Chapter 142
Isla entered the sitting room to find Betsy and Sofie already comfortably settled on the couches, each with their legs tucked beneath them as they quietly focused on their tablets. The soft whir of the air conditioner mixed with the gentle tapping and swiping sounds of their screens, creating a calm atmosphere. After a moment, Betsy finally looked up and noticed Isla’s arrival.
“Finally, you’re here,” Betsy said, exhaling a breath of relief that was clearly audible.
Isla chuckled softly and made her way over to join them. She eased herself onto the plush sofa, its cushions immediately molding around her like a warm embrace. “Sorry for keeping you waiting,” she began, “but you should know—”
Before Isla could finish her sentence, Sofie sat up straighter, cutting her off with a dramatic wave of her hand. “Please, spare us the details. We already know. What we really need to talk about is something else.”
The sudden seriousness in Sofie’s tone made Isla pause. She adjusted her posture, sitting up tall and crossing one smooth, bare leg over the other with effortless grace. The warm glow from the crystal chandelier above cast a golden light on her skin, highlighting her natural elegance.
“Did something happen?” Isla asked immediately, her eyebrows arching with concern.
Betsy merely shrugged, pretending to be nonchalant but clearly holding back more than she let on. “I think you should hear Sofie out first,” she said, nodding toward her friend.
Sofie took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Isla, I need to ask you something very important. And I want you to be completely honest with me.”
Isla nodded once, silently giving her full attention and permission to continue.
Leaning forward, Sofie rested her elbows on her knees, fixing Isla with an intense gaze. “It’s about Peter,” she said quietly. “What do you really think of him?”
The question caught Isla off guard. She blinked, unsure where this was heading.
Sofie pressed on, “I know he’s your friend, and you know him well. Do you think he was serious when he asked you that?”
Isla drew in a thoughtful breath, carefully weighing her words. Usually, she avoided getting tangled up in other people’s private lives, but Sofie’s genuine worry made her feel it was okay to be truthful.
“Peter is a good man,” Isla started slowly. “There’s no doubt about that. But… he’s not one for relationships—kind of like Ben.” She paused, choosing her words with care. “The difference is that while Ben is more of a player, Peter tends to avoid women altogether.”
She hesitated, feeling a bit awkward saying it aloud.
Sofie’s eyebrows lifted, silently encouraging her to continue.
“He… occasionally hires escorts,” Isla finally admitted.
“Oh?” Sofie exhaled, clearly surprised.
“Why do you ask?” Isla inquired gently.
Sofie sighed, her shoulders rising and falling with the weight of the moment. She glanced at Betsy, then back at Isla, as if searching for the right way to explain. “He’s taking me out tonight.”
The room instantly fell silent.
Isla’s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. She simply stared at Sofie, stunned.
“He called me earlier,” Sofie continued softly. “He asked if it was okay to take me to dinner. And… I said yes.”
Isla studied her for a long moment, then her expression softened. “Peter is many things,” she said quietly, “but a flirt isn’t one of them. If he asked you out, then I believe he genuinely likes you. I truly wish you the best, Sofie.”
Sofie smiled shyly, but then her face shifted as if she suddenly recalled something important.
“Oh! I almost forgot,” she said, standing quickly and grabbing her tablet before settling down next to Isla on the sofa. “There are some new emails you need to check. They came in batches, and I think they’re important.”
Isla took the tablet and opened the first email. As her eyes scanned the screen, her expression changed noticeably. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“These are proposals,” she whispered.
She clicked through another email, then another, until she had reviewed every single one.
“Betsy,” Isla said, turning the tablet toward her friend, “we have new investors. These emails are from some high-profile companies. They’re interested in our business.”
Betsy frowned deeply. “Already?” she asked in disbelief. “We haven’t even launched yet.”
Before Isla could respond, a deep voice echoed through the room.
“If any company is going to invest in your business…”
All three women turned toward the staircase.
Gabriel was descending slowly, dressed casually in brown sweatpants and a crisp white sweatshirt that fit snugly over his strong frame. His presence filled the room effortlessly. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and the soft lighting made him look warm, relaxed, and somehow even more handsome than usual.
He stepped closer, his eyes lingering on Isla.
“…that company will be mine,” he finished simply. “And no one else’s.”
He stopped directly in front of Isla.
Her heart fluttered at his commanding presence—his confidence, his protectiveness, the quiet strength he always carried when he was near her. Just seeing him standing there, claiming not only her but her business with the same fierce devotion, made her chest warm and her cheeks flush with a tender glow.