It was around nine in the morning, Isabella woke up from her bed to go through her daily routine before walking towards the dining table to have the breakfast left for her by Helena.
Isabella gazed around the house to realise her friend was already gone to her office and as her sight ran across the living room, she noticed her daughter sitting on the sofa in a lazy position doing something. Isabella focused her sight a bit more only to find Tina playing some video games on her mobile and heed nothing since she always did the same when she's bored with watching
the television.
Isabella silently had her breakfast before strolling into the living room and sat next to her child.
"Mom...I found one announcement from some Asian company. There's a competition about interior designing the same thing you always loved. Wanna go?" the child asked as she noticed her mother walking towards her.
"In How many competitions you want me to participate? You think I'm some master to run around and show off my skills?" Isabella said in annoyance as she picked the remote to watch the recent events happening in the country.
"Dubois family company crossing borders. Recent interactions with Asian firms" Isabella saw a news headline title, the instant the screen brightened but didn't think much because at present she wasn't concerned about their progression and expansion. She was solely and deeply focused all on the competition she has registered. She knew she can't rely on and trouble other people for her personal conflicts with two big companies and can only go all on her own.
A reporter's rambling continued from behind and Isabella lazily changed the channel to watch other news when a window popped with a news report 'Ace to enter Europe with their competition starting from next month'
The headlines on the screen mentioning the company's past history and the details of the competition. Isabella looked dumbly at the screen.
The child noticed her mother and watched the TV screen showing a set of pictures of a man and few titles heads mentioning the competition organised by him. The child looked more dumbfounded than the mother but soon returned to senses.
"Mommy...Are you worrying about the competition?" the child called as she found her mother distracted for some reason on seeing the news of the competition.
"Not really... I'm just wondering if I can catch up with those people. I shifted lanes to fashion but they continued on their original stand that they're always confident about" Isabella sighed and shook her head in helplessness as she found her decisions too hasty and situations too complicated for her to proceed further with confidence.
"Mommy..I told you there's this another competition from a big company. Also that company's located in the same country as the previous company you registered for their competition. Just compete in both. You can speed up your progress" the child explained in her childish voice. Her explanation sounded more like some enlightenment to Isabella but the thought her child had was even more unreliable.
"No...I can't put myself in two boats simultaneously. I'll drown completely if something goes wrong" Isabella shook her head negatively.
"I know you would say something like this..." the child sighed and wanted to continue speaking but a call from Isabella's mobile disrupted her.
"Mommy... It's an unknown number. You want me to pick the call" the child said as she gazed at the mobile in her tiny hands.
"Huh?" Isabella looked dumbfounded.
'No one knew my number. Who would call me? Must be a spam' Isabella thought and shook her head notifying her child to ignore the call.
But contrast to her mother's words, the child still thought it's better to pick the call before she misses it.
"Hello..." the child said.
Isabella was infuriated as her child didn't listen to her and moreover voluntarily started a conversation like a professional. But as seconds passed and when she heard her child mumble a person's name she knew, she realised the caller must be that man. She was surprised as she never thought him to call her directly but before she could return to her senses and grab her mobile, "My family picture is incomplete. Can I borrow you as my father?" her child said in an extreme sweet voice making her feel goosebumps arise on her skin.
'Gosh...this devil started again'
"Hey...Tina. Give back my mobile right now" Isabella snatched the mobile and coughed before speaking awkwardly.
"Mr. Lee. Sorry. My child's a bit too naughty"
The man who at first looked perplexed and dazed on hearing the childish voice, brought his mind back to focus on reality.
"Hello Bella" the man simply greeted but his words sounded way too informal than the way he once did calling her 'Miss Isabella'
"Mr. Lee.." Isabella wanted to say something but she couldn't bring out any proper words.
She thought for a few seconds to speak some random nonsense but she a heard a voice before she said her words.
"You can call me Eric or Lee Min Jun. No need for formalities" the man said in a language she barely used but she realised he was asking her to be casual with her.
Everyone in the business world knew the man was a mixed race orphan who was adopted by an Asian family and only she knew it well that very family was closely related to her maternal family.
The Lee family that adopted Eric and her maternal Min family were decades old allies and business partners of an international company.
She was purposefully avoiding interactions with all people close to any of her family members but the man she least expected to contact her was here speaking with her like an old friend.
"Okay.." Isabella gave a simple reply.
"Why did you enter my competition again? Just for fun as before?"
"I..I.." Isabella thought it was better to answer truthfully to what she was questioned but as she opened her mouth, her words got stuck in her throat . She suddenly feared to speak about the reality of her dire situation when she remembered how she harshly rejected his outstanding offer five years ago while boasting too much about her skills.
She now can't say shamelessly that she's stuck in such a helpless position, she badly needs some support to deal with the people who made her suffer.
She hesitated for a few seconds before lying bluntly "Of course, it's all for fun. You think I'm free to waste my time on your petty competitions"
"So you wouldn't team up with me even if you win the competition again. Alright. I don't like people who participate half-heartedly. I'll cancel your registration right away" Eric said in a single flow before ending the call.
'Shit...I'm done' Isabella cursed herself for being too stupid.
A deep sigh and the depressed look her mother displayed made the child to realise that something wasn't right.
"Mom...what happened?" the child dropped herself down from the seat she occupied and patted her mother's head.
"Eric cancelled my registration" Isabella said in a dull and lifeless voice before leaning back to the seat.
"Mom.... Don't worry. Everything will be alright" the child said in a excited tone before mumbling something to herself.
'This Eric daddy really know how to make my mother suffer'
As Isabella lived in depressed mode, Tina grabbed her mother's mobile before making a call to her godmother secretly.
"Mother Helena, Can you help me locate my future daddy?" the child said.
"That man you saw near the cafe?"
"Yeah.. he's the same man I saw before"
"Do you have any detail about him? or I can take you to go check the surveillance cameras near that cafe to identify him"
"No worries... I know him now. He's Eric Lee"
"What? Baby...you want your mom to marry a homophile?"