Chapter 4

ADOPTED HEIR **Her birthday**

         Isabella's P O V

How time flies, I can't believe it's finally my day. Like, today is my birthday.

I've been receiving a lot of cards from the kids at school lately. Karen has even organized a small birthday party at her house with her parents approval and I'm headed over to her house right about now.

Her driver should be here any minute.

"Look at my grand baby. Who gave you that dress?" Grandma walked out from the kitchen with a big container that I know is full of cookies she baked on her own.

Grams is a great cook. The greatest cook and I've been learning from her. I still don't know when I'll be able to make delicious food like the ones she makes.

It might take ten years for me to get to her level. 

"Uh...mom bought this dress for me for my thirteenth birthday," I answered.

"And you are wearing it for your fifteenth? Isn't it too tight for you?" She asked, staring all over my body.

Yeah, the dress is kinda tight but I'm willing to endure. I also have to be very pretty, this dress is one of a kind.

Tho we weren't rich but mom bought this dress at a mall and at a very high price. 

"Your hair also looks nice. Who styled your hair for you?" Gram asked.

I took my hand to my hair. 

"I did it myself, I learnt how to style it two days ago and I guess it's okay right?"

"Yes, it is. It's very beautiful, it looks good on you." Grandma shook her head, a smile lighting her beautiful face.

Grandma is a real beauty, my mom got her beauty from her and I got my beauty from my mom, making me twice as beautiful as grandma. Lol. That's what she always says.

That I'm twice as beautiful as her. 

"Okay, be careful there. Don't take any alcoholic drink, but I want you to enjoy yourself very well. Don't hold back, don't think of your studies, just enjoy yourself okay?" Grams advised as she dressed the upper side of my wear.

"Okay ma. I'll take this, bye." I waved at her and rushed out of the sitting room with the container.

I already heard the hones of a car and I'm very excited. 

Karen's car came into view soon enough, I rushed over to the car. Placed the container at the boot of the car and went into the back side.

The driver turned and left for Karen's house.

** 

I got down from the car after Karen's driver parked properly at the garage. I opened the door and stepped out.

"Here comes the beautiful celebrity of today!" Karen screamed and rushed over to me. 

Few of the students that were already present followed suit. As expected, they were all dressed beautifully for my birthday. I'm happy that I'm even more beautiful.

Karen embraced and kissed my two cheeks which has light makeup on it.

"Happy birthday to you!"

"Happy birthday to you!!" They all sang at once.

"Thanks everyone. Thanks for showing up for my birthday!" I thanked with a huge smile on my face.

"Come. Mom had the chiefs prepare all sort of meal, they are at the dinning. Let's go," Karen pulled me along with her.

**

About eight hours later. 

The kids that attended my party started leaving with their drivers and friends. It's already dark.

I appreciate everyone of them for showing up today and the number of gifts I received are no jokes. They are all expensive items. 

"Isabella," Karen suddenly called as she descended down her stairs.

"Yes," I answered and focused my attention on her. The tone she used in calling my name sounded very urgent.

"Come, there is one more place I'd like to take you. Come on," she gestured as she ran out from the sitting room.

I dropped the cake with me and followed her out. She entered her car, I entered with her. 

"Where is that?" I asked, staring into her face.

"You'll know when we get there." She replied. She looks suspicious and strangely happy at the same time.

Her driver as usual drove out of her compound and straight to wherever she instructed him to go.

Today, her mom made me feel so special, as if I were her daughter. Probably because Karen has been saying nice thing to her but I know she really likes me now more than she did at the very beginning when she found out that I am not rich like them but poor.

The drive to whenever we are took about 2 hours.

Karen came down from the car and started walking immediately. I followed her from behind quickly.

She got to a bar that has loud pitched song coming out from it. She spoke with the two guards there and they let us in.

Okay. Now I'm getting more curious as to where Karen is taking me to.

"Karen," I yelled through the loud music but she didn't seem to hear me. She followed a route and we ended up in a room.

I stopped behind her when she stopped walking.

"What are we doing here, K?" I questioned.

"Wait here. Someone wants to speak with you, let me call the person here. I might not come back with the individual tho, so enjoy yourself. The person will be taking you home or I might come back for you," she rushed her words before exiting the room.

Now it's becoming more weird, the last time she told me that someone wanted to speak with me, it didn't go down well and she is doing the same thing again.

How is it even possible that we are allowed in here?

I sat down at the sofa there, kept tapping my foot on the floor until the room's door opened and the very person I have been avoiding for days walked in.

I stood up on my feet looking very surprised.

Okay, I never expected to see him here. Since the first day we talked, I've never spoken to him again.

Although I saw him a couple of times at school but I refused going to apologise. I just couldn't face him. 

"Hey," he chuckled as he closed the door.

I kept staring at him without replying. He came in with a bottle of drink. I don't know the name of the drink but I'm guessing it's a very strong drink by looking at the rich bottle. 

"It's me, Nathaniel. Do you still remember me?* He asked, lowering himself to a sit opposite mine.

"I do," I replied and also sat down.

"You are looking way more beautiful than the last time I saw you. That dress looks good on you," he complimented.

"Thank," I forced a smile and watched as he opened up the drink.

"Happy birthday," he said as he decanted the drink into two different cups. He pushed one cup to my side. Took the other and raised it up to a toss.

"Yeah, thanks." I grabbed the cup and also raised it but couldn't drink it. It smells nice but I can't take any drink containing alcohol. 

I watched as he drank from his own glass cup. 

What does he really wants from me, I'm damn curious right now. What does he want? 

He chuckles and pours another drink for himself.

"Why aren't you drinking?" He asks, staring at my drink.

"Oh..I can't...I can't take alcoholic drink." I say.

"It's your birthday. You should be able to do whatever you want to do today. Don't be such a good girl," he chuckles again.

Okay, from his behavior, I can tell that he is already drunk. He already drank before coming in here.

"How.. how is it possible that we are here now? We are not even up to 18," I ask.

"Oh, my father owns this bar. So I threatened the guys here, no one wants to lose his job," he chuckles again.

"And they handed that bottle over to you?" I ask again.

"No, I stole this from my father's bar. I pray he doesn't notice." He answers and continued drinking.

"I'm sorry I couldn't attend your birthday party." He apologized.

"No, it's okay. It's fine." I shook my head. I wasn't really expecting anything from him with the way he was equally avoiding me at school after my rejection.

A long silence stepped in before I finally ask.

"What..what do you really want from me? Why am I here?"

T B C