*Isabella POV*
The limo rolled to a smooth stop outside the grand venue of the Guardians of the Forest Gala. As the doors swung open, I felt a rush of anticipation and a wave of anxiety. We stepped out into the blinding flash of cameras and the relentless barrage of questions from the paparazzi.
I had to push the thoughts swirling in my mind aside, the ones Jacob had warned me about. Just as he predicted, we were met with a horde of them, shoving microphones and cameras in our faces, desperate for a comment, a glance, anything.
Jacob's hand found mine, gentle but firm, and he led me inside without a word. His touch grounded me, steadying my nerves. The venue was breathtaking, immaculately decorated, elegant beyond anything I'd seen. Nothing about the opulence made me feel uncomfortable, if anything, I felt a strange sense of confidence rising within me.
My back straightened, and I caught sight of Jacob's smug expression as we entered. It only heightened my confidence. Somehow, walking alongside this gorgeous billionaire, hand in hand among New York's elite, felt right... like I belonged here.
But the moment was fleeting. His smug smirk vanished as his gaze fell on a couple across the room. His jaw clenched subtly, an almost imperceptible tension crossing his face. Without a word, he softly gestured for us to go say hello. And I followed his lead, curiosity and a flicker of unease mingling as I wondered what was about to unfold.
We approached the couple—a weathered old man and a remarkably young woman. The man looked up as we drew near, acknowledging us with a nod. "Jacob," he greeted simply. The girl glanced nervously at him. "Hi Jacob," she said softly, her voice tinged with hesitation.
Jacob took a moment to respond, his gaze flickering between the two of them, as if weighing his words. I couldn't help but recognize the older man instantly. There was an undeniable resemblance—he looked like Jacob and Damien combined. It hit me then: he was their father. Gordon Lancaster. The founder of the company and a former CEO.
"Father," he finally replied, his tone calm but layered with emotion. Jacob introduced me, his voice a little tense. "This is Miss Williams, Damien's assistant." I offered a polite greeting. "Good evening," I said, feeling awkward and painfully out of place in this tense, unfamiliar scene.
Gordon's face broke into a warm smile. "Thrilled to meet you, darling," he said, his tone affectionate. Then, with a teasing glint in his eye, he added, "What a lovely creature. And here I was thinking you finally found a nice date. Turns out your brother's the one who found her." He turned to Jacob, making me feel even more awkward—if that was even possible at that point.
Jacob rolled his eyes and stared his father down. "Where's your brother anyway? I heard he was in town," Gordon inquired.
"My brother left already. You could've called. You could've come to the meeting. You know you're welcome at the office," Jacob shot back sharply.
Gordon shrugged. "Son, we just landed two days ago." Before anyone could reply, the girl chimed in, "We were in the Maldives."
Jacob scoffed, turning toward me. "Yeah, whatever," he said firmly. "Let's go, sweetheart." And with that, we started walking away, leaving the tense reunion behind us.
Once we were far enough away from the others, Jacob exhaled softly and let out a sigh. Without warning, he looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Dance with me," he said simply. Before I could even respond, Jacob reached out and pulled me into his arms. His hands found my waist, leaving a trail of heat in their wake as he began to sway with me.
Caught off guard, I hesitated for a moment, but his gaze—smug and amused—locked onto mine as he guided me closer. His hands wrapped around my lower back, pulling me even nearer. I could see the playful sparkle in his eyes, and I felt my cheeks flush.
"I didn't say I wanted to dance," I finally managed to murmur as we moved together in the rhythm.
"Oh, but you do," Jacob whispered, his voice lowering to a husky tone. "You melt into my touch like you've been craving it all day. And now that you have it, the thrill is just too much to handle."
My breath hitched, and I barely whispered back, "Screw you, Jacob."
He chuckled softly, leaning in close. "Carefully, doll. I'm capable of many dirty things when you whisper my name like that."
I didn't answer—couldn't. His teasing words made my pulse race, and I wasn't sure how much I could handle when it came to him. We continued swaying, his playful eyes never leaving mine. I felt weightless—like a feather caught in his strong arms, enveloped by his musky scent as he twirled me gently.
"It's hot," he said suddenly, breaking the intimate silence.
"Yes, you are," I replied, a bit breathless.
Just then, we stopped dancing. Jacob burst into laughter, a carefree sound that made me smile despite myself. "No, sweetheart, it's hot in here," he said with a grin. "Wanna go up to the balcony for some fresh air?"
I nodded silently, trying to hide my blush and the fluttering confusion in my chest as we moved away from the dance floor.
I reached for a glass of champagne, taking a sip as Jacob headed out to grab his whiskey. The balcony was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the evening, peaceful and intimate. We stood there in silence for a moment before he broke it gently. "So, tell me more about yourself. Are you still in school?"
"Yeah. NC State University," I replied softly.
Jacob grinned. "I always knew you were a sexy little nerd." I chuckled softly. "Not really. It was my dream to study there. When I got a scholarship, I felt like I was walking on cloud nine. But I didn't realize how tough it would be." I paused, feeling a bit vulnerable. "I work hard to support myself, and I missed a few exams—lost my scholarship. But I'll graduate. I have to. I worked too damn hard not to."
For some reason, that made him smile—his gaze softening just a little. "You're an ambitious little minx, aren't you? No wonder Damien speaks so highly of you." A rush of nerves swept over me, and I looked down, feeling shy at the mention of my boss. "Does he?"
Jacob chuckled, a warm, teasing sound. "Red as a tomato," he said with a grin, clearly amused by my blushing at the mention of Damien.