The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

Exactly six years after Evelyn walked out on her father and left the country on the morning of her wedding, she returned with Samantha, her five year old daughter, and Maya, their trusted nanny for years. Six years ago, she had not only left her home, she had left the country, and now, she was going back. Not because she had any desire to confront her past or face her father, but because she wanted to return to the country of her birth with her little girl.

Images of the past six years flickered before her eyes-the deception of Michael, Sandra's betrayal, the abrupt departure, the loneliness of a foreign land, and the unexpected pregnancy. A pang of anger shot through her as she thought of her father's ultimatum to her on that morning six years ago-marriage to Michael or being cut off.

"He should have handled it better," she muttered under her breath as she always did whenever she replayed the incident in her head.

It still hurt and angered her each time she remembered how her father had reacted when he should have simply tried to make her open up about her reason for calling off the wedding.

All of that didn't matter now. All that mattered was her little girl. Samantha was now the joy of her life, and the best part of her life was being Samantha's mom.

Looking down at Samantha who was fast asleep and nestled beside her, a radiant smile lit up Evelyn's face.

"My bundle of joy," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she leaned down and kissed Samantha's forehead.

Samantha, feeling her mother's lips, sleepily opened her eyes and returned the smile before drifting back off.

Looking into Samantha's blue eyes which she believed Samantha had inherited from her father, the memory of her carefree night with the stranger surfaced.

She pushed the memory aside, not wanting to think about it or about the stranger who had given her the best sex of her life, and the best gift of her life-Samantha.

She didn't want to think about how she had slept with a stranger whose name she did not know, and whose face she could not remember, in a desperate attempt to numb the pain of betrayal.

No matter how great the sex had been, or the fact that she sometimes thought about how a perfect stranger had managed to make her feel so good, she didn't want to dwell on that. Especially not when she wasn't even sure she would be able to recognize the stranger if ever she crossed paths with him again.

As the cab drove them to their reserved hotel, Samantha chattered endlessly as she looked out the window asking questions which Maya happily answered, while Evelyn was preoccupied with her thoughts. The taxi driver's voice snapped her out of her reverie.

"Here we are, ma'am," he announced, pulling up in front of the Luxurious Stone's Palace Hotel. Evelyn thanked him, fumbling slightly as she paid the fare while her charges got out of the cab.

As soon as Evelyn turned to go into the hotel, she paused when it suddenly dawned on her that she was standing in front of the same Hotel where she had spent the night with that stranger six years ago. When The Stone's Palace had been recommended to her as a child-friendly Hotel, she had not thought much of it before making reservations here.

Was it a coincidence that this was the first place she was staying after six years away? The very same place she had spent her last night here, and where her daughter had been conceived?

A knot of nervous excitement tightened in Evelyn's stomach. It was a strange coincidence, a full-circle moment that both unsettled and exhilarated her.

Memories, bittersweet flickered at the edges of her mind but she quickly pushed them away and took a deep breath to calm herself.

As Evelyn and her little crew stepped into the hotel lobby, a uniformed figure materialized, whisking away their luggage with practiced ease.

"Welcome to The Stone's Palace, ma'am. Let me help with your bags," he offered, already lifting the suitcases.

Evelyn nodded, murmuring her thanks before turning to Maya, "You both can sit over there while I check us in,' Evelyn instructed Maya.

The lobby buzzed with activity. Crystal chandeliers twinkled overhead, casting a soft glow on plush armchairs and gilded picture frames.

Taking Samantha's hand whose eyes were wide with wonder, Maya led her to a velvet sofa where they both sat down, while Evelyn approached the reception desk. "Good evening. I have a reservation under Evelyn Quinn."

The receptionist, a young woman with a warm smile, began typing on her computer. "Welcome, Ms. Quinn.

Just a moment while I pull up your reservation."

Meanwhile, Maya and Samantha settled into a plush loveseat in the lobby. Maya sat with a serene expression, observing Samantha as she gazed around, her wide blue eyes taking in the beauty of the hotel.

Across from them, a figure hunched over a phone caught Samantha's eye. Curiosity tugged at her, and she scooted closer to the edge of the sofa, her gaze fixed on the man.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

As if sensing her stare, he lifted his head. A smile, warm and genuine, crinkled the corners of his eyes when he saw the little girl staring directly at him, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"Hello, little one!" Derek greeted with a friendly smile as he looked over the pretty little girl in front of him.

"Mister, holding that phone so close to your face is bad for your eyes!" She declared, her voice clear and piping as she pointed at his phone.

"Sammy!" Maya scolded, but Derek chuckled, a genuine sound that rumbled pleasantly as he lowered his phone, and Samantha's face lit up in response.

"Is that right?" he asked, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Who told you that, little one?"

"My mommy," Samantha replied with the seriousness of a child imparting wisdom.

Derek's gaze shifted to Maya, who was now watching the interaction with mild amusement. He assumed she was Samantha's mother and offered her a polite nod. Then he turned back to Samantha. "Well, your mummy is very wise. Thank you for looking out for me, Sammy."

"How did you know my name?" Samantha asked, her eyes wide with wonder, and Derek grinned.

"A little birdie told me," he said, even though he had just heard Maya refer to her as Sammy, "Can I call you Sam?" Samantha nodded enthusiastically. "What's your name?"

"My name is Rek. Are you staying at the hotel, Sam?"

Samantha, ever eager to share, nodded

enthusiastically. "Yes! We're going to have a really nice room," she said, her excitement bubbling over.

Derek smiled. "That sounds wonderful. You should try out the hotel's playground. It's a lot of fun."

Samantha's eyes widened. "Playground?"

Derek chuckled. "Exactly! Slides, swings, a whole jungle gym - it's a kid's paradise." Samantha's excitement was tangible as she turned to look at Maya. "Can we go?" she pleaded, bouncing in her seat. "If you're a good girl, we can go tomorrow," Maya promised.

"I promise to be good," Samantha said, and Derek smiled.

Samantha turned back to him, "We have the same eye color," she told him, and Derek nodded.

"That we do. Maybe it's a sign that we should be friends, he said, and she shook her head.

"I'm not supposed to be friends with strangers""" she said, her expression innocent.

"I'm not exactly a stranger anymore since you know my name and we are going to be neighbors for some days since we both live here," he explained.

"You live here too? Will your room be as nice as ours?" She asked, and Derek laughed a deep, hearty sound.

"Yes, I do. I've been living here for years. And my room is the nicest in the Hotel," he said and her mouth formed a small 'o' of surprise.

"You don't have a mommy and a home?"

"I do have a mommy and a home. This hotel is my home too because I own it."

Samantha's eyes grew even wider, and she was about to ask another question when Maya, who had been listening to the exchange with a wary smile, exchanged a glance with Evelyn, who had just finished checking in and had signaled her to come along.

"It's time to leave, Sammy,, Maya said as she rose,

"Now thank Mr Rek for his time""" Maya said as she took Samantha's hand.

"Thank you, Mr. Rek""" Samantha said politely.

Derek smiled at her. "Enjoy the playground before you leave," he said, and Maya gave him a polite nod before walking away with Samantha.

Derek leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful frown replacing his earlier smile. Although he was a lover of kids, the little girl, Sam, with her bright eyes and bossy pronouncements, had stirred something unexpected within him. A warmth, a tenderness he couldn't explain, and for some reason, he wanted to see her again.

Derek shook his head, dismissing the odd feeling as he returned his attention to his phone. This time, he made sure not to bring the phone too close to his face.