"Do you have an extra room in your house?" Debbie asked Isa as she was packing her clothes.
Isa nodded, "Yes, why?" It was a weird question for Debbie. They had never talked about their home arrangements before.
"Well, your manager is on a tight budget. We really can't afford our own studio," Debbie explained. "I had to sell some of my designer clothes to fund this project, but it isn't enough." She added.
Isa nodded, she figured. They are already here and there was no turning back. "Sure, you can set up the studio in the spare room and, if it's okay with you to share my bedroom." She responded. "What else do we need to start?" Isa was finally opening up more to Debbie, just like when they were teens.
The two travelled together, leaving their mansion in Klane. "Isa, do you have a boyfriend at the moment?" Debbie asked while she was driving the only car left by their father. A vintage 1967 Chevy Impala is one of the most prized possessions of their father. They plan on selling it for additional funding.
Isa laughed at Debbie's question. "Shouldn't you have asked that before you planned to move into my apartment?" Isa looked at Debbie. "Sis, you are older than me. Well, do you have a boyfriend right now?"
Debbie did not respond, but showed a cheeky smile. "You answer first." She joked at Isa. With Debbie's looks, it isn't too farfetched if she has one. She isn't an introvert like Isa. She has friends and an actual job and a social circle.
"No, I don't." Isa's brief answer sounded sad, not because she didn't have one, but because she could not have one. At this early point in her life, she already figured that she would grow old alone.
"I don't either, but you know some men on the side won't hurt." Debbie said with a mischievous smile.
Isa's mouth fell open with Debbie's confession. "Oooh, saucy. I never thought you were that type to have men on your side." She commented.
Debbie looked in her direction. "Oh, that judgment!" She lightly slapped Isa's lap. "I just don't want to commit to anyone yet. Besides, we have got to have options," Debbie explained further. She smirked at Isa. "How about you? What is your excuse?"
"Nothing. Men, they just don't see me, I guess." Isa said squarely, not even a hint of disappointment.
Debbie bobbed her head. "Well, to be honest, if men knew you as Bella, then you would really end up alone. I mean you destroy them every time on your podcasts." She took a deep sigh as she wished Isa would see how she was turning off potential love interests.
Isa shrugged her shoulders. " That is what it is."
Debbie shook her head, knowing how stubborn her sister was. "Okay, but as your sultry alter, you need to know how to play with them." Debbie reminded Isa.
"Why do I need to be sultry? I mean, Bella." She paused and looked at herself. "I just don't see myself as that seductive woman." Isa mumbled.
Debbie felt sorry for Isa, seeing how low her self-esteem was. "Hey, being seductive is not just something physical. You see, you can be that sexy with your voice or your attitude without showing your figure." She glanced at Isa with her lips still pouted. "The seductive aura draws in men that are intrigued with the shrouded mystery, while the added strong woman aura would also attract women who want a friend like Bella." Debbie hoped her explanation will make it easier for Isa.
Isa exhaled heavily. "I'm not sure I have the appeal and confidence to pull it off." She said, manifesting her low self-esteem.
"I just don't understand why you had to let go of yourself after that make over you did." Debbie reminded her sister that she was once so confident she could do whatever she wanted.
Isa looked out the window, trying to avoid the question. She did not want to explain that turning point to her sister. "Just, help me project that image again." Isa replied.
"Sure." Debbie smiled while her eyes were on the road.
***
Debbie was impressed when she saw Isa's small apartment. It was just like the old Isa she knew. Everything was organized and spotless, and just like before, she had that white board on her wall with her schedule, dues and other reminders. Her collections of books were on display like in libraries; as if she did not have her own bookstore.
"Do you have a video streaming subscription?" Debbie asked Isa as they were unpacking their things.
Isa shook her head. "Do you need one?" she innocently asked her sister.
"Well, I don't think your books are enough to give you that sultry edge, you know. I think you need some visuals if you know what I mean," Debbie smirked at her.
Isa dropped what she was doing and looked intently at her sister. "Are you suggesting that I should watch porn?" She confronted Debbie.
"Hahaha, no sis, not porn, but you know those 'after or hundred days and gray' series type of movies." Debbie clarified her point.
"Oh those? I've already read them." She said with a straight face, she looked at Debbie and saw a confused look on her face. "Ah, I see. Well, those movies are novel adaptations." She explained to Debbie.
"Really? Wow, I never expected that. I mean how can one depict those scenes in words?" She blurted out, and the expression on her face instantly changed. It was obvious to Isa that her sister was too far from books. "Do you still have them?" Debbie excitedly asked Isa.
Isa nodded her head and pointed at them on her shelf. "If you are worried that I don't have much experience in real life, then I could just pretend to know. No one else would have to know about it." She said out loud.
The sisters spent their time planning their rebranded version of Isa's program. Debbie managed all of Bella Moore's social media handles. "Sis, I think we need a photo shoot for your profile photos." Debbie said to Isa, who was busy taping sound proofing mats on her wall.
"What? Didn't we agree not to show my face?" Isa instantly questioned Debbie's suggestion.
Debbie nodded and showed her some pegs for the shoot; some are cropped below the nose while others are just silhouette. "We will post process them creatively to hide your identity." She explained with a smile as the samples she showed Isa are an embodiment of sexy and mystery; the exact branding they want for Bella Moore. "I also need the photos for the letter heads and proposals for prospect sponsors." Debbie added, showing the business side of their silly plan.
"Do I have a choice?" Isa asked Debbie.
Debbie sneered at her sister. "Well, not really." She picked up her phone and turned around from Isa.
"Hello, DJ? Is your studio open? I would like to rent it for a few hours." Debbie was making some arrangements for the shoot. "Should I go there now? How much should I wire you?" She asked the other person on the phone. "Ah, really? Oh.. DJ, you are such an angel. Okay, thank you so much. Bye." She ended the call and looked in her sister's direction.
Isa listened to how her sister was good at sweet talking. "You know, you are good at this sis."
Debbie winked at Isa. "I know, right?"
"Yes, certainly… So why don't you just be Bella Moore?" Isa was finding her way out of their arrangement.
"Oh no, I am not good at psychology and analyzing situations. Flirting, sure, but anything else, ugh" Debbie cringed at the thought of being the one on the podcasts. She stood up and took her bag. "Okay, I got to go there first to set up the studio. I'll just send you the address." Debbie said and went towards the door.
"Wait. What should I wear?" she asked, worried she did not have a single item in her wardrobe to fit their branding.
Debbie stopped by the door and raised her hand. "No, I will prepare everything for you. All you have to do is to be there." She smiled and left.
Isa felt weird. It is not as if she was excited about doing this, but somehow she secretly wanted to see herself be the desirable version of her again. She just could not figure out why it did not feel natural; being pretty is like putting on someone else's mask in front of the world.
***
"It is nice to have you back here, Master Cayden. Welcome to Dreidross." John said with teary eyes. It had been a long time since he saw Cayden; who was like a son to him?
"Uncle John, don't call me master. Just Cayden will do." Cayden smiled back at the old driver. He helped Cayden bring his luggage to the trunk. Cayden specifically wanted John to be his driver again when he came back to the country. He really felt comfortable with him behind the steering wheel, not to mention he was the one who listened to his stories when no one else would. "I'm glad you accepted the offer," Cayden said as he boarded the car.
"The pleasure is all mine, son." The old driver responded with a smile as he closed Cayden's door.
Cayden accepted his father's offer to lead their company on one condition. He will remain anonymous to the general public. Only the board members can see him in private meetings, and even they are bound in confidentiality. Cayden wants to be low profile; he wants to live a relatively normal life as possible.
Cayden's building is located in the downtown area; it is near the headquarters building. His unit is a three-story building. His home office occupies the entire third floor. That's why it looked empty. While his living space is on the second floor, he has twobedrooms and a small kitchen and a full toilet and bath. John occupies the other bedroom, while the ground floor is mainly just a garage.
John took Cayden's things to his room, while he directly went to the third floor to organize his humongous space. He opened the window blinds to take advantage of the natural light. Cayden's heart dropped on the floor. He could not believe his eyes. "It's Isa!" His heart was racing. Cayden did not expect the effect Isa still had on him.