhanded methods sucked up successful people and tried to make friends.

Even without the start of the event, the venue is already so busy.

Alexander arrived one hour after the official time for the event started and everywhere quieted down at his overwhelming aura and presence.

He addressed them briefly in a cool, cold tone, his lazy foxy eyes hello a bit of expectancy as though looking forward to something as he scanned through the crowds but there were tons of people in the large hall it was almost impossible to find someone.

Suddenly the large doors of the hall sprung open, the hall was dead silent so the loud noise caught everyone's attention

´Who dared to come in later than Alexander, they had a lot of guts´ the crowds muttered among themselves looking forward to seeing the plate guest embarrassed and sent out.

Everyone turned back their attention to Alexander to see his reaction to the intruder but were met with the opposite of their expectations they figured he had his eyes fixated on something, that looks everyone yearned to grace their skin he stared with so much undivided smitten attention everyone peeked to take a look to see.