CHAPTER 1- The Meeting

FLASHBACK

“Isabel, come here darling,” my mother said smiling.

My eight year old self turned my attention away from the awesome gifts that laid on the table in front of me. I had been going through some of the gifts even though mother told me not to, but hey, it was my birthday! I made my way over to my mother who was with my father, they were both standing next to a man who I instantly recognized as my Uncle Robert and a young boy who I definitely did not recognize. The boy did not look anything older than ten or eleven. He was also holding a box which he seemed to be struggling with quite a bit which made me giggle silently.

“Come say hi to Uncle Robert,” my father said smiling down at me.

I immediately ran over to my uncle excitedly who picked me up and hugged me.

“You made it to my birthday!!”

“Of course I did, I wouldn’t miss it for the world sweetheart,” Uncle Robert smiled. “I got you a really cool present.”

“What is it?” I asked excitedly.

Uncle Robert put me down and turned to the little boy still standing awkwardly next to him; he put his hands inside the box and brought out a small adorable English Bulldog.

I squealed excitedly as I carefully took the puppy in my arms, “Thank you so much Uncle Robert!”

“Anything for you Izzy,” Uncle Robert nodded.

The little boy was still having some trouble holding up the box even though it has already been emptied. He was so clumsy that the box fell right out of his hands.

“Noah!” Uncle Robert hissed.

“Sorry,” the little boy said quietly.

My dad cleared his throat, “Isabel we also want to introduce you to Uncle Robert’s son.”

“You have a son?! I gasped in shock, “but you don’t have a wife.”

Uncle Robert chuckled, “You’re right Izzy, I don’t have a wife but it doesn’t mean I still can’t have a son. This is Noah.”

I turned to look at the boy next to him and I could see a lot of resemblance.

Uncle Robert lightly pushed Noah forward, “Introduce yourself, boy.”

Noah pursed his lips as he set the box down on the floor. “Nice to meet you all, my name is Noah.”

“Noah what?” Uncle Robert pushed.

“Noah Wolfe,” the boy sighed.

I frowned slightly at the boy’s strange behavior, and what was even stranger to me was the fact that Uncle Robert actually had a son. I mean, from what I know, he has never had a wife or even a girlfriend that we know of, so how did he come to have a son?

“Hi, I’m Isabel.”

“Noah why don’t you go along with Izzy,” my mum suggested, “there are some other children by the swing set.”

Noah looked up at his dad who gave him a pointed look. He knew he had no option so he followed me towards the swing set where a whole bunch of kids were playing.

“So how come I’ve never heard of you,” I said as I cuddled into my new puppy.

“No one has,” Noah shrugged off.

“How old are you then?” I asked.

“Eleven.”

“Well, I turned eight today,” I said smiling.

“Oh cool, happy birthday,” Noah said.

"How are you Uncle Robert's son anyways?" I continued to ask out of curiosity, "He doesn't have a wife or a girlfriend."

"I'm what you would call a bastard," Noah grimaced as he said that word.

I gasped "My mum said that's a bad word."

"That's because it is," he said, "My mother and Father had a thing going on at one point and then I was born. Robert didn't want anyone to know of me, I think he was ashamed."

I could see the sadness on his face, "Where's your mum now?" I asked.

"She died four months ago," he said quietly.

I felt so sad for him, I could never imagine a world without my mother.

"I'm sorry about your loss," I said.

Noah just shrugged.

"Are you sad?" I asked curiously.

Noah sighed and nodded slightly.

I brought him into my arms and gave him a tight hug like my mum does to me when I'm sad.

"You'll be fine," I smiled as he leaned into the hug.

END OF FLASHBACK

That was the first and only time I remember having an actual conversation with Noah. The very last time I saw him was about three or four years ago after Robert passed away from alcohol poisoning. My family and I were there for the funeral and tried to offer our love and support to Noah but it was refused. Noah didn’t even shed a single tear at all throughout the whole service and practically alienated himself from everyone.

The truth was my Dad and Robert were best of friends, practically brothers since high school. But when Robert died, so did the relationship with the Wolfe’s.

But yet here I was in Noah’s office, awaiting his arrival.

I heard the door being opened and in walked the one and only Noah Wolfe looking as dashing as ever.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long,” he said as he took off his shades, “I just got out of a meeting.”

When Robert died, Noah basically inherited everything, and from what I’ve heard around, he had become a very successful CEO. Even more successful than his father.

“You’re actually lucky to have caught me in town. I’m usually handling all my business in Los Angeles,” Noah said as he went over to the mini bar on the other side of his office to pour himself a drink, “Would you care for one?”

“No, thanks,” I said softly.

"Suit yourself," He shrugged and took a sip from his drink, "So what can I help you with Miss Coleman?"

"Please call me Isabel," I said.

He chuckled darkly and took a sip from his drink, "I haven't heard from your family in a few years, so excuse me for being curious as to why you're here, Miss Coleman."

I bit my lower lip nervously. How the hell was I going to go about this?!

"Well?" Noah questioned impatiently, "Look I don't mean to be rude but I am running on quite a tight schedule."

I took a deep breath, "I need your help with something.......something very crucial."

"And what exactly might that be?" He asked.

"I need a loan," I finally spat out.