Chapter 31 The billionaire’s huge offer
Chapter 31
Julian's POV
I looked at Sophie, her cheeks flushed as she covered her face in shyness. A playful smile tugged at my lips, but I quickly masked it with a serious expression as I reached for my phone on the bedside table. It was Marcus.
"Marcus, it better be important if you don't want to regret it," I said, answering the call.
"It's like Victoria is planning something," he replied, his voice low and urgent.
"Why?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"She met up with Isabella, Sophie’s friend," he said, the weight of his words settling in.
I glanced back at Sophie, who was still trying to hide her face. "Let me call you back," I said, ending the call.
"I'm sorry, baby. I will be back shortly," I told her softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. My lips lingered for a moment, savoring the warmth of her skin before I moved to kiss her soft, ample breast.
She nodded, a mixture of confusion and understanding in her eyes, as I pulled away. I could see her pulling the bedspread up to cover herself, a shy but beautiful sight that made my heart race.
I quickly dressed, the urgency of the situation overriding my lingering desire to stay. As I headed downstairs, I dialed Marcus again.
"Where are you?" I asked as soon as he picked up.
"I'm at the office right now," he said, a hint of frustration in his tone.
"Okay... send Isabella's address to me, now," I instructed, my mind racing through possibilities.
Moments later, I was in my car, and my phone beeped with a message. I glanced down to see Marcus had sent me Isabella's home address. Following the directions, I drove through the streets, my thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. What could Victoria possibly want with Isabella?
Finally, I reached the street the address indicated. I parked and approached a gate that seemed to match the description. I knocked, but there was no response. The silence felt heavy, and I dialed Marcus again.
"She's not here," I said, scanning the surrounding area.
"Look towards the road, on your left side. You'll see a café. She’s probably there," he suggested.
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, and hurried to the café. As I entered, the warm aroma of coffee and baked goods enveloped me, offering a momentary comfort in the midst of the storm brewing in my mind. My gaze immediately fell on Isabella, who was sitting at a table in the corner, her expression distant and contemplative.
I took a seat across from her, but she seemed lost in her thoughts, oblivious to my presence. I tapped the table lightly to get her attention.
"Julian? What are you doing here?" she asked, her surprise evident as she looked up.
I didn’t respond immediately, instead studying her closely, searching for any signs that she might have conspired with Victoria. But the distress in her eyes told a different story.
"Julian, I am unemployed," she said, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.
"Tell me in detail...what happened?" I urged, my heart aching for her.
"Victoria made me unemployed," she explained, her hands trembling as she wiped her cheeks. "She came to me, offered me fifteen million dollars at first to help her, but when I refused... she bought the restaurant I was working in and brought a deal that if I helped her, the restaurant would be mine."
Her words hung heavily in the air, and I felt a surge of anger at Victoria’s manipulation. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to her. She took it gratefully, wiping her tears, her sniffles punctuating the silence between us.
"What did she say you should help her with?" I asked, my voice steady but urgent.
"She didn’t say it directly, but it’s about Sophie," Isabella replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know what she’s planning, but it didn’t seem like something good, Julian."
I know Victoria won't be so reckless to revealing her plan without being sure the person will help her. She probably know that if Isabella isn't going to help her, she will reveal her plan to either me or Sophie.
I sighed, trying to process the gravity of the situation. "You are a chef, right?"
"Yes, I am," she said, still sniffling, her eyes red and puffy.
I leaned in, determined to offer her a lifeline. "You will work in my restaurant as the head chef. But here’s the thing—you can choose not to be in the kitchen yourself. You can have chefs under you, making you the overseer of everything. How does that sound to you?"
For a moment, Isabella was speechless. Her eyes widened as she processed my offer. The tears still glistened on her cheeks, but now they seemed to reflect a flicker of hope. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Finally, she managed to whisper, "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely," I replied. "I appreciate that you didn't just jump at Victoria's offer; it was a huge offer and I know how tempting it can be. And if you do really well, I can make the restaurant yours. And it's the benefit you get for being my wife's friend."
Isabella shook her head in disbelief, trying to grasp the magnitude of what I was offering. "But..."
"You can trust me," I assured her, my gaze steady. "You’d have the creative freedom to run the kitchen however you see fit. Think of it as a fresh start."
She took a deep breath, still processing. "Julian, I don’t know what to say. This feels… unreal."
I smiled, hoping to lift her spirits. "I will ask one of my drivers to pick you up tomorrow."
Isabella's expression shifted, the weight of her despair slowly lifting. "What if I fail?" she asked, vulnerability creeping back into her voice.
"Then you will just keep being the head chef," I replied, my voice firm. "No promotion."
She looked down at her hands, the silence stretching between us, filled with the tension of unspoken possibilities. Finally, she looked up at me, her eyes brimming with determination.
"Okay. I’ll do it," she said, her voice steadier now. "I’ll take the position."
"Get ready tomorrow, then," I said as I stood up.
Isabella nodded, a small smile forming on her lips as the spark of hope ignited in her eyes. "Thank you, Julian. I really really appreciate this."
"Don’t mention it," I said, feeling a warmth spread through me at her gratitude.
As I left the café, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. I knew I was stepping into a battle against Victoria, but I was ready for anything that might come my way. I had to protect Sophie.