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.

took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm

now but hope that somehow she would

the time being, he needed to get ready for his cousin's wedding. 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 she had made him feel alive. But now she

the shower and toweled off, his mind gradually shifting to the day's

white shirt and a tailored suit. As he was fastening his cufflinks, his phone rang.

he greeted, holding the phone between

are you alright? I just

I wasn't hurt," he assured

need to come home," she said, her voice tinged

he echoed, confused. "What

There won't be a wedding," she

bride jilted your cousin. The wedding has

cufflink forgotten. "What

no idea," his mother

explain everything to us

be there soon," he said, ending the

reeling. The bride had jilted his cousin? This

around the room, he left the suite, the scent of her perfume still faintly lingering in the air, a ghost of the

window as the driver drove him to his family

was she? Why had she left without a word? And what on earth had happened with his

mother met him at the door, her face drawn with

glad you're here," she said, pulling him into

going on?"

dad is there," she said, and led

jilted?" Derek asked as soon as the door closed behind