The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 6

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 the first place she was staying after six years away? The very same

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

her mind but she quickly pushed them away and

into the hotel lobby, a uniformed figure materialized, whisking away their luggage with practiced

help with your bags," he

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

casting a soft glow on plush armchairs and gilded

eyes were wide with wonder, Maya led her to a velvet sofa where they both sat down, while Evelyn approached the reception

with a warm smile, began typing on her computer.

moment while I

sat with a serene expression, observing Samantha as she gazed

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

her stare, he lifted his head. A smile, warm and genuine, crinkled the corners of his eyes when

a friendly smile as he looked over the pretty

holding that phone so close to your face is bad for your eyes!" She declared, her voice

Maya scolded, but Derek chuckled, a genuine sound that rumbled pleasantly as he lowered his phone,

dancing in his eyes. "Who told

replied with the

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.

Samantha asked, her eyes wide with wonder,

had just heard Maya refer to her as Sammy, "Can I call you Sam?" Samantha nodded enthusiastically. "What's your

is Rek. Are you staying at the

ever eager

really nice room," she said, her excitement

wonderful. You should try out

Samantha's eyes widened. "Playground?"

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

to be good,"