Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Kim grinned mischievously. "Well, don't take too long. You don't want him to slip away."

Isabella laughed, feeling grateful for her friend's advice and support. "I won't. Thanks for being here for me."

"Anytime," Kim replied, smiling warmly. "Now, tell me more about this first date."

As she looked through her closet, she decided to wear a simple dress that didn't look too expensive. She paired it with a pair of sandals and minimal jewelry. She needs to dress up to look the part that she had portrayed to David.

Isabella then turned her attention to her apartment. She lived in a luxurious penthouse downtown, but So, she decided to rent a small studio apartment for the night in case David insisted on walking her home.

She quickly booked a furnished, more like an Airbnb that is affordable online

and put a call through to Kim to help her drop some belongings there. She plans on shopping for some clothes that are cheap too, she wants to continue to live the life that she had talked about with David. Thinking about it, it won’t be so bad to stay low and live a humble life without money. She can’t wait to explore that part as she has never experienced it before.

She takes one more look at herself in the mirror satisfied with what she’s seeing. She picked up her bag and looked around the penthouse for a while as she already thought of getting a permanent studio apartment where she would be staying henceforth. She said her last goodbyes and sent a text to Kim to get her a permanent small apartment where she will be living henceforth. She sighed and hoped it all worked out fine as she had hoped and dreamed about.

A text from Jackson pops up on her phone “He just wouldn’t give up” she fumes angrily, "I don’t want a text or an apology or a call from you”. she angrily reply his text and warn him to stop contacting her then she blocks him “that serves you right, asshole”.

She sighed “Calm down Isabella,” she said to herself, “you don’t want to get yourself all worked up over Jackson”. “Think about David and his beautiful smile” She looks around and then at herself in the mirror

“It seems like I am going crazy, Can’t believe that I am talking to myself” laughs hysterically. "Tonight is gonna be a great night, I promised”. She blows out the candles and steps out of the house.

Isabella had always been cautious about trusting people, especially after what happened with her former personal assistant and her ex-boyfriend Jacob. But there was one person she could always count on Kim.

Kim had been with Isabella for a few months now, and she had quickly become more than just a personal assistant. She was also Isabella's best friend and confidante. Isabella trusted her with everything, from her schedule to her deepest secrets.

So when Charlotte, her former personal assistant started talking about a humble painter she was madly in love with, Isabella was intrigued. She had always been a bit of a romantic, and the idea of love at first sight appealed to her.

"Tell me more about this painter," Isabella said one day over lunch. "What's his name?"

"David, Charlotte replied with a dreamy smile. "He's amazing. He's so talented and kind and... just perfect.”

Isabella couldn't help but discern a twinge of jealousy. Here was Charlotte, talking about this amazing man she was in love with, while Isabella’s relationship with Jacob had been full of ups and downs. Constant argument and keeping malice for days, sometimes weeks.

After Isabella finds out about Jacob and Charlotte sleeping together, she almost

loses it She can’t believe it, she so much trusted Charlotte and never thought she could ever betray her.

She had caught them pants down in his penthouse after lying to Isabella that he was out of town. “How could you do this to Charlotte”

Isabella asked shakily but Charlotte didn’t give a damn about her. She shrugs and pulls Jacob closer to her but she pulls her hands away and runs after Isabella begging her not to go.

But then an idea started to form in Isabella's mind. Two could play the game, she thought. If Charlotte could sleep with her man, why couldn't she steal her painter crush?

So Isabella started to get closer to David. She would show up at his art shows, strike up conversations with him, and even offer to buy some of his paintings. At first, David was a bit wary of Isabella's sudden interest in him, but he couldn't deny that he was attracted to her.

Meanwhile, Charlotte was completely oblivious to what was going on. She was too caught up in her own baby girl lifestyle treatment with Jacob to notice that Isabella was making moves on her man.

"I can't believe this," Kim said, her eyes filling with mixed signals. "You're trying to steal Charlotte’s boyfriend?”

"He's not her boyfriend," Isabella replied calmly. "And I'm not trying to steal him. We just have a connection, that's all."

"You're unbelievable," Kim said, standing up from the table. "Charlotte will kill you if she finds out”. Isabella smiled “ No she won’t, she started this . Two can play the game”.

But even as she walks toward the diner where David has been waiting for her. Isabella couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt about what she had done to Charlotte. She knew she had crossed a line, but she couldn't bring herself to stop.

She is playing a revenge game even though, the little time she has spent with David has captivated and re-directed her focus and plan.