Ditch the Ex. Date the Billionaire . Chapter 65: Who? . “What ended up happening to the call later? The one with the investors?” Hector asks, eyes flickering back and forth between his two computer screens as he rapidly types away on his keyboard. He’s wearing a navy suit today, his hair neatly combed back off his forehead, trademark wire-framed glasses perched on his nose. “It’s still happening today, but it was bumped to 4:30,” Isabella says. She’s sitting with her legs crossed at one of the two tables in Hector’s large office, her hair falling down into her eyes, scanning through a contract and highlighting all the points she wants Warren to review. “I sent you an updated calendar invite a few minutes ago.” “Thank you,” Hector says. He sounds distracted. “Also, sorry—did you talk to the events team about the gala? About the plants?” “Yes, I did,” Isabella says. She can feel a smile creeping onto her face, but Hector would give her hell if he saw her smirking about this,
Ditch the Ex. Date the Billionaire . Chapter 66: Text .Isabella 2:36PM You must not be that busy considering you’ve spent the last 30 minutes texting me boyfriend 💖 2:37PM i needed a break from work. can you really blame me? Do you have any idea how hard it is? Isabella 2:37PM i literally have no idea what that is boyfriend 💖 2:38PM i’m honestly so jealous Isabella 2:38PM well this little conversation was nice and weird but i am starving and need to order food and get back to my job thank you boyfriend 💖 2:38PM ok! don’t forget to send me the info Isabella 2:39PM i’ll send it when i’m done with work. also to be completely serious for a moment: thank you, i really appreciate that you are coming with me boyfriend 💖 2:40PM don’t worry about it. i’ve never been one to turn down a free meal. plus i’m bulking right now Isabella 2:40PM does that mean trying to get bigger? it didn’t seem to me like you need to do that at all???? boyfriend 💖 2:41PM oh really? how
Ditch the Ex. Date the Billionaire .Chapter 67: Begin .The gala is being held at a gorgeous venue on the water—all natural wood and tall ceilings and open air, decked out from top to bottom with lush greenery. The open space has been set up with dozens of tables for everyone to sit and eat dinner, along with multiple bars scattered along the perimeter, and there’s a podium near the front where most of the unit heads will give their speech and announce the annual employee award winners.Isabella decides to ride with Riven, who’s attending as Dara’s plus one. Having Archibald come meet her at Dara’s apartment seemed like overkill, so she ended up just texting him that he shouldn’t bother and telling him they could meet at the venue. When they arrive, Archibald is already waiting in the lobby, off in the corner by himself and staring down at his phone. It takes Isabella a moment to spot him, because he looks like a completely different person than what he is usually like at the of
Ditch the Ex. Date the Billionaire . Chapter 68: Subpar looks . Isabella makes her way towards the closest bar, and Archibald trails behind her, doing the stereotypical boyfriend-in-a-crowd thing, one hand lightly pressed to her back, steering her gently through the empty spaces between mingling employees. A few people stare at them for a little too long. After all the buzz that her breakup with Alan created, Isabella knows the office busibodies must be thrilled to see her with Archibald. They maybe didn’t expected to see her actually confirm the news that the blogs had been spreading about her and Archie. And she’s happy to give them something else to talk about. After they order their drinks, they crane their necks to find Dara, and they eventually spot her all the way on the opposite side of the space. She’s sitting at a table with Jane, a woman from the finance department who Isabella is somewhat acquainted with, along with her girlfriend. As fate would have i
Ditch the Ex. Date the Billionaire . Chapter 69: Cheesy . They arrive at the table, and Archibald pulls out Isabella’s chair before sitting down in his own. “I mean, I was trying to throw him off, but I still meant what I said.” “Wha—” “Wine!” Dara exclaims giddily, making grabby hands at the glass Isabella is holding. Isabella passes it to her, frowning. “You look like you need to start drinking,” Riven says to Bella. “Also, Jana is already two drinks ahead of us. We need to catch up.”Jana giggles from behind her half-empty wine glass. “I always try to get at least four drinks deep before the speeches start. You know how long-winded most of these knuckleheads can be.” “I know that better than anyone,” Isabella says, laughing. “So, I don’t think I’ve met your girlfriend?” “Oh, you’re right,” she says, beaming. She turns to the woman next to her, who’s very pretty—she’s wearing a fitted red dress with matching red lipstick. “This is Hazel. She’s a physiotherapist.” “Nice
Thankfully, as the sun slowly sinks below the horizon and the three-course dinner is served, the conversation starts to get a little easier, largely thanks to all the alcohol they’re consuming. The collection of empty bottles and glasses on the table has begun to accumulate into quite the impressive hoard.They’re all taking turns getting up and ordering rounds of drinks for everyone at the bar, and they even had Riven take an extra turn, stashing an extra round of beers at the table, since the bars will be temporarily shut down during any of the CEO's speech and the awards presentation.Isabella feels a deep pang of sympathy for all the employees hired over the past year who are attending the gala for the very first time and are unaware of this fact.The dance floor always opens up right after the award presentation is done—and seasoned professionals like maybe Alan, Dara and even Archibald are always well-lubricated enough in time to hit it right away.Luckily, it seems like Archiba
Ditch the Ex. Date the Billionaire .Chapter 71:.The audience applauds, tittering nervously. Archibald leans over to Isabella, whispering: “These awards aren’t a big deal. Why are we still here?.” Isabella hits him lightly. “Getting one is pretty much the highest honor you can receive here. Plus, everyone who wins goes on a trip,” She whispers back. “Apparently it’s a lot of fun.”“I think you’ll win,” He says matter-of-factly.Isabella laughs. “No, I don’t think I’ve worked here long enough. Usually it’s people who have been around for a long time.”Dara dramatically shushes them from across the table.“As many of you already know, everyone who’s honored tonight will be awarded with an all-expenses-paid trip next month. This year, we’ll be spending four days at a resort on an Island.” The crowd oohs and aahs, and Hector smiles. “After last year’s experience on the mountaintop, we decided to go with something a little more traditional this year.”“Apparently people with a fear of
Ditch the Ex. Date the Billionaire .Chapter 72: .“You’re not in trouble,” Isabella says. “I just figured we should talk about the trip before we get too wrapped up in our—well, you know.”“Our scam?”“That makes it sound so unpleasant.”“Mmm. It’s not unpleasant,” Archibald says.“I mean—well, no. I guess not.”He reaches out and rests his hand on Isabella’s knee. He squeezes it a little. It’s very distracting.“I need you to explain something to me. Why don’t you have a boyfriend?” Isabella demands, keeping his voice low.Archibald laughs. “What?”“It’s suspicious that you haven’t been in a relationship for a while.” Isabella says. “It’s very weird to me that you’re single. With your… you know. All of you, and all of your… anyway. I want to know why.”“I should probably take this as a compliment, I guess?” Archibald asks, scratching his head.“I don’t care how you take it. I just want to make sure before I bring you along with me to this holiday and let you sleep in the same room