Next morning, at Rags and Riches bar, Ricky was going through the bar accounts as he had his coffee according to his usual routine.
Isobelle hadn't texted back and he had almost lost all hopes of any type of future with her.
Few minutes later, he heard the door open,
"The bar is closed." Ricky said without looking up.
"I'm here for coffee"
The sweet alluring voice made him look up,
"Isobelle" Ricky said as an infectious bright smile slowly appeared on his face.
No matter what he said outwardly, deep in he always wished to have Isobelle by his side.
Isobelle smiled back at him with similar intensity.
It took all his strength to stop himself from wrapping her in his arms and kissing her to his heart's content.
"So.. May I get the most delicious cup of coffee?"
"Yeah..sure." Ricky stopped staring at her and poured her a cup of coffee. They both kept stealing glances at each other as they had their coffee.
"Will there be a second date?" Ricky broke the silence between them.
"Isn't this our second date?" Isobelle asked.
"Nah.. it has to be something special."
"This is special." Isobelle said, making Ricky smile again.
"So how many such dates do you plan to have with me?"
"Umm.. 365 and more."
Ricky chuckled at her charming response. "Sure, 365 days and more." He replied.
They continued to talk and flirt with each other.
Ricky took her on a long ride near the hillside before he dropped her back to Ford's Villa.
For days to come, having the morning coffee together and going on a ride had become their daily routine.
Isobelle kissed Ricky on his cheek every time they parted ways. They were cherishing the slow budding phase of their romance and didn't rush into anything. Also they had decided to not tell anyone that they were dating.
A week later, at Ford's Villa, Daniel and Lyla were sitting in the living room. Daniel noticed Lyla's fallen face. She seemed disturbed for the past few days,
"What's troubling you, Sugar?" Daniel asked Lyla.
She let out a slight chuckle, "You always manage to see through me, Dan."
"Tell me, what is it?" He held her hand.
"It's Michelle." Lyla said in a low voice.
"She is still very rigid and unapproachable. I think she still resents us for abandoning her." tears welled up in her eyes.
"She needs time dear, she'll come around. We need to be patient." He kissed her eyes.
"Sometimes I feel like we failed her." She was referring to Michelle's fateful past. Lyla got more emotional as tears dripped from her closed eyes.
"Don't go there, Sugar. We all are past that and most importantly, our princess is happy now with her life. Isn't that all we ever wanted?" He tried to placate her.
"What's wrong mom?" Isobelle had recently stepped into Ford's Villa when she saw Lyla crying.
"Nothing. I'm fine." Lyla replied.
"Where are you coming from?" She asked.
"Umm… morning walk." Isobelle lied
"Morning walk? In those clothes and with make-up?" Daniel questioned her.
"Umm yeah.." she lied again.
Daniel sarcastically nodded, "You've been going for morning walk all dressed up, in your 'Car' and you come back in 'Another car' while the driver gets your car. What's happening, Isobelle?' Daniel's voice turned from sarcastic to stern.
"Fine" Isobelle let out a sigh
"I'm dating a guy. But it hasn't been long. I'll tell you about him when the time is right." She quickly hurried upstairs to avoid any further questions.
"Don't worry about her Dan, she is smart and sensible enough to make good decisions about her life." Lyla said.
Meanwhile, at Alwils Villa, Alec saw Dwane enter the villa premises,
"What are you doing here?" he gravelled.
"I'm here to speak with you about the Mayoral campaign. You really are a bad judge of character." Dwane scoffed.
"First your scheming wife and now a corrupt candidate. I hope…"
"Alec, come in…" they heard Michelle's voice coming from inside the villa.
Alec ignored Dwane and walked in. To his surprise and disappointment, Dwane walked along.
"I hope you know she pulls your strings and everyone else's around her." Dwane continued to berate Michelle. Alec only inhaled in rage and tried not to fume out.
"Alec.." Michelle came out of the kitchen after preparing breakfast. Her smile faded when she saw Dwane. Gathered herself she flashed a fake smile and asked,
"What brings you here Mr. Farehya?"
"I thought of accompanying my brother for breakfast." He replied nonchalantly.
"Sure." Michelle deliberately widened her smile and walked towards the kitchen.
Alec sighed at her act, clearly he didn't like it. He was a straightforward type of person, hardly anytime he had to mask his feelings towards anyone.
Dwane, unpromptedly took his seat at the breakfast table and Alec unwillingly followed.
"If you have anything to talk to me, we can see each other at Wilson Groups, not here." Alec gritted through his teeth.
"Are you really funding Bartholomew White? He is the most.."
"Here" Michelle said, placing Dwane's breakfast in front of him.
"it's poisoned" she said to irk him and took her seat beside Alec.
For a moment Alec really feared if she had actually poisoned the food. He repeatedly stopped himself from suspecting her
"Given that your venomous hands prepared it, there is no second thought that it's poisoned."
Dwane replied as he nonchalantly took the first bite of his scrambled egg.
'Finally something with taste' Dwane thought to himself as he subconsciously relished every bite.
Even though he'd hate to admit it, he missed eating the food prepared by her. Unbeknownst to him, He had grown accustomed to it and everything else he consumed felt tasteless. Ignoring everything he slightly leaned in and had his focus only on the food.
Michelle and Alec were taken aback by his actions. They chose to ignore him and continued to have their breakfast in silence.