The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 7

"Look, Mommy! We can see everything from here!" Samantha exclaimed as they walked into their spacious and elegantly decorated room with a view of the city.

Evelyn smiled, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "Yes, we can. It's a beautiful view," Evelyn said as she watched Samantha run to the window, pressing her nose against the glass. The bellman set their luggage down and handed Evelyn the room keys. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call the front desk."

"Thank you, Evelyn replied, tipping him.

As he left, she turned to Maya. "You can go freshen up and get some rest. I will take care of Sam. Tomorrow you'll have to watch her. I have a very important meeting tomorrow." Maya nodded. "You don't have to worry about a thing.

We will be fine. We plan on exploring the playground tomorrow."

Evelyn smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Maya. I don't know what I'd do without you," Evelyn said as Maya walked away to her room.

"Mommy, I have a new friend," Samantha, who had been looking out the glass, announced as she came back to join her mother. +5

"Already?" Evelyn asked, amused by Samantha's ability to befriend people so easily.

"Yes. His name is Rek, and he told me about the playground," Samantha said, and Evelyn smiled.

"I see. Hopefully, you'll get to play with Rek at the playground tomorrow," Evelyn said, thinking that Rek was a kid her age.

"Now, no more talking. Time to freshen up," Evelyn announced before Samantha could say anything else.

for the night and making sure Maya was comfortable in the other room, Evelyn took a moment to herself.

worked had given her an important and seemingly impossible task, one that was tied to her promotion. She had been asked

Derek Stone, to agree to

was a feat that no media house or reporter had been able to achieve, and she had to do it if she wanted to

for now, she needed to rest and prepare her

the early morning traffic, Evelyn looked through the window, feeling

streets looked both familiar and strange at the same time, a reminder of how much time

past, Evelyn focused on the challenges of the present. Since her waking hour, she had been trying to come up with different ways to convince Mr. Stone to have the interview with her, and even as the cab rode to a stop in front of the company,

heard all these years from people even far more experienced than

was so focused on

notice the familiar figure whom she walked past until she

"Evelyn?"

she had wasted her precious years

as she remembered him, and the sight of him annoyed her even more now than it had six years ago. How did she ever fall for

worked? In putting the past behind her, she had forgotten that Derek Stone was his cousin. Was Michael going to

disbelief, "What are you doing here after disappearing for six years without even bothering to offer an apology or explanation as to why you called off the wedding?

your way and act like you do not know me,"

walked away and stepped into the elevator, hoping to avoid any further

watched her leave. Without wasting any time,

just ran into right now," he said the