It All Started With A Bet

Chapter 7

Stella POV

"Are you sure that he didn't know that you are Stella?" Kyle asked for the hundredth time.

"Yes, I am sure! He was there for Stella but why? His accent told me that he needed to meet me urgently" I explained further in detail while driving my Ferrari at a fast speed.

"Maybe, he was just eager to meet his childhood friend" Kyle looked at me from the passenger seat.

The car came to a halt as I pressed my foot on the break. I laughed at her statement.

"I have been back for an entire year and he chooses this moment to meet me. That's ridiculous!"

"Maybe he recently got the news of your arrival" she laid down another absurd reason.

"That's more impossible! He might not even remember me. Moreover, it was such a long time ago. People change over time" I started the fact and started the car to continue the journey to Kyle's home.

"Then maybe he wanted to have some business collaborations with you" she grabbed a packet of chips from the dashboard.

"Then he should have gone to my father! What was he doing there with his sister and friend?" I raked my brain thinking of all possibilities but none of them fitted the situation.

"Don't give me a headache! Go and ask him the reason for it. Tell me, what were his reactions to meeting you for the second time?" she munched the lays in her mouth.

"Asshole, poker face, cold-hearted, arrogant bastard, I don't want to meet him for the third time." I declared looking at the signal pole as the car stood at the red signal.

"I told you that it was not easy to extract information from him" she rolled her eyes at me.

"We need to figure out his intentions soon. I can't fool him for a long time" I glanced at Kyle who was lost in thoughts.

I was about to bust at her for ignoring me but the ringing of my phone caught my attention. Plugging the ear pod in my ear, I answered the call.

"My daughter, it's been a while since I heard from you!" My dad's scolding voice came into my ears.

"Hi dad, how are you?" I asked him in a polite and energetic voice.

"I am good. I called to inform you that today you have to eat dinner, with me. I want to discuss something important with you!" his firm voice told me that there was no space for denial.

"I will be there, wait for me at the dinner!!" I promised him.

"Drive safely, I will be waiting for you" his voice warmed my troubled heart.

"Got orders from above?" Kyle spoke up as soon as the call ended.

"Yeah, I want to seize this chance to ask about him from my father. I bet that he could provide me with something advantageous." I pushed the accelerator and speeded off the car in the direction of Kyle's house.

"Update me later on!" The car came to a stop in front of her house. She opened the door and got off.

"Goodbye! I will call you at the night" I said from the window of the car. She nodded and went inside.

It was evening. My father's villa was half an hour's drive away from Kyle's house. I picked up a nice old wine bottle from the nearest wine shop and continued my journey toward my destination. It was rush hour. Passing past big traffic of vehicles, I managed to reach there on time.

"Stella! you are home. Let me inform your father about it" Aunt Olivia, our housekeeper smiled warmly at my arrival.

"No need, How are you, Aunt Olivia?" I asked her as we walked into the villa.

"I am fine but you Stella, you should visit your father more often. He is getting old and he misses you very much" she scolded me as we walked in the direction of my father's office.

"I will keep that in mind!" I smiled at her and knocked on the brown oak office door.

"Come in!" his voice came from behind the door.

"Father, I missed you!" I ran towards him and hugged him on the chair.

He laughed as his arms came around me

"I missed you too, princess! By the way, you are late. I was waiting for you"

"Sorry to keep you waiting, got stuck in traffic" I pulled back and stated the reason.

"Come, the dinner is getting cold. I made your favorite stuffed dumplings for you" his words brought a wide smile to my face.

"You are the best, dad" I held his arm as we walked toward the dining area.

"Stella, you are grown up. In a blink of an eye, you got out of my arms and stood high as a successful woman. You are my proud, daughter" he got emotional suddenly.

"I am here all because of you, dad. Don't worry, I won't let you down" I pulled out a chair for him.

"I know that. My daughter is brave. She can face all of the challenges without me" he ran his hand over my head. I could see his water-filled eyes. I grew worried at his sudden words

"Are you alright, dad? Have you encountered some trouble recently? Did the shareholders take action again?" my voice was filled with extreme worry.

"Rest assured, daughter I am fine. Your old father has a lot of ways to deal with them," he said but I could sense that something was troubling him and he was not willing to speak it out. I decided to leave the matter for now.

"Dinner is ready!" Aunt Oliva carried the hot dishes to the table.

"Smells mouth-watering" I complimented as the plate of hot dumping was placed in front of me.

"Dig in, then" my father put a big piece on my plate.

The same old delicious taste dissolved in my mouth as I took a bite of the dumpling.

"It's delicious, father. Thank you!" I was grateful for his effort.

"Stella, do you have a boyfriend? Or any man that you want to marry?" I choked on my food hearing those words from his mouth.

"Something is wrong! First those emotional talks and now this boyfriend thing. What is my father up to?" I thought

"Why are you asking this all of sudden? I was confused as he never talked to me on this matter.

"You are grown up. It's time to marry you off" he said as if he already had a candidate.

"It's not in my plans yet. My only focus is my career right now" I tried to end the annoying topic.

"Then add it to your plans because I have already selected my son-in-law" he dropped the bomb.