The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

"Look, Mommy! We can see everything from here!" Samantha exclaimed as they walked into their spacious and elegantly decorated room with a view of the city.

Evelyn smiled, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "Yes, we can. It's a beautiful view," Evelyn said as she watched Samantha run to the window, pressing her nose against the glass. The bellman set their luggage down and handed Evelyn the room keys. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call the front desk."

"Thank you, Evelyn replied, tipping him.

As he left, she turned to Maya. "You can go freshen up and get some rest. I will take care of Sam. Tomorrow you'll have to watch her. I have a very important meeting tomorrow." Maya nodded. "You don't have to worry about a thing.

We will be fine. We plan on exploring the playground tomorrow."

Evelyn smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Maya. I don't know what I'd do without you," Evelyn said as Maya walked away to her room.

"Mommy, I have a new friend," Samantha, who had been looking out the glass, announced as she came back to join her mother. +5

"Already?" Evelyn asked, amused by Samantha's ability to befriend people so easily.

"Yes. His name is Rek, and he told me about the playground," Samantha said, and Evelyn smiled.

"I see. Hopefully, you'll get to play with Rek at the playground tomorrow," Evelyn said, thinking that Rek was a kid her age.

"Now, no more talking. Time to freshen up," Evelyn announced before Samantha could say anything else.

After settling Samantha in for the night and making sure Maya was comfortable in the other room, Evelyn took a moment to herself. She stood by the window, looking out at the city she had once known so well.

The Magazine where she worked had given her an important and seemingly impossible task, one that was tied to her promotion. She had been asked to convince the elusive billionaire

CEO, Derek Stone, to agree to an interview.

This was a feat that no media house or reporter had been able to achieve, and she had to do it if she wanted to be promoted.

She had booked an appointment with Derek Stone before traveling down, and come morning, she would seize the opportunity that awaited her, but for now, she needed to rest and prepare her mind. The next morning, after a quick breakfast, Evelyn left Samantha in Maya's care as she left the hotel for Stone Corp.

As the cab drove through the city, navigating its way through the early morning traffic, Evelyn looked through the window, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over her.

The streets looked both familiar and strange at the same time, a reminder of how much time she had spent away from here.

Pushing away thoughts of the past, Evelyn focused on the challenges of the present. Since her waking hour, she had been trying to come up with different ways to convince Mr. Stone to have the interview with her, and even as the cab rode to a stop in front of the company, she still didn't have any idea how to go about convincing him.

What could she say that would be different from everything he had heard all these years from people even far more experienced than she was? As she walked into the towering office building of Stone Corp, her nerves tightened.

Her mind was so focused on her meeting with Mr.

Stone that she did not notice the familiar figure whom she walked past until she heard her name.

"Evelyn?"

She turned around when she heard the familiar voice and she saw him- Michael. The idiot whom she had wasted her precious years on. The bastard who had tried to dupe her into marriage with him when he didn't love her.

He looked exactly the same as she remembered him, and the sight of him annoyed her even more now than it had six years ago. How did she ever fall for someone so shifty?

How could she have forgotten that this was where he worked? In putting the past behind her, she had forgotten that Derek Stone was his cousin. Was Michael going to be an obstacle? She mused as she ignored him and turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand.

"Is this really you?" Michael asked, his voice laced with disbelief, "What are you doing here after disappearing for six years without even bothering to offer an apology or explanation as to why you called off the wedding? Do you have any idea how much embarrassment you caused me and my family?" he demanded, and Evelyn's jaw tightened as she snatched her hand from his grip.

"If you do not want to cause a scene here, go on your way and act like you do not know me," she warned coldly, shocking Michael.

Before he could recover from his shock, she walked away and stepped into the elevator, hoping to avoid any further interaction with him. The last thing she needed was a confrontation with Michael, especially not now and definitely not here.

Michael was confused and furious as he watched her leave. Without wasting any time, he whipped out his phone and dialed Sandra's number.

"You won't believe who I just ran into right now," he said the moment the call connected.

"Who?" Sandra inquired, her voice curious.

"Evelyn."

"Evelyn? Are you sure?" Sandra's voice spiked with surprise.

"Would I call you if I wasn't sure? I confronted her, but she totally ignored me," Michael said, still feeling annoyed by her attitude.

"Where did you see her?" Sandra asked, a hint of skepticism in her voice.

"Right here at the company," he said, wondering who she was there to see.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

"I take it you don't know why she is there. Can you find out who she's there to meet and why? And maybe you can follow her when she leaves and see where she's been hiding this whole time," Sandra suggested.

"Sure. I will have to cancel my meeting first. I will call you later," Michael said before hanging up.

While Michael hurriedly headed for the elevator to see if he could catch up with Evelyn, Evelyn was being ushered into Derek's office by his secretary.

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn pushed open the imposing office door, a tremor of nervousness running through her as she stepped into the office of the Elusive Derek Stone.