The Billionaire's Proposal

Chapter 4

A slender lady walked in with unhurried calculated steps, her thick and shiny silky hair fluttering slightly from the fan in the room, giving one the impression of a superhero introduction in a fictional movie.

Her smooth glass skin with very minimal makeup reflected white lights as rays of light danced around her gracing her elegant countenance.

The custom-cut diamond stones lined across the waist of her sheer nude gown shone under the light blinding anyone that stares for too long.

The fitted gown wrapped tightly on her body, outlining her exquisite figure as she shyly but confidently walked into the room with slightly swaying hips.

Her presence garnered a lot of attention as the people in the room were struck with awe, the reporters at the back hurried to take photos of the fairy ignoring Alexander they focused on the fresh unknown lady.

´What modeling agency is she under? or What family is she from? I've never seen her.´ Everyone eagerly discussed her, the women envious of her beautiful face with minimal makeup and perfect figure while the men were dying to wife her.

Isabella paused stiffly at the unwanted attention she was getting, as if sensing her inconvenience Alexander clears his throat bringing the public attention back to him but some still had their eyes lingering on Isabella.

Alexander finished his speech quickly, Isabella singing was next.

Her assistant whispered to her ears softly and she grabbed the side of her dress nervously for a few seconds seemingly to prepare herself then she took unhurried elegant steps to the stage as the master of ceremony announced her presence.

Halfway towards the stage, Isabella crossed paths with Alexander, nodding his head slightly in greeting he acknowledged her presence and everyone murmured among themselves at this slight interaction unusual to Alexander.

He took his seat at a location with a proper view of the stage but away from everyone's eyes his eyes lingering on Isabella´s every action.

She seemed a bit nervous performing in front of so many powerful and rich people but she didn't seem a bit inferior to them, instead, she had more manners and etiquette than women that lived in wealthy houses all their lives.

Grabbing the microphone with one hand, she stood two feet away from the base of the microphone.

Her assistant had informed the music team of the song she picked, and the sweet relaxing melody of the intro of the song matched her temperament, without saying a word he already fit perfectly with the song as one and everyone looked forward to her performance.

Isabella grabbed the microphone with minimal strength relaxing her long slender fingers as she shuts her eyes to get into the feeling, melodious song seeps out of her mouth, and her clear accent graced everyone's ears, clean, light but impactful, it was as though she was imprinting her voice and lyrics in their hearts making it impossible for them to forget.

The light crew understood her concept very well and the stage lights shone on her figure, depending on the rise and fall of her voice they adjusted the intensity of the light, the glittering diamonds on the fringes of her dress reflected the light creating a beautiful illusion, a piece of art impossible to forget.

The song ended in three minutes without a single creak or falter in her voice, everyone was too stunned to react as they stood stunned for about thirty seconds, Isabella had her eyes shut and as she slowly opened them she was graced with the applause of all of the crowds.

She didn't know why she felt ecstatic but a bit empty, she scanned through the crowd and caught a slightly stunned and warm deep foxy eyes staring at her with a look of approval. She broke into a smile and returned her gaze to the crowds, tears laced the rims of her eyes.

She's being broadcasted on national tv with the approval of so many powerful people, she couldn't feel happier, her heart was full. She left the stage proudly, the crowd wanted to hear her sing again but could only groan in disappointment as she exited the stage.

Isabella’s assistant received her at the base of the stage, escorting her to a waiting room to touch her makeup and cool off. The gaze of a few men followed her as she left the room with unmasked disappointment lingering in their eyes.

Isabella took the chance to wipe off her nervous sweat as they helped her touch her makeup lightly, shortly after they were done Luke came in and asked the assistants and makeup artist to leave, then he sent a text on his phone, a few seconds after Alexander walked in.

Isabella took in a deep nervous breath at Alexander's overwhelming presence, she wasn't even as nervous when she was up on the stage, she felt like an open book in front of him. Luke left the two in the room, handing a file to Alexander.

‘I enjoyed your performance, Miss Isabella.’ Alexander was the first to talk.

‘Thank you Isabella managed to find her voice

‘I appreciate the invitation and preparations’ she continued with utmost sincerity in her eyes and voice.

Alexander almost got lost in her teary eyes, she seemed to cry a lot and was easily moved, he thought. No wonder Sam had the chance to cheat and mess with her.

Fighting the sudden urge to throw her in his arms and pat her head comfortingly, Alexander offers her a seat and goes straight to the point as he always does.

‘I have an offer for you Miss Isabella’ Alexander's Lukewarm voice dropped like a bar in Isabella's heart, the content of his words making her heart feel heavy, turns out he's just like those men, they all start like this. Her head drooped to conceal the disappointment in her eyes until she heard his next words.

‘Marry me’ Alexander continued with a neutral tone.

Isabella thought she heard wrong, she raised her head, her eyes asking so many questions she couldn't bring herself to voice out as something seemed stuck in her throat.

‘y-you said?’ She asked, stuttering.

‘Why? Is it that shocking? I asked you to marry me.’ His voice contained a bit of cheerfulness like fresh orange juice in the spring.

‘w-why?’ She had so many questions but that was the only thing she could voice out.

‘I asked my assistant to run a background check on you, I know your living conditions very well and everything that happened over the last few years.

I need a wife for reasons I wouldn't want to disclose but I assure you will live a good life, a complete 360 from how you live now’ Alexander is never one to waste time, he goes full on and direct, without fear.

Isabella already figured he did a background check on her, she isn't entirely dumb herself, surviving in the harsh labor industry for 7 years and the entertainment industry for two years she had seen things happen and how things in the adult realm work.

The hotel room had her favorite snack she posted on social media, her skincare products are always from a specific company and the makeup artist made sure to use the products from that company, the humidifier was her favorite jasmine scent and they knew her address and contact number without asking.

All these she can overlook but a marriage proposal from a literal stranger she met in front of a club in her lowest and he is the man at the top of the business, technology, and entertainment industry, such a powerful man asking for her hand in marriage felt unreal, she could guess that it's a contract marriage but still felt like it was all a dream before her eyes

‘What do you think?’ Alexander hands the marriage contract to her, the file Luke gave him earlier. Isabella accepts it with slightly wobbly hands and reads through the content.

For a year she gets to live as the wife of the great Alexander Stone and reaps every benefit that comes with the title, she would be given a villa for her family in one of the most expensive estates in Los Angeles and a fat paycheck every month, the cost of living of her and her family will also be taken care of aside the paycheck and her school bill will be taken care of, she can decide to work and use his reputation as she sees fit as long as it's not illegal. How could anyone refuse such terms?

The contract didn't include giving birth to an heir or s****l relations though it states they can't touch each other without consent and they just had to be a sweet couple in the eyes of the public.

If Isabella didn't know Alexander was a man of high principles and wouldn't waste his time on her she would have thought it was a prank but he could never waste his time joking around.

She saw this as a quick and sure opportunity to alleviate poverty in her family life forever, even if they part ways in a year she would be established and still live with the reputation of being his wife and that alone is guaranteed to help her career in any sector but she thought of Sam and immense guilt captured her heart.

Sensing her hesitation Alexander speaks calmly

‘I know you have a partner, the decision is all up to you but I need an answer in at most 30 minutes’ He sounded so unbothered as if the person he was talking about isn't his potential bride-to-be.

Isabella's eyelashes long fluttered slightly, her indecisive expression and fragile look made one heart soft, she had been with Sam for two years and although they haven't had any physical intimacy she felt sore betraying him like this.

She had only thirty minutes so she tried to call him but remembered he asked to send a text message only.

She clicked his contact and pressed the message icon, typing a bunch of text with undivided attention.

‘ Hi Sam, you asked not to call so I'm sending a text, it's very important so I hope you reply as soon as you see this.

I'm very sorry to end our relationship like this.

I got an offer for marriage and I can't turn it down, not now.

I hope you're always happy, thank you for your support. ‘

She sent three texts and to her surprise, she got a simple text reply from Sam

He said ‘OK’

Surprisingly Isabella didn't feel sour at his reply, instead a bit relieved, maybe because she finally hit the jackpot or maybe because it was Alexander.

She thought of the loan sharks harassing her parents every single day and the thought of being able to pay them back makes her happy.

‘I-I will sign the contract’ Her meek tone held a strong resolution in contrast to her tiny voice.

Alexander looked up from the documents he was reviewing, and he wasn't surprised at all, Isabella would do anything but taint her innocence to save her family, the contract is befitting to what she wants and it wouldn't hurt him a bit to have extra mouths to feed.

‘Alright, here sign the contract and marriage registration form’ He hands her an exquisite custom-made black pen.

‘You prepared the marriage registration form already? Do we not have to go to the district marriage Court to do that?’

‘No, just sign and the document will be sent and processed.’

Isabella’s eyes widened in surprise, to what extent is this man’s power? Deep in her heart, she looked forward to the coming days with Alexander.

She signed the papers calmly putting her thumbprint on the marriage certificate that Alexander had already signed, he seemed so confident she would agree to his proposal it made her face flush red. Just like that she married a total stranger she just met in a 24-hour interval.

‘Do you regret it?’ Alexander looked deep into her eyes

‘It's too early to have regrets, Mr. Alexander. Today is our first night as a couple, ‘ She teased.