Chapter 1
Chapter 1
*Nathan’s POV*
Life sucks. After my father passed away in an unfortunate car crash three years ago, I had to step up and take charge of our 15 luxury hotels worldwide. Being born rich, I lived a lavish life, never worrying about anything. Getting girls and cars was never a difficulty and life was good. That is until I lost my best friend and my father and my perfect life came crashing down. After this blow, seriousness filled every part of my existence and I started living like the man I’d just lost. I started isolating myself from my friends and family and only concentrated on growing the business and making my dad proud. Three years later, I’m Seattle’s youngest billionaire and one of the most influential men in the city. People fear me and that fuels the workaholic in me to work harder.
“The Charity Ball is tonight, Mr. Reed”
Rosy, my middle-aged secretary’s voice brings me out of my thoughts. She stands in front of me with a bunch of files in her hand and looks at me as though she is expecting an answer. Annoyed, I sigh and throw the glass paperweight at the wall. Rosy flinches as the sound of the glass shattering fills the room.
“Just tell mom I can’t make it,” anger is evident in my tone, “I have an important meeting tomorrow and I’m in no mood for giggling and greeting people at that gala. It’s mom’s event and she can handle it.”
Just as I say this, my phone rings. My anger starts to drain as I see the name on my phone screen. Shit! I totally forgot it’s her birthday!
I slowly pick up the phone and anticipate the shouting I’m about to receive from my beloved sister.
“You donkey! How dare you forget my 30th birthday!?”
Nicole sounds really upset, but when I hear her call me a donkey, a laugh escaped my lips. Nicole is just two years older than me, but our bond is the strongest. She is the only one who can call me names and is like a second mother to me. Even though I inherited the family business, Nicole’s always been a guiding force for me.
“I’m so sorry Nicole. I know how excited you were for this milestone of yours, but I was just so caught up with all the piling work.”
“Fuck all that. Tell me if you’ll be coming to the gala tonight. I’ve already asked my stylist to pick out your outfit and it’s on its way to your mansion. If you were planning not to come, forget it. You’re coming now.”
“Nicole…” I sigh with frustration, “I have a really important meeting tomorrow and I’m really busy.”
“Oh shut the fuck up! This gala is a charity event as well as my birthday party, Nate. You know how much pains mom has taken to arrange the whole thing. Also, I promise you won’t be bored…”
“How can you promise that?”
“James will be there.” I swear Nicole was blushing on the other side of the phone.
James was my best friend and also my sister’s husband. He stayed in Australia and hardly came to the States. Nicole ran her own little jewelry business in Seattle and they hardly got to meet, but when they did, it was the sweetest thing ever. You could tell how the two were madly in love with each other.
“Please come, Nate” Nicole’s voice turned sad, “I’m turning 30 and dad isn’t here with us. I’m going to meet James after 3 months and all my friends will be there. Not to mention, mom really misses you. It will mean the world to us if you came.”
And that was it. Nicole knew how to get me to do something I didn’t want to. She just had to emotionally blackmail the shit out of me! She knew I’d do anything for her, even if that meant I had to show up at a boring elite party and talk to shallow people over caviar and champagne.
Thirty minutes into the boring gala and I already wanted to run away and never attend any gala ever again. I know what you must be thinking… A billionaire in the hospitality industry and he doesn’t like to attend these elite parties full of rich and influential people like himself. But that’s the truth. Mom was the one who liked parties while I preferred official business meetings.
I sipped my champagne and looked around the crowd. James spotted me standing alone in a corner and walked towards me.
“C’mon Nate, smile at least. You look depressed, like literally!”
James’ Australian accent was richer than usual and I knew he’d drank too much champagne. He squeezed my shoulders and pushed me towards the crowd. I tried my best to resist his deadly grip, but he was already drunk and if I resisted, he would definitely fall and make a fool out of himself in front of everyone. Not to forget, that would upset Nicole and he did not want that. I grunted and walked towards the crowd and fake smiled at random people in their expensive suits and gowns. Some of them also indulged me in small talks and asked me about my work. I just politely answered them and kept walking away until I reached the elevators. A sense of relief surged through me. I quietly walked into the elevator and started to head towards the terrace. The party was too much and I needed a break and a smoke.
As I entered, the cold night sky greeted me. It was quiet and peaceful. It was perfect for some alone time. I took out my cigar and lit it. As soon as I started to blow out the smoke, I saw something white at the corner of my eyes. I turned towards it and realized that it was in fact a girl wearing a knee-length white tulle dress. Her back was turned towards me and all I could see was her long black straight hair. Her hair was thick and luscious and an urge to run my fingers through them started to build in my chest. I blinked twice so that the urge would go away. I think I drank too much.
I slowly walked towards the girl. I couldn’t help, but appreciate her luscious locks that ran down to her hips. The girl looked so small. She was wearing flat white ballerinas and her figure too was petite.
“Excuse me,” I spoke, “Isn’t it too cold and quiet here for a young lady like you?”
And then she turned and all the air left my lungs. Spell… it was like I was under a spell. I’d never seen anyone as beautiful as the angel standing in front of me. Was it the moonlight, her white dress or her beautiful brown skin? I don’t know, but she looked like an angel had just fallen from heaven.
Her light brown eyes were almond shaped and big. Her lips were so red and full that I wanted to taste them. My eyes were wide and they took in the beautiful sight in front of me. I couldn’t speak for almost a minute and I saw red creep into the angel’s cheeks. She seemed shy and it was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll go back down”
She whispered and her angelic voice sounded like little bells chiming. It was so soothing to my ears that my heart started to beat so loudly that I’m sure she could hear it.
As she started to walk past me, I panicked. No, I have to get to know her! Name! At least ask her name! I quickly stood in front of her and blocked the way to the elevator. The angel flinched slightly and took a few steps back. Fear danced in her eyes and tears started spilling out of her gorgeous eyes. I felt like somebody had kicked me in the chest.
“Hey… don’t cry” I slowly walked towards her with my hand out, “I won’t hurt you. I just want to talk.”
Confusion filled her face, “Talk? Why?”
“Because I was bored at the party and guessing by that look of yours, you were too.”
Yes, I was smiling like an idiot and as I saw the fear and confusion leave her posture, I sighed in relief the second time tonight. She slowly walked up to a bench at one end of the roof and sat the far end corner. Wanting to give the shy girl her space, I sat at the other end.
“I know who you are”
Her accent was a mix of Indian and American and her voice was so soft. She knows who I am. This excited me. I don’t know why, but the fact that this beautiful angel knew anything about me made me feel warm inside.
“Hello. I’m Nathan Reed, the one who owns this hotel we’re in.”
“I know” she giggled and it was the most adorable sound ever.
“What is your name?”
Silence. I looked over at her and saw her fidgeting with her fingers. She was looking down and her long eyelashes rested peacefully against her cheeks. She seemed scared. It looked like something was bothering her.
“Are you okay? You don’t have to tell me your name if you don’t want to.”
“My father doesn’t like it when I talk to strange men.”
“Then at least you can tell me who your father is?”
She slowly looked up at me and my heart skipped a beat at the eye contact. I could see that she wanted to talk to me, but this father of hers and his stupid rules were stopping her from interacting with me. I smiled at her and she slowly parted her lips to say something.
“Rajath Bose” she whispered, “My father is Rajath Bose.”
“I know him. He is one of our clients from India.” I frowned, “So you’re Rajath’s daughter huh? You don’t look anything like him!”
Rajath Bose was a multi-millionaire in India and owned a huge automobile company, headquartered in Mumbai, India. Whenever Rajath visited the States, he always stayed at our hotels and he also used to be a dear friend of my late father. Rajath Bose was however a very ruthless man. I never liked that man, but since he was my father’s friend, I had to see him at events and parties organized by my family. Never before had he been accompanied by his children. From what I remember dad saying, Rajath had two daughters and the elder one had died due to a chronic illness a few years ago. This made Rajath really protective of his younger daughter and nobody knew anything about her. No pictures, nothing!
But then again, if Rajath let the paparazzi leak his daughter’s pictures, she would become an over-night sensation! I mean just look at her! With that ethereal beauty, every man on the planet would want her to be his and that could jeopardize a young girl’s life.
“Since you know my name, I’m not really a stranger now, am I?” I smirked.
“You are not?” innocence swam in her brown eyes, “I mean I knew your father. He got me chocolates whenever he visited us in Mumbai.”
“Amazing!” my smirk intensified, “Doesn’t that mean you can at least tell me your name?”
Confusion took over her features and I looked at her hopefully. If I could get her to tell me her name, it would mean that she was opening up to me. Something about her was so enchanting and mesmerizing that I wanted to get to know her better. I wanted to know about her favorite food, color, book and all those little details about her. It was a first for me. I did have a lot of girlfriends in the past, but none were serious. He just wanted to get laid, that’s all. But with this angel, her beauty and innocence had put a spell on him. He wanted to take her out on a date.
“You promise you won’t tell my father about this meeting of ours?” she looked scared.
“No, I won’t. It’ll be our little secret.”
“Okay” she smiled and I swear time stopped! “My name is Isha Bose. Nice to meet you, Mr. Reed.”
