CHAPTER 4

Isabella walked into her apartment, dropping her shopping bags on the floor. "Time for a shower," she sighed, heading to the bathroom. As she kept thinking of what happened today at the boutique.

"Hey, I'm back! Isabella, are you home?" James called out, entering the apartment.

Isabella wrapped herself in a towel. But as she turned the corner, she collided with James.

"Ah! Oh no!" she screamed as her towel fell.

"I didn't see anything, Isabella. I swear," James assured her, quickly turning around.

"Get out! Just get out!" Isabella exclaimed, hastily picking up her towel.

"Isabella, I—"

"Please, James! Just leave!" she pleaded.

James nodded and backed away. "I'm sorry, I'll go to my room."

Isabella slammed the door shut. She dressed hastily and took a few deep breaths to calm down.

"What's wrong with me?" she muttered.

As she headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner, after cooking she set the table and James emerged from his room.

"I didn't ask you to cook for me," he said gruffly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Isabella asked.

"It means you didn't have to go to the trouble, all I'm asking of you is for you to stay in your lane, do what you're told to do and get paid" James replied harshly.

"It's no trouble. I wanted to," Isabella said calmly.

 "Thanks, but I'll eat out and about what happened earlier, I'm sorry about it and I promise you, I didn't see anything." he said.

"Why aren't you eating my food? What's wrong? Please let's not talk about what happened earlier." Isabella asked.

"Nothing's wrong. I just need some time alone, when you're done eating, let me know." James said heading back to his room.

"Why?" Isabella called out.

"We need to discuss things ahead of my father's birthday party," James replied.

"What things?" Isabella asked.

"Getting our story right. No errors," James said through the door.

Isabella's confusion grew. "What's going on, James?"

"Just be ready to discuss it," James said firmly.

Isabella sighed and continued eating. As she finished, she knocked on James's door.

"Come in," he said.

Isabella entered. "What's this about getting our story right?"

"My father's birthday party is tomorrow. We need to be on the same page," James explained.

"Why?" Isabella asked.

"What do you mean why? Are you trying to blow this off? Is that your plan? Look Isabella, we need to get our story right because he's expecting to meet you and our story needs to be convincing," James said.

Isabella sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

James handed her a sheet of paper. "Memorize this."

"How we met, our first date, our first kiss, favorite thing about me, things I do and the rest of them.”

"This is ridiculous, I thought we were supposed to discuss this together? How am I supposed to memorize all of these within hours?" Isabella protested.

James's face hardened. "I thought you were intelligent or are you that daft?"

Isabella hesitated. "No."

James nodded. "Good."

As they pored over the details, Isabella's unease grew.

"What if we slip up?" she asked.

"We won't, you can take it to your room and go over it, I've got work to go to tomorrow and by evening we'll prepare for the birthday party." James assured her.

She made breakfast for herself the next morning, as she woke up and didn't find her James. She did the chores at home and headed out to see Miranda at the hospital.

"Hey, Miranda! How are you feeling?" Isabella asked, entering the hospital room.

"Better," Miranda smiled weakly.

Isabella sat beside her. "That's great! The surgery went well, then? You're looking so much better.

"Yeah. The doctor says I need to rest for a long time before I can be discharge," Miranda replied.

"Thank God." as she sighs relieved.

Miranda's eyes narrowed. "Bella, you still haven't told me how you afford the surgery?"

Isabella hesitated. "I, uh, got a promotion at work, remember I told you I was going to get a promotion at work soon."

Miranda raised an eyebrow. "Yeah true, I remember now. That's amazing!"

Isabella forced a smile. "Yeah. Just lucky, I guess."

Miranda looked skeptical. "You're sure everything's okay?"

 "Yes, everything's fine, you need to stop worrying about me and focus on getting better." she replied with a faint smile.

“Yeah I will, how is Mia doing? She hardly comes to check on me.”

“Sorry my darling, she's doing great, it's just work and she always send her regards” Isabella assures her.

Soon, her phone rang, her heart sank. The party. 

"Time flies," Isabella said, glancing at her watch.

Miranda frowned. "You have somewhere to be?"

Isabella stood up. "Yeah. I...have an appointment."

Miranda's eyes sparkled. "A date?"

Isabella laughed nervously. "No, nothing like that."

Miranda pouted. "You're always keeping secrets from me."

Isabella smiled. "Not secrets, just...life."

As Isabella hugged Miranda goodbye, and rushed out of the hospital room, her heart racing with every passing mile. She couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that settled in the pit of her stomach. What would James do when she got home? Would he be angry?

"Where were you?" he demanded, his voice firm but laced with a hint of annoyance.

"I...went to see my sister," Isabella stammered, trying to find her footing.

James's expression darkened. "You left without telling me. Why?"

Isabella hesitated, searching for the right words. "I didn't think it was necessary. I just wanted to check on her after the surgery, besides when i woke up, you already left for work and here you are finding fault in me for exactly what you did."

James's jaw clenched. "You're entitled to me, Isabella. Moreover, you were sleeping when I was going to work, you should know better than to just leave without a word. What if something happened to you?"

Isabella's eyes stung from the harsh tone. "I'm sorry. I didn't think—"

"You never think," James cut in, his voice rising. "You just do whatever you want, whenever you want. That's not how this works, Isabella."

Isabella's anger rose, but she tried to keep it in check. "I know what I have, James. And I'm grateful. But that doesn't mean I have to surrender my freedom."

James's eyes flashed. "Freedom? You call this freedom? You're living in luxury, somewhere you've never lived your entire life and you can't even follow simple rules."

Isabella's voice rose. "That's not fair, James. I'm trying to make this work."

James's face twisted in disgust. "Trying? You're not even trying. Just get ready for the party. We need to leave in an hour and remember our story."

Isabella nodded, tears pricking at her eyes. She felt like she was walking on eggshells, never knowing when James's temper would flare up.