A Year With The Billionaire

Jayden’s POV

I can't believe she said is leaving. She wants to go against the contract.

I understand that this might be coming from the concerns she has for me and because of what my mother must have said to her which is why she is taking this rash decision.

She isn't as tired as I am but we are in this already.

She is going nowhere till the end of our one-year contract. I don't care what my mother says and I don't care what she says either.

She is staying and that's final.

Fortunately, Gabriel came with his car and I told the doctor to let me go. He didn’t want to until I promised him I would rest for the whole week at home.

I need to stop Isabella. I don't know if she is going home to pack her things.

Our marriage is just three weeks old.

What will the public say of me? What will my mother think? By leaving, Isabella is just giving my Mother the opportunity to say it to everyone that she didn't marry me because she loves me but because she is after my money.

“Drive faster before she leaves”, say with a tone of commandment forgetting the fact that this isn’t my driver but Gabriel. “Be calm, man’, he says. “Isabella is going nowhere.”

I watch him. “How can you be so sure? You saw the determination on her face when she said she was leaving so what are you saying?” I can't help but growl.

He isn't driving fast. There is a bandage over my right hand and my head. My head still hurts but I need to go home.

Even if I don't leave today, I know I will surely leave the hospital tomorrow. I hate hospitals and the smell of drugs.

“I'm sure, don’t worry. All you need to do is use the contract against her”, he laughs shortly. As much as I want to accuse him of wanting me to blackmail Isabella to do my bidding, it seems like a pretty good idea.

Remembering that I haven't asked him what Mother said to her, I turn to him again. I am so sure this has to do with Mother or my behavior towards her these past few days.

“What did Mother say to her?” 1 ask him immediately as he takes the right bend towards my mansion.

He shrugs indifferently. “Well, she called her a gold digger and said she wanted to kill you”

“What?!” I exclaim in disbelief. “Kill me?"

“Well, I almost believed it too, not until Isabella told us what happened”, he voice out his thoughts and I exclaim again, this time more loudly.

“What? Why will you think that of her? She is a good woman.”

“Really?” He sounds sarcastic.

I throw him a cold glare and reply. “Yes.”

“Wow, I'm impressed!” He doesn’t sound convinced.

Looking out of the window, I remark. “She picked me over a million dollars. How many women can do that?”

I might not have said it before but this is one of the reasons why I respect Isabella so much. Many women will jump at such opportunities without considering what damage it would cause to me even though our emotions aren't involved.

But Isabella picked me instead of a million dollars which can do a lot to her life. A lot that the $5000 I gave to her immediately after she signed the contract can never do.

“Are you serious?” He sounds stunned.

Well, I was shocked too. But I have studied her so well and I know the type of girl she is. She isn't materialistic despite how much she claimed to love fashion and she isn't extravagant even though it isn't her money.

“Yes.”

“How did she pick a million dollars over you? Did someone place a bet on you?"

I roll my eyes. “No. My mother.”

“What? Your mother?” He spares me a glance.

“Yes, she offered Isabella a million dollars to leave me and Isabella refused the offer’, I announce to his hearing and he falls silent.

I don't know if his silence is because he can't believe there are such women or if it is because he is impressed.

Moments later, we arrive home and he drives in. I climb down from the car as soon as the car stops and I rush in.

Ignoring the greetings of the maid who are at the entrance of the house, I take long strides towards the staircase.

I have been feeling hungry since she left but this is more important. After I am done convincing her from leaving, I will ask the maids to get something for me to eat.

I could eat a horse right now.

I almost run to the door but I keep my cool and continue taking long strides toward my bedroom door.

When 1 am within reach, I push it open and enter to see Isabella crying on the bed. The sound of the door makes her go still and suddenly, she shoots to her feet and our eyes interlock.

Her eyes grow large. “Jayden? Why are you here? You should be in the hospital”

She hurries over, as though I am someone she can scold well enough for me to go back to the hospital.

“I know" I say softly. I thought I was going to go hard on her when I arrive here and force her to stay back but as I look at her tears-filled face, the walls around me break down.

I feel sympathetic towards her for putting her in this situation. I feel like hugging her to assure her that everything will be fine and it will be over soon. When it is over, she will be greatly compensated. I have everything planned already and I hope she will be patient enough for me to go through with my plans.

Without thinking, I grab her shoulder to pull her closer. Then I embrace her.

Her body stiffens in alarm and I realize I am hugging her tightly.

This is meant to be a hug of convincing and assurance, right?

I want to pull away but her body is like a magnet. I find myself taking comfort from the hug too.

Isabella means well. Even if I am going through more pain than this, I know she will stand by me. She is a great woman and I regret mistreating her.

Henceforth, I will do whatever it takes to make her happy. I might as well help her achieve her dreams of going to Verona to find love. The love that she deserves and after a year, she can be with whoever she falls in love with over there.

The door opens and before we can pull away from the hug, Gabriel is already inside.

Isabella's crying face flush red in embarrassment as she looks down.

Gabriel clears his throat, apologizes for the interruption, and moves out, closing the door quietly behind us.

“I'm sorry”

“I'm sorry”

We both speak at the same time.

I am sorry for what I did to her and she is sorry for wanting to leave me before the contract elapsed.

I use my thumb to wipe her tears. “It's fine.”

“I should go”, she tries to turn back but I hold her back, stopping her from leaving my presence.

“Don’t go, Bella”, I plead with my eyes. Forcing her to stay won't work. Using the contract against her is bad even though it is legal. But I can't bring myself to do that to her.

“I need to. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't have been here in the first place. I'm the one hurting you.”

“No, you are not the one hurting me”, I contradict her. “You have nothing to do with this. What happened last night has nothing to do with you or anyone else. It's just me.”

“But you got mad. If you hadn't gotten mad...”

“stop it already”, I grunt and drop my eyes from her face. “If this is about my mother, then you shouldn't be bothered at all about her. This is between you and me, this isn't a marriage between my mother and you so you shouldn't let her get to you or dictate what will happen in our marriage”

She does not say anything but it looks like I am getting her to listen to me.

“If you leave, then you want to make my mother's rumors true. If you leave, she will be able to justify her words of you being a gold digger. You are not a gold digger and you need to prove that to her”

She lowers her head. “It doesn't matter because I will still be gone in a year”

“Yes but that isn't as early as three weeks of marriage. I promise I won't bother you once our contract has elapsed.”

She shakes her head.

“Don't tell me no, Isabella. I will be mad at you."

She sighs and wipes the remaining tears on her face. “Ok, fine.”

“Go and unpack your bag’, I say with a tone of authority. I am sure she must have packed her belongings in a hurry”

“I haven't started packing’, she informs me and I look surprised.

Well, that's good.

“But I have something to ask of you, I don't know if you can let me do it"

“Do what?” Curiosity fills my expression.

“l want to visit Sabrina and..."

“Why?” I interrupt her from going further, my brows creasing in confusion.

She isn't friends with Sabrina so what is the meaning of this? Is this a trick to get me off guard so she can run away?

“I need to clear my head. Please, I need to see someone who understands me. Then 1 will visit my Grandma.”

I stare at her face, trying to figure out if she is lying or not.

“Please, I beg you. Sabrina said a lot of comforting words to me last night and that was what pulled me through. I just want to..."

“I don’t comfort you?” I question.

In reply, she sighs and I decide to just give up, knowing the answer to my own question.

“Fine, you will go but you will go with Gabriel and he will bring you back home”, I tell her.

This way, I will be more assured that she won't run off and that she will be back home soon. I won't be rest assured even if ask the guards to follow her but I know Gabriel won't betray me. He will monitor her closely.

Before she can protest, I open the door to see that Gabriel is still waiting outside. I beckon to him to come in, ignoring the mischievous smirk on his face.

I move back inside and he comes in, leaving the door ajar.

“Please take Isabella to your place and bring her back in two hours. Two hours is enough to catch up with a new friend, isn't it?” I turn to face Isabella.

She nods without smiling.

“So I am now the new chauffeur?” He chuckles lightly, looking from me to Isabella. Isabella isn't smiling and I am not smiling either so the smile on his face disappears.

“Please keep an eye on her and make sure to bring her back’, 1 add in a low tone.

“Yes, boss”, he salutes me and I ignore him again.

“You can go, I say to her. She nods her head in appreciation before taking the door out.

I signal to Gabriel to monitor her closely before he takes the exit out too.

When he closes the door quietly behind him, I realize I forgot to tell them to help me get one of the maids.

I feel sleepy again and I need to eat something before I fall asleep. Also, I don't want any disturbance and I'm sure I will be fully rested before Isabella comes back home in two hours.

Sighing, I stroll to the bed and grab the intercom to call the kitchen maids. Someone picks up and I say. “Get me something to eat really fast.”

“Ok, Master’, the voice replies, and I lay back on my bed, after dropping the telephone.

My mind drifts back to Isabella and I puff out the air I don't know I have been holding in.

Hopefully, she won't leave me anymore. Hopefully, she will be back home in two hours and we will stay married till the end of our contract. Material © NôvelDrama.Org.