Chapter 15: She Was His
Jake closed his office door, his chest still tight from the moment Isabella had walked out. He sank into his chair but couldn’t stay still—his pulse was hammering too fast.
So her name was Isabella Howells.
He had finally found her. The girl he’d searched for five long years. Where had she been all these while?
What had she been up to? Why were they just crossing paths again now? Was this their fate or was it pure coincidence that he’d ran into her again after searching for her for five years?
Why was she pretending not to know him? Should he just go to her and ask her about it? No matter how he tried, he hadn’t been able to forget that night.
He had thought several times how he could’ve helped her without actually agreeing to make it transactional though he would’ve still chosen to sleep with her if given another chance.
He grinned when he recalled the surprise he’d seen in her forest green eyes. He’d briefly thought about why she had been surprised but now it made perfect sense to him.
She’d recognized him immediately. But why? Was it because he had been her first or was there another reason why sued kept him in her memory? Had she regretted her decision of giving her body away and that was why she’d been crying that morning?
He sighed and then grabbed his phone and dialed a familiar number. It only rang once before Daniel picked up.
"What’s up, man?" Daniel said, his tone sharp, and friendly. "If you’re calling me now, then I assume you’ve seen your personal assistant. How did the first meeting with your new assistant go? Don’t tell me she’s already trying to seduce you like the others."
Jake’s lips twitched. "No. This one’s different. I think this time, it’s going to be the other way around."
Daniel’s voice dropped, wary. "Different how? And what do you mean by the other way around?" Daniel asked in confusion.
"This time, it’s not going to be my assistant trying to seduce me. I’ll be the one trying to seduce her," he said, chuckling.
"What? You’re over your mystery girl already? And is your assistant that gorgeous?" Daniel asked curiously.
Jake turned his chair toward the window, his gaze distant. "That’s it, Dan. My assistant is her. The very girl I’ve been looking for. The girl from that night. Her name is Isabella Howells."
For a beat, there was silence as Daniel tried to process all he had heard Jake say. Then Daniel let out a long exhale. "That can’t be. Are you certain?"
"Yes," Jake said firmly. "I’d know her anywhere. I know it’s been five years but it’s her. There’s no denying it. The eyes, the voice... and that mole I saw on her nose that night," he said with certainty that made Daniel nod.
"Wow! Who would’ve thought she’d walk into your office on her own just when you’ve decided to give up the search?" Daniel thought aloud. "Does she remember you? What was her reaction when she saw you?"
Jake chuckled. "You won’t believe she tried to deny it. She said she doesn’t know me but I know she’s lying. She remembers me. I saw it in her eyes."
Daniel muttered a curse. "So after all this time. How did she even end up in your office? You mentioned a worker recommending her."
"Yeah. Chloe Jonas did. Turns out they’re friends and that’s why Isabella had used Chloe’s account that night. That’s why when we traced the name on the transfer, it led us to Chloe."
"I’m glad you were finally able to get her," Daniel said grimly.
Jake’s mouth twisted into a humorless smile. "Exactly. After buying off the company’s owner just to get close to her only to see Chloe wasn’t her, I had almost given up. Thank you for encouraging me not to give up."
"I’m just glad you finally found her. Your money didn’t go to waste after all. Now, you didn’t only find her but she’s working for you," Daniel said, and Jake nodded.
"Yeah. You don’t know how happy that makes me."
Daniel was quiet for a moment. "So what’s next? You going to tell her the truth? That you’ve been searching for her all these years? Or what do you have in mind?"
Jake leaned back, his gaze narrowing. He replayed Isabella’s nervous laugh, the tight grip of her hands on the folder, the way her eyes had flickered when he asked if they’d met. She wanted to bury the past, but he could see right through her.
"Well, my dear friend," he said at last, his tone edged with steel. "She wants to pretend we’re strangers? Fine. I’ll play along. But I’ll use every single day she’s here to tear down that wall she’s built. Until she admits who she is. Until she can’t keep pretending. As much as I want to know the reason she made that choice five years ago, I want for her to acknowledge me more than anything."
Daniel chuckled dryly. "Hmmm. That sounds dangerous and at the same time, interesting."
Jake’s lips curved into the faintest smirk. "It’s not danger I’m worried about, Daniel. It’s the lies. I want the truth from her—and I’ll get it."
"Alright. I just hope you don’t get hurt or caught up in this game of yours," Daniel said finally.
"I won’t."
He ended the call, tossing the phone onto his desk. For a moment he sat in silence, the city lights reflecting in his cold gray eyes.
Five years. Five years of searching, of chasing the wrong shadow, of building an empire around a mistaken lead. And now—here she was.
If she thought he was going to let her be just because she lied, then she was mistaken.
Jake straightened slowly, every nerve in his body alive with restless energy.
Five years ago, she’d ran off but this time, Isabella wasn’t going anywhere and he was going to make sure of it. She was his.