Chapter 4 Long-Term Arrangements

Isabella's head pounded. Her body felt weak and sore. Biting her lip against the ache, she quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Theodore beside her. She dressed in a hurry and never once looked his way. Just as she was about to reach the door, a low, husky voice cut through the silence. "You're really going to leave just like that?" Isabella's cheeks flushed instantly. She forced an awkward smile, turned toward Theodore, then froze. She had been too drunk the night before to see clearly. All she remembered was that she had hired a handsome escort with a commanding presence. Seeing him now, she realized he looked even better naked. Right then, Theodore sat up, the sheet sliding off to reveal a sculpted chest. He stared at Isabella, his gaze piercing as if he could see right through her. Isabella couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes. Instead, she turned away and fumbled through her purse. "Um… How much do you usually charge?" she asked awkwardly. A faint smile tugged at Theodore's lips. Without warning, he tossed the blanket aside and got out of bed. Startled, Isabella spun around. He was completely naked! Sure, she had seen and touched him the previous night, but that had been liquid courage. Now that she was sober, it was another matter entirely. "Whatever you think is fair," Theodore replied. Suddenly, Isabella remembered. He had mentioned last night that he wasn't cheap. She dug into her purse and pulled out all the cash she had, which came up to a little over one thousand dollars. She had never hired a male escort before, so she had no idea if it would be enough. Still, she set the money on the nightstand. "I'll just leave this here. I-I should go." "Isabella." She was just about to leave when Theodore stepped out of the bathroom. He stood tall in a sharp suit, his broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. Whenever his intense gaze met Isabella's, she felt a sense of deja vu. "Leave me your number," he said. Isabella's first instinct was to refuse. The previous night had been a mistake, one she had no intention of repeating. But when she met the expectation in his eyes, she faltered. Against her better judgment, she took out her phone and saved his number on WhatsApp. As Isabella put her mobile away, he blurted, "My name's Theodore Sinclair." She smiled, holding her phone up for him to see. His name was already saved in her contacts. "I remember. You told me last night." Theodore's lips curled into a faint smile as he said, "I look forward to seeing you again." Isabella nodded politely before walking out of the room. … It wasn't until Isabella reached the hotel lobby that she realized she was in a five-star hotel. And to top it off, they had stayed in a presidential suite. The thought made her wince. Theodore really knew how to enjoy himself. Just how much did one night cost? However, when she went to the front desk to settle the bill, the receptionist simply said, "Ma'am, that's Mr. Sinclair's private suite. It's paid annually." Isabella was rendered speechless. All at once, she felt that the thousand dollars she had left him was far too little. While she was lost in thought, her phone rang. It was her adoptive mother, Margaret Davis. Isabella's expression darkened as she answered the call. "Isabella Moore! What on earth do you think you're doing? Why did Nathan say you're calling off the engagement? How dare you! I want you home in half an hour!" Margaret snapped. She didn't even give Isabella the chance to respond before hanging up. Isabella's eyes went cold as she looked up at the sky. Then, she drew in a long breath. She had graduated less than a year ago and had almost no savings. For now, moving out wasn't an option. She would just have to endure it. … Back home, Isabella found Margaret sitting on the couch with her arms crossed, her expression icy. The moment she spotted Isabella, she frowned and demanded, "Tell me! What did you do to upset Nathan?" Isabella scoffed. Margaret didn't even bother asking what happened. Instead, she immediately assumed Isabella was at fault. Margaret jerked her chin toward a gift bag on the coffee table and ordered coldly, "I prepared that for you. Take it to Nathan. Yesterday was his birthday, wasn't it? Go apologize!" "I broke up with him. The engagement is off," Isabella replied calmly, her eyes cast downward. "You can't break it off!" Margaret barked. "I'm sending you with that gift so you can apologize properly and smooth things over. If talking doesn't work, then use your body! "I don't care how you do it. Just fix this! The marriage is happening whether you want it or not. If not Nathan, it'll be someone else. You'd better think long and hard about that!" Isabella couldn't be bothered to argue. She turned and headed upstairs. Behind her, Margaret shouted, "We raised you, and now it's your turn to repay us! Isabella! Don't you dare walk away!" Isabella shut the door and leaned against it. As she closed her eyes, a drowning weight pressed down on her, leaving her breathless. After a while, her eyes snapped open. She took out her phone, found the number she had saved that morning, and sent a message. "Mr. Sinclair, are you available for long-term arrangements?"