Encounter

Ditch the Ex, Date the Billionaire

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Chapter 4: Encounter

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*ISABELLA*

“This is the First Friday night that I have been out without Alan. He’s usually the party type.” I say revealing to Dara.

She groaned. “Alan this, Alan that. Isabella, you are not doing a very good job at moving on.”

“I can’t move on if you and your boyfriend are giving each other googly eyes in front of me. It reminds me of when—.”

“Alright that’s enough.” Riven pulled away from Dara putting some space in between them. “Is this okay?.”

“No.” I sigh wistfully. “Everything else still reminds me of Alan. I hate him but I can’t hate the memories we had here.”

“Sorry, Isabella,” Dara says, reaching across the table and squeezing my hand. “But I still don’t think putting yourself out there would hurt. Maybe give it a try?.”

I gave her a look. “It hasn’t been a month since I found out that my boyfriend cheated on me. So just give me a break.”

“I certainly didn’t call you over for a sob story. Your life really is miserable.” Dara said with a dead pan expression as she poured herself another drink.

“No I think I’m the one who needs that drink.” I say grabbing it from her and throwing it all down my throat.

I placed the glass back on the table and showed a nasty expression at the taste.

"Isabella, I think you've had enough to drink.” Riven murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

“Wow thanks for your pity but I’m fine.” I say sarcastically before insisting as I fill the glass up again.

Dara sighed, a look of resignation crossing her features. "Fine. But at least let me call you a cab. It's late, and you shouldn't be out alone. It’s so sad my idea of cheering you up didn’t work and I feel bad."

“Just let me have one more.” I try to argue reaching over to steal the bottle of alcohol from Riven.

“Do you really think you should have another round if you’re already too wobbly?” He asks with a raised eyebrow.

Before I could protest, I glance up and see Riven’s eyes focused somewhere behind me, before leaning in close, his voice low and urgent. "Now when you said your ex boyfriend was Alan, is he by any chance, Alan Bancroft, one of the known spenders in this club?.”

Dara follows the path of her boyfriend’s gaze, then she pales slightly.

“Isabella, it’s Alan,” Tara whispers loudly. “Your Alan.”

The words hung in the air, as it sent a jolt of electricity coursing through my veins. Alan, the name alone was enough to restart my anxiety and increase the beating of my heart.

But I was over that. I will not let his presence over ride my emotions.

I made to get up when Dara hisses, reaching out and yanking my arm, pulling me back into the booth.

“What is it?.” I say, whirling back around, understandably alarmed.

“Didn’t we say Alan is here just now?.” She replied.

I sighed. “Dara, I really appreciate you watching out for me but I’m fine. And besides, I should probably go home anyway. The club wasn’t enough to uplift my mood but you did well.”

“Well at least let Riven drop you off. Forget about taking a cab.”

“You are really nice, Dara.” I squared my shoulders and met her gaze head-on. "Thanks, but I'll pass. I'll find my own way home. Goodnight.”

I say my goodbyes with a smile and she let me go reluctantly.

Now I just need to find a way to exit this club before I break down in tears seeing my ex who had already moved on without me.

As I made my way through the crowded bar, I could already sight the back door.

Dara was just freaking out for nothing.

Alan and I can’t even run into each other.

Famous last words.

I squeeze my way through the crowd until I reach a traffic spot. Someone drunk must be blocking the entrance. The people here aren’t even moving.

I should have gone through the front instead.

I pull out my phone and scroll through Twitter mindlessly while I wait, running a hand through my hair nervously.

People start moving again and I put my phone back in my bag walking forward without looking up and I hit someone accidentally.

“I’m so sorry, I—.”

As I stepped back to look at the taller figure, my resolve faltered for a moment when I saw him standing in front of me.

But before I could muster the courage to speak or even leave, he was already close to me, his voice a whisper on the edge of my consciousness.

“Bella. Hey.”

I freeze, every muscle in my body tensing up.

Did Alan just teleport here from across the bar? Because what the fuck?

He looks obnoxiously handsome, as usual—he’s wearing a perfectly tailored chiffon button up, not a single hair out of place.

“Alan,” I mumble, barely looking him in the eyes. I instead start moving past him eager to leave this place but still manage to mutter back. “Hello.”

I am trying to play it cool, but inside, I’m completely panicking. I have got to get out of this somehow.

I was never planning on speaking to Alan again.

I want nothing to do with him. And Chantelle.

Now him being next to me makes me feel ill, actually, and all the alcohol in my stomach is starting to feel a little unsettled.

“How are you?” Alan asks walking alongside me, following me. “I haven’t gotten the chance to talk to you in a while.”

He’s far too close for comfort, and the way he’s trying to touch me is borderline predatory.

“I’m fine,” I reply flatly, hoping he would go away.

Please.

“Isabella I want to talk to you about—.”

Oh I knew what he was about to say.

Cheaters and never ending apologies.

“It was nice talking to you, Alan. Goodbye.” I ended the conversation speeding ahead.

"Isabella, wait," He pleaded, his hand reaching out to grasp my arm.

I recoiled instinctively, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver down my spine. "Don't touch me," I hissed, my voice laced with venom all of a sudden.

The memory of me catching him and Chantelle in the act played right in my head.

But Alan refused to back down, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer, his words a challenge hanging in the air between us. “Why? You used to like when I held you.”

“Keyword being ‘used to’, Alan.” I say reminding him. “We are done. Do I have to drum it in your head?.”

“You and I both know you wish you still were with me. Admit it, Isabella. I was the best thing to happen to you. No one will be willing as me to do that for you. No one will love you like I did.”

What he said was like a dagger to my heart, reopening wounds I had fought so hard to heal as anger bubbled up within me.

"There will always be someone better than you.” I snapped, my voice trembling with suppressed rage.

“Really? If you think you are so deserving of love then why didn’t a new fella come along after we ended things?.” His upper lips curled into a smirk. “You are single and bitter without me.”

A new voice broke through cutting through the tension.

"That's a bad way to treat a lady, nephew. Especially one that isn’t yours.”

My breath caught in my throat as I turned to face the newcomer, my eyes widening in shock at the sight of the handsome stranger standing before me, his eyes ablaze with a fierce protectiveness.

"Uncle Archie?.” Alan scoffed, his disbelief evident as he addressed the handsome stranger.

Uncle? Is the stranger a friend of Alan’s dad or mum.

But before I could make sense of what was happening, the stranger’s attention shifted back to me, his gaze boring into me with an intensity that made my skin tingle.

“Sorry I’m late,” The man says, his expression shifting into something more apologetic as he reaches over to intertwines our palms together. “I got tied up at work and forgot to come pick you.”

I stare at my hand that he was holding while Alan looked on confused.

The stranger quirks a smile, his eyes twinkling a little as he sends me a wink in a blink of a second and I immediately understood what was going on.

He most likely saw that I was uncomfortable and came to save me.

I shift a bit further away from Alan and closer towards the man, pressing up against his side. I silently remind myself to apologize later for getting all handsy without asking for permission. “I missed you today.”

He’s very handsome, actually, but I am hardly concerned with that right now.

I just want to leave the club and get away from Alan as fast as possible.

“Should I introduce myself?” the man asks expectantly, glancing at Alan with some sort of smirk on his face that makes me confused.

“Of course,” I say, turning to face Alan. “How rude of me. Alan, this is my boyfriend.”

The corners of his mouth twitch. “What?”.

“Yes,” I repeat myself. “My boyfriend. His name is...”

“My uncle?.”

“Archibald Bancroft,” the man says, and it sounds like he’s choking back a laugh. “But Archie is okay too.”

I pause realizing the last names correlate.

And the name, Archibald …

Oh fuck.

He’s Alan’s uncle which means he’s the brother to Alan’s mother and the only son to the CEO.

Alan has the petrified expression on his face confused as he turns back to me. “What?.”

“Alan, stop causing a scene and go back to your friends.” His uncle scolded him.

"You break up with me and jump on the next Bancroft you see?.” Alan demanded, his voice laced with contempt. “Why? Because you heard the only requirement for him to inherit my grand father’s heirloom is to get married?.”

My mouth falls open involuntarily.

Did I just admit to fake dating a Billionaire?

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TBC

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