The Billionaire's Revenge Bride

Echoes Of The Stranger

"It seems the chairman is distracted today."

Dominic Bellamy jolted from his thoughts. His eyes found the person whose mouth had uttered those words. It was his friend and business partner, Alexander Ford. The only person who would dare inquire about his perceived distraction.

I can hear you, Mr. Dickson," Dominic said calmly, ignoring his friend. His words were directed toward the speaker, Dickson, his head of Finance.

Dominic thought the meeting would never end. As CEO of Valera Technologies, he was a tech guru who had made his first millions at twenty-four, twelve years ago. Now at thirty-six, he led a company that created powerful business apps used by companies across the country. The conference room felt stuffy despite the air conditioning, and the presentations dragged on with numbers and charts.

The meeting finally ended. Dominic stood up first, followed closely by his assistant. He walked in long strides down the hallway, his assistant struggling to keep up. He pushed open the door to his office and stepped inside. The space was impressive and reflected his success. Located on the twenty-fifth floor of a sleek glass skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, the office was spacious and modern.

A large mahogany desk sat near the floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a stunning view of the New York skyline with its towering buildings and distant rivers. Minimalist black leather chairs formed a small meeting area off to one side. A large flat-screen TV hung on one wall, while soft lighting and a few abstract art pieces added a sense of calm power. Everything was neat, expensive, and under control — just the way Dominic liked it.

He had barely settled into his chair when Alex entered in his usual nonchalant way. Alex found the sofa, kicked off his shoes, and sat cross-legged like a praying monk.

Dominic watched him with a disgusted look.

"Come on, Dom, you should be used to this by now," Alex said, a broad smile spreading across his face.

"Still doesn't stop it from being a lame behavior," Dominic replied, his eyes darting to his phone.

Alex cleared his throat. His smile slowly disappeared. "You seem bothered by something. I caught you staring at your phone more than necessary during the meeting. That's not like you."

Dominic sighed and dropped his phone on the desk. His eyes moved to the large flat-screen TV on the wall. It played a financial news channel with the sound off. Stock tickers scrolled at the bottom while graphs and suited executives appeared silently on screen.

"I went for a drink four days ago," Dominic said, still looking at the TV. "I met this girl there. She seemed like a s*x worker at first, but there was this air of sophistication about her. The way she carried herself... it didn't match the situation at all."

Alex raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Four days ago and she's still on your mind? That's rare for you, Dom. What happened exactly?"

Dominic leaned back in his chair. "We ended up at a hotel close to the bar. No long conversations. No names exchanged. Just straight to it. But there was something about her. She was hurting, yet she responded with fire. When I left in the morning, I dropped some cash and my number. Haven't heard from her since."

"And now you want to see her again?" Alex asked, “you didn't get her contact?”

Dominic gave him a look that said everything. You know me.

Alex chuckled and shook his head. "Of course. You left your contact instead of taking hers. Typical Dominic Bellamy move — always in control, always one step ahead." He stood up and stretched. "Well, let's track down this Cinderella. Don't worry, I'll handle the search. Just give me a solid description later — hair, height, any small details you remember. We'll find her."

Dominic nodded slightly but stayed quiet. His mind kept drifting back to that night — her moans, the way her body had arched under him, and the single tear he had seen on her cheek as she fell asleep.

Just then, Harry, Dominic's assistant, entered the office.

"Sir, it's almost five o'clock. You have a meeting with some clients. The venue was shifted abruptly at the request of one of them to the Cozy Cup. He said it's a place he likes going to."

Dominic frowned. He opened his mouth to say something sharp about clients wasting his time when Alex cut in.

"Anything for the clients, bro, right?" Alex said with a playful smile before walking out.

Dominic hated bending to clients' whims. They all benefited greatly from his technology, yet they still made demands like this. But business was business. He stood up, took his suit jacket from the hanger, and brushed past Harry. His assistant quickly gathered the documents and called for the car.

--------------------------------------------------

The Cozy Cup was a charming coffee shop tucked away on a quieter street in Midtown Manhattan. It truly lived up to its name. Warm lighting from hanging lamps gave the space a soft, golden glow. Wooden tables and comfortable cushioned seats invited people to stay and relax. The rich aroma of fresh coffee and baked pastries filled the air, while exposed brick walls and shelves lined with books created a cozy, home-like feeling. It was intimate and peaceful, a welcome break from the fast pace of the city.

Dominic walked in and immediately spotted the private booth at the back. High wooden dividers offered some privacy. One of the clients waved him over. Dominic could see why the man preferred this place. It felt relaxed and personal, far better than another stiff conference room.

He walked over, shook hands firmly with the three men, and sat down. His assistant, John, took a seat a few meters away, ready to help with any paperwork.

Dominic ordered tea. He was not a big fan of coffee. The meeting went smoothly and lasted only thirty-three minutes. They discussed partnership terms, delivery timelines, and made a few small changes to the agreement. Dominic felt satisfied with the pace and the results. He could finally go home and rest after another long day.

Just as he was about to beckon to John to collect the documents and other items on the table, a lady wearing a simple but nice navy blue blouse tucked neatly into tailored beige trousers entered the booth area. She wore modest black flats and carried a small tablet. Her outfit looked professional and neat — good quality without being extravagant. It suited someone who worked hard and kept things practical.

Dominic noticed her from the corner of his eye while checking his call log. She was different from the regular servers. She moved with quiet confidence, as if she owned the place. She probably did.

She spoke warmly to the clients first. "Thank you so much for choosing the Cozy Cup today," she said with a practiced smile. "We really appreciate your business. I hope the coffee and the quiet space helped make your meeting comfortable. Please come back anytime."

Her voice sounded experienced with customers, polite on the surface, but it hid whatever she was truly feeling inside.As she turned toward Dominic to greet him too, their eyes met.Dominic almost dropped his phone.

She dropped her tablet.

It was the lady he couldn't stop thinking about.

It was Isabel.