The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

As Derek stirred awake, he rolled over, reaching out instinctively, but his hand met only cool sheets.

Groggily, he opened his eyes, blinking against the sunlight.

When he saw that the other side of the bed was empty, he sat up, the remnants of sleep clinging to him, and looked around the quiet room.

He glanced at the clock on the nightstand - it was eight in the morning. He frowned, running a hand through his tousled hair.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, planting his feet on the plush carpet.

He stood, stretching, and took a slow lap around the suite. Her clothes were gone, he noticed. The only trace of her was the subtle fragrance that still hung in the air.

Her scent lingered in the room, a faint, tantalizing reminder of her presence.

He remembered the night vividly: the intensity, the passion, the way her presence had ignited something in him. But now, she was gone.

Frustration gnawed at him. He had just returned to the country the previous day, and the jet lag had hit him hard. He had slept more soundly than he had in weeks, and in his deep sleep, he hadn't heard her leave.

Derek grabbed his phone from the nightstand and dialed his driver. It rang twice before the familiar voice answered. "Good morning, Mr. Stone."

"The lady from yesterday, is her car still parked outside?" Derek asked, not bothering with pleasantries.

"No, sir," the driver replied. "I didn't see the car when I got here an hour ago."

He cursed under his breath, thanking the driver before hanging up. He paced the room, his mind racing:

He had no way of finding her, no clue about who she was or where she had gone. The realization only added to his frustration.

breath, forcing himself to

do about it now but hope that somehow she would

Pushing aside his irritation, he headed to the bathroom to shower and shave. The hot water did little to ease the tension in his muscles. His thoughts kept drifting back to her- her moan, her touch, the way

and toweled off, his

meticulously, choosing a crisp white shirt and a tailored suit. As he was fastening

Mom," he greeted, holding the phone between

darling, are you alright? I just heard

fine. I wasn't hurt,"

home," she

What for?" he echoed, confused. "What about the

off, dear. There won't be a wedding," she

jilted your cousin. The wedding has

cufflink forgotten.

idea," his mother sighed. "Just come

will explain

there soon," he said, ending the

his reflection in the mirror, his mind reeling. The bride had jilted his cousin? This day was turning out to be far more complicated than he

into his pockets. With one last glance around the room, he left the suite, the scent of her perfume still faintly lingering in the air, a ghost

window as the driver drove him to his family home,

a word? And

his mother met him at the door, her face drawn with

said, pulling him

on?" Derek asked

Your dad is there," she said, and

Michael being jilted?" Derek asked as soon as the