Chapter Two: The Jacob Mansion
996 Words
Saturday arrived sooner than Bella expected.
Standing in front of her bedroom mirror, she adjusted the soft white summer dress she had chosen for the barbecue. It was simple yet elegant, falling just above her knees, perfectly matching the pearl earrings she wore.
A gentle knock echoed through the room.
“Come in,” Bella called.
Lisa stepped inside with a warm smile.
“You look beautiful, Miss Bella.”
Bella laughed softly.
“Thank you, Lisa.”
“You’ll make a wonderful first impression.”
“I hope so.”
Before leaving, Bella turned around.
“I probably won’t be coming home tonight. Please don’t wait for me.”
“I understand.”
Just then…
Ding Dong.
“The doorbell.” Bella smiled. “That must be Emmy.”
She hurried downstairs and opened the front door.
“There you are!” Emmy exclaimed before pulling Bella into a hug.
“You look gorgeous.”
Bella laughed.
“So do you.”
As Emmy stepped inside, she looked around the beach house in amazement.
“Seriously… your house is incredible. Living beside the beach? I’m officially jealous.”
Bella smiled proudly.
“My dad bought it for me before I moved here.”
“Then next weekend, I’m staying here.”
Bella folded her arms playfully.
“Only if you promise to spend the night.”
“Deal.”
The two girls laughed before heading outside, where a black Mercedes SUV was already waiting.
⸻
During the drive, the girls chatted nonstop.
Bella showed Emmy pictures of her family home in France.
Emmy stared at the enormous estate on Bella’s phone before letting out a dramatic gasp.
“Excuse me? You called me rich?”
Bella burst into laughter.
“It’s just my parents’ house.”
“Just?” Emmy looked at her in disbelief. “Bella… your family might actually be richer than mine.”
The girls couldn’t stop laughing.
Nearly twenty minutes later…
The SUV slowly passed through enormous wrought-iron gates.
Bella instinctively looked out the window.
Her smile faded into complete silence.
The Jacob estate was breathtaking.
A massive white mansion stood proudly in the center of acres of perfectly maintained gardens.
A marble fountain sparkled beneath the afternoon sun.
Luxury cars lined one side of the driveway—BMWs, Mercedes, a Ferrari, a Range Rover… even a vintage Aston Martin.
Bella blinked.
“Whose cars are those?”
“My dad’s.”
Bella slowly nodded.
“He has excellent taste.”
“He definitely has an unhealthy obsession with cars,” Emmy laughed.
The SUV finally stopped.
“This,” Emmy said proudly, “is home.”
⸻
The moment they stepped inside, two housekeepers greeted them politely.
“Welcome home, Miss Emmy.”
Emmy smiled before calling loudly,
“Mom! We’re here!”
Moments later, a graceful woman walked out of the kitchen, drying her hands with a towel.
She couldn’t have been more elegant.
Long dark hair.
A warm smile.
Kind eyes.
The moment she saw Bella, her face lit up.
“You must be Bella.”
Before Bella could even react, the woman gently hugged her.
Bella smiled politely.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Jacob.”
The woman immediately shook her head.
“Oh, sweetheart… don’t call me ‘Mrs. Jacob.’ That makes me feel ancient.”
Bella couldn’t help laughing.
“Then… what should I call you?”
“Maria.”
Emmy groaned dramatically.
“Mom… are you stealing my best friend already?”
Maria smiled mischievously.
“Of course.”
She slipped an arm around Bella’s shoulders.
“If she’s your best friend… she’s mine too.”
Bella instantly felt comfortable.
There was something about Maria that made people feel at home.
“I’m really glad I came,” Bella admitted.
Maria squeezed her hand gently.
“And we’re glad you’re here.”
She pointed toward the staircase.
“Go upstairs with Emmy. I’ll call you both once the barbecue is ready.”
Bella nodded.
“Thank you… Maria.”
The older woman smiled brightly.
“That sounds much better.”
⸻
Emmy had just taken Bella a few steps toward the staircase when a deep masculine voice echoed from upstairs.
“Maria?”
A pause.
“Babe?”
Bella instinctively looked up.
A tall man slowly descended the staircase.
He looked to be in his early forties.
He wore nothing more than charcoal gray sweatpants and a fitted black T-shirt that hugged his broad shoulders effortlessly.
A luxury watch rested around his wrist.
His sleeves were casually rolled up, revealing tattooed forearms.
His calm expression carried the effortless confidence of someone used to being in charge.
He hadn’t noticed Bella yet.
“Maria?” he called again with an amused smile.
“Where are you hiding?”
Maria laughed from the kitchen.
“I’m here!”
Only then did the man’s eyes shift toward the hallway.
His gaze landed on Bella.
For a brief second…
Silence.
Emmy smiled brightly.
“Dad.”
The man looked at his daughter.
“You must be Bella.”
He walked over with calm, measured steps before offering his hand.
“I’m Noah Jacob.”
Bella politely shook it.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jacob.”
His handshake was firm but respectful.
“Welcome to our home, Miss Conclin.”
“Thank you.”
For a moment, neither of them said another word.
Bella quietly studied him.
He’s… surprisingly serious.
Meanwhile, Noah reached a completely different conclusion.
She looks younger than I expected.
Before the silence could become awkward, Maria called from the kitchen again.
“Noah!”
He smiled faintly.
“I’m coming, babe.”
Turning back to Bella, he added politely,
“Make yourself at home.”
Then he walked away.
Bella watched him disappear into the kitchen before looking at Emmy.
“I thought your dad would be… stricter.”
Emmy laughed.
“Oh, trust me.”
“He is.”
- Writer
