Ten minutes earlier.Shakira was leaving Elevé and Lumière with a couple of her friends, when she spotted the familiar figure standing next to the restaurant's manager.At first, she did not believe it was him.The Sebastian she knew wouldn't drive all the way to Upper Manhattan for lunch during work hours, when he could go to the Aurélien's Place, which was his favorite place to eat out.They haven't spoken in almost three weeks, and since then, she haven't called him.It was until when she heard about the tragedy did she try to reach him. She visited the mansion twice, but wasn't allowed in, because of some orders from above.Then, a couple of days later, he released a press statement that he was alive and well. She tried to reach him again, yet no avail.She suspected that he was still mad at her for her erratic behavior in the office the last time they met.And she was angry at him too, for allowing his security lay their filthy fingers on her, so was waiting for him to come make t
Isabel begrudgingly continued the lunch date Sebastian, after he threatened to have sex with her in the diner, with the door unlocked."Act defiantly one more time, and I'll put you in your place. I don't mind fucking you right here and right now."From the look in his eyes, it was clear to her that it wasn't an empty threat.He would shamelessly actualize his threat, not minding who walks in on them and who doesn't. She would've taken the chances had they been home, not a private diner in a public restaurant.Isabel didn't argue with him any further, however, she barely touched her meal, despite being hungry.He tried everything to explain to her that there was nothing going on between Shakira and him currently, because their relationship was in the past but he was met with stone-cold silence."I mean it, Isabel, Shakira was my ex, and I wouldn't mess up what we have together, because of her....""Sebastian, I want to go home already. You insisted that we should have lunch and we have
Late that night, Isabel was asleep in Sebastian's arms. They had made love twice, during which he worhipped her body like she was a goddess, and he made her feel like a woman.He sang it like a mantra to her ears how much he loves and adore her, and that he want to be with her, not anyone else.She believed him.Not because she knew he was telling the truth, but because she loved him. It was because she wanted his confessions to be the truth.A while after their intense lovemaking, she dozed into slumberland, only to be woken up by a mild uneasiness around her lower abdomen minutes later.At first, she thought it was her body still relishing the intensity of their earlier lovemaking, but the pain become a little severe after a few seconds.She chucked in the pain, hoping it would subside with time.But it didn't, which led her to one conclusion.Her period.Sebastian noticed her discomfort, when he noticed the change in the pattern of her breathing.He noticed her tossing and turning
Nothing Isabel said could deter Sebastian from dragging her to the hospital. Once they arrived at the hospital, he did not wait for Zachary to come open the door for them.He was too impatient to wait another second, even when she kept reassuring him that she was fine."Sebastian, this is unnecessary." She begged him, refusing to step out from the car."Let's go back home.""Never." He insisted,"Period or not, you are seeing doctor and that's it. If the doctors say you are fine, then we'll go back home."Nothing she said made him change his mind.He even threatened to drag her out of the car, which was the last straw.Having no option, she stepped out of the car, begrudgingly following him inside the building.Luckily it was empty, except the two nurses behind the reception desk.Sebastian led her to the nurses, who greeted them courteously.Then, one of them asked Isabel what the problem was."I'm sorry, but---""My fiancée is bleeeding and she's in pains too." Sebastian told the old
"Isabel, my relationship with Shakira was just for formality." Sebastian explained to Isabel, who stared at him with rapt attention.She was waiting to hear why he would leave such elegant lady, to be with her.She might've either wronged him, or he never loved her to begin with."Either ways, it was as clear as crystal that the lady still wanted him, thus her erratic reaction at the restaurant when she found out about them."Formality you say? I don't understand.""You might be me as terrible person once I tell you this, but I didn't know any better until I met you."Isabel didn't say anything."I never loved Shakira, or any of the women I've been with before you. However, Shakira stayed the longest, because she was promised her something I never promised the others." He continued, his eyes fixated on Isabel.She needed no soothsayer to tell her what the promise was."Marriage."She guessed right."You see, Shakira's father and mine were acquaintance and somewhere along the line, they
Two days later, Isabel's period was over, which she was grateful for, because of Sebastian's over-pampering.After he left for work, she decided to go pick up the boys from school, since she haven't seen them in a while.While the driver was waiting for her, she walked into the school building, and was headed to their class when she heard someone call her."Ms. Hadid." At first, she pretended not to hear the call, because she wasn't interested in talking to anyone.However, the call continued and she could hear the hastened footsteps approaching her.The second she felt the cold hands on her shoulder, she pretended to be startled, turning to the owner of the voice who she recognized immediately.Damien or whatever he'd introduced himself as."Good day, Ms. Hadid." He greeted her with a smile, "Longest time."She faked a smile as she greeted him, pretending to not be impatient to leave."We did not exchange numbers the last time, so I couldn't make any contact with you.""Yeah...too b
According to Principal Anderson, Oliver got into a fight with Rafael McCallister during lectures, and the latter sustained a cut on the lip that required suturing."Currently, Master McCallister is currently in the school clinic receiving treatment." The woman told Damien, then turned to Isabel,"Ms. Campbell, fighting is a serious offense according to the school's policy. I have no other option but to suspend both the boys, for a week.""But, Oliver was defending his brother who was being bullied by the other kid. Isn't bullying a serious offense here too?""Ms. Campbell, I know you think the punishment is unfair, but it is the school policy. Mr. Bernadotte is familiar with our school policy, as much as Mr. Giddorti is."The woman turned to Damien who haven't said anything else since he asked the whereabouts of his nephew.He was more concerned by the fact that Isabel was the mother to Sebastian's sons than he was at the situation at hand.After Sebastian introduced his twin sons to t
A few weeks later, Sebastian received the invitation to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Forum, which was an award winning event he was familiar with.Over the last decade, he has bagged the award for enterprenuer of the year for seven consecutive years, with ten nominations.Damien Giddorti who was his sworn rival has always lingered on second position, which was another reason the man despised him, aside from the longstanding rivalry between their family.Usually, he attended the event with Shakira as his plus one and it has been so since they began dating.However, with Isabel now in the picture, the change was automatic.She was his date for the event, he didn't tell her about the event until it was a few days away."Sebastian, I don't think it's a good idea that I should accompany you to a public event." Isabel tried to decline his generous offer, but he wouldn't let her.They were in his bedroom, preparing for bed, when he brought up the topic of the event."Why?"He didn't see
While they were having lunch, Sebastian made his intentions of coming to their home clear to their home."Isabel and I are getting married soon." He told them, and we have come to seek for your blessings, Mrs. Hadid."Patricia looked at her daughter, Jasmine, then her attention returned to Sebastian who has barely touched the meal served to him."Okay, Mr. Bernadotte, you've my blessings to marry Isabel, my daughter." The woman said without any hesitation, which Isabel found odd.Of course, she knew they were intimidated by Sebastian's presence.Who wasn't?Everyone she knew, was intimidated by the man's presence and they all accord him with utmost respect.But, Patricia and Jasmine seemed terrified of him, in a way that seemed quite suspicious to her."Isabel," Patricia called her name and she turned to the woman,"Child, you made the right choice. Mr. Bernadotte is a good man and he will keep you happy." The woman advised her,"I am so proud of you, Isabel and I know your father
After ending the call with Detective Jonas, Sebastian called Pierre and gave him the assignment of sniffing Damien Giddorti's ass"Pardon my asking, Mr. Bernadotte, but this is unlike every other assignment you've been giving me?""Yes, I know, but I need every information you can get on that son of a bitch.""What kind of information do you need?" Pierre asked the man, still confused about his request."Have you been told anything about him?""I just received a tip of an alliance that Giddorti Enterprise is pumping Wall Street with drug money, so I need you to help me find out if it is true or not." Pierre wasn't comfortable with the assignment, and he aired it to Sebastian immediately."Mr. Bernadotte, you need to understand that this isn't as easy as you think. Whether or not Giddorti is involved in any illegal activities, busting him would do you no good.""There's always a hierarchy, and trust me, someone like Damien Giddorti can never be at the top of the food chain. It i
Sebastian was eager to facilitate the wedding process, and make it happen at soonest.Left to him, they would've gotten married that weekend, but there was a lot of preparations to be made, and Isabel has insisted that he postponed it, because she needed to tell her family about it."The same family who set you up, and nearly had you kidnapped, if not for Fowler's timely intervention?"He wasn't thrilled with the idea of her going to meet them, and that was mostly because they were still in his custody, unbeknownst to her."Despite what they've done to me, they are still my family, and I do not intend to get married without getting their blessings." She was honest with him."I've no friends, nor do I have anyone elsewhere except them. And although they might've wronged me countless times in the past, I don't think it is fair to cut them out of my life just like that, because they saved me too.""And you've done well to repay them every kindness they've shown you. Yet, they continu
Like Sebastian avowed, he got the lady from the stored fired from her workplace, then got her arrested.Isabel wasn't supportive of his decision, but since he'd threatened to extend the lady's stay behind bar, if she begged him on her behalf, she decided to not say anything to him. However, she showed her displeasure, which he ignored."This should serve as a lesson to anyone who decide to disrespect you." He told her, as the officers took the crying lady away."Now, remind me what it is you wanted to get?"Isabel was quiet for a while, as the crowd dispersed, but a good amount of passerby were looking at them, awed to see Sebastian, his triplet sons and his new girlfriend."Nothing..."He threw her a discerning glare, then took her hand into his,"If I could remember, the Genesis of this misunderstanding was you trying to see if a particular shade of foundation matched you skin tone, right?"Isabel said nothing, prompting Oliver to say yes to the man."I still remember the brand,
After they left the store, Isabel could tell the boys were in a sour mood, and she didn't know what to say to cheer them up."Boys, do you want to go to the arcade now?" She asked them, hopeful they would say yes, but they didn't."We are fine." "Yeah...I think I'd rather go home."Both Oliver and Reynolds spoke respectively."Boys, I don't think you should be feeling sad about what that lady did, or anything she said to me." She told them, watching their sullen faces."You see, sometime the best answer to give to people who are being intentionally disrespectful to you, is silence.""But, mommy, she crossed the line calling you a lowlife and us, the b word." Alexander argued,"She was being disrespectful to you, but you did not defend yourself. Sometimes, people need to be taught that they can't go around being rude to anyone they see, because they feel like they can.""She needs to be taught a lesson." Reynolds concluded,"One she wouldn't forget in a hurry. Nobody disrespect my mo
Several minutes later, Sebastian was spooning Isabel whose head was rested against his chest.They were still exhausted from their earlier intense and passionate lovemaking and their hearts were beating in a rhythm."I'm indeed the luckiest man on the planet." He told her, possessively tightening his arms around her petite form."Had anyone told me ten to fifteen years ago, that someday I will become obsessed over a woman and desperately want to make her mine, I would've called the person a goddamn liar."Isabel let out an exhausted, but satisfied sigh."But here I am, at thirty-five, obsessed over you and wanting nothing but to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm the luckiest man on earth.""Likewise me, Sebastian." She whispered to him,"Who could've known that I would end up getting married to the same man I once despised like my life depended on it. But, here I am.""I'm no believer of fate, or destiny, but I think the only explanation to our relationship is destiny. We were
"What the hell are you talking about, Isabel?" Sebastian questioned her,"Why would you ask me to do that?""Because, I think it's the right thing to do, since we are both about to enter a new chapter of our lives." She explained to him.Now, it was her turn to beg him."I don't care about the both of them, Sebastian, but I do not think that I want us to have a life where we have people like them hovering over us." She continued, taking his other hand into hers."I understand that they must've wronged you in one way or the other, but I need you to let go of everything that happened. I do not want our children to be raised in this rivalry, which would mean passing it to their own children, who would also pass it to theirs, and the circle continues endlessly.""Isabel, what you are asking for is impossible. I owe no grudge against Shakira for what she did, but I don't think I would ever forgive Damien Giddorti for all he has done." He avowed to her,"Do you know what that bastard did
"I want nothing to do with that son of a bitch who ruined my life." Joan spat, the second Sebastian made mention of Damien Giddorti's name."Trust me, Ms. Lively, I do not want anything to do with him too, but I need the bastard to face the consequences of his actions." He explained to her, "And I saw the file on the rape charge you raised against him three years ago. However, for some reason, which I believe he'd influenced, the charges were dropped."Joan scoffed, staring at her palms which she placed on the table."I know you must be wondering why I am interested in your case, or why I suddenly believe you after all these years. The truth is that, Damien Giddorti has always been a bastard, but recently, he thought it would be funny to assault my wife, to spite me." Sebastian continued, leaving both the scar-faced man and Joan bewildered."Yes. He tried to take advantage of her, despite knowing that she's mine and although I got him arrested, but he was bailed out because there was
After over an hour of driving around Manhattan, Sebastian and Moses finally found the address they were looking for."Sir, I think you should stay here, while I go in and find the apartment." Moses offered to the man, who was seated at the backseat, staring at him through the rearview mirror."You know what floor her apartment is on?""No, sir, but I will ask around.""Ask them what? You've no picture of her, nor do you know what her name is or what she look like."Moses did not say anything.Sebastian brought out the piece of paper he'd copied the information about the lady into, then he handed it to Moses."That is her name, phone number and address. Although, I do not suppose that the number is still active, because I can't seem to reach her with it."Moses took the paper from the man, stole a glance at it, before he shoved it into his pocket.While Sebastian waited in the car, he stepped down, then made his way towards the several storey apartment building.Once he entered, he