CHAPTER FIVE

ISABELLA’S POV

“I’m ready to take the deal. I will work for you,” I said when Adrian was done with his call and had a strained look on his face.

I looked at him with a poker face even though all I wanted to do was hide in shame now that I had accepted the deal for Daniel’s sake and our property.

Look what Daniel had reduced me to. Again I had to pay the price for his irresponsible and gambling lifestyle.

“You have to act as my fake girlfriend, if possible Fiancée, just until I am made the CEO of my foster parent’s company,” He said with an unreadable expression on his face.

“What? That was what you meant when you said I said work for you?” I asked with my face scrunched up in shock.

Did I hear him well or was I imagining? Why did he suggest that to me all of a sudden and of all people why me? I thought he detested me.

“Yeah. Look, do you want me to forgive you for what you did to me back at high or not,” He asked and for the time I saw a chance to get forgiven by him.

Maybe my conscience was going to stop judging me.

But I feared that this would rekindle old flames which I was sure Adrian had shoved aside after that fateful day.

The last I knew Adrian, he was an Orphan and now he had wealthy foster parents?

That explained why he now looked and dressed like a wealthy man.

“Fine, I would do both of your requests,” I answered and he smiled satisfactorily.

“But,” I said, making his smile fade away and his brows crease.

“Go on,” He said while giving me a wary look but that wasn't going to stop me from saying what I had to say.

“On the condition that you give the order for the properties which my brother put up as collateral to be released alongside my brother, now,” I said.

“Still as smart and quick-witted as before. I will,” Adrain said with a more relaxed face and stretched his hands for a handshake.

“Deal?” He asked with raised brows.

“Do you forgive me?” I asked first and he nodded with a small smile making its way to his face.

“Then we have a deal,” I smiled back and shook his hands only for his smile to fade away making my brows crease.

I felt a mix of relief and trepidation. On one hand, I was glad that Adrian forgave me and had agreed to release our family house and my elder brother, Daniel.

On the other hand, I was nervous about pretending to be his girlfriend, knowing our history together.

And also, knowing the fact that I still had feelings for him even after all these years.

His discomfort and mine were clear in the fact that he avoided making eye contact with me for the rest of our meeting.

I could feel his reluctance even in his tone of voice. It was strained like he was being forced to talk to me.

The fact that he was now well-built and looking more handsome than ever made matters worse for me.

If I was going to pull this through successfully I had to shove my feelings for him away and not let it show. But could I?

“You were saying you could explain what happened. Let’s hear it,” He said and relaxed his back on his chair drawing me back from my train of thoughts.

“Uhm… before that can you order for Daniel’s release? He must be having a hard time now,’ I said.

“He has been released before you came here,” He answered, making me let out a breath of relief.

“About what happened. I….” I wanted to continue talking about the sound of my phone ringing.

I frowned when I saw an unsaved number calling me but I still picked up the call.

“This is Officer Lucas. Your brother’s lifeless body was found in front of a casino we would…” He wanted to continue but was interrupted by me.

“What? Daniel? Dead?” I asked while I abruptly stood up from my chair and due to how I was in a hurry I rushed out without saying a word to Adrian.

But Adrain followed me and insisted on giving me a ride.

I couldn’t believe, no, scratch that, I didn’t want to believe that Daniel was dead.

He was the only family I had left.

Our parents died after I was done with college leaving just Daniel and I and now Daniel was dead too?

Daniel, who was released just a few moments ago, had already gone to a casino?

Worst of all he got himself killed? I always warned him about going to casinos but he never listened.

Now look at where it landed him.

I was in tears while I called Daniel’s phone again hoping he would be the one to pick up the call but it was the officer who still picked up.

I bursted into a fit of tears making Adrian collect the phone. He asked the Officer the location of the casino and drove there.

I kept on crying to the extent I felt like my eyeballs would pop out of its socket while Adrian kept consoling me.

Reaching the front of the casino, I saw my brother’s lifeless body on the ground.

Still crying I rushed to where his body lay but before I could get there

everywhere went pitch black.

***

It had been five days since I passed out on the day Daniel died. The police were still investigating his death.

Daniel’s burial was held four days back and now I was left alone in this world.

With no relatives either because both of my parents were the only offspring their parents had.

Ella just relocated from the city because she got a new job.

Adrian got me a Job at Carlos's company. I was now Carlos, secretary.

Adrian said that his foster parents had to think I was a classy working-class lady for them to believe I was his girlfriend.

Although he suggested that I begin our fake relationship when I had gotten over Daniel’s death a bit I didn’t.

I didn’t want to die of depression so I decided to start working for Carlos to set things in motion for Adrian and I’s charade and also get my mind off Daniel’s death.

Adrian and I properly settled our differences at the hospital after I passed out on the day Daniel died.

We became just friends or should I say, business partners.

He even helped me plan Daniel’s burial and now, here I was in his car and he was driving me home.

“Are you okay?” He asked me while briefly looking at me before he turned his eyes back to the road.

“Yeah,” I answered with a small smile just when we pulled over in front of my house.

But when we did, I frowned when I caught sight of two muscular men dressed in black suits and wearing dark shades, standing in front of the gate of my house.

Adrian and I got down from his car and walked to the men in black.

When we asked them why they were there, we were shocked by what they revealed to us.