Chapter - 2

Isabella's pov;

When I awoke, I was at a different location that appeared vast and luxurious. When I looked in the mirror beside the bed, I noticed that I was dressed differently than last night. What happened to my clothes? Who changed it?

When I looked around, I noticed a man in a robe sleeping on a chair next to the bed. Who's this guy? am I in his house? How did I end up here? Arghhh! My head aches. What happened the night before? I tried to recall something from the previous night, I got some glimpses of it. Getting hit by a car. But why am I here?

Idiot! Why did you spend the night here? You should've fled the house!

I got out of bed and walked out of the room silently trying not to wake him up.

I came across many chambers while walking through the vast halls. There are so many rooms on the way which made me confused and I got lost in the corridors. I couldn't find the door… Where's the door? Is this a house or a hotel?

There was a guy dressed like a butler carrying a tray walking towards me.

"Can you help me out here? I needed to go out but I couldn't figure out the way by myself. Where is the door?"

"I'll lead you, mam."

He took me to the stairs which led me downstairs. When I came to the door, he opened it for me and bowed, I made my way out of the house.

I went to my place and saw my mom had already left for work so changed into my school uniform and started to school after dumping the clothes I was wearing into the laundry bag.

My classmates were already present when I entered the classroom.

"Bella, please!" Sophia told me to come to her.

I approached Sophia's seat and noticed Liam on his phone as Evelyn was speaking with Noah.

Sophia, Evelyn, Liam, and Noah are some of my closest classmates. Evelyn is the only one of us who is under the age of twenty.

"How come you're late?" Evelyn inquired as I was ready to sit in the chair.

They'd tease me to death if I said I woke up in a stranger's house this morning.

"Ask this guy who got me drunk," I said, pointing to Liam, who looked at us.

Liam laughed and replied, "You're the one who asked, so see who's talking... Darling, you're the one who begged for more drinks." And grabbed my cheeks.

"I'm not sure how you all got here so early."

Evelyn stated, "It's because we all live close to the school. So far, you're the only one who owns your house."

"It's because that's the residence with the lowest rent in the city."

Noah inquired, "Hey! How did you get home from the club last night? I couldn't look out for everyone yesterday because we were all inebriated."

"I took a cab and reached the house around ten. So, whose class is it today?"

"I believe that is Mr. Chavez's class."

"Oh, no. No, not him. I should've stayed home."

"Who will be staying at the house?"

When we turned to face the front, Mr Chavez was already there. He inquired once more, "Who wants to stay at home? Who said it?"

I dropped myself to notify my pals not to betray me, but they pointed at me and eventually betrayed me.

Mr. Chavez went on, "Garcia, Isabella Don't be concerned. There is no class today." And turned to others and announced, "Everyone should proceed to the auditorium hall after taking attendance. I have a crucial seminar to attend. The head principal relayed this information to me."

Everyone cheered since there's no class, which helped me breathe a sigh of relief.

The lecture began in a few minutes after we had spent some time seeking for and securing seats in the assembly hall. Lecture on Capital Maintenance and Dividends So monotonous.

I said quietly to Sophia, "Is it necessary for us to be here? It's such a dull topic to listen to."

I poked her since she didn't respond to me. When I leaned in front to see her, her eyes were shut. Is she already asleep?

When I turned around to see what Noah was up to, he was playing games on his phone.

I got out my phone and began playing as well.

Sophia prodded me while I was playing phone games and said, "Take a look at this fellow. Wow! He's very attractive."

When did she wake up? Wasn't she sleeping?

She went on to scream, "Don't look at me! Take a look at him... awww! I wish I had a boyfriend like that. So appealing."

When I looked up at the stage, I noticed that the guests were seated. While I was looking at the guest whom she was referring to… I saw… It's the guy I saw when I woke up in a strange house today. What is he doing here?

"Awww! He looks hot in a suit…" she continued praising him.

I lowered myself and excused myself from my pals to use the restroom.

In the restroom I talked to myself while looking at the mirror, What if my buddies find out? What if the school finds out? What if they detain me? Or what if they inform my mom? I'm doomed.

While I was whining, someone came in and shut the door behind me. When I took a look at who it was, That's the guy!

"Hi." He greeted me as though he knew who I was.

I took a step back and asked him, "What exactly do you expect from me? How did you find me? Do you want to humiliate me? Proceed with caution. I'm not scared of you. You were the one who drove me to your house. I didn't want to come with my concern. I don't feel bad about it. You are the one who will be sued for taking the highschool girl to the strange house. You're the one to be blamed. Not me!"

"What exactly are you babbling about? I've come to check on something."

He touched my hand.

"Wh-what are you doing?" I asked as I pulled away my hand from him.

"Stand still. I'm not going to hurt you."

He took off one of his gloves and laid it over the sink, then extended his bare hands to me and asked me to hold it.

"What?"

"Please take my hand."

"What's the point? Why should I take your hand in mine?"

"If you hold my hand, I'll pay you $100."

"What!? 100 dollars for simply holding your hand? Do you think I'm a moron?"

He took something from his coat, which turned out to be a wallet. He then grabbed money from his wallet and handed it to me. Is he delusory?

Fine. After sticking money into my pocket, I raised my hand and placed it on his, intertwining his fingers with mine. When I looked at him, he was perplexed and staring at my hand.

"I think that's enough," I murmured, taking my hand from his.

"Would you like to earn more?"

I pushed him back and said to him, "What in the world are you on about? I'm dressed in a uniform. Are you blind? I'm a high school student, not a call girl."

"I'm not requesting that you sleep with me. I just want to hold hands with you. That is all."

"Why do you want to take my hand in yours? What makes my hand unique?"

"Come over to my house after school to find out the reason. I'll dispatch a driver to pick you up. I'm hoping you remember him."

"A bit."

"All right."

"Did you actually come here to give a speech?"

"It took you a while to realise."

He simply opened the restroom door and walked out.

I went back to where my companions were sitting. The school president informed us that one of the guests who had come for the lecture session had to leave unexpectedly due to an unfortunate circumstance. So he came to speak with me. Weird.

I returned to our auditorium and sat along with my friends. How did he know that if he offered money, I'd do it? Was he following me? Is he expecting me to simply go to his house after mentioning the money? I'm not going to his place. How could he think I'll go to a stranger's house just because he offered some money?

"What exactly happened? What makes you look like that?" Sophia inquired.

"Like, like what?"

"You appear to have seen a ghost!

Or did you actually see a ghost?" And they made fun of me.

I smacked Sophia on the head and said, "So curious about what happened? Come on, people. Let's all go to the restroom and see if there's a ghost there."

"No... No... I don't want to come. I'm scared of them. Did you forget that?"

"Then why are you making fun of me?"

Evelyn interrupted and said, "You two. Stop it. Why do you fight over everything?"

"I didn't start it, ask her." I pointed at Sophia when Evelyn scolded us.

I let out a sigh and started listening to the boring lecture.