Chapter 5

( a few minutes ago)

Grandma Salome was sewing a pair of pants  when she heard someone calling. She went out to check who it was. A very tall and  good-looking man was standing  outside. Behind him was a red car. He smiled when he saw her. She knew that he wasn’t just an ordinary man. Everything about him screams money and fame.

“Good afternoon,” he greeted her.

His voice, just like the rest of him was  attractive.  She greeted him back and asked him who he was looking for. She had a strong feeling of course that it was Isabelle. Before replying, he got a basket of fruits and a bouquet of roses from his  flashy car. She sensed that he came here to woo her granddaughter. Her heart thumped.  There was such a thing   called a woman’s intuition. She felt that this man would cause an immense change in Isabelle’s life. She sighed and just let him inside the house.  Although she was worried about Isabelle, she couldn’t  be rude to this man. He was after all acting respectfully. When they were both seated, she started to ask him questions.

“Where did you meet Isabelle?”

“At the beach in San Fabian,’ he answered politely.

“She is probably on her way home now. She usually go home  at 4:30 but I asked her to get me something so she is a little late.”

“I hope it’s okay with you if I wait for her,” Luke sounded hopeful.

She sighed,“I know why you are here but I just want to know why you chose to woo my granddaughter? I am sure that  you can have any woman in a snap of a finger so  why Isabelle?” she asked directly. 

"Isabelle is different," he said honestly.

"That I have to agree. We are different from you.  You are way out of  her league. As you can see, we  live in a poor community which I am sure is very different where you come from. You can have any woman. More beautiful and smarter than Isabelle, so please spare her. I don’t want her hurt.  I am asking you  to just go find someone else,” she said almost like a plead.

"I give you my word that I will not hurt her.”

She  was about to reply but  she heard a vehicle stopped in front of the house. 

***

"Let’s go Issa,” Isabelle  heard Brett said but her feet seemed to have been stuck on the ground.

She didn’t want the two men meeting face-to-face but it would be impolite if she won’t invite Brett in so she just nodded. She let him take her elbow as they walked together to her grandma’s house. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Luke seated across from her grandmother. He looked so hot though he seemed to be scowling. He  was clean-shaven maybe to impress her grandma. She couldn’t deny the fact that he still  looked good but she liked him better with a stubble. She almost scolded herself because she shouldn't be thinking about things like that. He stood up. His eyes  went automatically at Brett’s hand on her elbow.

“Thank you for bringing Isabelle home, Brett,” came her grandmother’s voice.

"That’s alright Grandma Salome. If Issa will only allow me, I want to  pick her up and take her home every day. I always want her to come home safe,” Brett said with a smiling voice.

Her grandmother smiled at him. They were near the entrance door but she couldn’t seem to move her feet to go further to the room. Maybe her grandmother sensed that she wasn’t comfortable as Luke was just staring at her with a poker-face.

“Luke  has been waiting for you for a few minutes Isabelle.”

She just nodded. Her eyes went from Luke to her grandmother.

"Aren’t you going to introduce us Issa?” Brett asked.

She swallowed nervously. She looked at him  then slowly at Luke. The two men were almost glaring at each other. Thet was no denying that Luke was hotter. He was also taller than Brett.

“I will leave you three for a while. I need to ask Tina, our neighbor something,” they heard Grandma Salome said. She didn’t want to leave Isabelle but she  was sure  that Luke wanted to talk to her alone. She and Isabelle would talk later.

After Isabelle’s grandmother left, the situation had became more awkward. She had no choice but to introduce the two men.

"Mr. Contero, this is Brett. He is Joyce’s brother.”Luke’s lips thinned. A muscle jerked in his left jaw.

"Brett, Joyce and I met Mr. Contrero at the beach a few days ago. " 

She felt her throat went dry as she looked at Luke’s impassive face.  She didn't like to see him having such an  expression  because she felt somewhat afraid.

***

She couldn't barely remember how Brett left. She couldn’t get over the fact that Luke was in their small  living room.

"Can we sit down now my Isabelle?" he suddenly asked.

She felt a bit embarrassed because of her rudeness. She forgot to offer him  to sit because she spaced out. She should really take hold of her emotions. His very handsome face was affecting her equilibrium. She nodded and sat.  Luke occupied the longer wooden sofa. She couldn't help but frown  as she eyed the expensive fruits in a basket and lovely looking flowers which she was sure were expensive.

"Do you like them?”  he asked.

“You didn't  need to bother,” She saw him clenched his jaw.

"I could give you much more, my Isabelle," he said tonelessly.

He was looking at her intensely which made her really uncomfortable.

"I know how rich you are but I don’t want you giving me anything,”she said as a defiance.

He leaned on the wooden  sofa and put his arms on its back. He looked  cool and relaxed unlike her, "I want to give everything to you and no one can stop me."

She looked at him with sharp eyes, "In exchange for what?” she asked though she had a pretty good idea what his answer would  be.

Maybe she wanted to confirm what she was thinking. He smiled knowingly. She wanted  to throw something at his handsome face. He  then leaned forward . He rested his elbows above his knees then  he clasped his hands together.

"You,"  He mumbled as he gazed at her.

Her back straightened. Though  she already knew  what he would say, the way he said it gave her goosebumps, "Are you really this disrespectful?!"  she asked angrily.

His forehead creased, "Why are you asking me that?"

"You sound like you are buying me!” she accused and stood up.

His frowned deepened and he also arose from the wooden chair, "I didn't mean it that way,” he said gently.

"You can go now Mr.Contrero." 

He  came near her so she made two steps back. He  stopped moving towards Isabelle.  He knew she was still mad at him because he kissed her. Before coming here, he  decided to change his tactics. Isabelle was unlike any woman. He needed to make extra effort to get her. He believed that harvesting the fruit of one’s labor brought a great feeling of satisfaction. That  was how he thought  when it comes to business as well. This would be the first time that he would be doing this. Only for Isabelle. It was  something new to  him and he would have a blast doing it.  He considered this as an adventure.

"Before I leave I want to apologize for what happened yesterday in my car. I am sorry. There won’t be a repeat of that, I promise. And don't ever think that I am trying to buy you.I just want to give you whatever you fancy. I want to make you happy in any way I can." he said sincerely. That was what he really felt.  He would give everything she wanted.

"I will be happy if you leave me alone," Isabelle said.

His face became formal again, "I will do anything to make you happy.except that. And sooner or later, you will admit to yourself that the feeling is mutual, my Isabelle,"  He said confidently.

He should give her a little time to adjust to him. He didn't want her to run away from him again. He could make the adjustments this time. She was worth the wait and effort.

***

Isabelle’s  grandmother talked to her that night. She warned her about the dangers of being with a man like Luke Contrero. She  knew in her heart that she was only after her welfare and she didn’t want her to be heartbroken.  Now she was at the university cafeteria but she couldn’t stop thinking about  her conversation with her grandmother. She also had no clue why Luke was pursuing her. She wasn’t special or anything. He was causing problems in her life  and she wished that he would stop. If other women would find it very flattering getting his attention and interest, not her. She wanted to achieve all her dreams.

“Hey why so serious? Are you thinking of  a man?” Joyce’s voice was full of laughter as she sat across from her.

They were in the school’s cafeteria.

“Of course not. I am just thinking what my grandma told me last night,” she replied with a timid smile.

"Well I  am sure she told you how you could preserve yourself and be a spinster all your life,” Joyce giggled and she just shook her head and beamed.

They stopped laughing when they saw Carl. He was walking  but he was looking on the ground.

"Geez! It’s not a sunny day so why is someone in dark glasses?" joked Joyce.

It was  weird that he was wearing sunglasses when the weather was gloomy and drizzly. When he raised his head  and saw them, he hurriedly went to the opposite direction.  She and Joyce exchanged glances.

"What’s wrong with him? He used to run to you excitedly  when he sees you.  He is acting really strange,”  her friend commented.

She just shrugged her shoulders  then rose.

"Let’s go. We don’t want to be late." she told her.

(After a few hours)

She was alone and was about to leave the university when she halted. She saw Luke’s sports car  next to the college’s big  gate. Some students also stopped and were  seemed to be waiting for the owner to get off. She gaped when the door opened. The tall frame of the most good-looking man with the most delicious body she had ever seen, came out. She could  sense that even the people around  gasped and were also staring at him. He had a sexy grin as he walked to her.

"Hello, my Isabelle," he drawled.

She chewed the inside of her cheek when she felt that  the women behind her started whispering to one another while looking at him.

"W-why are you here?" she asked him.

His grin became wider which added to his already  very hot looks, "I’m here to pick up my girlfriend," he said casually.

She covered her mouth with her hand with what he said. She looked around her. All eyes were on them! She felt light-headed. She wasn’t sure if it was because of embarrassment or  the feeling of giddiness.