The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

16

As evening approached, Evelyn busied herself with preparations to move them out of the Stone Palace Hotel to some other Hotel away from Derek.

She doubted that by going to check out apartments over the weekend she would be able to move immediately into one, so it was better they moved to a different hotel for the time being. Samantha watched her curiously as she packed their bags, sensing the change but not understanding it.

Evelyn tried to keep things light, but the tension was palpable.

"Mommy, are we traveling again?" Samantha asked after watching for some time.

"No, darling. We are not traveling. Tomorrow Mommy is going to move you to a more comfortable place," Evelyn said, flashing her a smile.

"But I like it here. Aunt Maya likes it too," Samantha protested, and Evelyn paused to look at her.

"I'm sure you do, pumpkin, but doesn't mommy's feelings count too?" Evelyn asked with a playful pout and Samantha sighed.

"Will the new place have a playground?" She asked hopefully.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"I'm sorry, darling, I don't think so, Evelyn admitted since she had a policy of not lying to her daughter.

Samantha's face fell, breaking Evelyn's heart. Evelyn reached out a hand to her and when Samantha took it, she drew her to sit on her lap, "We won't be there for long, I promise. And once we move to our own place, I will make sure you can visit the nearest parks often and we can even go to the amusement park together," Evelyn promised.

Samantha looked up into her face, "Before then, can I go play at the playground?"

"No..."

"Please, Mommy," Samantha pleaded, looking at her with puppy eyes.

Unable to resist, Evelyn sighed. What harm could come from letting her play at the playground?

It wasn't like Derek would take one look at her and know who she was. And she doubted a busy man like Derek would pay any attention to the kids at the playground.

Maybe she was overthinking everything, Evelyn decided. As long as he doesn't see her and Samantha together, everything should be fine.

"Alright. But you must promise me that you won't talk to strangers," Evelyn warned.

"What if I see Rek?" Samantha asked since she was hoping to see him again.

"You met Rek already, so he is not a stranger"" Evelyn said, still assuming Rek was a little boy.

"Yaay!" Samantha screamed happily as she got down from Evelyn's lap and ran over to Maya's room to inform her that they could go to the playground.

Evelyn smiled as she watched her go, "Make sure you are well covered before you leave," she called out to Samantha.

As Samantha and Maya headed for the playground, Samantha sighted Derek and let go of Maya's hand as she ran up to him.

"Rek!" She called out excitedly.

Derek turned upon hearing the little girl's voice and he smiled when he recognized her.

Derek crouched down as she got close to him, "Hey, Sam! How are you doing?" He asked, and Maya who had been coming to get hold of her, let her be but stood a few feet away. "I'm fine. I'm going to the playground now," she said

excitedly.

"That's nice. I trust you're going to have lots of fun at the playground," Derek said and she bobbed her head.

"Mommy said we are leaving tomorrow so I might not see you again, she said with a pout.

"Oh, dear. I'm going to miss seeing you around," Derek said, since this was the third time he had seen her already even if it was only the second time he was talking to her. "Will you play with me?" She asked hopefully.

"Play with you?" Derek asked, amused, "What about your dad?"

Samantha shook her head, "Mommy says I'm special and I don't have a daddy," she said, and Derek smiled as he glanced at Maya.

That was a funny way to make a child feel special, he mused.

"Tell you what, I will go in and handle my little business, and then I will meet you at the playground.

Is that cool?" He asked and she held out her little finger.

"Pinky swear?" She asked, and he chuckled as he locked his finger with hers.

"Pinky promise," he assured her as he ruffled her hair and straightened up.

"Mr Stone, I didn't realize you had a little girl," one of the hotel patrons said as she stopped beside him.

Derek smiled, "She's not mine. She's a guest here. My little friend who cares about my sight. Right, Sam?" He asked, and she bobbed her head. "She's not yours? Could have fooled me. She looks a lot like you," the patron said, and Maya decided it was time to leave Derek to his business. "Let's go, Sam. Mr Derek is busy," Maya called and Samantha waved at Derek as she left with Maya.

"I see you're checking out," Derek said, noting that the lady was with her luggage.

"Yes. Alas, my stay here is over. Your service here is top-notch as always," she said and Derek bowed politely and bid her farewell.

Alone now, Derek continued on the mission he was going on before Samantha interrupted him. He had a silly grin on his face as he rode the elevator to Evelyn's floor.

He had subtly made inquiries from her boss to find out where she was staying, under the pretense that he would like to accommodate her at his hotel for the duration of their arrangement if she didn't have a place of her own yet, and he had been pleasantly surprised to know that she was right there where he wanted her. Just within his reach.

Standing by the door, he rang the doorbell and waited patiently for her to answer the door.

Evelyn, who was enjoying a warm bath, quickly grabbed her bathrobe and stepped out of the tub to go get the door thinking it was Maya and Samantha.

The moment Evelyn opened the door, her heart skipped a beat and she froze when she saw Derek standing there with a grin on his face.