*Isabella's POV*
I frowned, confusion etched on my face. "Why are you giving me this?" I asked, my voice laced with skepticism.
Damien sighed, a hint of exasperation creeping into his tone.
"Look, normally, when you have a work trip, you'd fill out a request for a company card. You'd go to finance, and...a nice lady would issue a card in your name."
I raised an eyebrow, a wry thought flashing through my mind: 'Nice lady'? I'd met the lady from finance, and she was a real bi***'
Damien continued, "But for you, the trip was short notice, so you didn't get time for that. So, please, use mine instead. Buy everything you'll need for the week."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Damien cut me off with a reassuring smile. "But, sir, I—" "Don't worry, it's covered," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he sent me a wink.
"Take tomorrow off," Damien said, his voice low and indulgent. "Go shopping, see New York. Enjoy the city."
I felt a surge of gratitude at his unexpected generosity. "Thank you, sir," I replied, my voice sincere.
*The next morning*
The shrill ring of the room telephone jolted me awake, shattering the peaceful morning calm. I groggily reached for the receiver, my voice husky with sleep. "Hello?"
"Miss Williams, someone is requesting your presence in the lobby," the voice on the other end announced.
I rubbed the remnants of sleep from my eyes, my mind slowly coming online. "Who is it?" I asked, my tone curious.
"They're here on behalf of Mr. Lancaster," the receptionist replied, her tone neutral.
I sighed inwardly, feeling a twinge of disappointment. "Okay, I'll be right there," I said, trying to keep the reluctance out of my voice.
I slammed the receiver back onto its cradle and rolled onto my stomach, burying my face in the pillow. I thought he said I could have the day off.
I sat up, rubbing the remnants of sleep from my eyes, and checked the time. 10 AM. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching my arms over my head. After changing into something casual, I headed down to the lobby.
As I stepped out of the elevator, a bright smile and a wave caught my attention. A pretty blonde, with a radiant complexion and sparkling blue eyes, greeted me with infectious enthusiasm.
"Hey, Isabella!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the lobby.
I approached her, a hint of confusion furrowing my brow. "Uhm, do I know you?" I asked, trying to place her.
The blonde giggled, her laughter like music. "Not yet," she replied, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "I'm Elena, but you can call me Elly."
I frowned, my confusion deepening. "I'm sorry, am I missing something? They called me saying someone was waiting for me on behalf of Mr. Lancaster."
Elly's smile never wavered. "Yes, someone is. That someone is me," she announced, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "So, are you ready?"
I hesitated, still unclear about the situation. "For what?" I asked, my tone cautious.
Elly's grin widened. "We're going shopping on 5th Avenue!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with cheerfulness.
As we stepped out of the hotel, a sleek black limousine was waiting for us. I turned to Elly, still confused. "I'm still lost," I said.
Elly's smile faltered for a moment. "No time to explain, Mr. Lancaster is waiting. Just get in, I'll be right back."
I hesitated, unsure about getting into a stranger's car. But before I could protest, the limo's window slid down, revealing a smug grin.
As I slid into the limousine, my eyes locked onto Jacob's, a mixture of surprise and irritation swirling within me. "I should have known it was you," I said, my voice tinged with annoyance.
Jacob's eyebrows shot up in mock innocence as he held up his hands in a defensive gesture. "Whoa, easy does it. I never pretended to be my brother. Is it my fault we share the same last name?" he asked, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
But my gaze kept drifting back to his chiseled features, and I couldn't help but think, 'And the same handsome, well-sculpted face...'
"Fair enough," I said, "but what's the point of dragging me out of bed? I was sleeping, and then—"
Jacob's sly grin spread across his face. "Sleeping? You're usually an early bird, always at the office before dawn, looking perfect."
I gave him a wry look. "I am, but today I feel hungover without the drinks. Yesterday was exhausting, what with all the fu**ing tension on the plane."
Jacob's eyes sparkled with mischief, "Fu**ing tension?".
"Don't even think about it."I retort inducting a low, amused chuckle rumbled in his throat, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
My gaze wandered around the opulent interior of the limousine, taking in the lavish details. "Wow, I didn't even realize where we were. Your limo is... flashy, Mr. Lancaster." I raised an eyebrow, a sly smirk spreading across my face. "Are you a rap star or something?"
Jacob's eyes gleamed with amusement. "No, but I do have the money and power to reunite One Direction and have them perform for me anytime I please. Just saying."
My mind whispered a distracting thought: Damn, he's hot and rich.
I met Jacob's gaze, my voice taking on a flirtatious tone. "You know, recognizing my reference from the other day is actually kind of... attractive, Mr. Lancaster. I could almost kiss you right now."
A faint blush rose to Jacob's cheeks as he scratched the back of his neck, his eyes darting away for a moment.
"Too bad I don't have the energy," Jacob said, his voice trailing off. "I haven't had breakfast and—"
But before he could finish, a charming smile spread across his face. "Breakfast is served, sweetness," he announced, producing a box of exquisite-looking waffles from nowhere.
"I hope you enjoy them," he added, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice. "I made them."
A dry, amused voice cut through the air from the front of the limo. "The hell he did."
My empty stomach had dulled my senses, and I hadn't even noticed the sound of the partition sliding open or the soft thud of footsteps. Elly slipped into the driver's seat, a knowing glint in her eye.