Chapter 3 I Found Her!

Bianca weighed her options. She was having a hard time finding evidence against Stacey and Haris, so why not play along with their plan until they slipped up?

Forcing a small smile, Bianca walked over to Peter, lowered her head, and took his hand.

"Thank you, Dad. I'm sorry about our argument earlier. I promise I'll listen to you from now on."

Stacey exhaled a quiet breath of relief at the accepted engagement. Clearly, Bianca had no idea she and Haris were behind last night's setup.

But... where did Bianca go last night? She should have been a complete mess after being drugged that heavily, Stacey thought, her brow furrowing. She wasn't sure if Bianca had spent the night with someone.

Suddenly, Stacey spotted a faint red mark on Bianca's neck. As an experienced woman, she knew exactly what that was.

Just as she suspected.

Now certain that Bianca had been with someone that night, a new plan began to take shape in Stacey's mind. A sly smile touched her lips.

The second Bianca returned to her room, she rushed into the bathroom and tried to scrub the marks off her skin.

Devastation washed over her at the undeniable proof that she had lost her virginity to a complete stranger.

This was all Stacey and Haris's fault!

After a long, scalding shower, Bianca finally forced herself to calm down. She needed a plan for the engagement party at the end of the month.

She dialed a private detective a friend had once recommended, instructing him to discreetly tail Stacey and Haris, gather hard evidence of their affair, and dig up whatever they were planning for the party.

With that handled, Bianca booted up her computer and drafted a new post on her social media.

Across town at the Phoenix Alliance Group headquarters, Justin burst into Dave's office, practically buzzing with excitement.

"Dave, I found her!"

Dave paused his work, his attention instantly snapping to his assistant.

Grinning, Justin dropped into the chair across the desk and slid a photo toward him. It showed a striking woman with a ponytail and bright, intelligent eyes.

Dave had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her that morning, but her features were already burned into his memory. It was the woman he'd woken up next to!

"I want everything on her background. Every single detail," Dave said, tapping the photo with a long finger, his expression unreadable.

Justin cleared his throat and rattled off what he'd dug up.

"Her name is Bianca Scott. Her father's been desperately hunting for investors because their family business has been tanking lately."

Justin paused to ask, "Do you think she set you up to get funding for her dad? But then why would she run off afterward? Is she playing hard to get?"

Ignoring the speculation, Dave just stared at the photo. "Continue."

"She has a boyfriend named Haris Carter. He's a sales rep at some no-name company."

Dave's brow furrowed. She had a boyfriend? Then why had she thrown herself at him last night?

"There's one more thing," Justin added, breaking into Dave's thoughts.

"What is it?"

"Look." Justin slid his phone across the desk. "She just posted this bizarre ad."

Dave frowned as he read Bianca's blunt caption, his expression rapidly darkening.

"Looking for a boyfriend!"

The post read: "Looking to rent a boyfriend for exactly one day. Generous compensation will be provided once the job is done. Details to be discussed during the interview. Requirements: Over 6 feet tall, handsome, fit, and easygoing. If interested, call me..."

"What game is she playing now?" Dave muttered.

Justin looked bewildered by his boss's sudden shift in mood.

Noticing Dave's thunderous expression, Justin cautiously suggested, "Should I have someone bring her in?"

Dave's fists clenched, the veins standing out sharply against his knuckles as his eyes burned with a dark, territorial anger.

A second later, his voice dropped to absolute ice. "Take that ad down. No one else is allowed to see it!"

Bianca let out a sudden sneeze. Rubbing her nose, she wondered who was talking about her behind her back.

She checked her phone, frowning at the empty notification screen.

It had been an hour since she posted the ad, yet she hadn't received a single call, text, or comment. For an account with thousands of followers, that was highly unusual.

Was there a glitch?

Were her requirements too demanding?

Just as she was second-guessing herself, her phone buzzed in her hand, jolting her back to reality.

An unknown number flashed on the screen.

Bianca sat up straight and answered without hesitation.

"Hello?" a deep, magnetic voice murmured through the speaker.

"Hello, who is this?" Bianca asked politely.

"I saw your ad for a boyfriend to rent. I believe I meet your criteria."

The man's voice was a rich, resonant baritone—like the low notes of a cello. It sent an inexplicable shiver down Bianca's spine. Strangely, she also felt like she'd heard it somewhere before.

Quickly brushing the odd feeling aside, she got straight to business. "Alright. When can we meet?"

"You name the time and place," he replied smoothly.

Bianca appreciated his straightforwardness. "Very well, let's meet at the Galaxy Café tomorrow at eight in the evening. I'll text you the details once I've booked a table."

"Perfect. See you tomorrow."

Bianca let out a breath of excitement. She hadn't expected things to go this smoothly.

Meanwhile, Dave sat back in his spacious office, his expression unreadable. As he ended the call, a faint, dangerous smile played on his lips.

He was very curious to see exactly what Bianca had planned.

The next evening, Dave stepped into the café at exactly eight o'clock.

Scanning the room, he spotted Bianca sitting at a corner table, glancing nervously toward the door.

She wasn't exactly what he'd pictured. She wore a simple white shirt under a khaki windbreaker, her long hair cascading loosely over her shoulders. She looked quiet, unassuming, and entirely innocent.

Dave checked his watch, impressed by her punctuality.

He closed the distance to her table with long, deliberate strides.

Sensing someone approaching, Bianca turned and met his gaze. Her breath hitched, completely stunned by his imposing build and striking face.

If he hadn't stopped right at her table, she would have assumed an A-list movie star had just walked into the café!

"Excuse me, are you Miss Bianca Scott?"

The sudden, deeply familiar voice made her jump.

Bianca stared blankly for a second before reality crashed in—this gorgeous man was her online applicant!

"Uh, hello," Bianca stammered, still reeling from the fact that someone who looked like he belonged on a billboard had actually answered her bizarre ad.

"Please, have a seat."

As he slid into the chair opposite her, Bianca discreetly sized him up.

He had sharp, refined features, a strong jawline, and an undeniably aloof air. His hair was casually swept back, only adding to his cool, untouchable demeanor. Even though he was dressed down in a worn brown leather jacket, a plain T-shirt, and jeans, he carried a commanding, almost regal presence that seemed to draw the eyes of everyone in the room.