Isabella

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

“Ryan, how are you? And how's your friend, Carlos? He seems a bit distant, is everything okay with him?”

Santiago's words poured out in a rush, one coming after the other. He didn't wait for an answer before asking the next.

Ryan took a deep breath, steading his tone.

”Carlos is good, I believe.”

Santiago didn't sound convinced.

“Have you been with him? He's been away for eight days because of work, he's been working on a sensitive case.”

“Not really, I haven't seen him,” Ryan lied without flinching and also being protective of his friend. He also knew too well the kind of questions that would follow if he told the truth.

Santiago sighed, his worry now became more audible.

Ryan added, "I'm in Malate currently but we haven't met but we should link up before I leave.”

“That's good, don't take your eyes off him.”

Santiago said almost like an order.

At this point, Ryan wanted to remind Santiago that Carlos was twenty four. A grown man capable of making his decisions, but he knew it wouldn't matter.

Santiago had always been overprotective of Carlos.That suffocating closeness made Carlos always look for an escape root from him but he knew they both had a very close relationship, which Ryan envied.

His own father never showed him such attention. His stepmom had always made his dad misunderstand him ever since she came into the picture and he was already used to that.

“I will do my best.” Ryan said as politely as he could.

When Isabella got the details of her next client, she was a little surprised and secretly excited. It was Carlos Fernandez. Isabella didn't think she would see him again after our last encounter. There had been a tension between them, an unspoken chemistry.

He wouldn't just be booking if he didn't want them to get intimate. "It had to be this time," Isabella said to herself.

Her phone buzzed, it was Leo. His voice came through and was sharp.

“No excuses today," Leo warned.

“Someone else stood in for you yesterday. This next client pays so well, we can't afford to lose him.”

“I won't disappoint this time,” she replied.

“Good.”

There was a pause.

“Manuel will drive you. You will also be joining the boss’s team this afternoon to distribute food items and toiletries to the university students.”

Isabella paused for a second, she remembered Rosalinda mentioned it.

“You will be back before 4pm to get ready for your client. The boss warned that the few selected ladies should all look well dressed and excited."

He hung up without waiting for her reply, not like her reply was actually needed.

Isabella really loathed going for such events. The fake smiles, staged excitement and all, but she had no choice. It was something the boss does oftentimes, and Isabella was always among the ladies who accompanied him.

She quickly selected her outfits, one for the outreach and the other for the night. Her appointment with Carlos was for 8pm.

They were eight ladies that were selected from the agency that visited De LA Salle university.They went with bundles of food items and toiletries. Miguel was given a few minutes to address the students gathered in the auditorium. Isabella and others were asked to sit in the reserved seats.

She could feel the way the students' eyes were on them, admiring them and wishing they could be in their place. If only they could hear their silent cries, praying for freedom from this monster proudly before them.

Miguel began, his voice filled with calculated empathy.

“I have once been like you, exactly where so many of you are, lonely, no one to help, homeless, sick parents, scared, abused, impoverished. I know how it feels and that's why my agency is giving ten students scholarships from this school.”

The cheering and clapping of hands interrupted his speech. Beside him stood his wife, who was shedding tears. The girls also played their part. They faked smiles and hugged anyone that wanted to hug them.

People pushed forward wanting selfies with Miguel, some pushed their way to the front asking to speak with him privately. The bodyguards tried to stop them, but Miguel asked that he let them come to him.

Isabella stood silently, watching and observing. How can a man be so cruel and still feign kindness and empathy?

He had mastered the art of pretence beneath a cold heart. Was his wife unaware? Or were the rumors true? That she was in full support of what he was doing and they both pioneered it together.

Miguel had a brief private session with those who wanted to see him, handing out his contact with those asking them to see properly in his office. The school and many other institutions trusted him so there was nothing to be worried about. They were safe in his hands.

He announced the other schools he will also be speaking with before he left the meeting with his wife accompanied by his bodyguards.

Isabella and the girls were driven back to the lodge immediately.

News about Miguel was all over the media. The comments were glowing, full of praise, how he has impacted their lives. Isabella read through trying to find a negative comment but there wasn't.

At that point, she knew it would be hard to be free from this beast.

Isabella was intentional about how she looked that evening. She tried to look very irresistible.

Manuel, her usual driver, led her to the Imperial Royale hotel. Carlos' personal assistant was already waiting for her at the parking lot.

“Hi Ms Bella,” he greeted politely, leading Isabella to where his boss was.

“Thank you,” Isabella responded with excitement in her voice.

She sighted Carlos and another man.

He smiled brightly immediately he saw her like someone who was starved of his lover.

“Miss Bella, come right here, " Carlos said, motioning to the chair beside him.

“Thank you,” Isabella muttered.

“Ryan, this is Miss Bella, and Bella meet Ryan, my buddy.”

Isabella forced a smile. The sentence that played in her head was, “ this is Bella, the prostitute.”

“Hello Bella,” Ryan said, smiling at her.

His smile made her wonder what these two must have discussed about her. Isabella felt so ashamed for the first time that she was a prostitute. Something she never cared about before.

“Isabel, make yourself comfortable.”

Carlos said interrupting her thoughts

She smiled and stared at the full table.

It was filled with luxury sea foods, chicken, veggies, foie gras and bottles of Spanish wine.

Isabella ate quietly as the two men chatted and laughed over things. She wondered what would happen after the meal? Will she get the opportunity to be alone with Carlos or was it going to be a shared night?

“Isabella, are you alright?”

He noticed the change in her mood.

“Sure, I'm alright," she replied, forcing another smile wondering how this new client reads her like a book when they had only met once.

Later, Ryan stood, adjusted his polo, and said his goodbye.

“Man, I have got to hit the road now, you know I really do need some time alone. I will be going back to Quezon in three

days.”

“That's true, Carlos nodded, we will definitely catch up before you leave or I will see you when I return to Quezon city.”

Isabella immediately calculated. Carlos doesn't stay permanently in Malate. he's probably on a visit or work related. But at least, she will have some time with him that night.

“I didn't know you would want me back after the last time,” Isabella said immediately Ryan left.

“Why would you think that? Because nothing happened between us?”

“Not that, you paid so much the last time. I didn't think you would want to pay again.”

Carlos really amused Isabella all through the dinner time.The chemistry and emotions she felt between them was real, but she couldn't show it. Her job didn't allow feelings.

After dinner, they went to his apartment. He said he was going to study for a while. Isabella cleaned up and waited for him but she eventually slept off. Isabella woke up in the middle of the night to meet this man lying close to her but not too close, he was deeply asleep.

She placed her palm and stroked her fingers on his bare chest and moved closer to him, he woke up instantly and stared at her softly, he didn't outrightly reject her.

“Isabel, you need to sleep, you really looked tired when you walked into this hotel.”

Isabella immediately obeyed.

“Okay,” she replied pulling the duvet to cover myself .

Part of her was excited about the extra money she will be getting and she was also excited that Carlos was tender towards her.

Isabella's phone buzzed interrupting her thoughts.

it was Rosalinda calling, she knew she was calling to check up, so Isabella intentionally ignored the call.

Then her message came in.

“Bella, something just happened now, the new girl was shot.”