Seducing Mr. Perfect

Chapter Three

Isabel gritted her teeth together in a bid to prevent the increasing urge to scream or hit something. She stepped into her car and roared out of her parents driveway.

Why does it seem like her life would have been much better at the orphanage?

Her time at the orphanage had crippled her emotionally but the Gonzalez were topping it up and she was fed up. Yes she was grateful and she had spent her entire youth showing them that she was.

She had always wanted a grand passion. The kind of love that made her wake up at night and stare at her lover's face. The kind of love that made her look back 50 years later and not regret her choice. The kind of love that only gets married once. The kind that is generated by two souls in perfect harmony and almost only exists in drama.

A shudder ran down her spine as she thought of sitting in court to process a divorce. The world was talking about one divorce or the other and she had vowed to marry once. Her parents divorce had damaged them both and sent them both to their early grave.

She parked her car in the parking lot of her condo. Her mind drifted to her conversation with her father.

She blamed herself for blindly accepting. Why couldn't she speak up for herself when it came to her parents. Whenever she was in their presence, her mouth seemed to close shut.

She stepped into the spacious foyer as she pressed the red button for the elevator.

Marriage to Rafael would be on her terms. She strolled into her apartment and tossed her clutch and phone on her small counter at the door and padded to her kitchen. She opened her fridge, then took out a bottle of chilled soda and downed almost half in a breath.

She needed to strategize; a way to leave the shadows of her parents.

She shed her gown and walked in her bedroom in her underwear. Then she stripped to her skin and walked into her shower.

Two years wasn't as long as it seemed. If they shared separate bedrooms and stayed out of their private lives they wouldn't butt heads too much and probably see eye to eye on a few things.

She turned on the shower and stepped under the generous spray of hot water.

Would she survive two years with Rafael? He seemed very interesting from the stories in the tabloids.

And sexy.

Isabel closed her eyes and opened them slowly.

What was she thinking? Yes he was sexy but he was also very much gay. Too gay that he had avoided any controversy with both genders.

She parked her hair in a loose bun after her shower and dunned on her comfy cotton candy. Then she strolled into the kitchen and took out a cup of noodles from her shelf.

She returned to her room and opened up her laptop. She had a lot of files to go through before she relaxed her exhausted body.

She noticed the message light blinking in her answering machine. She stretched her to her bedside table and pressed the okay button.

"Isabel, Hi. It's Rafael. Call me when you hear this." He went ahead to call out a number. His voice was deep and accent was almost unnoticeable.

She played the message again and noted the number on her phone.

She stared at the number for a while before pressing the dial button. He picked up on the fourth ring.

"Isabel" she stated

"Hi Isabel, we need to talk. I've reserved a VIP table at Le Blanc for tomorrow. 7pm"

"A gentleman is supposed to ask if I was free first." She snorted

"I'll take note of that for next time. See you tomorrow." He cut the connection.

Isabel raised her hand as if to strike him from her phone.

The bastard.

*

Isabel arrived at the location ten minutes before their scheduled time, her contract in hand. Le Blanc was a five star restaurant in the heart of Spain. She had visited the place once with her parents and sister for a family dinner. She loved the ambience and the peaceful air in the place. It always seemed to calm her down.

The receptionist directed her to her table, it was separated from the entire restaurant, and he was already there, sitting with his legs crossed.

He had on black tailored trousers, a white shirt and a matching suit.

She took her time to take him in as she walked towards him. She had to agree that the tabloids didn't do justice to how he looked. He was a sight to behold - his black hair was long and it slightly touched his collar but no single hair was out of place. Chiseled jaw, deep set eyes and thin lips.

A scowl completed his aura as he stared intently at the Tablet he was holding. As she approached the table, she plastered a small smile on her face and sat down.

He didn’t even realize she had sat down until she coughed slightly to announce her presence. An arrogantly handsome man.

"Isabel, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Rafael… Rafael Castell-Salva." His voice felt soothing like rushing water and Isabel swore lightly under her breath. She wished they had just discussed over the phone because she couldn't understand why he seemed to affect her so much. His eyes were making her insides to melt and she didn't want to stop inhaling his scent - a mix of mint and sandalwood.

He shut down his tablet and faced her completely.

"Isabel Gonzalez. It's my pleasure."

"Would you like something to drink?"

"I believe it's perfectly okay for us to skip the social niceties and go straight to the point?"

He watched as a muscle tightened at the end of his jaw. He kept regarding her for a while

"Sure, let's do that" he concurred indolently. "Shall we eat then." He gestured to the waiter.

Isabel wanted to vent. What exactly was he playing at? They both knew why they were here. They could skip the sham of a dinner and discuss the reason they were here.

"According to my abuelo's will. I will pay off half your father's debt in exchange that you marry me." He started immediately and the waiter left them to get their order. She preferred that he didn’t pretend to misunderstand to get impatience.

"Why not let my father rot. I mean you gain nothing out of this marriage."

"My abuelo is very smart, if I don't accept the clause I lose everything to the house my abuela still lives in. She cherishes that house. I don't want to hurt her."

"Oh please. My father's company may be in debt but I have an inkling that you are sourcing for a merger. Or I'm I wrong?"

Rafeal offered a smirk and a lofty look.

"Your father's business still won't survive after I pay off the debt."

She stilled, suddenly alert. ‘What do you mean by that?’

"Your father made a few financial errors in recent months.’

Her shock was real and barely masked. Her father had said it was a failed business deal.

"Financial errors… I can't believe that"

"It was a ponzi scheme. He was too stubborn to understand that the tide did not always blow favorably in that line of business."

"A ponzi scheme. My father? Are you pulling my legs?"

Rafael's gaze didn’t waver.

"Your father risked it all. He refused to back down despite the numerous warnings from my abuelo. He bartered a deal with him when it went away to save Gonzalez shippings. You for the money."

The blood chilled in her veins Oh, dear God.

' The Gonzalez Shippings will need a large injection of cash if it is to remain solvent.’

‘How much?’ she demanded "How much does he owe?"

"Half a billion dollars."

That much?

Was she worth that much? Why would a man accept to pay that amount of money just to marry off his grandson.

In order for her to save the company, she had to marry Rafael.

Isabel took a calming breath though her heart still pounded in her chest.

"I still need to verify that you are telling the truth. My father never mentioned…"

"Here are some of the certified copies of all the relevant documentation." He brought out the documents from his suitcase and presented them to her.

Rafeal appeared like someone who forged ahead irrespective of the danger ahead. She wasn't surprised that he had prepared the documents beforehand.

She accepted the paperwork, and glanced over them. Reading each data and absorbing the information.

The tiny spark of hope that she would notice a discrepancy disappeared.

She placed the papers on the table and looked at him and met his hooded gaze.

"I would have been excited if this didn't include a marriage clause."

"But, it does."

"Yeah… Unfortunately for us"

On some level she understood that maybe his grandfather was not comfortable with the stories flying around. And since Rafael had neither denied it nor even been caught with a woman. He devised a devious plan and voila an arranged marriage for his son to preserve his image.

"What do you say Isabel?" His dark and unwavering eyes made his expression unreadable, as they regarded her.

She didn't have an option. Her father would rather die than watch his entire reputation collapse. She was the only thing standing between them and a life of shame and disgrace in the eyes of the whole world.

She was grateful to them for adopting her and giving her a home and like her mother said. It was the least she could do.

"It's not like I ever had a choice." She said with a strong and determined voice. She was not going to let the situation control her.

"I have some terms, if you don't mind."

"Go ahead"

"I want Gonzalez Shippings after the two years contract."

Rafeal nodded in agreement "Not much of an argument there."

"I want my own room… it's very important I maintain my personal space"

"If that's what you want."

She scowled

"Why do you seem agreeable?"

"I'm conceding to your demands, so that we can at least get over this as amicably as possible. Or do you want us to share a bed?" A faint smirk lifted the corner of his mouth.

‘Of course not.’ Her response held a certain air of uncertainty.

"I think we've reached consensus. I should leave." She picked up her bag and slung it on her shoulders.

"We're not done talking Isabel."

She paused. "What more do we have to discuss?"

"Wedding arrangements and some other relevant details… we should eat" he gestured to the waiter who had returned for a few minutes to serve them.

"A gentleman should let a lady make her choice of meal."

"You would have to teach me all this gentlemanly attitude you keep talking about."

Isabel stared at him from beneath her lashes. He was too in control of himself. She wondered if he even let loose and just lived his life. He was an utterly ruthless businessman and he had amounted to billions in just 10 years of starting his business.

Aside from his business, what was his essence? Aside from Carlos did he have any other friends? Would he make a good husband, a good lover?

She stopped her thoughts there.

Her marriage to Rafael had to be free of sentiments m. It was a business arrangement and it needed to remain so.

Their meal was beautifully presented, not that she expected anything less from Le blanc.

"We could hold our marriage ceremony next Saturday. I have already applied for a special license.'' Rafeal stated as he poured himself a glass of wine.

"Saturday. Isn't that too close?’ Why are we rushing this?"

"I don't see any reason why we should delay it."

"Let me have it" she signed her signature on the paper and handed it back to him.

"Can I leave now, I came with my car."

Rafeal stood up and waited for her to walk in front of him. They had barely touched their meal.

"I'll drive you home. I'll have your car delivered tomorrow."

"I don't…"

"Don't argue!"

"Do you have to be such an ass"

"I'm trying to be your gentleman."

Isabel was not prepared for the thrill that went up deep inside. She didn utter another word until he parked in her apartment's garage.

"Thanks for the ride." She opened the car door and was out before he could say "Good night."