That night, Izzy stayed in bed pretending to be asleep. She could not bring herself to talk to anyone. She cried the whole night, hoping she would wake up to a new morning and everything would be changed. She also hoped it was all a nightmare. Clara made several attempts to talk to her and console her, but it didn't work.
By dawn, she started thinking about how to end everything with Mike.
The next morning she asked Clara whether she could help her with something. "I need evidence of his cheating. I have some suspicions about why he decided to cheat on me instead of breaking up, but to know that for certain I need proof of his deeds and time."
"I can help you with that. I have a friend who runs a private detective agency. He is young and resourceful, I am sure he can help you."
Izzy wore the most stylish office wear the next day. She had two important meetings and a shopping date with one of her coworkers. She sent a text to Sebastian and set a meeting during lunch hours. She decided not to waste the day on somebody with zero regard for her. Mike texted her last night, wanting to know how many days she would live with Clara. She had expected a call, but Mike was not bothered about her anymore.
When she reached the restaurant, she found Sebastian waiting for her. He stood up with a cordial smile. Izzy couldn't help but feel a little moved. This man here was giving her an opportunity to get out of this relationship. She felt thankful to him. She also heard some whispers behind her.
"Isn't that Sebastian Bishop? Who's the woman with him?"
"I heard he has met a woman. They were spotted together in a restaurant one day ago. Is is her?"
"Oh my gosh, is he dating that woman?"
"I have always imagined a celebrity with him. An actress, or an idol, somebody who'd match with him.
"But who is this woman? She looks pretty. Is she somebody important?"
Sebastian looked uncomfortable. He heard them too. "Do you want to go and sit somewhere else? I can request a more private space if that is okay with you."
"No, this is fine. If we are to get married, I will have to get habituated with these kind of things. At least, they are not badmouthing me," Izzy said with a smart smile. She was ready to face the new challenges in her life. She ordered her lunch, a small portion of seafood stew and risotto. She made a special request to make it light and less spicy.
"You follow a diet plan?" Sebastian asked watching her choice. He ordered the same for himself.
"I wanted something light and simple, and I was craving for seafood. You liek simple food?"
He smiled brightly. "I want to try your taste. we are going to get married after all."
The words made Izzy rethink everything. She had her doubts. For the next three years, she was going to be the wife of Sebastian Bishop. What was it going to be like? Sebastian's cool and casual manner made her nervous internally, but she kept her composure.
"If we are to get married, Mr Bishop, we have to do it right, so that it looks real. And we will not marry within the next three weeks. I want some time there."
Sebastian raised a brow and looked at her questioningly. "How much time you will need?"
"Let us date for a month and then start thinking about the marriage."
"You want to date me?"
"Izzy felt heat creeping up her cheeks again, but she suppressed it with a formal smile. "Fake date. I mean, it is going to look suspicious otherwise."
"You were the girlfriend of one of my employee. We met the first time in an office party, where you came as a plus one with Mike Willowby. You were waering a peach, off-shoulder dress. Your hair was longer, and your eyes crinkled everytime you laughed. You spoke with everyone, made every effort to mingle with the guests as they were important to Mike. You were nervous, but your beautiful smile hid everything perfectly.
I fell in love with you the moment I saw you. I kept thinking about you after the party. I stayed awake imagining you in different scenarios. I imagined you laughing at small jokes, enjoying good food, dancing to music, and playing silly games when no one was around. I realised it was love at first sight when it went on for a week.
I did not cross any line then keeping your honour and dignity in mind. I knew you were happy with Mike, and it made me happy too. I started seeing you making excuses when I found out that you two were broken up. I did not want to lose you again, hence, I came up with a marriage proposal."
Izzy felt her palms sweating. Her heart was beating fast. She wanted to avert her eyes from Sebastian's but something kept them glued to those green myestries. Her cheeks were heated, and her throat dried. Involuntarily, she bit her lower lip. It was just a fake proposal. Why was he making it feel so real? She lowered her head and focused on the food in her plate.
"Did I just make you blush?"
Sebastian's amused voice brought her back to senses. "The food is getting cold. Let's eat and talk."
Mike had just said, "I like you. shall we date?" She was twenty-one then. Her heart melted when Mike said that he wanted to move in with her. She had happy moments with him, but she did not know a proposal could be made this way. Every word Sebastian uttered was done with a purpose. He stared right into her eyes and said each word in a steady voice. His voice was loud enough for her to hear them well, but low enough to keep it all between the two of them.
The whispers grew louder now.
"Did he just propose to her?
"Who is that woman?"
"I need to post it. Do you think she's a celebrity?"
"Must be a secret heiress."
"There, it just started. Now, how do you want to take it forward?" Sebastian asked her.
"You could have given me a headstart." Izzy felt nervousness in her belly. 'I have to break it off with Mike first and I am thinking of a good way to do it."
"Why don't you just confront him?"
"Not without evidence," Izzy looked at her phone and smiled. 'Which, I have now."
"Explain it to me, so that we are on the same page."
"A few months ago I received an inheritance of five million from a great-grandmother. I planned to get a house before we decided to get married. He found a house and deposited the first instalment. Guess under whose name the papers are?" Izzy felt her throat constricting in pain. Her eyes stung.
"I needed the last proof before making my decision." She pushed her phone to Sebastian. On the screen, there were several images of Ruby and Sebastian, some of them were intimate, taken in the same apartment where Izzy lived with Mike.
"Before you marry me, you should know everything about me. Right now, I am broke. He has taken all my money and he has applied for a marriage license too. My friend Clara contacted a lawyer, but after hearing everything the lawyer said that there were slim chances for me to win, as I signed all the papers in the presence of others. I have been with him for the past five years, so he knows everything about me."
Sebastian was listening to her attentively. His food was cold, and his face was grim. His jaws ticked as Izzy spoke.
"If you marry me, there will be people behind both of us. It will bring a bad reputation to you and your family."
"But I have already made my decision. It's you I want to marry. I know how to handle crooks and the media. I have been doing this for a while now." He took her hand in his and looked into her eyes. "You will not regret your decision, Ismelda. I will bring the whole world to you. Just say it."
The decision was already there in her head. After all the evidence in her hand, she had nothing else to think about. Izzy nodded and looked back at his eyes, her tearful eyes found solace in his.
"Yes, I will marry you."