Chapter Five
1295 Words
Isabella buried herself in work the moment she returned to New York. She had no other choice. The world wouldn’t stop just because she had an affair. Deadlines, meetings, and reports swallowed her time. There was no time to think about the man that haunted her since she left his penthouse or her husband whom she had tried avoiding since her return. She was too busy to bother with him.
Yet no matter how busy she was with emails, meetings, and projects her mind still betrayed her. It kept going back to how Adrian's hand gripped her waist, how he had kissed her possessively like she was his — those thoughts kept coming back, distracting her like it was doing now.
She is currently in a meeting yet her mind was wondering.
“ Earth to Isabella “ her boss knocked on the table to get her attention.
“I am so sorry” Isabella Apologied
“I said the Woods Enterprises is holding a gala, and I need you there,” her boss said.
Isabella freezes. Woods Enterprises
Adrian's last name is Woods.
“Sir I don't think—” Isabella tried to Reject
“No! You will be representing us. This is our chance to work with Woods Enterprises and you are the best candidate to do that” her boss cut her off.
“I understand sir,” Isabella said resigning to her faith “I will do my best “
Work was closing soon, Isabella's fingers hovered over her keyboard, she had been staring at her blank screen for a while, her mind wandering to the gala, she almost looked his name up but stopped herself. She shut her laptop in frustration.
She needed a distraction.
The distraction unfortunately came in the form of Matthew.
It was the wrong kind of distraction.
She had barely left the office building when she saw him, he was standing by her car, dressed neatly as always with that smug confidence she had always hated.
“Izzy” he called, smiling.
She stopped in her steps, her hands clenching her bag tightly.
“What do you want Matthew “
He gave her a once-over sensing a cold tone “We need to talk”
She chuckled “About what? Listen, I am not interested in whatever you want to say. Whatever you want to say to me has been said that night and I heard you loud and clear”
A muscle in his jaw twitched
“You are still my wife Isabella “
The confidence in the way he said it ticked her off
“For now,” she said brushing past him to unlock her car.
Annoyance flashed across Matthews's face as his hand reached out to grab her wrist— Not tightly but firm enough to make her look at him.
“You didn't pick up my calls or replied my texts while you were in Vegas. What the hell did you do in Vegas?”
Her breath stilled for a second before she pulled her hands from his grasp.
“Whatever I did in Vegas is none of your danm business. We are way past asking each other questions like this don't you think?”
His eyes darkened, but he forced a chuckle.
“We both made mistakes Isabella I don't see why you are acting self-righteous “
“You are unbelievable Matthew, “ She said through gritted teeth.
With that, she went into her car and shut the door. She refused to give him a second glance as she drove away.
————————————————————————
By the time Isabella arrived at the restaurant, Elena and Diana were already seated, deep in a conversation.
“Here comes Miss–Walk–Of–Shame herself “ Elena teased, raising a glass.
Isabella rolled her eyes as she took her seat “I will never leave this down. Right?”
“Hell no,” Diana said laughing.
“We've already placed an order for you as well “ Elena quickly said as Isabella picked up the menu.
“Thanks” Isabella replied.
“ Anyways” Diana started “we heard the Woods would be holding a gala”
Isabella signed heavily.
Elena detected something “Oh please don't tell
Me you are going?”
“The company chose me to represent, “ She said in frustration.
“Maybe he won't be there,” she said question quickly
“Yeah right,” said Elena one eyebrow raised.
“Oh, he definitely would be there,” Diana said cockily as she showed them a news headline.
‘Adrian Woods is Confirmed as the Host of The Woods Enterprises Gala’
Her past is refusing to stay in Vegas at all. Isabella thought.
“It's going to be a busy Gala, Izzy, “ Said Elena “I am sure he would be too busy to even notice you.”
“But don't you want to see him?” Diana asked.
Her question threw the girls off. Elena subtly pinched Diana's thigh.
“What's that supposed to mean?” Isabella asked, a little ticked off.
Diana scoffed “ I mean a one-night stand with a billionaire heir? You're basically the plot of every scandalous Romance novel.”
“Girl, seriously?” Elena sharply called.
“What?” Diana shrugged
Isabella didn't like the way Diana spoke. It rubbed her off the wrong way. She couldn't place her finger on what she was picking up from Diana’s tone.
Before any other conversation could ensure, their food arrived. Which looked and smelled so good. It put away the awkward atmosphere immediately. And they began to dig into the food.
————————————————————————
On the night of the Gala, in her room, Isabella stared at her closet, there were gowns in every shade but nothing felt right. She wanted something that felt like an armor – a shield.
After much thought, she chose a black, simple, and elegant dress.
Her car pulled up to the venue, there were cameras and paparazzi. Since it was an exclusive Gala, they were only allowed outside. She stepped out of her car, poised, and every inch the composed executive she was.
She walked into the main hall after she had shown her invitation. The gala was everything and more than she had expected from a conglomerate family. It was Lavish and cold.
It was a masterpiece of luxury — the chandeliers with crystals and expensive cologne in the air.
Isabella moved through the crowd with grace and elegance her gown hugging her frame softly, her mind sharp despite how nervous she was inside.
Her boss texted her last minute that he would be at the gala as he had canceled his prior engagement because the Gala was more important.
Her goal was to find him and stick with him.
“ A glass of champagne miss?” A waiter carrying a tray full of half-full champagne glasses called to her.
“Yes, Thank you” She smelled sweetly as she took a glass.
She took her first sip which slid down her throat smoothly, leaving a very refreshing aftertaste. Her eyebrow rose subtly.
“Oh this is good,” she thought.
She was mid-way through her second sip when she felt it.
A presence. A gaze.
Slowly, she turned.
Across the ballroom, beneath the chandelier that sparkled like frozen stars, stood Adrian Woods. Tall, unreadable, commanding the room with his aura.
His gaze lifted.
Locked on hers.
And the room fell silent in her ears.
- Writer
