Isabelle Rose Edward is your charming, beautiful and kind yet clever, witty and confident 23-year-old English girl looking for a way to make a name for herself without her family's influence.
An up-and-coming designer, she faces hardships as she st...
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"This is okay, right?" I whispered to myself, looking at the full length mirror in front of me and twirling for the third time.
"It's perfectly fine." I heard someone's voice and turned around to see Lance casually leaning against the door frame of my walk in closet.
I smiled at him and he smiled back.
"You look beautiful Belle." He sighed and I could see how tired he was from working overnight these days and then tackling the media with my...situation.
Is that what we're calling it now?
"I'm so sorry for everything, I didn't meant to be a burden." I whispered slowly but he heard me.
"It's alright, love. I'm just... confused. Why would you do that?" He asked me now standing straight.
"I... it was fake, so you don't need to worry about that part. Just a show." I sighed and he nodded, urging me to go on.
"He seemed like he needed help when that model came to him. So I fake-pecked him to make it seem like we were together. But then turns out she was related to..." I stopped midway, and Lance understood.
"I'm glad Adam was there to support me when he came around or I would've... I don't know. It wouldn't have been anything good." I said and gave Lance a small smile.
"Okay. If that's what you say, I believe you, because I trust you. But what about this morning? At the cafe? I heard everything B and it wasn't exactly pleasing. And someone even took pictures so there's that." He sighed deeply and gave me a glance, when his phone chimed and he straightened up.
"He's here. Come on, we'll talk about this later." He held out his hand and I took his arm, while he led me downstairs to meet our 'guest'.
I was walking down the stairs, looking down but then I looked up and saw Adam shaking hands with my father who looked a little hesitant.
Was that because of what I did?
He then looked up at me coming down and smiled, looking me up and down. Lance must've noticed, the way his arm tensed up.
We went down to him and Lance gave Adam a firm shake, both glaring at each other and neither backing down until Olivia came down squealing, making us all flinch.
"Oh Mr. Thorne! You're here, I've been waiting for you for so long now!" She came down and stood next to him while Josephine smiled at her daughter.
Ugh.
Olivia was wearing a skin-tight black dress that seemed a bit too revealing for a simple dinner like this. But then who was I kidding? This was Olivia for crying out loud.
Adam ignored her completely and followed Arthur towards the dining room where dinner had already been laid.
I walked in front with Lance but I could feel someone's gaze on me the whole time. On reaching everybody sat on their usual seats and I stood there, waiting for everyone to sit.
Shit, I should've just sat first.
I saw the only empty seat, next to Adam's. On one side was Olivia and on the other side would be me.
I glanced at Lance whose jaw was clenched as he motioned for me to sit. I felt Adam's cologne enveloping me as I sat and glanced at him. He was wearing the same clothes from this morning but still looked great.
We ate in silence except the usual clatter of forks and spoons against the plates and Adam's knee bumped mine.
I looked at him but he showed no emotion so I figured it must've been an accident. But he bumped his knee again and I looked at him smiling very faintly, and I bumped his in response.
Wait, I shouldn't be leading him on.
I cleared my throat and scooted my chair a few inches away from him.
"What are you doing?" Lance glanced up at me with a confused expression.
"Nothing." I replied and continued eating.
It was quiet, like the calm before the storm, until my father broke the silence.
"So, Adam, is it? I'm getting straight to the point here. What are your plans for my daughter?" My head shot to Adam, then my dad, who looked a bit too serious.
Olivia seemed a bit too excited for this.
Wait, he said daughter.
But he didn't specify which one. Adam seemed as confused as I was until Olivia broke the awkward silence.
"Yes, Adam, what are your plans for me, I'd like to know as much." She said batting her eyelashes at him and I chuckled, when everyone glanced at me, including Olivia who glared.
Adam gave me a thoughtful look before speaking.
"I'm sorry sir, I don't quite understand. Your daughter...?" He trailed off, waiting for my dad to clarify.
"I'm sure I wasn't speaking in tongues when I asked you what your intentions are for my angel of a daughter. You know your reputation precedes you. My daughter is too good for someone like you." My dad gave him a death stare and Adam smiled nervously.
"Yes well.. erm... I..." He stammered when Tristan nudged my dad a bit.
"Which one?" Tristan whispered to my dad who looked at him confused but nodded his head when he remembered he had two daughters.
Wow, classic, dad.
"Let me rephrase my question, Mr. Thorne. Keeping in mind your... ah... reputation." My dad stressed on 'reputation' a bit more than was needed.
"What intentions do you have for my daughter, Isabelle." I choked on my wine, when everyone's head turned to look at me.
"I'm okay." I coughed and wheezed, pushing my chair back and getting up, as Adam did the same to see if I was alright, but I motioned him to sit with my hands, still coughing.
"I'm sorry... Excuse me.. " *cough* "I need some air..." *cough* I walked out, still coughing.
"Well that was a surprising turn of events." Arthur mumbled but it was loud enough for everyone to hear, including me.
Indeed it was.
* * *
A surprising turn of events for Isabelle, her mind wanders to what intentions Adam has for her. Is she another conquest in his life, or someone more important?
