HI, MR BILLIONIRE

CHAPTER THREE: A NEW JOB

ISLA’S POV

”Mama…” Theodore called out as I laid him down to sleep. A heaviness lay in my heart, clenched as I realized how innocent he was. “Why are you crying?” His voice was soft and warm as his little thumb wiped the tears off. “Did I offend you? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

I sniffed in the rest of the tears. My lips quivered as I parted my lips with a smile. I wiped my face clean. “Mom is just tired, okay? You should take a rest.” Nodding, he clutched onto his sheet and closed his eyes.

Taking a last look at him, I made my way out. I knew I had to call the office and explain my actions. As much as I would have loved to go back to explain better, I couldn’t afford to leave him alone, not right after an attack. But my phone was nowhere to be found. I had searched my bag in my pockets even when I remember taking it from my car and using it in his car.

Suddenly, it dawned on me. I had forgotten my phone in his car. The office was an hour away when there was no traffic. Quickly, I picked up my land phone and dialed mine, hoping someone would pick it up, but I eventually gave up after the third attempt. I let out a frustrated sigh, my mind reeling with what to do next. After long, agonizing minutes of searching, I dialed the office’s line from the small note that contained all my numbers, just in case of emergencies like this.

“This is Jill and Jackson, and I’m Julia by name. How may I be of help?” The soft feminine voice let out, sounding like it was wrapped in a blanket of warmth. She sounded just like she looked—a smiley lady with no worries.

“Julia, it’s Isla. I need to talk to Matthew, please. It’s urgent.” I quickly let off.

“Oh! Isla. Give me a minute.” The line goes silent, and then a cracking sound.

“Yes. What do you want?” There was evidence of distaste in his voice. Somehow, I refused to understand why he suddenly became cold towards me.

“I’m so sorry I left without asking. My son had an attack, and I had to…”

“You are not the only one with a child, Isla. I have three of those, and you don’t see me behaving like I own the company. It’s time you choose your son or your job because you obviously can't handle both.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my jaw gently. I couldn't afford a nanny, not while saving for his surgery. “It won't repeat itself, Sir. I promise.”

There was a brief pause. “Yes, Isla, because you are fired. Check your mail.” The click sound and the phone went silent. I stared into space, everything sinking in deeply, and slowly, I let out soft sobs.

A knock resounded from the door; staring at the wall clock as I tried to figure out who it could be, I wiped my face with the back of my hand and pulled it open to see the stranger from earlier. What was he doing here?

“You left your phone in the car. It wouldn't stop ringing, and I was in a meeting.” Stretching it forward, I took it, my mouth wide apart. Most strangers would have sold it off or disposed of it.

“Thank you.” I finally muttered after his intense stare. “I owe you another.” His brow arched.

“Owe me? Do you owe everyone that comes your way? Mama just taught me to be compassionate, that's all. I will leave now, Miss…”

“Isla.”

He nodded and smiled gently. “Miss Isla.” then turned around to leave.

“Is baby!” The annoying familiar voice called out, and I clenched my jaw the second I caught Lucas approaching me. The stranger had stopped, too. “See, you got yourself a new man.” He laughed, his eyes moving over him. “That was pretty fast.”

“What do you want, Lucas? The wedding is off.” I scolded, my anger surfing.

“You, Is. I want you.” Slowly, he leaned in to brush my hair, but I slapped his hand away.

“Leave. For a cheating man, you sure have guts. Strong ones.” I snapping, eyeing him. If only stares could kill, he would be dead by now.

His annoying laughter went off again. “Is baby. Don’t say you are jealous. Come on. You will always be my one true love.” Mockery. I caught mockery in his voice.

“Leave, Lucas. Leave!” I thundered.

“And if I don’t?” He dared, and I felt something knot inside me how I wanted to scratch off his face.

“The lady wants you to leave.” The man from earlier said, walking over. “You should leave.” He sounded calm yet frightening, especially the piercing look he sent Lucas.

“Oh! Playing little hero boy, are you? Trust me, you don’t want to mess with my kind.” Lucas warned, a slight grin on his face. “How do you like my little gift, Isla? Mathew is a little plaything of mine. If you want your job back, you only need to kneel and beg. You know your son needs all the money he can get.” My palm connected with his fist before I could stop myself.

“I will never. Get your flirting self off my front door!”

I was pissed, angry. My body shook from the pent-up anger. Lucas stared hard at me for minutes, his palm on his cheek, before it morphed into a rumple of laughter.

“Have fun getting a new job, Isla. If you ever change your mind. You can always call. Pappy’s legs are always open.”

I watched as he walked away, and the urge to pull his hair and give him the beating of his life engulfed me. First, my mom. Now, my job. What else was he going to take next? My son?

“I can report him to the police if he bothers you.” The stranger said; the darkness in his eyes had vanished, leaving the transparent beautiful Blue.

“No, I’m fine. Thank you. Thank you for the phone, too. You can go now.”

He nodded, turning to leave before he paused. His hands are in his pockets. “You owe me two, right?” He suddenly asked, and I immediately swallowed the lump of saliva that had gathered. My heart racing started to pound as I wondered where the conversation was going.

‘I owe you one’ had always been slang for me and my folks. No one we had met had ever taken it seriously until this stranger.

“Or do I need to remind you?” He tilted his head sideways, showing his side view. He looked like something that walked out of a magazine, and I knew more than anything that it was dangerous to have a stranger lurking around the house. I wouldn't be able to protect myself and my son at once.

“Yes. I mean, I know.” I managed to hide the fear in my voice.

“Good. Be my secretary. My old one just quit.” He was looking at me now—his cold, intense glance.

“Why?” It slipped out, and his lips twitched for a second.

“Well, let’s just say you need a job, and I need a P.A. I will pay you a million dollars monthly.”

“What!” I let out in disbelief. Something crawled over me, causing my hair to stand. My son’s surgery was twenty million dollars, and that meant I could save him faster.

“If you don’t like the salary, I can’t take it higher without knowing how competent you are first. We can discuss that later on.”

Somehow, his firm expression was the only reason I wasn't laughing right now, telling him I knew it was a prank.

“What do I have to do?”

“Ummm. First of…” He took his card from his picket and stretched it, which I leaned in to take. “Come here on Monday for the interview, and let’s see how it goes. But if, by chance, you get the job, I need you to know that I am no easy man to work with, Miss Isla. I have my rules.”

“And they are?”

A smile parted his lips. “See you on Monday, Isla.” With this, he walked away without looking back, and I watched his car drive off. My fingers trembling from the shock.