"So where are you taking me for lunch?" I asked him. "There's a fancy restaurant outside, if you agree, I would like to take you there," he said. I shrugged my shoulders and he quickly grabbed my hand and this guy dragged me from the second floor all the way to the parking lot as if we we're in a freaking running contest. ... "We could have taken the elevator you know!" I glared at him when we areached his car. I was so out of breathe and this prick just laughed at my condition. "At least we got a good exercise out of it," he said, and I'm sure my face is like a tomato right now by how furious I am. "Please step inside, princess," he gestured as he opened the passenger door. Even though I'm angry at him, I'm still true to my words. So I'll go to lunch with him, and after this, I'll make sure I don't see him ever again. ... He took me to a restaurant that was a five minute drive from the mall. It was an elegant looking restaurant, a michellin holder in fact. So I'
“Wow, Isabella, you eat a lot, huh?” I closed my eyes, hearing another annoying remark from Fiona. The whole time we’ve been eating she has done nothing but say veiled mean things about me. That I eat a lot, that I have poor manners, that I don’t have any etiquette. Can’t she just leave me alone for five seconds? I suddenly felt a strong call of nature. I stood up quickly, “I have to use the restroom,” I said, leaving hurriedly. I rushed to the cubicle and did my business. After I was done, I washed my hands and prepared to go back. And the moment I got out, I feel like my soul left my body when I saw Dominic standing by the door, looking at me with an unreadable expression. “Dominic, what are you doing here? This is the ladies,” I asked, but he didn’t answer. He just stared at me. “Dominic?” “Is he really you’re boyfriend?” He asked in a chilly tone. “Um, yeah,” I said. He walked towards me slowly, “Liar” he uttered. “When we were at the resort you told me me you
"So what will you do now?" Aiden asked as I tend to his bruise. "What else can I do? I'll just go look for another job. I'm sure I can find a job out there," I said, not saying the part where I almost puked blood just to land my first ever job. "If you want, my older brother runs his own company, maybe I can get you in," he said. "You don't have to do that, you have already done a lot for me," I declined. I don't want to give him the impression that I'm just using him. "Oh come on, his company gives great benefits, plus, he even offers to fund scholarships, it'll help you with your studies so you can finally go to college," he said, and I was taken aback for a second. "How did you..." "I can tell. You work full time at Dominic's company but you have a lot of books under your bed. It's really a no brainier," he shrugged and kept quiet. I looked down and indeed the books I bought were visible down there. This guy is something else, he's very keen and observant. And
"So let me ge this straight, you got fired the other day, then you got hired yesterday, and now you're moving out?" Kara said, walking back and forth while I sat down, looking at her going on and on like that for ten minutes now. "Yeah," I answered her, massaging my temples."And where are you moving again?" "To my boss's house," "Yeah... right, of course. And ummm...you agreed to it?" "Well, yeah," She has her hand on her waist, her face looking stressed. I know she's worried about me, not to mention I told her the truth why I quit."Isabella, not that I don think you can make it on your own. But this world is full of bad people. Why don't you just go back...""No," I stood up, "I can't go back. I'm finally free from their clutches, if I go back home it's like I'm admitting defeat to them. And I can't let them have that Kara, I just can't." I said to her and she covered her face with her hands as she sat down. "You know mom has been asking a lot about you. Why don't you go talk
Aiden was the one driving. It must've been half an hour before we reached their house, or rather it's more fitting to say the word 'mansion'. "Are you excited?" "Not more than you," "Don't worry, my brother just seem like a grumpy person but he is actually very nice guy," he said. I recalled me and Hayden's first interaction, and that image still remained stuck in my head. "Hey, are you listening to me?" Aiden tapped my shoulder. "Huh, yeah, what did you say?" I asked, my head still floating in the clouds. "I said you can get off now. Or do you want me to give you the princess treatment?" He scooched closer, batting hus eyes. "Shut up," I pushed his face away and opened the car door and got off. "Aiden," "Yeah?" "Is it really okay for me to live here?" I asked as we walked to the entrance. "Of course! I'd love to have you here," he muttered, raising his hands up. "And you're brother?" I asked, and his smile slowly faded. "Hmmm...well, he doesn't stay h
As agreed yesterday, me and Aiden went to his academy so I can register. And as expected, his school is not like any other school. It's the school for elite. The Golden Academy. As far as I know they are very much strict with the students they allow to enter. I haven't even passed my credentials yet but they've already accepted me. It's suspicious why such a prestigious academy would allow a girl with no background, but I can only speculate that Hayden has something to do with it. "I'm so excited to have you here with me. We're gonna have so much fun, I'll introduce you to my friends and I'll tour you around campus," Aiden said enthusiastically. He has such a golden retriever vibe. I bet a lot of girls are trying to pursue him. I filed a bunch of papers at the registrar first, and after that, Aiden and I walked around the oval looking at other students. And I swear I saw glares from other girls as they watched me and Aiden walk together. Sigh. I have not even started, ye
I walked towards Aiden and the others and even from afar I could tell that there was something weird going on. Ara was nowhere to be found, and Aiden’s friends were all looking at him, and mind you, not the good kind of look, the kind of look that put someone six feet under. What’s happening? I have a gut feeling as to what could have happened, and seeing Aiden’s expression getting uglier as I got closer only proved my suspicion. “Aiden, what is going on?” I asked him, and he turned his face away. His friend scoffed at his behavior and cursed at him. “This rotten bastard made Ara cry. She finally confessed her feelings, and instead of just rejecting her, he insulted her. Like what the hell, bro! She was your friend, at least you could have rejected her more nicely! Why the insults?!” Leon yelled, pulling his collar. “Leon! Stop that…enough!” Therese intervened and pulled Leon away. I also tried to help by pulling Aiden away, grabbing his arm, but he just swatted my hand away an
I didn't dwell much on what happened yesterday. I also didn't bother telling Aiden about my gut feeling that someone was following me since he'll surely make a big deal out of it. Also, I'm not really sure if someone was indeed following me since I didn't really take a good look and I didn’t see anyone, so I have no evidence. Today, I got up early since it will be my first day at work. Hayden told me that we will be meeting some important people and that I should dress up nicely. I wore the dress Aiden bought for me at the mall a few days ago and I guess I look the part now since Hayden told me we were going in a fancy restaurant. I didn't want to embarrass him so I did extra effort with my make up. I looked at the time and it was almost nine o'clock already. He's probably waiting downstairs for me to finish. Once I was satisfied with how I looked. I smiled at the mirror one last time before walking out of my room. I walked down the stairs and indeed Hayden wa
The sun was dipping lower, casting golden hues over the clearing when Hayden finally found us. I was mid-sentence, trying to explain something to Blake when Lianna spoke again, her voice insistent.“Will you really not be joining us? I’m sure Cassian will be happy if Blake is there.” she said, smiling while looking at our sons playing. “It’s just close friends, and I’m quite sure that Dominic won’t show up. He always come with us but always skips the celebration.” Before I could respond, Hayden’s voice cut through the air. “What celebration?”I turned to see him walking toward us, his sharp gaze flickering between Lianna and me. His presence shifted the energy between us, making the atmosphere a little tenser. Lianna’s expression wavered briefly before she regained her composure.Hayden upon getting closer, chuckled, as his gaze flickered to Lianna, who stood a little straighter. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”Lianna’s expression remai
After weeks of endless meetings, Hayden and I decided it was time to take a break. A real one. And I for one believe that we deserve this!The resort we chose was nestled on a secluded island, surrounded by nothing but the endless blue ocean and swaying palm trees. It was a place meant for relaxation, far away from the bustling city and its unrelenting chaos. And for the first time in a while, I could finally breathe.Sigh. This is the life.Blake, of course, was beyond excited. He practically bounced in his seat on the flight over, barely able to contain his excitement. And to make the trip even better, we had invited Aiden and Asher to join us. The moment we arrived, we were greeted with refreshing drinks and a warm island breeze. The resort was breathtaking—white sandy beaches stretched endlessly, crystal-clear waters lapped gently at the shore, and the villas were perched perfectly to give us a full view of the horizon. It was exactly what we
The morning started earlier than usual. I walked into my office. Hayden had reassured me that I’d do fine, that I just needed time to adjust, but time wasn’t something I had the luxury of wasting. The company was in a fragile state, and I needed to prove—both to myself and everyone else—that I was more than just my father’s daughter.If I won’t be able to show my worth, then everyone would turn against me. So I have one goal in my mind right now, and that is to gain everybody’s respect. As I settled behind my desk, flipping through documents, my door swung open. I sighed, already anticipating an interruption.“What is it?” I asked, not looking up. “You seem stressed,” a familiar deep voice greeted, laced with amusement.I tilted my head up to see Dominic standing there. He was dressed impeccably as always, a dark suit fitted to perfection, his piercing gaze locked on me as if I were some puzzle he was determined to solve.“What
Dinner at home was always something I always looked forward to, especially now that we were back in the country. Despite the uncertainty that loomed over our return, sitting at the table with Hayden and Blake made me feel happy, even if it is just for a while.Blake, as usual, was the liveliest at the table, swinging his legs back and forth on his booster seat while poking at his food with fascination. “Mama,” he said, looking up at me with those big, inquisitive eyes. “Why does uncle always look at you like that?”I blinked, glancing at Hayden, who raised an amused brow. “And how exactly does he look at me, honey?”Blake pursed his lips and squinted his eyes dramatically. “Like this!” He tilted his head slightly, furrowed his brows, and puffed his cheeks, trying to mimic Hayden’s usual expression when he gazed at me.Hayden let out a soft chuckle, reaching over to ruffle Blake’s hair. “Is that so? And what do you think that look means, buddy?”
[THIRD PERSON POV] The boardroom was filled with an air of tension so thick it was suffocating. Isabella sat at the head of the long mahogany table, her back straight, her expression unreadable. Hayden sat beside her, his presence a silent show of support. “This is ridiculous,” Gerald scoffed. “We all know she’s unfit to lead. She left the country for two years, abandoned her responsibilities, and now she expects to just waltz back in and take control?” He laughed bitterly. “What kind of company allows such recklessness?” Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, but before Isabella could respond, Dominic spoke, his voice calm yet laced with an authoritative edge. “I believe the real question is whether she has the capability to lead, not whether she took time away for personal reasons.” Dominic’s sharp gaze met Theordore’s, a silent warning behind his words. “And from what I’ve seen, Isabella has potential to surpass even her father, and mostly you, Theodore.” Hayden nodded.
The tension in the boardroom was suffocating. The moment Hayden and I stepped inside my father’s company, I could feel the weight of judgment pressing down on me. The disapproving stares, the hushed whispers, and the way uncle sat at the head of the table with an air of self-importance made my blood boil. My father had entrusted me with this company, and yet, here they were, treating me like an incompetent outsider. “Finally, you decided to show up," my uncle, Theodore,, sneered as he leaned back in his chair. His sharp eyes scanned me from head to toe as if I were some impostor daring to enter sacred grounds. "I suppose you've had your fill of playing house and decided to actually take responsibility.” Hayden’s fingers tightened around mine. I had been expecting this. "What are you implying, Uncle?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral, though my insides burned. "What I’m implying, my dear niece, is that you have been absent from the company for two years, yet you waltz back in and
The next day, I decided to meet up with my friends. It had been years since I last saw them, and after everything that happened yesterday, I needed to be around people who made me feel safe, just to get over this scary feeling I’m having. Hayden encouraged me to go, offering to watch over Blake for the day, but I insisted on bringing him along. My friends had never met him before, and deep down, I wanted them to see the little piece of my life that had kept me going these past years. We agreed to meet at a cozy café downtown, the one we used to frequent during our university days. As I stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia hit me. The warm scent of coffee, the low hum of conversation, the familiar laughter that once filled my days. It’s funny, really. I’ve only been in college with them for almost two months yet I feel closer to them as if I’ve known them my whole life. It’s not like I didn’t make friends on my school before going to their school, but the kind of friends I made th
The moment we stepped off the plane and breathed in the fresh air once again, a mixture of emotions surged through me. Nostalgia, fear, and anticipation were all tangled up in my chest, making it hard to focus. The last time I was here, I left behind a life that I thought I could never return to. And now, two years later, I was back—with my son. Blake held tightly onto my hand, his big, curious eyes scanning the bustling airport. "Mama, it's so big!" he gasped, his small fingers gripping me tighter. I smiled down at him, ruffling his soft brown hair. "It is, honey. It's where I grew up." Hayden walked beside us, pushing our luggage cart. "You two okay?" he asked, glancing between me and Blake. I nodded, though my fingers trembled slightly. "Yeah. It just... it feels surreal." I red, my ice fading as I travelled my eyes around. Hayden placed a reassuring hand on my back. "We’ll take it slow. There’s no rush." I smiled at him, nodding. My phone vibrated, and my friends, not to m
In a blink of an eye. Two years have already passed after we left the country and settled in a small town where Hayden’s mother grew up.Hayden had to do his job at home since he doesn’t want to leave us alone. However, there are occasional trips where he had to go back for some important meetings and negotiations. You might think I left on impulse, but no. We didn’t leave immediately that night. I stayed home, and fulfilled my promise not my father to take care of him till the end. Thankfully he passed away without experiencing any pain. One night, while he was sleeping, he didn’t wake up. All that’s left was a letter in his nightstand. It seems he had already prepared everything. It’s as if he knew what was going to happen that night. He was clutching a frame in his chest that showed an image of him and my mom when they were younger. He had on a bright smile, and she was looking at him with so much affection. When I stumbled into his room, I could only silently cry, but the pai