Chapter twelve 

Isabel POV 

I stood in front of the restaurant staring at the familiar door. It looks like I've obviously been here before, I gasp as my assistant the memory flowed right back.

" No." I voiced out. " What do you mean no?" Talia asked confused at my facial expression.

" Are you sure this is the venue?" 

" Yes, this area has been secluded for a while so there aren't much people here." 

" I can't go into that restaurant." I said walking back to the car. " What do you mean? You said you have to save your company?" She said following me closely behind.

" Yes, that exactly what I said but not this venue. No hear." Tears were already streaming down my cheeks and my hands were vibrating. " What's wrong Isabel? Talk to me please." She pleaded this time in a calm voice. 

" I can't just go through that door, I just can't." I said before entering the car.

I sat down in my room curled up in one corner of the room. I had refused to eat or see anyone not even Talia. 

" Isabel you know this is not healthy." I heard Talia say on the other side of the door but I gave her no response. 

Flashback.

She sat down in La pasta restaurant dressed in her gold shimmering gown. It was her twenty fifth years old birthday and she really wanted to celebrate it with my boyfriend. She had made all the necessary arrangements and had paid for the place to be closed down for a few hours so that she could have some alone time with her boyfriend. She waited for hours glancing at the wall clock severally. He didn't show up neither did he pick up his calls. Sad and hurt she decided to go back home. She used her key to let herself in. When she switched on the light of the living room she saw a lacy black panties few steps away was a black lacy bra to go with. The moans of pleasure filled the room and tears welled up in her eyes. 

She definitely couldn't stand it, she exited the house banging the door behind her. She heard her boyfriend calling after her but she paid no attention to him and kept walking. 

" Esmeralda!!" Antonio's voice echoed in my ear.

End of flashback 

I was jolted awake by the sound of the banging of the door. I squinted and used my hand to shield my eye from the invasive sun. The banging of the door came again.

" Talia leave me alone." I groaned pulling the covers over my head. 

" Open this door right this minute!" Mr Cruz shouted from the other side of the door. I groaned knowing I have to obey him. I pulled myself up and unlocked the door letting him in. 

I went back to sit on the bed and few minutes later he came to also sit beside me. 

" Talia told me about everything." I gulped. Fresh tears threatening to pour again. 

" It's nothing, I'm fine."

" I know you're fine, because you are a strong girl. Look at me." He said calmly. I couldn't bring myself to look at him as the tears were already pouring down. 

" Isabel, look at me dear." I used the back of my palms cleaning my tears as I turned my face to look at him. 

" You don't have to let your past hold you back." 

" He cheated on me! He cheated and I was so blindly in love that I forgave him." I said before I took in a sharp intake of air.

" After all I did for him, he still decided to go behind my back to cheat on my with my best friend and betray me." My voice broke at the end. I couldn't hold it in anymore as I sobbed letting the tear fall freely.

" I know dear, I know." He pulled my head to his laps patting my head.

" You would be just fine, trust me." He repeated his words assuring me that I was actually going to be fine. I laid there before I was welcomed in to the comforting arms of sleep. 

The next day I felt a lot better and ready to be back to work. 

" Talia what do I have on my schedule for today." I said as I walked to my home office. I got no response and I turned around to see Talia staring at me.

" Talia? Are you good?" I asked concerned.

" Funny how that question is meant to be for you. You never gave me a reasonable explanation for what happened that day." I sighed knowing that either way I was going to have to apologise to both Talia and Miguel. 

" It reminded me of my twenty fifth birthday when I found out that my boyfriend, now ex-husband cheated on me." 

" What has that got to do with the restaurant?" 

" He stood me up there." She gasped rushing to my side and wrapping me in a hug. " I'm fine Talia, just tell me what's on my schedule."

" Ok, yea. Back to work." 

I work myself a lot so that I don't have to think about any other thing. 

" Hey, Isabel" she said barging into the office. " Talia how many times have I told you not to—" 

" Isabel this is important." She interrupted me. She gave me her phone, I stared at the screen in front of me. Cruz group just dropped from fifth best to the tenth on the top company ranking list.

" How the fuck did this happen?" I said calmly but inside me was a turmoil. "Martinez corporation withdrew their shares." My heart started racing. 

" Call him now!" I instructed her. While I picked up my laptop trying to schedule a meeting with him, but he was tagged unavailable. Fuck what have I done.

" Any luck?" I asked. " He's not picking." I quickly picked up my phone and called him. It kept ringing, when I was almost losing hope. He picked.

" You better have a good explanation" that was his first response.