CHAPTER 3

Isabella

"Hey,those the last name Castle ring a bell to you?"I asked Chloe some days after the scene at the restaurant.we were currently in my other part time a coffee house known as Coffee Spot.

Chloe were good friends maybe it's because we work together or because I don't have friends,she is also like a sister I never had.I was content with her,she was cute,friendly and all around a good type of girl.The type everyone need around especially when it's a personal life.

"If I tell you,you will fishtail my hair for me?"she responded pointing to her messy black hair tied on top of her head.I was already late for work and couldn't really do anything with it .

"Ok,sit down."

Chloe quickly took a seat on a stool lining on the countertop.Unfortunately the coffee Spot was full of silence,as it usually was in the afternoon so I have more time to fix her hair up.

"Are you sure,you don't recognize the name"she said to me.

"Although you are too busy,no social life,it's like you live under a rock. "

I paused,twisting her head towards me"Is he an actor."

"No,why would you think that?"

"He kind of look like one "I responded

Then she turned around to face me.I quickly let go off her hair,so I wouldn't pull it.

"You saw him?"she exclaimed

"Yes yes,he was the guy I told you about at The Groove Restaurant the other night,who is he?"

Think about the name Castle for a moment,she replied looking forward again,You haven't see the name anywhere.

I paused my lips rolled the headtie to my wrist so i can braid"No i don't remember "

Did you remember your birthday,where we spend a the night when it was late.

"The Castle hotel and suites"the connection took a moment,my jaw nearly dropped.It explained so much to me the rich clothes,fancy looks,his attitude and the Ten dollar check tip.

"Now you recognize it"she laughed

"No wonder he knew so much about average customer times"I said.

The restaurants in the hotel was a lot more extravagant than The Groove restaurant.Maybe he ran some of them too but why will he leave were he will get free meals,it will be hard to track him down.

"You want to find him,why?"

Well,I pulled out the receipt from the night and handed to her,he must have really like you.

He was drunk that night,when he wrote it so I didn't feel it's right taking the money,I sat it in my bank account untouched.I wanted to return it.

Chloe's jaw dropped as she saw the tip amount,he really likes you and want you to be his girlfriend?you didn't tell me you guys were flirty flirty.What exactly happen again,you should definitely call him and you should get me a job at your work.

No way I wouldn't let someone like you work there,you will be eaten alive

"What do you mean by that."

You are too cute for your own good,I'd be afraid of you getting harassed and besides I am returning the money

Why?that would really help you out Isabella.

"Yeah but it's not right,he was really drunk."So drunk and rich,I doubt someone like him will even know ten grand was missing.

You should just keep the money,touching the finished braid,I slapped her hand away you will ruin it and I am not keeping the money meanwhile the note says the tip was an advance,An advance for what,I am not interested in anything,I better avoid the whole thing all together.

Chloe turned to me with her brown eyes with seriousness"At least you should keep the money for emergency"what if something happen to you,or your brother or your apartment.How much do you have saved up on your own?

Not enough was the answer as much as i want to keep the money,I couldn't bring myself to do so.It just didn't feel right.Taking money from a drunken people is like taking a candy from a baby,I just can't keep the money it feels gross.

"I probably may do the same in the end though but ten grand to the rich is nothing but to us is everything."

"At least we appreciate dollar than them"I responded brightly.

Mmmn...she gazed and point at the door,then she turned back at me with her eyes widened,O my God it's Mr Castle.....look.

Just at the door,the jingling shows the arrival of a customer.I looked to see none other than Jaden Castle coming through the door.I felt I could spot that confident then i trussed up my hair.

I stood on my spot in the counter.what in the world is he doing here.

"Isabella"he greeted with a handsome smile.

I wasn't sure to smile back,it was more weird that he was here and he remembered my name.I glanced at the young man he had come with it was still the man that he was with at the restaurant that night."Uhh crap"I said aloud while eyeing him.

His expression became confused and Jaden quickly put his hand on his mouth to disguise his laughter as a cough,when i realized what i said,i felt my face warm up,i quickly said i didn't mean to say that,I meant to say Robert.

"It's ok"Robert said smiling a bit,I am pleased you remember my name,actually.

Was it weird that i remembered his name?probably i was just as strange as Jaden now,I haven't met a Robert before,I covered that's why I was able to remember.

Jaden smiled and said "Have you met a Jaden before."

"Most likely"I answered his smug face annoyed me.

He immediately folded his hands over his chest.After glancing around the shop for some few seconds,now seems interested in it.I followed him with my eyes as he walks around and over the painting on the wall,then to one of the wooden table and then finally to the marble counter.Chloe stood behind it near the register.she shot a look at me and i responded with my head that i have no idea what he is doing.

She smiled warmly and asked Mr Castle"Would you like something".

I narrowed my eyes at her,Mr Castle why is she so polite?The guy barely look older than us.

Your phone number he responded smoothly.

Chloe became flustered and I did my best not to roll my eyes.Robert shooked his head a bit but he was smiling.

"I will have a Iced coffee,black please"before turning sightly so as to rest his back on the counter.I thought so he is the type that like his coffee black.All business and strict.

Chloe went to make the coffee while i walked to him my hands on my apron "What are you doing here?"I asked how did you know I work here?

"I came to see you he answered"

"Why?"

He pushed himself off the counter closing the distance between us.when he was close enough he stopped,I caught my breath a little feeling uncomfortable.His perfume wafted the air between us.it smells good "You haven't called me "He stated.

I looked into his eyes and swallow hard,his presence felt overbearing,clearing my throat I took a step back"Was I suppose to?"

"I left you a note."

A weird one pulling it out of my pocket and handling it over to him"Hope you still remember or where you too drunk?"

He smiled then smoothed out the wrinkled and skimmed note,I waited to see the reaction of the tip amount but his reaction did not change.I was worried I didn't live a tip but now I see that I did.

Well,still suprised and don't understand why he wasn't on shock over the total,though "I have been meaning to return it to you"

"Return it to me"

"You were drunk and don't know what you were doing,I haven't spent any of the money,"I promised him,I will return it to you now let me grab my checkbook.

"I don't want it"he breaks in,shoving the note and receipt back to me,take the deal and use the money as an advance payment.

"I paused"looked at him like he was crazy,an advance for what?

"Being girlfriend for sometime"

Wait he had been serious about that it wasn't a joke or part of his drunken stupor.

"I have your coffee,Mr Castle"Chloe interupted gaining attention.

He turned and gave her a handsome smile,"thank you"

"wait a second"I turned to Robert,who took a seat at one of the wooden tables.His head rested against the wall while his hands where on his laps as he watched us amusingly.

"Is your friend crazy?"I asked him.

He chuckled a bit and laugh."Maybe"

"I am not crazy"Jaden said,taking a sip of his black coffee,I didn't miss the slight glimpse of his face,I am only being sensible.

"How is giving me ten grand and asking me to be your girlfriend sensible"I asked and like every typical girl asked out by a stranger"I don't even know you"

Jaden seems a little unsettled by my response,he took a sip again and said"this wasn't what I expected"

I really want to throw my hands in the air and tell him he was out of it but i restrained myself"Will you please take your money and leave."

I won't leave until we have a deal he told me,walking over to the table where Robert is and taking a sit opposite to him"Excuse me miss,do you have cheesecake?"

Chloe points"Yes we do"she responded immediately"I will bring you over two slices um will you like anything?"she directed her question to Robert.

"Please hot coffee,regular cream and extra sugar"

I wanted to tell Chloe not to get them anything but they had become paying customers so i can't,I felt like i was the only one acting otherwise to the situation so I went behind the counter to get their pastries.

"What's going on?"Chloe whispered to me as I was close enough.

"No idea"

Her eyes were wide with excitement.

"How are you been so cool about it,If Jaden Castle ask me out,I would faint"

I wanted to say there was no way he was just asking me out,there was a reason to it.On the strange note he left, he said we could help each other out but with what I wasn't sure but that will be my first question for him.

After plating the two slices of cheesecake and cover it with strawberry,I return to the two young men placing their dishes in front of them.Then I dragged a chair from a different table and took a seat.

"How did you know,I work here?"I asked why did you come?

"I came here because you did not call,I found out where you work by calling your other job"Jaden answered easily.He picked up and cut off a little cheesecake,inspecting it before eating it."It's been frozen"he said making a face.

We are a coffee shop not a pastry shop,I reminded him feeling irritated by his reaction. Maybe he wasn't use to anything that didn't cost more.

I am going to have to say something to the employees at The Groove.they weren't suppose to give out information of any employee,yet

they gave mine to Jaden.

Robert tried to take Jaden's plate away,obviously fine with the pre-frozen cheesecake but Jaden pulled it out of reach"I will still eat it,Isabella why didn't you call me?"He gave me a look as if to say who wouldn't?We can help each other out,I have been telling you this since we met.

"You said you needed money,I have money and I need girlfriend and you are a girl"he said pointing at me with is fork"As I said we will make a good business partners."

I stared at him"I don't know what kind of person you are,how you think or grew up,did you think you can just buy me."

Jaden paused and look har"I am not buying you,i am paying for services you will render to me"

"Like your own prostitute"I kicked in,was this guy serious?Did he not see what was completely wrong with what he was asking for?

"No not a prostitute but my girlfriend just for six months"All you have to do is show up in some parties with me,snap photo and act the part no need for sexual favours.

I stared at him and he stared back not blinking and he was serious about it,I couldn't believe it "why?"

He adjusted himself straight in his seat"Various reasons but mainly so that I will not be forced into marriage with a stranger by my father."

"So you are going to fake a relationship,what good will it do?"and I was pretty sure you can't force someone into marriage,what is with the Castle's family?

He given me some months to find someone I am interested in,I figure that if i find someone pretend to date and said I have fallen in love and then after have her break up with me,I can pretend I am too heart broken to get involved again he explained without even pausing,as if he was proud of the idea and his confident that it will work.

Speechless,I once again turned to Robert to see his reaction.His face was full of smile like he was enjoying the view and discussion as if it was the best thing he had seen for long time.He obviously know how funny his friend was being and wasn't doing anything to stop him.

"ok"I finally said Jaden eyes never left my face and it made me bit my lips

"So you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend so you will not be forced into marriage?"

He nodded.

"And why me?"

"Right place,right time"He said giving me a hopeful smile."You caught my interest and I feel responsible for your suspension,I shouldn't have told you to punch Mr Larry."

I grimaced at the memory,that pig deserve it and the month suspension was complete rubbish.I was lucky I had a second job to scrap with.

Jaden leaned forward to me "Let me make it up to you,be my girlfriend it will only be for six months and I will pay you as i see fit."

While the idea of someone been payed for date make my skin crawl,I was curious to know how much was involve.The coffee shop didn't give me many hours.I did barely make it by even with my savings."OK let's say I am in for the deal"

"perfect let start with the details"he cuts in searching for something in his pocket,he then pull out his phone.

"wait I didn't say I agree yet"holding my hand in the air there is still much to think about.He gave me an expressionless look ."Is there? why? I am goodlooking,successful and wealthy what more would you want?"

He definitely have confidence in his looks doesn't it sound weird and make me look cheap.

"Isabella"he looked seriously,his gaze piercing into mine,it's just a contract for six months.Just think of it as two friends helping each other.

"But..."there is no way I could agree to this.No matter how much I thought about it.I couldn't stoop that low.I had to uphold some kind of dignity.

"ok,I will increase it to fifteen thousand per month".

I blinked"huh...what?"

"Not bad,right?"he asked calmly.

""fifteen thousand each month?In six months that a very huge money.That was more I could make in six years.Was he serious or was he kidding but he looks completely serious that much money was probably nothing to him.

But inwardly,I bid farewell to whatever pride I thought or wanted"So what are the terms?"

Jaden smiled broadly at my submission"Let's discuss them then."