William Lancaster, an arrogant millionaire, held a wedding invitation in his hands. It was from his ex-fiancé, the woman who had left him for someone else, without hesitation. And now, she had sent an invitation, as if she wanted to rub her happiness in his face.
Is this a joke? He muttered, tossing the envelope onto the table. His friend, Damien Carter, picked up the invitation and whistled. That’s a low blow.
Are you going? William let out a dry laugh. And show up alone like a failure? No way. Then take someone.
Show her you’ve moved on. It was a good idea, but taking just anyone wouldn’t be enough. He needed to make an impact, to leave Olivia wondering what he was up to.
Later that day, as he left his office, he was still thinking about it when he noticed a young woman sitting on the sidewalk in front of a restaurant. She was dirty, her clothes worn out, but she had a beautiful face. Her messy hair fell over her shoulders, and her eyes weren’t pleading, they were defiant.
On impulse, he walked over to her. He approached, hands in his pockets, looking down at her. Hey, you.
Need money? The woman looked up, but not with gratitude. Her gaze was sharp, as if she were deciding whether he was even worth a second of her attention. Then, a smirk appeared on her lips.
What is this? A social experiment? You ask, and depending on my answer, you either toss me a coin or walk away? William’s eyebrows lifted. No one talked to him like that. Come with me to an event, and I’ll pay you enough to change your life.
She let out a quiet chuckle, shaking her head slowly. Enough to change my life? Wow. Do you always use dramatic lines, or just when you want to sound like some kind of savior? There was pure sarcasm in her voice, and it threw him off more than it should have.
He kept his composure. You just need to dress up, smile, and come with me. She tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes.
Oh, I see. You want me to be your decorative doll for the night. William narrowed his eyes.
This woman was challenging him on purpose. If you don’t want the offer, I can find someone else. She laughed, this time out loud.
Is this a joke? Because honestly, I don’t see a line of candidates waiting around here. He pressed his lips together. How the hell was she turning this around on him? She stood up, dusted off her dress, and stepped closer.
Too close. I’ll accept, she said, as if she were doing him a favor. But only because I’m curious.
William felt something dangerous in the air. Curious? Curious about what? He asked, suspicious. She smiled, her eyes glowing with an unreadable expression.
To see how far a man like you is willing to go. William stood still for a moment. Who the hell was this woman? Isabella settled into the seat of the luxury car, keeping her gaze fixed on the city passing by outside the window.
She didn’t seem scared, nervous, or impressed. Just observant. William sitting beside her realized he was waiting for some kind of reaction from her.
No questions. No hesitation. Just acceptance.
You don’t even want to know where we’re going, he asked, breaking the silence. She turned to him, a smirk playing on her lips. Someplace expensive, I imagine.
William raised an eyebrow. And you’re not curious? Should I be? She tilted her head. You found me on the street and offered me money to be your date.
That’s already strange enough, but I doubt you’re planning to sell me into human trafficking or something. William laughed. No.
Nothing that dramatic. Just a social event. A wedding, right? He looked at her.
How do you know? You have that look. A man trying to get revenge on someone. William clenched his jaw.
Isabella was reading him like an open book, and he didn’t like it. And if I am? She shrugged. Doesn’t matter to me, as long as I get paid.
William smiled. He liked her attitude. But he still wanted to understand who this woman was, someone who accepted everything so easily.
Minutes later, the car stopped in front of an elegant building, a renowned beauty salon. Isabella stepped out without question and followed William inside. The place smelled of expensive products, and a team of stylists rushed to assist them the moment he entered.