CHAPTER 6 Move On

Isabella POV

Finally, with a slow nod, he said, "Yes. It's still on if you want it."

The relief and surprise that washed over me were mixed with a twinge of uncertainty, but I managed to nod them back. I took a deep breath and looked him dead in the eyes. "Alright, I'll go along with this whole pretend engagement thing," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "But in one condition- this is only for a year. And in return, I want a raise."

He raised an eyebrow, looking surprised, maybe even a little amused. "A raise?"

"Yes, a raise," I nodded without a moment of hesitation. "If I'm going to pretend to be engaged to you, trying my best to look convincing in the presence of your grandfather, smiling, maybe even holding hands, I think it's fair. A year of this should at least come with a pay bump."

He leaned back in his chair, still watching me like he was trying to figure me out. "And what makes you think I'll agree to that?"

"Because…" I paused, lost in my thoughts. Because you said yes when I proposed? Because I need it for my revenge? Because you wouldn't want to waste your time looking for someone else? Fuck!

"You wouldn't have asked me to do this if you didn't think I could pull it off."

He was quiet for a moment, thinking it over, and I could tell he wasn't used to being talked to like this. But honestly? I didn't care. I just need a yes even if it was only for a month.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally nodded. "Fine. A raise. But you better deliver on your end."

A wave of relief washed over me. "I promise not to disappoint you," I said, trying my best to hold back a grin. He didn't say anything, just offered a slight, approving nod, and with that, I turned to leave, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.

Back at my desk, the rest of the morning drifted by in a haze of emails and… well, mostly silence. Every now and then, my mind would wander back to the way the CEO had looked at me, that steady, unblinking gaze that made me feel like he saw more than I wanted him to. But before I could even think too deeply about it, lunchtime rolled around, and I practically bolted to the cafeteria to meet Sarah, my work friend and the one person who knew about my secret relationship with Thomas. The moment I sat down, she immediately leaned in, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Are you okay? You look… different," she said, eyeing me as she stabbed at her salad. "Spill. What's going on?"

Guess I can't hide anything from her.

"Well…" I started, glancing around just to be sure we were alone, even though no one was paying us any attention. "Thomas and I… we are done. Officially."

Sarah's eyes widened. "Wait, wait, are you serious? What happened?"

I sighed, poking at my food, not feeling the least bit hungry. "I caught him with someone else." Taking a deep breath I added, "In the supply room."

Her jaw practically hit the table, her eyes blazing with fury. "That sleazy, no-good dirtbag! I knew there was something off about him. And what did he say when you confronted him?"

"Nothing," I muttered, shaking my head. "I walked in, he barely even tried to explain. Just sort of… stood there. He's been blowing up my phone all morning, but I haven't even checked half the messages."

Partly because I knew I might have another breakdown if I read his silly excuses.

As if on cue, I felt a shadow hovering over our table. I looked up, and there he was- Thomas, in all his guilty glory. His eyes flicked to Sarah, before returning them back to me. "Can we talk?" he asked quietly.

For a second, I almost laughed. Like, now he wanted to talk? After everything? But I just nodded, giving Sarah a look that said "Be right back" as I got up. She raised her eyebrows in a silent "good luck" expression, as I followed him to a quieter corner of the cafeteria.

"Look, I know what you think you saw…" he started, rubbing the back of his neck in the way he always did when he was nervous, but I wasn't about to give him the chance to spin this.

"Thomas, don't. I didn't just 'think' I saw something. I saw you. I saw everything." I kept my voice calm, almost eerily so, crossing my arms as I watched him squirm. "And if you actually cared, you would have come after me then and there. But you didn't, did you? That tells me all I need to know."

His face crumpled, and he tried again, "But it wasn't like that. I was just… it was just stress. Work has been-"

"Work?" I cut in, arching an eyebrow. "Work kept you from coming after me? That's the best you've got?" I couldn't believe how calm I sounded. If this had been any other time, I would've been in tears.

But not now. Now I was just… done. Really, truly, done.

He opened his mouth, searching for words he clearly didn't have. I felt a strange sense of pity, honestly, watching him flounder. This was the guy I had wasted my time on? The guy I once thought was the one?

It was just so pitiful.

"Look, Thomas," I finally said, softening just a fraction, "I have gotten someone else. Just move on."

He blinked at me, stunned, then narrowed his eyes as if I had gone mad. "Moved on? It's barely been half a day!"

Yeah… it does sound crazy.

"I have options, Thomas," I said, hoping it sounded more believable than it felt.

He blinked as if that hadn't even occurred to him. His expression shifted. "With who?"

I held his gaze, watching him flinch as I took a slow breath and said, "With Sebastian Hale."

The moment those words left my lips, I could feel the shift. His jaw actually dropped, eyes widening in disbelief.

"Sebastian Hale?" he sputtered as if it were the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard.

"Yes," I said simply, letting the thrill of those words settle over me. Our CEO."

Thomas looked like he had been slapped, and for a moment, I wondered if he would actually try to argue with me. But instead, he just stared, opening and closing his mouth as he tried to process it. His face contorted into a mixture of disbelief and anger as he stared at me for a moment too long before managing to force out a single word, "What?"

Yeah… try to top that you fucking asshole.