The Billionaire's Long-Lost Love

The solemn music filled the chapel as Isla walked down the aisle, her hand clasped tightly in her mother's, both of them beaming with joy. The train of her dress trailed behind them, almost spanning the entire width of the aisle. On either side, guests sat in quiet admiration, smiling as they savored the moment.

It was a perfect day-the perfect day for Isla. Today, she was marrying the love of her life, Jeremy.

Jeremy stood tall at the altar in a tailored suit, his sleek hair shining beneath the chapel's lights. He stood next to the priest, who was holding a book in his hands. Isla, hidden behind her veil, smiled at him, her heart swelling with happiness.

For many, marrying their childhood sweetheart felt like an impossible dream, but for Isla and Jeremy, it had always felt destined. From the moment they started dating, their love had only grown stronger. They were truly the perfect match, a union blessed by God.

The music faded as Isla reached the altar, her head lowered shyly, her hands trembling with nervous excitement. 'This is really happening,' she thought, feeling a flutter of butterflies in her stomach.

"Dearly beloved," the priest began, "we are gathered here today, in the presence of God and these witnesses, to unite Isla Bennett and Jeremy Saxson in the sacred bond of marriage. This bond, founded on love, mutual respect, and commitment, reflects the deep union between Christ and His Church."

Turning to face the couple, he continued, "Before you make your vows to one another, I ask you both to affirm your commitment freely. Do you come here today to give yourselves to each other in marriage, without reservation and of your own free will?"

"Yes, we do," they both responded. Jeremy nodded and reached for Isla's hand. His touch was warm, grounding her, offering comfort amidst her nerves.

"Now, I invite you to exchange your vows," the priest said, his smile wide. "Isla Bennett, please repeat after me."

'I'm going first?' Isla thought, her brows furrowing. She glanced quickly at her mother, sister, and best friend Sophie, who were seated in the front row. They smiled at her warmly, and Isla took a deep breath, shaking off her thoughts. 'It's probably nothing.'

With a smile, she turned her attention back to the priest and repeated the words: "I, Isla Bennett, take you, Jeremy Saxson, to be my husband. I promise to love you, honor you, and cherish you, standing by you in times of joy and sorrow, in sickness and health, through all the seasons of life. I will remain faithful to you, and we will walk this journey together as partners, as long as we both shall live."

There was a soft round of applause from the congregation, and Isla's heart lifted. She giggled, her joy evident.

The priest turned to Jeremy. "Now, to you, Jeremy. Please repeat after me. I, Jeremy Saxson, take you, Isla Bennett, to be my wife."

Jeremy hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "I, Jeremy Saxson..."

Isla lifted her head, smiling brightly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. But her smile faltered as Jeremy's next words shattered the silence.

"I DO NOT take Isla Bennett to be my wife."

He pulled his hand away from hers with a force that left the crowd gasping in disbelief.

"Ahhh!" gasped the congregation in shock.

Isla's joyful expression melted into confusion. She shook her head, her voice trembling. "Jeremy, this isn't funny. Not now." Her heart raced in panic. 'What's happening?'

"C'mon, let's try this again. No more jokes." She chuckled nervously and reached for his hand, but he jerked it away violently.

"I said, I don't want you as my wife!" he shouted.

The gasps from the guests grew louder, and Mrs. Bennett jumped to her feet, her face filled with terror. Isla turned toward her, her heart sinking, unable to comprehend the situation. She needed answers.

"Mother, he's joking, right?" Her voice shook, her entire body trembling. It felt like a nightmare, and she wanted someone to wake her up.

"You think this is funny?!" Jeremy screamed, his finger pointing to the back of the chapel. Everyone turned as a man stood up, holding a projector in his hands, and began setting it up.

"What is this? Whatever this is, you better stop it right now! It's not funny anymore!" Mrs. Bennett shouted, fear edging her voice. She feared the worst-that whatever was coming next would make everything even worse.

As the crowd murmured in confusion, Isla's older sister, Ivy, sat still, a smirk on her face. Isla's gaze fixed on Ivy, and suddenly, she realized something-her sister knew exactly what was happening. Ivy had always been bitter about Isla's relationship with Jeremy, but Isla never imagined she'd go this far.

Suddenly, moans and groans filled the room as the video began to play. Isla's heart dropped into her stomach. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground. On the screen, she saw herself-with another man.

A man she didn't recognize, doing something she couldn't recall. It was a scene that never happened, yet there it was, playing out in front of her. "What the hell?" she gasped, utterly in disbelief.

The room fell silent as everyone stared at her, disappointment etched across their faces. The only ones who didn't look at her with disdain were her mother and Sophie, who refused to believe the footage.

"Are you trying to set my daughter up?" Mrs. Bennett shouted, her voice filled with anger.

"Where did you get this?!" Sophie cried, her eyes wide with disbelief. "My friend would never do this!" She stood firm, defending Isla.

But Isla's world had already started crumbling. She understood, with terrible clarity, what was happening. Her sister, Ivy, had set her up-she had sabotaged Isla's wedding in the cruelest way.

"You see it with your own eyes! Why would I lie about this?!" Jeremy shouted, his voice furious. "I got this video from an anonymous sender last week. I wanted to throw it away, but then I remembered Ivy's warnings. She always said that Isla had dark secrets, and I ignored her, thinking she was just jealous."

"What?!" Mrs. Bennett and Sophie both shouted, shooting venomous glares at Ivy.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Ivy said smugly, her arms crossed as she faced the people. "I knew this would be a shock. Your precious Isla-your best child-turns out to be exactly who I've always known she was. She's been deceiving you all, keeping you under her graces, but not me. I saw through her act."

She turned to face Jeremy. "I'm grateful to Ivy for opening my eyes before I got lost in this. She's the kind of woman a man should pray for." Jeremy uttered, then walked down the aisle, pulling a ring from the ring bearer's tray. He slid it onto Ivy's finger.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennett and Sophie rushed to Isla's side, finding her sobbing uncontrollably. "Tell me you didn't do it, Isla. Please," Mrs. Bennett said, her voice filled with desperation.

Isla lifted her head slowly, and without saying a word, she yanked her veil off, revealing her tear-streaked face. She ran from the chapel, her heart racing as she fled.

"Isla!" Voices called out after her, but she didn't stop. She burst through the chapel doors, her dress trailing behind her as she sprinted down the street. 'I need to get out of here.'

Her feet pounded the pavement as she waved down a passing taxi. As the driver glanced at her, confused, she shouted, "Somewhere far away! Lose them!" Her breath was ragged, and tears flowed freely as she broke down, her body shaking with both anger and heartbreak.

'Why, Ivy? Why?' she screamed inwardly, pounding the back of the taxi seat. Her tears mixed with sweat, and betrayal mixed with rage.

Jaxon pressed the tip of his tobacco into the ashtray with a sharp flick, the faint scent of burnt paper hanging in the air.

He stood, stretching his muscles before reaching for the suit jacket draped over the back of the chair. His two bodyguards remained at attention, their bodies stiff, eyes unwavering, hands clasped at their sides.

Without saying a word, Jaxon walked past them, his steps deliberate and steady as he made his way out of the office, his briefcase in hand.

As he exited the building, his PA and driver stood by the door of the Rolls-Royce Sweptail. The driver opened the door as soon as he saw Jaxon approach.

Jaxon slid into the car, and the door was immediately shut behind him. The driver and his PA swiftly moved to the front seat while the bodyguards climbed into the vehicles following the Rolls-Royce. As the car began to roll forward, Alex, his PA, passed him an iPad, which he took without a word.

"Delfaco will be arriving at the location in less than an hour. Our men are already in position with the money," Alex reported.

"Good," Jaxon replied, his voice firm and resolute. "Let's make sure we're on time."

Alex nodded, then glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Are you sure about this? Do you really want to risk being seen? We can handle him without your involvement."

"Delfaco is a slippery bastard. You can't trust him," Jaxon answered, his tone calm but unwavering. "Don't worry about me being seen. I'll take care of that."

"But-"

"I'll stay out of sight, alright?" Jaxon interrupted, his voice firm. "If things go south, call me, and I'll be there. Don't hesitate to reach out."

"Yes, sir." Alex gave a slight bow of his head and returned his attention to the road. Jaxon reached into his briefcase, pulling out a small, worn photograph. The picture showed a young girl, beaming with a wide smile. She was wearing a tiny-strap dress, and a birthmark on her chest was faintly visible. Her name was Teresa.

A soft smile tugged at Alex's lips as he gazed at her innocent face in the photo. It had become something of a ritual for him-before any important meeting or transaction, he'd always look at this picture. It seemed like Teresa brought him luck.

Jaxon had spent years searching for Teresa, It was as if she disappeared entirely from the of face the earth. Despite being told she was dead, and even visiting her grave, something about the story didn't sit right with him. He believed she could still be alive, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there were pieces of the puzzle missing.

He was indebted to her, and he was certain that he would never find peace until he tracked her down and made things right.

"We're here, Boss," Alex said, and Jaxon glanced out the tinted window, spotting the large bar sign that read "The Drunken Dragon" across the street.

He reached for a cap in the back seat, pulling it down low to cover half his face, then shrugged off his suit jacket, leaving him in just his white, fitted shirt. "I'll be inside. Call me if Delfaco starts causing trouble."

"Yes, sir," Alex replied as Jaxon opened the car door and stepped out. He made his way toward the bar, hands buried in his pockets, trying to blend in with the crowd.

The pounding beat of hip-hop music hit him the moment he walked in. The bar was alive with chatter, laughter, dancing, and even some couples making out in every corner.

This wasn't Jaxon's kind of crowd. He preferred more private, quieter places-somewhere far from the noise, especially given his reputation. He could already imagine the chaos if someone recognized him here-Jaxon Waverly, the infamous billionaire CEO from Italy.

'I need to keep a low profile.'

He made his way to the bar, head lowered, and sat down, scanning the room before glancing at the bartender.

"One whiskey sour," he ordered quietly, keeping his head as low as possible.

As he waited for his order, a woman suddenly stumbled into him, spilling her whiskey all over his shirt.

"Ah!..." Isla gasped, staggering backward before setting her glass on the counter. "I'm so sorry," she muttered, frantically patting his shirt in an attempt to clean the stain.

Jaxon clenched his jaw, quickly pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket. He avoided looking up, keeping his face low to prevent being recognized. "It's fine," he said flatly, dabbing at the mess himself.

"Your whiskey sour is ready," the bartender announced, setting the drink on the counter. Jaxon picked it up and stood, his tone curt as he addressed the woman. "Excuse me," he said, gesturing for her to step aside.

As she moved, he glanced at her briefly. She wore a face mask and a cap, leaving only her piercing blue eyes visible. She tilted her head slightly, locking eyes with him. "I'm sorry," she repeated, her voice breaking as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Jaxon frowned, uneasy and baffled. Why was she crying? Surely it wasn't over spilling a drink.

"I..." She stammered, lowering her gaze and shaking her head. "I... I hate myself." Isla's voice cracked as she broke down, clutching her bag tightly.

Jaxon exhaled sharply, glancing at the bartender, silently hoping to avoid any further involvement. This was the last thing he needed-drama while he was undercover.

"She's pretty drunk," the bartender murmured, leaning closer to Jaxon. "She's been here for over an hour, muttering about a wedding dress or something. I think she just got her heart broken. Poor thing." He shook his head, sympathy etched on his face.

Jaxon gritted his teeth, turning back to the woman. He didn't want to get dragged into her personal mess, but she was right in front of him, visibly spiraling, and didn't seem inclined to move.

"Can you at least sit down?" he said, pulling the chair behind her closer and motioning for her to take a seat.

"Thank you," she said softly, clutching her bag as she sat down. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she reached for her glass of whiskey, but Jaxon leaned in quickly, snatching the glass from her grasp.

"I..." He paused, holding the glass out of her reach. "I don't think that's a good idea. You've had enough." His tone was firm but calm. She gave a small nod, lowering her head again.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be burdening you with my problems," she muttered, her voice barely audible. Jaxon raised an eyebrow, silently agreeing as he picked up his drink and took a sip.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her head still bowed, her shoulders trembling as she wept quietly behind her mask. Jaxon turned his gaze away, pulling out his phone in an attempt to distract himself, silently willing Alex to message him so he could leave.

"This will help you feel better," the bartender said, sliding a glass of water toward her.

She shook her head, nudging the glass aside. "Nothing can make me feel better," she whispered. "I don't want to feel better. I just... I just want it to end." Her voice cracked, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Jaxon exchanged a look with the bartender, who wore a sympathetic expression. The man seemed to silently plead with Jaxon to step in, but Jaxon felt uncertain and out of his depth.

'How am I supposed to comfort a stranger dealing with heartbreak?' he thought, glancing back at the woman with a growing sense of unease.

"You should go home and sleep it off," Jaxon said, taking another sip from his glass. "It's dangerous for a woman to be here alone, especially when drunk. Men can be dangerous."

She scoffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Tell me about it." Sniffling, she added, "I can't go home. Not tonight. There's something..." She swallowed hard. "I need to forget." Her voice firmed as she suddenly grabbed her glass.

Before Jaxon could react, she downed the whiskey in one gulp and slammed the glass onto the counter.

At that point, Jaxon had had enough. He just wanted to leave. His eyes darted to his phone again, but there was still no message from Alex.

'What the hell is taking so long?'

"They said I did it, so why not just do it," Isla muttered suddenly, rising from her seat.

Jaxon turned, surprised to find her standing right next to him, her gaze locked onto his.

"What?" he asked, baffled.

"Do you want to f**k?" she asked bluntly.

His eyes widened slightly. "What?"

"I want to feel good, and the whiskey isn't cutting it. A man like you could make me feel better about myself." She raised a hand to touch his face, and Jaxon froze momentarily, his body tense.

Quickly, he turned away, his heart pounding at the thought of being recognized. "You're drunk, lady," he said sharply, reaching for his phone. Just then, a message from Alex appeared:

'We got the goods. The transaction was successful. We'll pick you up now.'

"Finally," Jaxon muttered under his breath, pushing his chair back to stand. "Go home."

"I don't have a home to go back to!" she shouted, fresh tears streaming down her face. "I just want one night with you. What's so bad about that? I don't even want your money. I just want to feel something. If you don't want me, fine-I'll find someone else. But if he hurts me, that's on you."

Jaxon raised an eyebrow, her words striking a nerve. He looked around to make sure people were not staring. "Are you seriously trying to emotionally blackmail me?"

"All I want is for you to make love to me..." she moved closer, her voice lowering, "...and make it a night I'll never forget. I'll pay you if that's what it takes."

"You'll pay me?" Jaxon scoffed at the absurdity of her offer, though a small part of him found it strangely enticing. "How much are we talking?" he asked with a smirk, stepping toward her.

"Any... any amount you want," she stammered, her confidence faltering under his intense gaze. "I have savings," she added, glancing away shyly.

Jaxon chuckled softly, shaking his head. He placed a hand under her chin, gently lifting her face so their eyes met again. "If you're going to make an offer like that, don't look away."

She swallowed hard but nodded resolutely. "I'm in."

"Great," Jaxon said, letting her go and stepping back. "Only one rule-we keep the lights off the entire time."

"I don't want the lights on either," she agreed quickly.

Jaxon nodded slowly, glancing at his phone once more. He texted Alex: Leave me.

"Let's go," he said, leaning down. To Isla's astonishment, he swept her off her feet, carrying her bridal style as he strode confidently out of the bar.

His veined yet steady hands glided over her neck, trailing down her curves as if tracing her silhouette in the darkness.

Her back instinctively arched under his touch, a soft moan slipping from her lips as she clung to his strong arms. Then, unexpectedly, she felt the warm, moist press of his tongue against her collarbone.

His tongue danced over her skin, savoring her as though she were a forbidden delicacy. His hands gripped her delicate waist, pulling her firmly against his hardened body.

Without hesitation, she parted her legs, her body inviting him closer. As she reached to cradle his face for a kiss, he gently pulled back.

"No kissing," he murmured, his voice a rough whisper as he avoided her lips. Instead, his tongue and hands roamed her body, tracing every contour with deliberate intensity, drawing soft gasps from her as she surrendered to the sensations.

When he reached the heat between her thighs, already slick with desire, he paused. She felt him inhale deeply, the sound sending a flush of embarrassment through her. Yet his words, low and husky, melted her hesitation.

"Your scent..." he muttered, his face buried against her, breathing her in. She smelled like the sea-clean, salty, and vibrant. The sensation of his mouth on her again drew another moan from her lips, her body trembling under his fervent exploration.

His fingers slipped into her effortlessly, her arousal guiding him with ease. Sensing her subdued response, he added another, drawing a sharper moan from her lips.

"That's more like it," he murmured, his voice low and teasing, as his fingers moved with deliberate rhythm, each thrust coaxing her hips to meet his in perfect sync.

"Ah! Ah!" Her cries grew louder, her body responding to the deepening strokes as though his touch reached parts of her she didn't know could feel.

"Ahhh..."

"Isla!"

The sharp, irritated voice cut through her pleasure like a cold wind, yanking her out of the haze. Isla's eyes snapped open to find Sophie standing over her, arms crossed, looking unimpressed. Isla blinked, disoriented, as she realized her hips were slightly raised off the couch where she'd fallen asleep.

"Seriously, Isla?" Sophie sighed. "Another one of those dreams? It's been eight months!"

Flushing crimson, Isla sat up quickly, smoothing her hair as she avoided Sophie's gaze. "I-I wasn't dreaming about anything!" she stammered unconvincingly, but Sophie just rolled her eyes and muttered, "Sure, you weren't."

"I'm sure he's forgotten you even exist, Isla. You need to let him go," Sophie said, walking to the kitchen with bags of groceries in hand.

"I know, okay? But I just... can't," Isla murmured, her gaze fixed on the distance as memories of that night washed over her. "It was perfect. It felt like-"

"You'd known him forever and he was your soulmate," Sophie interrupted, glancing over her shoulder. Isla's eyes widened in shock.

"How do you know that?" she asked, startled.

"Because you've been saying the exact same thing for months, girl!" Sophie's voice rose with exasperation. "Let's break it down: you don't even know what this Mr. Stranger looks like, you didn't get his name because he bailed before you woke up, and, oh yeah-you were heartbroken and drunk. You had one night of amazing sex-amazing, I'll admit, from the way you describe it-but that's all it was. A one-time thing."

Isla sighed, reluctantly nodding. "Fine. I'll try to stop thinking about it."

Sophie scoffed, rolling her eyes as she unpacked the groceries. "You always say that. I swear, this is the last time I'm telling you to forget about him. For all you know, he's been with a dozen women since you."

"I mean it this time, alright?" Isla shot back, shaking off the lingering haze of nostalgia. "Let's change the subject. How was work today?" she asked, sitting up straighter.

Sophie gave her a pointed look, then sighed. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it's not the same without you there. When are you coming back?"

"I've thought about it, and I've made my decision-I'm not going back," Isla said softly, her head lowered as sadness shadowed her features.

"What? Why?" Sophie asked, her voice laced with surprise.

"Because I want to cut all ties with Jeremy. That includes his father's company. I don't want anything to do with them," Isla explained, her tone resolute.

"Come on, Isla, you know how much Mr. Saxson respects you. He's nothing like Jeremy. Your desk is still there, waiting for you. And let's be honest-you can't live off your savings forever," Sophie reasoned.

"I know, Sophie. And I'm not planning to squat with you forever either," Isla replied, her voice tinged with guilt.

"I didn't mean it like that. You know you can stay here as long as you need," Sophie assured her.

"I know, but it would be selfish of me to keep imposing. I've already started looking for new jobs, and I believe I'll land an interview soon," Isla said, offering a faint smile.

Sophie sighed and moved closer, pulling Isla into a comforting side hug. "I'm sorry you're going through all this. You don't deserve it."

"No, I don't," Isla agreed, resting her head on Sophie's shoulder. "But it's done, and I just want to be as far away from him as possible."

They sat in silence for a moment before Sophie suddenly perked up. "Speaking of job vacancies, Bella-the-Proud hasn't stopped boasting about landing a job at some security company that pays insanely well," she said, pulling out her phone and scrolling.

"Really? Good for her," Isla said, though her tone was less than enthusiastic.

"Oh, please," Sophie scoffed. "If she actually got the job, she wouldn't still be in the office bragging. I don't think she got it. But..." Sophie trailed off, her eyes lighting up as she turned her phone toward Isla. "Look at this. I think I just found the perfect job for you."

Isla snatched the phone eagerly, her eyes widening as she saw the listing. "€15,000 a month?!" she exclaimed, her jaw dropping.

"Three times what Mr. Saxson was paying you. If I were you, I'd go for it," Sophie said with a grin.

Isla stared at the screen, her mind racing. "This... this could change everything," she whispered.

"Every single thing!" Sophie muttered, her eyes glued to her phone as she scrolled through the screen.

"But what's the role? Isn't it listed somewhere?" Isla asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

Sophie shook her head, still scrolling, until she found more details about the company and began reading them aloud.

"Waverly Sentinel Services is a leading private security firm, and it's owned by... uhh!" She gasped, her eyes wide with shock.

"What?!" Isla asked, her voice rising in concern.

"The CEO is Jaxon Waverly!" Sophie exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement.

"What?? The infamous billionaire Jaxon Waverly?!" Isla cried out.

"I swear on my late mother's ashes!" Sophie responded, holding her phone out to show the screen. "Gosh, he's so hot!"

"There's an email to contact. I need to apply right now," Isla said, jumping to her feet and rushing to grab her phone from the charger.

"I can't believe you have the chance to work with our crush! What?! Maybe our wildest dreams are actually coming true!" Sophie added, bouncing on her toes.

Isla's smile slowly faded as her focus returned to the screen. "That's not why I want to apply. Dating is the last thing on my mind right now. I just need to make some money... well, if they haven't already filled the position."

"We still have to try, okay? If they've already found someone, this website wouldn't still be up," Sophie pointed out.

"That's true," Isla mumbled, absorbed in her phone.

Sophie watched her for a moment before speaking again. "So, you're really done with dating? Not even Jaxon Waverly could change your mind?"

"No," Isla replied, her attention fixed on her phone screen.

"Not even Mr. Stranger?" Sophie pressed, her tone teasing. Isla rolled her eyes and glanced at her.

"Come on, of course not. Just because I'm still having memories of him doesn't mean I'm in love with him-I'm not capable of that anymore. You know I might never see him again."

"Fine, but if you get the job and Jaxon Waverly sets his sights on you, he won't be able to resist your beauty," Sophie said, grinning.

"Oh, please... you wish." They both laughed.

*

Sophie was in the kitchen, busy chopping vegetables for dinner when she suddenly heard Isla's voice from the living room.

"I got an email back!" Isla yelled.

"What?" Sophie called out, unsure if she had heard correctly.

"I was accepted! I have an interview!"