The Lonely Billionaire (Marriage of Convenience)

Hollywood is in the House

Nicole Smith is the definition of glamorous. She's beautiful, fashionable, high profile, elegant, name it all! She is all smiles as she enters the mansion in her Christian Louboutin heels that is easily recognizable by its red outer sole.

Isabel can't help but admire the actress' flawless skin and eyes that looks as blue as the sky. Her dimple in her left check appears everytime she smile. She is starstruck once again to a beauty that is towering over her as she stand beside her.

"Hello! How are you?" The actress said to Isabel as the latter lead the actress to the living room.

The actress who's tough in the movies sounds very sweet in person. "I am well. I'm a fan, I'm very lucky to see you in person.. I watched a lot of your movies. The latest is Justice, you played it really well." Isabel said while staring at the actress. She talked really fast as she noticed Mrs. Kon is approaching the living room. Behind Mrs. Kon is Mr. Lim.

The actress smiled to Isabel. "Thankyou." The actress briefly replied.

This time, Isabel look at her reflection in the mirror and she can tell the obvious difference of what it looks to be rich and what it looks to be poor. But it does not mean there is bitterness or envy in her heart. She don't have those at all because she is contented with her life and that is what matters the most.

Once the guest is settled in the living room, Isabel left her while Abe arrived with a glass of water for the guest. On her way out, Isabel overheard the actress say Thankyou to Abe.

Isabel secretly watch from a distance. She saw Nicole Smith stand up and hug Mrs. Kon. Both are smiling and by the looks of it, they seem to know each other really well. Isabel also noticed Mrs. Kon is dressed to kill. The dress she's wearing flatters her physique.

While Isabel's attention is focused in the living room, someone stood beside her but she did not dare to look. She's thinking it must be her coworkers as she can see Mr. Lim standing a few distance away from Mrs. Kon. Mr. Lim, the good butler! Isabel sighed.

Finally, the person standing beside her has spoken. "Are you ready?"

Isabel is caught off guard. She is speechless for a moment. She can't even look at Christopher who's gaze is fixed at her.

Christopher lifted Isabel's chin but Isabel's eyes is avoiding Christopher's gaze. "Look at me." Christopher whispered. She can feel Christopher's breath on her face so she tilted her head backward but Christopher's face followed.

"Isabel, look at me." Christopher repeated.

Christopher already knows if Isabel keeps tilting her head, she's going to lose her balance and fall. He's right. Isabel almost fall but he managed to wrap her with his arms.

Finally Isabel managed to look at Christopher who's looking very handsome in the blue suit he is wearing. Isabel wonder why have she not noticed before how good looking Mr. Kon is. She saw him almost everyday but she never thought of Christopher as an attractive man. Now she knows why beautiful women travel from miles away to meet this man.

Isabel don't know how long have they been staring at each other with Christopher's arms wrapped around her waist. It must been seconds but it felt like Forever. Isabel can feel her walls crushing, she's getting weak in the presence of this man. She is but a woman! Isabel never felt like this her entire life. All her life, she has been strong mentally and emotionally. Being weak or sweet do not define her.

Finally Christopher let go of Isabel. "We need to talk, Isabel. I'm not here to harass you." Christopher said before walking away from Isabel. The latter did not move, she just followed Christopher with her gaze.

"Please follow me." Christopher said.

Isabel used to follow the orders of this man every day and today is not an exception. She followed Christopher to the latter's study.

"Please close the door." Christopher who's standing in the middle of the room told Isabel. Again, the latter obliged without saying anything.

Christopher sit down in the sofa when he saw Isabel is coming. "Come here, Isabel." He commanded. "Have a seat."

Being the good maid that she is, Isabel sit down just as the master ordered.

"Before I talk, please say something, anything!" Christopher said. He don't want to keep talking to someone who don't want to talk.

"You ask me anything sir and I will talk." Isabel said in a low voice.

Christopher seems to be impatient. "C'mon, Isabel! I heard you laugh one time and you were laughing loudly. Talk to me like the way you talked to me before. You're smart Isabel. Don't turn off that personality just because we kissed!"

Just because what? Isabel is suddenly infuriated because so far as she's concern, she did not kiss this man!

"We did not kiss! You kissed me, for the record." Isabel said.

"Finally you're talking. I like you like that."

You like me? Isabel's mind is getting wild again. That's the weak Isabel, said the strong Isabel.

"I want to know you more." Christopher go on to say. This time Isabel looked at Christopher with a confused look. "I want to know you more because I am offering you a new job." Christopher clarified.

The more confused Isabel is with that follow up statement. "What job?" She asked.

"It's simple. Be my girlfriend!"

"What?!" Isabel exclaimed. Me? No way!

" I know it's crazy but why not? A Cinderella story?" Christopher winked.

Isabel glared at Christopher again.If he think that Cinderella story is cute, he better think again. She thought.

"I'm not Cinderella! I'm Isabel. Not even Isabel the maid. I'm simply Isabel Jacob and my answer to your offer is no."

Christopher can't believe that someone would refuse to be her girlfriend. This Hollywood actress sitting in the living room traveled miles away to meet him and here comes a woman she offered the privilege say no. Unbelievable!

Isabel stood up to leave but Christopher hold her hand. She's pulling her hand but he won't let go. Christopher stood up, he looks very serious. "I'm serious with what I said. But before you react, please hear me out."

Isabel is breathing hard as her emotions are getting the best of her. When she finally calm down, Christopher let her sit down before he kneeled infront of her. They stared at each other while Christopher talk.

"I am in the middle of a crisis in my life, Isabel." Christopher begin with. That statement intrigued Isabel, this time she's listening. "I am not a real billionaire. I mean, officially, not yet!"

Isabel is surprised to hear that. She's all ears now. This is getting interesting.

"Why not?" Isabel asked.

Christopher sighed. "These women are only here for the money. They will not be coming here for Christopher if Christopher is broke, right?"

"And what made you think I am no different?

"Atleast, you have something I don't have!"

Isabel raised her brows. "What do I have that you don't have?" She said, this time she looks puzzled but she's smiling.

Christopher smiled too."See, it feels better when we are not so intense."

"But what is it?" Isabel insisted to ask.

Christopher stood up. He moved away from Isabel, the latter followed him. "I am twenty years old when my father died. That time I am in my last semester in college. Isabel, I become the company CEO of Sunderland at the age of twenty. Sunderland is the biggest real estate developer in HongKong so this big responsibility is in my shoulder. My family is the controlling stake holder of the company. We own fifty percent of it. I own forty, my mom owns 10 after her divorce with my father."

Isabel can't grasp in her brain how much money these people have compared to how small she have. She can't avoid not to compare.

"The reason I am telling you this is because my caretaker duty to Sunderland expires this year."

Isabel is confused by that statement. "What do you mean caretaker?"

"I know it's complicated. That's why I told you earlier that I am not a real billionaire. It's not yet official. I will only inherit my father's fortune if I get married. And that expires on my 35th birthday."

Isabel don't know what to say. She never thought Christopher's story could be this complicated. She used to think that he is a billionaire and powerful so he must be having it all. Looks like she's wrong.

"I hope you are getting my point here." Christopher said.

" I understand you need to get married but what happens if you don't?"

Christopher stared at Isabel. He sighed. "You know what will happen Isabel"

Isabel knows what will happen. Christopher will lose his billions and his CEO job. Poor Christopher, she thought before she realize Christopher is still richer than her even without his forty percent stake.

"So why don't you get married?" Isabel asked.

"Get married to whom?"

"To Adriada or Nicole or the other women that your mom invited for lunch or dinner? I heard her calendar is full."

"I don't like them!"

"Why not? Look at that beautiful woman in the living room right now. She's looks good by your side. A perfect wife candidate. She's within your league."

"She's not my type."

"What? Are you gay?"

Upon hearing what Isabel said, Christopher looked at her in disbelief before he put his arms around her. He smiled devilishly to Isabel who's taken aback and before she could say a word Christopher's mouth covered hers.

Then the door suddenly open!