THE BILLIONAIRE WHO BROUGHT BACK MY TOMMROW3 / 3

Chapter 3 THE MAN WHO STOPED FOR A STRANGER

The following morning, Jessica woke up to the sound of someone banging on her bedroom door.

"Jessica! Open this door right now!"

She groaned, pulled her blanket over her head, and checked the time on her phone.

6:15 a.m.

Whoever invented mornings clearly had no idea what it meant to be broke.

"Jessica!"

"I'm awake, Mama!"

"Then get out of that room! My friend is coming over today, and I won't have you embarrassing me in front of her again."

Jessica sat up, rubbing her tired eyes.

Another day. Another lecture.

She dragged herself out of bed, washed her face, and wore the cleanest dress she owned. It was a simple yellow dress with a loose thread near the waist, but it was better than nothing.

As she stepped into the sitting room, she found her mother standing beside the television, speaking on the phone.

"Yes, darling, don't worry. Jessica will take care of everything."

Jessica stopped.

Everything?

Margaret ended the call and turned toward her.

"Good. You're here."

"What is it, Mama?"

"My friend's daughter is having a birthday celebration this weekend. I promised to help her arrange some things, but something has come up. You're going to help her instead."

Jessica blinked.

"How am I supposed to help?"

"By doing what you're told. You'll help with the decorations, serve the guests, and clean up afterward."

Jessica hesitated. "Will I be paid?"

Her mother's face hardened.

"Must everything be about money with you?"

"No, Mama. I just thought-"

"Then stop thinking and start doing! At least you might learn something useful instead of sitting around here all day."

Jessica pressed her lips together.

She needed money desperately. If the woman was willing to pay her for the work, Jessica could finally buy some food and transport without worrying about every single naira.

"Okay, Mama. I'll go."

"Good. And please, for once in your life, try to look presentable."

Jessica looked down at her dress.

She said nothing.

If she answered, the morning would become another argument.

And she had more important things to worry about.

By eight o'clock, Jessica was outside.

Her mother's friend had sent her the address of a small event centre where the preparations were taking place. It was farther away than Jessica had expected, and she had to walk part of the journey because she couldn't afford the full transport fare.

On her way, she stopped at a roadside stall and bought a small piece of bread.

It was all she could afford.

She ate slowly as she walked, trying to make it last.

"Jessica?"

She turned.

A young woman about her age was standing beside a parked car, staring at her in surprise.

It took Jessica a moment to recognize her.

"Vanessa?"

Vanessa smiled broadly.

"Oh my goodness! It really is you!"

They had attended the same secondary school. Back then, Vanessa had been one of the most popular girls in their class. She was confident, fashionable, and always surrounded by friends.

Jessica, on the other hand, had been the quiet girl who preferred the library to parties.

"What are you doing here?" Vanessa asked.

"I'm going somewhere to help with an event."

"An event?" Vanessa's eyes travelled over Jessica's dress. "Are you working as a cleaner now?"

Jessica's smile faded slightly.

"I'm helping with the preparations."

"Oh."

Vanessa glanced at her expensive wristwatch.

"Well, I guess everyone has to survive somehow."

The words sounded harmless, but the expression on her face made Jessica uncomfortable.

"What about you?" Jessica asked, changing the subject. "How have you been?"

"Wonderful! I just got a job with one of the biggest companies in the city. The pay is amazing, and my boss is incredibly connected."

"That's nice. Congratulations."

"Thank you!"

Vanessa opened her car door but paused before getting inside.

"By the way, there's a school reunion coming up next month. You should come. It would be nice to see everyone again."

Jessica hesitated.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to."

"Why not?"

"I have a few things to sort out."

Vanessa gave a small laugh.

"Of course. Well, try to come if you can. It would be a shame if everyone forgot you existed."

Before Jessica could respond, Vanessa entered her car and drove away.

Jessica stood beside the road, watching the vehicle disappear.

She had forgotten how exhausting it was to speak to someone who made her feel as though her life were a competition she had already lost.

"Forget her," she muttered to herself.

Then she checked the time and hurried toward the event centre.

She was already running late.

The event centre was buzzing with activity when Jessica arrived.

Workers carried tables across the hall while decorators arranged flowers and balloons. A group of young women were laughing near the entrance, taking pictures with their phones.

Jessica approached a woman who appeared to be in charge.

"Good morning, ma. I'm Jessica. Mrs. Margaret sent me to help with the preparations."

The woman looked at her clipboard.

"Oh, yes. You're the extra pair of hands."

Jessica nodded.

"Please, what would you like me to do?"

"Those boxes need to be taken to the main hall. After that, help arrange the chairs. The guests will start arriving by noon."

"Okay, ma."

For the next two hours, Jessica worked without stopping.

She carried boxes, arranged chairs, cleaned tables, and helped the decorators fix the final touches. Her arms ached, but she kept going.

At least this time, she was doing something that might earn her money.

Around eleven thirty, a loud voice suddenly rang through the hall.

"Who arranged these tables?"

Everyone turned.

A tall woman wearing a red dress marched toward the decorations.

"Who told you to put the tables here? The photographs are supposed to be taken near the windows!"

One of the workers hurried forward.

"I'm sorry, ma. We were told to arrange them this way."

"Then whoever told you that has no idea what they're doing!"

The woman turned toward Jessica.

"You! Come here!"

Jessica approached her.

"Yes, ma?"

"Move these tables to the other side. And be careful with those flowers. They cost more than you probably earn in a month."

Jessica stared at her for a second.

Then she nodded.

"Yes, ma."

She began moving the nearest table, but the woman wasn't finished.

"And hurry up! I don't pay people to stand around looking confused."

Jessica bit the inside of her cheek.

She had met enough people like this to know that defending herself would only make matters worse.

She moved the tables, rearranged the flowers, and returned to the kitchen to collect a tray of glasses.

That was when everything went wrong.

A little boy ran across the hall, chasing a balloon.

Jessica stepped aside to avoid him, but another worker came through the doorway carrying a large container.

They collided.

The tray slipped from Jessica's hands.

CRASH!

Glasses shattered across the floor.

The entire hall fell silent.

Jessica stared at the broken glass.

"Oh no!"

The woman in red rushed toward her.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm so sorry! I didn't see-"

"Do you know how much those glasses cost?"

"I'm sorry, ma. I'll clean everything up."

"Clean it up? Who is going to pay for the damage?"

Jessica's heart began to race.

"I didn't mean to break them."

"That doesn't change anything!"

The woman pointed toward the entrance.

"Get out of my sight before I have you thrown out!"

Jessica stood frozen.

Around her, people had begun whispering.

Some were laughing.

Others watched with the kind of curiosity people reserved for someone else's misfortune.

Jessica bent down to pick up the broken pieces.

"Don't touch them with your bare hands!" another worker warned.

She stopped immediately.

The woman in red folded her arms.

"Honestly, I don't know why people like you take jobs they can't handle."

Jessica slowly stood up.

Something inside her was burning.

She had spent the entire morning working as hard as she could. She had barely rested, had not eaten a proper meal, and had done everything she was told.

Yet one accident was enough to make everyone treat her as though she were useless.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again.

Then she walked out of the hall.

She needed air.

She needed a moment away from the stares.

Most of all, she needed to stop herself from crying in front of people who would probably laugh if they saw her tears.

Outside the event centre, Jessica sat on a low concrete wall and stared at the ground.

Her phone vibrated.

It was a message from her mother.

Have you finished the work? My friend says you arrived late. Don't embarrass me.

Jessica let out a bitter laugh.

Of course.

Even when she was trying to help, she was still doing something wrong.

She typed a reply.

I'm doing my best, Mama.

A few seconds later, another message appeared.

Your best has never been enough.

Jessica stared at those words until the screen dimmed.

For a moment, she couldn't hear the traffic or the voices coming from inside the event centre.

All she could hear was her mother's voice in her head.

Your best has never been enough.

She wiped her eyes quickly and stood up.

She wasn't going to let anyone see her cry.

Not today.

She walked toward the main road, hoping to find a quiet place where she could gather herself before returning to the event centre.

She had barely reached the junction when a black luxury car approached.

The vehicle slowed near the traffic light.

Inside it sat a man wearing a perfectly tailored black suit. His expression was serious, and his attention was fixed on the documents in his hand.

His name was Alexander Blackwood.

At thirty years old, Alexander was the billionaire chairman of Blackwood International, a business empire with interests in real estate, technology, and luxury hotels.

Business magazines called him brilliant.

His employees called him demanding.

Women called him handsome.

And the people who knew him personally understood one thing above all else: Alexander Blackwood did not tolerate nonsense.

He was a man who liked order, precision, and control.

Unfortunately, life had a habit of refusing to follow his rules.

"Sir," his driver said, "we're running late for the meeting."

Alexander didn't look up.

"Then drive faster."

"The traffic is heavy."

"Find another route."

"Yes, sir."

The driver glanced toward the junction.

Just then, a delivery motorcycle sped past a stationary bus. Its rider swerved to avoid a pothole, losing control for a moment.

A young woman standing near the road jumped backward.

Her handbag slipped from her shoulder, and its contents scattered across the pavement.

A small notebook landed near the road.

Before she could retrieve it, a gust of wind pushed it toward the traffic.

"Wait!" she shouted.

She rushed forward.

The driver of the luxury car slammed on the brakes.

The vehicle stopped just short of the notebook.

Alexander looked up sharply.

"What the hell?"

Outside, Jessica dropped to her knees and grabbed the notebook.

"I'm sorry!" she called toward the car. "I'm so sorry!"

She tried to gather the rest of her belongings, but a passing vehicle splashed dirty water across her dress.

Jessica froze.

She stared at the muddy stains spreading across the yellow fabric.

Then she looked at the expensive car in front of her.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips.

"Perfect," she whispered. "Just perfect."

She didn't notice the driver's door opening.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

The deep voice made her look up.

A tall man stood beside the black car, his expression thunderous.

Jessica quickly rose to her feet.

"I'm sorry, sir. I wasn't trying to-"

"Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Then why would you run into the road without looking?"

Jessica's eyes flashed.

"I was trying to save my notebook!"

Alexander stared at her.

For the first time in a long while, someone had answered him without immediately looking away.

He glanced at the notebook in her hand.

"Is there a million dollars written inside it?"

Jessica frowned.

"What?"

"You nearly got hit by a car for a notebook. I was wondering what made it so valuable."

She stared at him in disbelief.

Then she shook her head.

"Not everyone can afford to lose things and simply buy new ones, sir."

The words came out before she could stop them.

Silence fell between them.

Alexander's expression changed slightly.

His driver, who had stepped out to inspect the situation, looked as though he had just witnessed someone walk into a lion's cage.

Nobody spoke to Alexander Blackwood like that.

Nobody.

Yet the young woman standing before him seemed more concerned about her scattered belongings than his identity.

Alexander studied her.

Her dress was stained with mud. Her sandals were worn, and her fingers trembled slightly as she gathered the last of her things.

But there was something else in her expression.

Pride.

Not the kind that came from wealth or status.

The kind that remained when life had taken almost everything else.

Alexander glanced at the road.

"Are you hurt?"

Jessica shook her head.

"No, sir."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Then be more careful next time."

Jessica bent to pick up her handbag.

"Thank you for the advice."

She said it so dryly that his driver looked away to hide his reaction.

Alexander raised an eyebrow.

"Do you always speak to strangers like that?"

Jessica straightened.

"Only when they speak to me as if I'm stupid."

The driver closed his eyes briefly.

This girl was going to get herself into trouble.

Alexander stared at Jessica for another moment.

Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth lifted.

It wasn't quite a smile, but it was close.

"Interesting."

Jessica frowned.

"What's interesting?"

"Nothing."

"Good."

She turned and started walking away.

Alexander watched her go.

"Miss!"

Jessica stopped reluctantly and turned around.

"What now?"

He held out a few notes.

"For the trouble."

She looked at the money, then at him.

"I don't need your money."

"You almost got hit by my car."

"Your car didn't hit me."

"Would you prefer I give it to you after it does?"

Jessica's mouth fell open.

"Are you always this annoying?"

His driver suddenly became fascinated by the pavement.

Alexander slipped the money back into his pocket.

"Fine. Keep your pride."

Jessica's face grew warm.

"I intend to."

She turned and walked away before he could say anything else.

Alexander remained beside the car, watching her disappear into the crowd.

"Sir?" his driver asked cautiously.

Alexander finally looked away.

"What?"

"Should we leave?"

He glanced at the time.

The meeting was already fifteen minutes late.

"Yes."

He returned to the car, but something about the encounter stayed with him.

The young woman had looked exhausted. There had been sadness in her eyes, the kind that didn't disappear simply because someone told you to smile.

And yet she had still found the courage to challenge him.

Alexander didn't know her name.

He didn't know where she lived.

He didn't even know why he was still thinking about her.

He simply knew that he had never met anyone quite like her.

Jessica returned to the event centre forty minutes later.

The woman in red was waiting near the entrance.

"Where have you been?"

Jessica swallowed.

"I needed to step outside for a moment, ma."

"You needed to step outside? Who gave you permission?"

"I'm sorry."

The woman pointed toward the hall.

"The event is almost starting. Go and help in the kitchen. And don't touch anything expensive again."

Jessica nodded and hurried away.

She finished the remaining work without another incident.

When the guests began arriving, she served drinks, collected plates, and cleaned up after people who barely acknowledged her presence.

One guest even snapped his fingers at her when he wanted another glass of water.

She brought it without complaint.

By seven o'clock, the event was finally over.

Jessica approached the woman in red, who was checking her phone.

"Excuse me, ma. I wanted to ask about my payment."

The woman looked up.

"Payment?"

Jessica nodded.

"Mrs. Margaret said I would be helping with the event. I thought there would be some money for the work."

The woman laughed in disbelief.

"Nobody told you that I was paying you."

Jessica felt her stomach drop.

"But I worked all day."

"And I gave you food, didn't I?"

Jessica stared at her.

She hadn't been given food. She had spent the entire day drinking water and hoping the hunger would pass.

"Ma, I haven't eaten since morning."

"That is not my problem."

"Please, I really need the money. I have to get home."

The woman picked up her handbag.

"You should have discussed payment before starting. Don't come here looking for money now."

She walked away.

Jessica remained standing in the empty hall.

For several seconds, she couldn't move.

Then she slowly picked up her handbag.

She had spent the entire day working for nothing.

Worse, she had no money left for transport.

Her eyes filled with tears, but she forced them back.

"Not here," she whispered to herself. "Please, not here."

She walked outside into the cool evening air.

The sky was dark, and the streetlights had begun to glow.

Jessica checked her phone.

Three missed calls from her mother.

Before she could call back, the phone rang again.

She answered immediately.

"Hello, Mama."

"Where are you?"

"I'm on my way home."

"On your way home? It's already late! Do you think I have nothing better to do than wait for you?"

Jessica closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Mama. The event took longer than expected."

"Don't bother coming home tonight if you're going to keep behaving like this!"

The call ended.

Jessica stared at her phone.

For a moment, she wondered whether her mother had really meant what she said.

Then she looked up at the empty road.

She had nowhere else to go.

She slipped the phone into her handbag and began walking.

She didn't know how long it would take her to get home.

She didn't know whether her mother would open the door when she arrived.

And she certainly didn't know that, just a short distance away, a black luxury car was turning back toward the event centre.

Inside it, Alexander Blackwood was arguing with his assistant over the phone.

"Find out who organized today's event," he ordered.

His assistant sounded confused.

"Sir, why?"

Alexander glanced through the window.

He had just spotted the same young woman walking alone along the dark road.

Her head was lowered, and she was hugging her handbag against her body.

For reasons he couldn't explain, the sight irritated him.

Not because she had refused his money.

Not because she had spoken to him rudely.

But because she looked like someone who had been left to face the entire world alone.

"Because I said so," he replied.

He ended the call.

"Pull over," he told his driver.

The car slowed beside Jessica.

She immediately stepped away from it, looking suspiciously at the tinted windows.

The rear window rolled down.

Alexander's face appeared.

Jessica stared at him in disbelief.

"Oh, you again?"

He ignored her tone.

"Get in."

She looked at the car, then at him.

"Excuse me?"

"I said, get in. I'll drop you somewhere."

Jessica shook her head.

"No, thank you."

"It's getting late."

"I'm aware."

"And you have no transport."

Her eyes narrowed.

"How do you know that?"

"Because you've been walking for the last twenty minutes, and every bus that passed was full."

Jessica glanced at the road.

She hated that he was right.

But she had learned the hard way that kindness sometimes came with a price.

"Why do you want to help me?" she asked.

Alexander leaned back against the seat.

"Must there always be a reason?"

"Usually."

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Alexander opened the door from inside.

"Listen, Miss Stubborn. I'm not interested in your handbag, your notebook, or your life story. I simply don't want to read about a young woman getting stranded on the road tomorrow morning."

Jessica folded her arms.

"And what if I refuse?"

"Then you'll continue walking, and I'll continue having a terrible evening."

Despite herself, Jessica almost smiled.

Almost.

She looked at the dark road ahead, then at the man waiting inside the car.

Every sensible part of her warned her to be careful.

But her feet hurt, her stomach was empty, and she was exhausted.

Finally, she opened the door.

"Just drop me at the next bus stop."

Alexander looked at her.

"Fine."

Jessica climbed into the car and carefully settled against the far side of the seat, leaving as much distance between them as possible.

The door closed.

The car pulled away.

For the first few minutes, neither spoke.

Jessica stared out of the window, watching the city lights blur past.

Alexander glanced at her.

"What's your name?"

She hesitated.

"Jessica."

"Jessica what?"

She turned toward him.

"Why? Are you planning to write a report about me?"

He gave a quiet sigh.

"Do you ever answer a question without making it difficult?"

"Do you ever ask a question without sounding like you're conducting an interview?"

Alexander stared at her.

Then, to Jessica's surprise, he laughed.

It was a brief, unexpected sound.

She looked at him as though he had suddenly grown another head.

"What?"

"Nothing," she replied quickly.

He shook his head and looked out of the window.

"Jessica," he repeated, as if testing the name.

Something about it felt strangely familiar, though he couldn't explain why.

Before he could ask anything else, his phone rang.

He answered.

"Alexander Blackwood."

Jessica's head snapped around.

Blackwood?

She had heard that name before.

Everyone in the city had.

Blackwood International owned some of the most expensive hotels and commercial properties in the country. Its chairman was a billionaire who appeared on magazine covers and business news.

And that billionaire was sitting beside her.

Jessica stared at him.

The man who had offered her money on the road.

The man she had called annoying.

The man whose car she had nearly run into.

She had just insulted one of the richest men in the city.

And he had driven her into his car anyway.

Alexander ended his call and noticed her expression.

"What is it?"

Jessica swallowed.

"You're... Alexander Blackwood?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"That's what the phone said."

Her face burned.

"Oh my goodness."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, sir."

"Then why are you looking at me as if I've committed a crime?"

Jessica turned back toward the window.

"Because I may have insulted you several times."

"Several?"

She covered her face with one hand.

"I'm sorry."

Alexander studied her for a moment.

Then he laughed again.

"Relax, Jessica. If I fired everyone who annoyed me, my company would be empty."

She lowered her hand.

"So you're not angry?"

"I didn't say that."

Her eyes widened.

He turned toward her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"But I'm willing to hear your apology over dinner."

Jessica stared at him.

Dinner?

With Alexander Blackwood?

The man who could buy the entire street they were driving on?

She quickly shook her head.

"No, thank you. Please, just take me to the bus stop."

Alexander's smile disappeared.

He looked at her for a moment, then nodded toward the driver.

"Take her wherever she wants to go."

Jessica let out a quiet breath of relief.

But just as the car approached the next junction, her phone began ringing again.

MAMA.

She answered.

"Hello?"

Margaret's furious voice came through the speakers.

"Jessica, where on earth are you? And who is the man calling me to say you've been involved in an incident at an event centre?"

Jessica froze.

"What?"

Alexander turned toward her.

For the first time that evening, the amusement disappeared from his face.

Because the name the woman mentioned next was not one he expected to hear.

"Your name has been mentioned in a police complaint," Margaret snapped. "And if you've done something disgraceful again, don't expect me to protect you!"

Jessica's fingers went cold around the phone.

A police complaint?

She had done nothing except work all day.

Before she could answer, another voice came through the phone-a man's voice, calm and unmistakably authoritative.

"Miss Jessica? This is the manager of the event centre. We need you to return immediately. Something valuable is missing, and you're the last person who was seen near it."

Jessica's heart stopped.

Alexander slowly sat forward.

"What exactly is missing?" he asked.

The man on the phone went silent.

Then he answered.

"A diamond necklace belonging to one of our guests."

Jessica's eyes widened in horror.

"I didn't take anything!"

But the call had already ended.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Alexander looked directly at her.

"Jessica," he said quietly, "I think you need to tell me everything that happened at that event centre."