Filed to story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family
“I’ve been wanting to give this to you for a while. I thought bring you by when I had the chance, and today seemed perfect. Why wait for the right day when today’s just as good?” Sean grinned. “You’ll have to take care of it now, Bella.”
Mirabella knew with the resort in her name, she’d have to swing by now and then. Sean was just finding ways to see her more often, and with a place like this, the monthly profits had to be substantial. He was clearly finding ways to boost her income.
“This resort is part of a chain. There are twenty-four of them in Belloria, all in your name now,” the manager revealed, taking Mirabella by surprise.
Twenty-four? That many?”This is one of the most profitable ventures under my name.”
It was a well-oiled machine, no need for her to fuss over it. This was Sean’s way of giving her a financial leg up while also finding more excuses to meet up.
“Thanks, Sean,” Mirabella said, taking the contract with a grateful smile.
Sean ruffled her hair affectionately. “Silly girl, no need for formalities with your own brother.”
“Mr. Sheen, Mr. Flair caught a glimpse of you earlier and wanted to have a word. Is this a good time?”
the hotel manager asked with a respectful bow.
“I’ll step out for a moment,” Sean said, ruffling Mirabella’s hair. “Hang tight for me, will you? I’ve had my guys bring the jet over, and we’ll head straight to Reflections Villa from here.”
“Sure thing.”
He turned back to the manager, “Show my sister around, will you? Let her get a feel for the place.”
“Absolutely.”
The hotel manager bowed deeply as Sean departed, waiting until he was a good distance away in the golf cart before straightening up. “Ms. Bella, shall I take you on a little tour?”
“No need. I’ll just wait here for Sean,” Mirabella replied, tired and preferring to sit and rest awhile.
“But Mr. Sheen asked me to.”
“Do you listen to him?”
The manager was taken aback, then quickly bowed again, “Of course, your wishes come first, Ms.
Bella.”
After the manager had respectfully retreated, Mirabella settled onto a nearby bench. Not far behind her was a chain-link fence, beyond which lay an off-road racing track.
She pulled out her phone and saw several messages and two missed calls from Romeo.
Mirabella shot back a video call.”I just finished dropping off clothes for Leia, and then I got this massive gift from Sean. Take a look around, recognize the place?”
Romeo caught sight of the off-road track and the vast open space, with well-kept lawns and the ocean view.
“Did Sean gift you his resort hotel?”
“You noticed?” Mirabella was impressed by his quick recognition, just from a glance in the video, he knew where she was.
“With a track like that, it could only be Sean’s resort,” Romeo said, watching a gentle breeze play with her hair, a loose strand fluttering softly, “I’ve missed you. It’s been two whole days.”
Even though he knew she was busy, those days felt like an eternity.
“Aren’t you seeing me now?” Mirabella knew he missed her, so she had initiated the video call on purpose, “Once Sean’s done with his meeting, we’ll head back. Tomorrow’s New Year, we’ll see each other then, right?”
“So long.”
A stark contrast to his cool public persona, his whiny tone now made Mirabella chuckle lightly.
Just then, a figure approached Mirabella, seemingly quite taken with her, “Hey there, mind if I join you?”
“Who’s that?” Romeo’s voice had an edge, tinged with annoyance and jealousy.
But Mirabella’s phone wasn’t loud enough for the stranger to hear.
Without ending the video call, Mirabella ignored the newcomer, speaking to Romeo on screen, “Finish up early today and don’t spend all day in the office just because I’m not there.””I was hoping we could be friends. Are you staying here alone? What room are you in? If you’re unattached, I’m up for some fun and can keep you company.”
The guy seemed like a typical young, rich kid trying to impress Mirabella, lifting his chin and mentioning, “I know the people who run this place, I’m a friend of the owner.”
A friend of Sean’s?
“And your point is?” Mirabella’s gaze finally shifted to him, still not ending the video chat.
“Alright then, I’ll just cut to the chase. You’re stunning, you know? I caught a glimpse of you from afar, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away. I’d like to get to know you, be friends.”
The stranger paused and glanced at Mirabella’s phone, “Are you FaceTiming your boyfriend? It’s vacation time back home and he’s still working. Must be some tough gig. If you’re willing to take the time to get to know me, maybe even date me, I could offer your boyfriend a job at my company.”
“You want my fiancé to work for you?” Mirabella’s lips curled into a half-smile, “Can you afford him?”
Fiancé?
Afford him?
The man chuckled, “Let me introduce myself.”
Raising his voice so the man on the other end of the call could hear, he said, “My name’s Joshua Flair, ever heard of the Flair Group? We’ve got forty-two branches across six countries. I’m the only son. I’ll inherit it all one day. Not just one fiancé of yours, but a hundred, a thousand—I could hire them all. But it all depends on whether his skills and talent are worth the salary I’d offer. Of course, for your sake, I wouldn’t mind being a little generous, consider it a favor.”
Mirabella smiled, turning to the person in the video, “Hear that? Someone’s trying to poach you, wants you to work for him.”
“I’d like to see who this guy is.”
Mirabella flipped the phone screen around, and Joshua was stunned to see the face of Romeo on the other end!
His mind reeled.Had he seen wrong?
How could this guy look so much like Romeo?
How could this girl possibly know someone like Romeo, a high-flier in the stratosphere of society?
She had just said Romeo was her fiancé?
Joshua was dumbstruck.
“Mr. McMillian, there are two urgent documents that require your signature.” Carl knocked and entered, placing the files in front of Romeo.
Mr. McMillian??
Really Romeo?
Joshua’s knees began to tremble.
Mirabella’s lips curled up, “I wonder how much the Flair Group would be willing to pay for the skills and talents of my fiancé.”
“Joshua?” Romeo’s voice was mocking and disdainful, as if he were looking down on an insignificant ant.
“No, no, we can’t afford. Sir, Mr. McMillian, I had no idea it was you. I apologize for the offense! I’ve intruded!” Joshua immediately bowed in apology, then turned to Mirabella, bowing with each word he spoke, “I’m sorry for my blindness and presumption. Excuse me, I’m so sorry.”
As he turned to leave, Mirabella drawled, “Did my fiancé say you could go?””I must say, you’ve got good taste.” Romeo’s teasing voice made Joshua’s legs shake even more violently.
In terms of looks, height, presence, he couldn’t hold a candle to Romeo.
As for wealth, he didn’t even come close to a fraction of what Romeo had.
Yet there he was, flirting with Romeo’s fiancée right in front of him.
“Mr. McMillian, it’s all my fault, please give me a chance to make amends.” Joshua continued his apologies.
“What’s going on?” Sean, from a distance, quickened his pace toward them.
“Sean.” Mirabella rose from her lounge chair, her smile serene, “Is this your friend?”
Sean glanced at Joshua, “What’s up, has he been bothering you?”
Joshua was simply a client’s son, someone whom Sean barely knew. But at this moment, Sean was far more concerned about what his sister had been through.
Hubery Flair, who had come with Sean, quickly shot his son Joshua a glare upon hearing the trouble he’d caused, then turned to Mirabella with a sheepish, ingratiating smile. “Ah, so you’re the sister Sean just mentioned, Ms. Bella? A pleasure to meet you. Whatever my boy did wrong, please, feel free to tell me, and I’ll make sure he learns his lesson.”
“Mr. Flair,” a voice from the video call chimed in.
Hubery’s eyes snapped to the screen, and there was Romeo!
He quickly bent forward, all smiles, “Mr. McMillian, are you video chatting with Ms. Bella? May I inquire how you two are acquainted?”
“I was having a lovely chat with my fiancée, and then your son here suggests she should follow him, and even tells me to come work at the Flair Group.”
“What the heck?” Sean bristled with anger.
But before Sean could take any action, Hubery, livid beyond words, slapped his son across the face.
“You good-for-nothing! I brought you here to learn from Sean, who at such a young age has built an impressive empire, and instead, you hit on his sister, Mr. McMillian’s fiancée.” Hubery, still fuming, slapped Joshua again.
“Dad, I didn’t realize she was—”
