Isabella pov“I’ll protect you, Isabella. No matter what.”This was what Noah said before Joshua walked into the ward.“Good afternoon miss Isabella,” he greeted me with a smile.“Good afternoon Josh,” I tried to smile back.“Great to see you doing good.” He turned to Noah, “sir, we need to talk.”Noah gave a slight nod, he placed his hand on my shoulder, “I will be back….”He stood up and stepped out of the hall.Few mins laterThe door was pushed open and the devil walked in with a smile.“Hennessy!”She gave a devilish smile, “Isabella!”I sent here a glare, as I sat up straight, “What are you doing here? Back to finish what you started?”She chuckled as she sat down, “Please stop thinking you have a place for me to think about you. I heard Noah had been staying in the hospital for two days now and I came to see how he was doing and bring him something to eat.” She snapped her fingers and a young lady with a maid uniform walked in with a bag.She dropped in the bag in the table and
Isabella’s Pov The large ballroom was filled with expensive designer gowns and well-tailored suits. I looked around, nervous as I knew that I did not belong here. I clutch my dress as I move through the crowd, the girl's glares were like a dagger and their words were as sharp as a sword. “What is she doing here?” “Who is she…” “She looks…..simple..” “She looks poor.” I sighed and ignored them, blocking out the bitter and wagging tongue. I straightened my back with pride as I gripped the glass that held my champagne tight as I walked through the room, trying to blend in. My eyes ran through the room, looking for a savior who would save me from the impending doom that lurked around the corner. My art gallery was on its last thread. The legacy left behind by my father was just days away from being closed up, with an eviction notice and unsettled debts. This gala was my only chance to find some rich and caring enough to help or invest in my dream. That's when I spo
Isabella’s Pov As she walked away, Noah finally turned back to me. “You owe me,” he said simply. “For what?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “For saving you from being thrown out of here, for starters. And for covering for your little stunt.” “I didn’t ask you to do that.” “You didn’t have to,” he replied, his tone making it clear I wasn’t getting the last word. Before I could argue, he glanced around the room. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to keep up the act. For tonight, you’re my date. And in return, we’ll discuss your gallery.” My heart skipped a beat. “You’ll help me?” “Don’t get ahead of yourself,” he said. “I didn’t say yes. But I’m willing to listen—if you can play your part convincingly.” I stared at him, my mind racing. This wasn’t the plan. None of this was. But if pretending to be Noah’s date for one night meant saving the gallery, could I really afford to say no? “Fine,” I said, lifting my chin. “I’ll play along.” “Good.” He offered me
Noah’s pov “Who were you with last night!” my mum barged into my room, waking me up. “What time is it?” I grumbled as I hid my face under the pillow trying to block her out. “It is time for you to get out of bed and come down now,” she said and walked out of my room. I sighed as I got out of bed, picked up my robe, and walked downstairs. I could have completely ignored my mum but something told me that this was going to be an interesting morning. I got down to the living room to see my mum, my sister and of course, Hennessy all seated. Hennessey looked like she had been crying all night as her head lay down on my mum’s shoulder. I took a seat on the sofa at the far end of the living room. I turned and ordered the maid to get me a coffee. My assistant brought forward the business news for the day and I carried on with my morning like I wasn't called down. “Noah, are you going to ignore the question I asked you?” my mum said after a while. I drank my coffee and dropped it on th
Isabella’s POV My heels clicked against the polished floor as I followed Noah’s assistant down the hallway. The luxurious surroundings of J-Enterprises were far beyond anything I was used to, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of awe and intimidation but I kept my chin up, determined not to show any vulnerability. After all, this was my chance. The assistant stopped outside a large door, knocked lightly, and opened it. “Master Jack is ready to see you now,” she said with a polite smile, stepping aside to let me in. I squared my shoulders, took a steadying breath, and stepped into the office. “Noah,” I greeted, my voice steady despite the flurry of nerves in my stomach. He was already standing, his tall frame exuding authority and confidence as he walked around his desk. His dark eyes met mine, and for a moment, I felt like I was under a microscope. It wasn’t the first time Noah Jack had looked at me like that, but somehow it still made my heart skip a beat. “Isabella,” he said,
Isabella’s Pov“You did what?!” Maryann screamed in my ears. Maryann or Mary like to call her was my friend and roommate. We stayed in a two-bedroom flat and shared the rent.“Hey…calm down, it is not a bad idea,” I said to her but she shook her head in disagreement.“When I saw you on the front page of the biggest blog in town and your hands were hooked with the city’s youngest billionaire—who I was surprised you don't know about, I knew something was up.” she continued to blab.“Mary, it is just business—call it a mutual benefit.” I stood up and walked to the kitchen to get myself a snack.“Benefits? He asked you to be his girlfriend!” Mary repeated the words I said to her.“Fake girlfriend.” I corrected“It is all the same! Do you know he has a fiancee?” She looked at me with concern.“Ex-fiance!” I corrected it again as I made my milkshake.“Hennesey Lang is not someone who you make an ex?” she pulled up her Instagram account which had close to ten million followers. “She is the o
Isabella’s POVThe tension in the room was palpable as the woman I recognized from countless tabloids and the gala stormed in. Hennessy Lang was every bit as stunning in person as she appeared on social media, with her piercing eyes and confident stride.I froze, the pen hovering above the contract, unsure whether to put it down or sign it right away just to claim some semblance of control.“Who is this?” Hennessy’s voice was sharp as her eyes raked over me. She stood with an air of entitlement, her fitted red dress clinging to her in all the right places.Noah let out a tired sigh, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. “Hennessy, this isn’t the time—”“Don’t you dare tell me what time it is!” she snapped, cutting him off. “I come here thinking we can talk like adults about us, and I find her?” She waved a perfectly manicured hand in my direction.I cleared my throat, forcing myself to sit up straighter. “Excuse me, but I’m not just ‘her.’ I’m—”“My guest,” Noah interrupted firmly, shootin
Isabella’s PovNOAH AND A MYSTERIOUS GIRL SEEN WITH HIM LAST IN A ARRANGED RELATIONSHIP!That was the headline Mary woke me up to in the morning. I took the Ipad from her as I stared at the news on one of the bigger blogs in the country.“I told you to be careful.…..the comments are wild.” Mary was spiraling out of control.I clicked the comments and truly they were vile.“She is so desperate!”“What a good digger.”“She really wants to be Hennessy so bad.”“I don't care about this but I love her hair color….is it natural or dyed?”I threw the Ipad on the bed as I slipped out to go start my day. Mary had a confused look on her face.“Are you not going to say anything? The media has caught up with your plan.” Mary followed me to the bathroom where I pulled down my dress to pee.I looked at her as I sighed, “Noah and I knew it was coming but the narrative would be twisted soon. So chill, I have to go meet up with him, now leave, let me take my bath.“I pushed her out of the bathroom, lo
Isabella pov“I’ll protect you, Isabella. No matter what.”This was what Noah said before Joshua walked into the ward.“Good afternoon miss Isabella,” he greeted me with a smile.“Good afternoon Josh,” I tried to smile back.“Great to see you doing good.” He turned to Noah, “sir, we need to talk.”Noah gave a slight nod, he placed his hand on my shoulder, “I will be back….”He stood up and stepped out of the hall.Few mins laterThe door was pushed open and the devil walked in with a smile.“Hennessy!”She gave a devilish smile, “Isabella!”I sent here a glare, as I sat up straight, “What are you doing here? Back to finish what you started?”She chuckled as she sat down, “Please stop thinking you have a place for me to think about you. I heard Noah had been staying in the hospital for two days now and I came to see how he was doing and bring him something to eat.” She snapped her fingers and a young lady with a maid uniform walked in with a bag.She dropped in the bag in the table and
Isabella’s POVDarkness surrounded me, pulling me into its depths. I felt weightless, trapped between consciousness and oblivion. Snippets of memories from my past played like a haunting slideshow in my mind—the fire, the screams, the smell of smoke, and my mother’s voice calling out to me.“Isabella, stay strong,” her voice echoed in my head, warm yet distant.I wanted to respond, to say I was sorry, but no words came. A sudden, calming presence washed over me, breaking through the haze. I couldn’t make out the words, but the voice was soothing and familiar, like a lifeline pulling me back.****Noah’s POV*****Watching Isabella lay motionless in the hospital bed was agonizing. Her pale face and the rhythmic beeping of the monitors filled me with a helplessness I’d never experienced before.“Isabella,” I whispered, squeezing her hand gently. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”The room was quiet except for the hum of machines. My thoughts raced as I pieced together the events of t
Isabella’s POVThe next morning, I barely had time to gather my thoughts before the whirlwind of the previous evening came crashing down on me. The tension from dinner lingered like a storm cloud, and I wasn’t prepared for what the day had in store.Noah had asked me to join him for lunch at his office, claiming it was a simple meeting to discuss the upcoming charity gala. I was suspicious but agreed nonetheless. By the time I arrived, I realized I wasn’t stepping into just a casual lunch—this was a battlefield.Hennessy was already there.Dressed impeccably in a white pantsuit that screamed wealth and privilege, she was perched on the edge of Noah’s desk, her posture confident and unnervingly intimate. Her perfectly styled blonde hair caught the sunlight streaming through the office windows, casting her as a vision of effortless elegance.The moment I stepped into the room, her sharp green eyes landed on me, and her lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.“Well, well,” H
Isabella’s POVThe next morning, I barely had time to gather my thoughts before the whirlwind of the previous evening came crashing down on me. The tension from dinner lingered like a storm cloud, and I wasn’t prepared for what the day had in store.Noah had asked me to join him for lunch at his office, claiming it was a simple meeting to discuss the upcoming charity gala. I was suspicious but agreed nonetheless. By the time I arrived, I realized I wasn’t stepping into just a casual lunch—this was a battlefield.Hennessy was already there.Dressed impeccably in a white pantsuit that screamed wealth and privilege, she was perched on the edge of Noah’s desk, her posture confident and unnervingly intimate. Her perfectly styled blonde hair caught the sunlight streaming through the office windows, casting her as a vision of effortless elegance.The moment I stepped into the room, her sharp green eyes landed on me, and her lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.“Well, well,” H
Isabella’s POVNoah picked me up promptly at 5 pm, as promised. He was dressed in a sleek navy suit, looking every bit the powerful man the media loved to scrutinize. I, on the other hand, had chosen a simple but elegant black dress with pearl earrings, hoping to make a good impression.“You look fine,” Noah said, his tone indifferent as his eyes barely glanced at me.“Gee, thanks for the overwhelming compliment,” I muttered under my breath, earning a faint smirk from him.The drive to his family’s estate was quiet, aside from the occasional hum of Noah’s phone. He was texting, probably handling damage control after the media frenzy. I used the silence to mentally prepare myself for what was bound to be a tense dinner.When we arrived at the sprawling Blake estate, my nerves skyrocketed. The grand mansion loomed before me, its intricate architecture both beautiful and intimidating.“Remember, smile and play the part,” Noah whispered as he placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me t
Isabella’s PovNOAH AND A MYSTERIOUS GIRL SEEN WITH HIM LAST IN A ARRANGED RELATIONSHIP!That was the headline Mary woke me up to in the morning. I took the Ipad from her as I stared at the news on one of the bigger blogs in the country.“I told you to be careful.…..the comments are wild.” Mary was spiraling out of control.I clicked the comments and truly they were vile.“She is so desperate!”“What a good digger.”“She really wants to be Hennessy so bad.”“I don't care about this but I love her hair color….is it natural or dyed?”I threw the Ipad on the bed as I slipped out to go start my day. Mary had a confused look on her face.“Are you not going to say anything? The media has caught up with your plan.” Mary followed me to the bathroom where I pulled down my dress to pee.I looked at her as I sighed, “Noah and I knew it was coming but the narrative would be twisted soon. So chill, I have to go meet up with him, now leave, let me take my bath.“I pushed her out of the bathroom, lo
Isabella’s POVThe tension in the room was palpable as the woman I recognized from countless tabloids and the gala stormed in. Hennessy Lang was every bit as stunning in person as she appeared on social media, with her piercing eyes and confident stride.I froze, the pen hovering above the contract, unsure whether to put it down or sign it right away just to claim some semblance of control.“Who is this?” Hennessy’s voice was sharp as her eyes raked over me. She stood with an air of entitlement, her fitted red dress clinging to her in all the right places.Noah let out a tired sigh, adjusting the cuffs of his suit. “Hennessy, this isn’t the time—”“Don’t you dare tell me what time it is!” she snapped, cutting him off. “I come here thinking we can talk like adults about us, and I find her?” She waved a perfectly manicured hand in my direction.I cleared my throat, forcing myself to sit up straighter. “Excuse me, but I’m not just ‘her.’ I’m—”“My guest,” Noah interrupted firmly, shootin
Isabella’s Pov“You did what?!” Maryann screamed in my ears. Maryann or Mary like to call her was my friend and roommate. We stayed in a two-bedroom flat and shared the rent.“Hey…calm down, it is not a bad idea,” I said to her but she shook her head in disagreement.“When I saw you on the front page of the biggest blog in town and your hands were hooked with the city’s youngest billionaire—who I was surprised you don't know about, I knew something was up.” she continued to blab.“Mary, it is just business—call it a mutual benefit.” I stood up and walked to the kitchen to get myself a snack.“Benefits? He asked you to be his girlfriend!” Mary repeated the words I said to her.“Fake girlfriend.” I corrected“It is all the same! Do you know he has a fiancee?” She looked at me with concern.“Ex-fiance!” I corrected it again as I made my milkshake.“Hennesey Lang is not someone who you make an ex?” she pulled up her Instagram account which had close to ten million followers. “She is the o
Isabella’s POV My heels clicked against the polished floor as I followed Noah’s assistant down the hallway. The luxurious surroundings of J-Enterprises were far beyond anything I was used to, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of awe and intimidation but I kept my chin up, determined not to show any vulnerability. After all, this was my chance. The assistant stopped outside a large door, knocked lightly, and opened it. “Master Jack is ready to see you now,” she said with a polite smile, stepping aside to let me in. I squared my shoulders, took a steadying breath, and stepped into the office. “Noah,” I greeted, my voice steady despite the flurry of nerves in my stomach. He was already standing, his tall frame exuding authority and confidence as he walked around his desk. His dark eyes met mine, and for a moment, I felt like I was under a microscope. It wasn’t the first time Noah Jack had looked at me like that, but somehow it still made my heart skip a beat. “Isabella,” he said,