Isabelle’s Point of View:
“Is that—” I scoffed before I could complete my sentence. “Is that Matt?”She looked down. Matt came out and looked out of the door—and his face paled. “I-Isabel—”
“I am sorry. Shouldn’t have disturbed you while you were cheating on me.” I started to go back, but he followed me.
“Wait, Isa! I can—”
I turned around and slapped him hard. “Just go away. Fuck you and her!”
He didn’t say anything, and some tears threatened to roll down my eyes. I turned around and reached for a cab. I told the driver to take me to the airport. Tears covered my face within a few succeeding seconds.
Why?
It had been just one month since I started dating him. We met in a cafe while I was out with Chloe and at first sight; I had thought to give him a real chance.
I thought it would help me forget Achilles. This was one and the only way I hadn’t tried yet, which could possibly help.
And now this?
I wasn’t too broken up about Matt. I couldn’t get myself to be serious about him but Chloe? Why would she do something that gross?
I looked out of the window and wiped my tears. I guess Jesus wanted me to completely move on from this place.
But isn’t that too much to lose at once?
My family, my best friend, and my boyfriend?
I was too numb to feel anything at the moment. It would probably hurt like hell at night. I tried to focus on the side view as I anticipated the airport.
_________________
“Yes. I am Isabelle, stepdaughter of Mr. Roman.” I said to the person in charge of private jet planes.
“I am sorry, ma’am, but we would need to confirm this from Mr. Roman. Could you give him a call because we can’t disturb him for no reason?”
I sighed. “Fine!”
I took out my cell and called him. I tried twice—but he didn’t pick up. Maybe he had already forgotten about me since he firmly believed I wouldn’t return.
My mother didn’t have any private planes in her name, so it was worthless getting her permission. She usually didn’t have anything to say for me, anyway.
The options left—which were actually singular—stared back at my face and I couldn’t even close my eyes to not face them. I had to if I wanted to leave and I can’t lie to myself. I had to leave, otherwise I would probably go crazy.
I flashed an awkward smile to the person waiting for me to make my third call as I stared at my phone screen.
“He is not picking up. Will his son work?” I asked quietly.
“Mr. Achilles Roman?” He confirmed.
The name itself gave me butterflies. I nodded, and he smiled widely. “Of course, that’d work just fine. Most of Mr. Roman’s flights and assets have been transferred to his name already.”
I nodded again and decided to call him.
‘Just ask. If he agrees, good. If he doesn’t, end the call.
Yes.’
I confirmed it to myself and dialled the number. He picked it up after a ring.
“Miss me already?” His voice was full of humour.
I scoffed. “I-I need your help with something.”
“Is that so?”
“I need to board a plane, but I forgot to book tickets. I need to leave now, so I need a private plane. Can you do that for me?”
“That’s so expensive. How will someone like you pay me back?”
I gritted my teeth. His voice was sexy, but his words were so cruel. What kind of step-brother was he?
“What do you need?” I asked in an irritated tone.
“I don’t need much,” His voice suddenly deepened, making my breath heavy, “But whenever I would, you would owe me one.”
I knew that couldn’t be good, but I needed to go out.
“Deal.”
“Fine.”
The call ended, and the person’s phone beeped. He had apparently received a confirmation. He handed me the permission card with a smile and I smiled back, taking it and heading inside.
After submitting the card, I sat down inside a very lavish private plane. I had never travelled in one, but it was actually better than my imagination.
The person confirmed all the information with me twice and I told him that we could leave as soon as possible.
Consequently, we left within fifteen minutes.
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“Mam. Do you need any drinks?” The sweet attendant asked me for the second time and I shook my head with a small smile. “No. You should rest because I don’t take any food while onboard.”
She smiled. “Thank you for your generous offer, but I can’t rest. This is my job.”
“But I am the only one here and I don’t want anything.” I contradicted logically.
She forced a sad smile. “If I do that, I would lose my job.”
“No one would know. I won’t tell anyone.” I said, as though secretly helping her.
A small laugh escaped her mouth. She shut up immediately when I raised my eyebrow. “I am sorry. I thought you were joking or testing me.”
“Why did you think so?” I was genuinely confused.
She was so weird.
She looked towards the back of the plane, and I followed her eyes to find a camera. My eyes widened, and I looked back at her.
“There is a fucking camera on this plane?” I asked, without expressing my shock with my hands.
She smiled apologetically. “I had no idea you were unaware, Ms. Isabella.”
I sighed. “Well, I can’t help you then. I am really sorry.”
She didn’t say anything, but just left. I wanted to help her, but that would include talking to him again, which I couldn’t afford at any cost. Selfish—but I was done with this world.
…
“We’re here, Ms. Isabella.” The attendant walked up to me again just before we were going to reach the Lewis Landing Airport, New York.
“Thank you.” I flashed a smile, which she dutifully returned. I got off the plane as soon as it landed because I had no idea if I was being watched by that creepy camera.
Who would care enough to watch me through that, anyway?
I rolled into the town with a big smile. I had a big life ahead of me—and I didn’t want it to be ruined by my miserable past.
I had to prove myself. So, as soon as I reached a hotel and booked a room, I extensively researched the universities. There were several of them, some of the most famous here in NY and some out in CA, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and so on.
I wanted to get the best and the nearest. So, I applied for over 5 of them, and thus, a few exams were lined up. Each of them had an entrance exam as the second evaluation, the first one being my report card until now.
Finally, there would be something that I could use as a distraction, and maybe—maybe—I will get over him with some time alone.
And everyone else, for that matter.
_____________________
“Thank you,” I said to the Uber driver and got off. As I walked toward the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, I took a deep breath.
I was way ahead of my time—but that was just my habit. I didn’t even know if they allowed the candidates this early.
Before I could enter the vicinity, a hand pulled me and I shrieked—and the person covered my face with his hand.
My eyes widened, but I calmed down when I saw the person, only to freak out again.
“Achilles!?” I exclaimed.
He pushed me against the wall—in the middle of the fucking street. However, that was not my concern.
He looked at me with a powerful gaze. Something I was too weak to face. I looked away, and he made me look at him.
“Why… Why are you here?” I asked a sensible question, and he smirked.
“We’ve got a lot to talk about.” He came even near my face and I closed my eyes. “Stepsister.”
Isabelle’s Point of View:I looked at him and puffed.“G-get away.”He stepped aside, and I took a deep breath.“And I don’t have time for you.” I slowly spoke, knowing that things would get worse if he kept behaving the way he was. Everything was barely bearable as it was. “I have an interview real soon. So, bye.”I was about to leave when I heard him.“You don’t wonder why Matt cheated on you and with Chloe, of all people?”I stopped in my steps and turned to look at him. “How… Do you know about it?”He smirked.“How does everything go wrong in your life?”I was having a few stupid thoughts, but shut them out. “You’re out of your senses.”“Oh baby girl, I am not, but I am sure that you’ll be.”My heartbeat increased when he called me that. I looked down and heard him chuckle. I looked back up at him.“W-What?” I asked.“Do you know how bad of an actress you are?”I looked at him while my eyes threatened to moisten. I had thought a lot about what he was saying—about what he meant but
Isabelle’s Point of View:“No. It isn’t possible. You can’t possibly deny this!” I almost shouted at the representative on the phone call. She was Christina, a representative of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She was telling me that “higher powers” had denied taking my interview!“I am sorry, mam. Please calm down. I am just the representative.”I sighed. She was right, but why would this happen?It was evident that Achilles had done that. There was no way this happened because of anyone else. But why?“You’re right. I am sorry for shouting. Have a nice day.” I just wanted to end the call so I could break down in my own little bubble.“Thank you for your understanding. Have a nice day.”I hung up the call and sighed heavily. I was already demotivated—I didn’t have the strength to call other universities to ask about the interview.I had one scheduled for tomorrow and it wasn’t cancelled yet, so I was definitely betting my horses on it. I hoped to Jesus that at least they’d give
Isabelle’s Point of View: “Welcome, Isabella.”I turned around to see Achilles with a small smirk. Frustrated, I let out a sigh. “I thought you couldn’t care less about the CA branch.”“Oh, that’s true.” He came and then stood by the table. “But you see, it has suddenly become so interesting.”“Aren’t you too busy with opening a new branch in NYC?” I carefully went to the other side of the room to avoid getting in any uncomfortable position.“No. I have decided to stay here for a while.”I scoffed.“Anyway. How’s the hotel? I thought it’d fit your interest,” he said.“You booked it?”“I own it.”I looked around the room and furrowed my brows. “I thought all hotel chains Roman Enterprises owned were named Roman Hotels.”“Well, that was when dad owned them.” He took a seat on the couch. “I don’t see the need to include the name everywhere.”“So, you’ve come here to flaunt your money and how you own the places I pay for? I know how rich you are. I know I am going to work with you. You c
Isabelle’s Point of View:“God!”I shouted hysterically, and woke up. My palms were sweaty, and I breathed heavily as I realised that it was a nightmare. Pulling my hair back, I tried to calm myself.After a moment, when I was a little composed, I looked around the hotel room. Images flashed across my mind of what had happened… and what didn’t.Overthinking took control immediately. I could have finally gotten what I had always fantasised about, but I ruined it. I didn’t know what was better… him giving me what I want just once, or never at all? Maybe it would have been harder if I got it once and never again. But was it possible to survive without getting it even once?I closed my eyes and remembered the nightmare I just had to avoid the obvious questions. I saw Achilles—as usual, but not what he was. He was a monster who couldn’t care less about anything. He… abused me and left me to burn.I shook my head vigorously and got up.“Ain’t Jesus on his side all the time…” I whispered as
Isabelle’s Point of View:“So, what is this about?” I kept my cool as we proceeded to go far from the company building. Achilles looked at me but found it in his best interests to ignore me!“Achilles—”“Just wait a few moments, will you?”He looked a little irritated by my constant questions. I slowly nodded, not trying to piss him off.We soon reached his car. “Get in, Bella.”I looked at him once again at the mention of my nickname, before getting in the backseat. My brain was pounded by the constant questions about where he wanted to take me, but I had a little trust in him—no matter how crazy that sounded. I could do anything to believe that maybe he cared for me.He soon entered the car too and started driving. I sat back comfortably and looked out of the car, aware of the speed we were going at.“I won’t tell Dad that you missed work today,” he said after a minute. “So, you shouldn’t either.”I looked at him and sighed. “Why will I miss work? It is not like I am gonna spend th
Isabelle’s Point of View: “I am giving you something, Bella. I am giving you a title in my life.” “And what is that?” “Mistress.” I looked at him, my face filled with horrified shock—not being able to believe what I heard. It was like a nightmare. Being a mistress was worse than not being anything to him; it was worse than being his step-sister. That was like the worst thing that he could have said. But it was so easy for him to say that. Did he actually believe I would accept it? “Are you out of your mind?” I said, pushing him away with all my force. He stumbled back, and I took a few steps sideways, increasing our distance. “Now you’re behaving like—” “Every time I hit a low in my life, why do you have to show that everything can be worse?” “I am doing this for you, you ungrateful brat. You’re the one who—” “I didn’t even say anything to you, did I?” I scoffed and said, finally getting a wrap up his plan. “I never came up to you and confessed my feelings. I never begged f
Isabelle’s Point of View: I looked at him with a blank expression while he left the room. My breathing was rasped.“I know what you think and feel, Bella, and that, right there, makes you the weakest person alive.”His words replayed in my brain like a recorded note kept on repeat. My heart was sad. I didn’t have any idea that things would get worse if he knew about my feelings.I had always imagined him to be kind. That if he ever came to know about my emotions, he would feel sorry for me and treat me better knowing how I suffered; but instead… he just made fun of me and my feelings at every chance he got.I looked at the rain again and a few drops of water came down from my eyes, resonating with the view outside. For the first time, I felt so hopeless that even escaping seemed to be worthless. It seemed like I wasn’t worth anything. Like I wasn’t even worth trying for myself — and I had nothing special or lovable in me.The feeling was terrifying, and the heartache was real. I coul
Isabelle’s Point of View:“Stealing my phone, Bella?”I froze in my place as soon as I heard him. I looked at him and he sat up with a smirk on his face.“I—I wasn’t—this isn’t what it looks like. I was not—”“Was not what?” He got up from the couch, his eyes fixed on mine. I looked down immediately. “I thought it was my phone. That’s why I was picking it up.”“Wow, you’re getting worse at lying every day!”“Funny you should say. Why don’t we just leave now? You’ve kept me locked in here like Rapunzel!” I said with sarcasm as I tried to dodge the topic.“Nah, Rapunzel had better hair.” He smirked and picked up his phone.“Did you just insult my—”“Uh-uh. Don’t even speak. You will give me second hand embarrassment, baby girl. Get ready because we will be leaving in 10.”I rolled my eyes. How dare he insult my hair? Just because he looked like a handsome Greek God doesn’t mean he could say anything!I sighed. As I was about to go, I suddenly had a non-amazing idea.“Who is Anna?” I tu