I eventually rode a black stallion while Isabella rode on a Palomino mare. "You seem close to it. Is it yours?" "Yes. Her name is Gold. Dad gave it to me on my ninth birthday" "What about this one? What's his name and whose is he?"
She hesitated first before answering. "That's Midnight, and he is Don's horse". "He is usually picky with who rides him, most times only allows Don to get on him. Guess he likes you to have allowed you ride him" Midnight neighed as though he were agreeing with Isabella.
Don seemed like the perfect brotherly figure under the light Isabella portrayed him under. It made me curious to know him.
"Isabella?" "Hmm" "I'm sure you're aware that I'm going to marry Don, right?" she nodded. "Don't you think it'll be easier for me if I know what Don is truly like?" she was still hesitating.
"I mean if I have to spend the rest of my life with someone, wouldn't it be fair to at least know what Don is like, after all, it would only make our marriage more manageable"
"I mean yes. It would be good if you knew Don better" "So tell me what Don is like, and I mean underneath his iron thick skin"
"The first thing you need to know is that no matter how ruthless you think Don is, he is actually a huge softie deep inside"
"Yeah. Right. And I guess it's absolutely normal for soft people to threaten the life of another person" "I'm serious Anaya" she looked at me with a serious face.
"For a while, I also thought Don was as cruel and wicked as people said he was. I wasn't to blame for my thinking anyway, he was usually cold towards me and Michael barely smiled genuinely at us, and had this intimidating persona. But that all changed when I was kidnapped on a date" I looked at her in disbelief.
"I was eventually rescued, but even then, Don didn't even show an element of care towards me. I was furious, but Andrew came and told me how stressed Don had been since I was kidnapped, and how he risked his life against all their advice just to save me. Gradually, I began seeing all the little things he kept doing for me. And even though he never showed me how much he cares about me directly, I know he does, not just to me but to Michael too" she said with a gleaming smile.
"He might have been rough with you at first, but with time you'll get to see what a gentleman he is" she added.
I didn't reply. He was probably going to try and make my life a living hell, but I'm determined to stand strong against him.
Midnight began neighing excitedly and reared up. I clutched onto his reigns firmly in fright
"Isabella? What's wrong with him?" I asked frightened, "I-I don't know" she replied.
Midnight immediately gave a loud neigh and began running. Fear overcame me as I didn't know where he was going.
"Midnight! Midnight!" I yelled as we came nearer to the gate. Only then did I see a figure by the gate.
"Woah there!" the person raised his arms to calm the horse down. Once Midnight was still again, he came closer.
"Calm down, boy" he added and stroked the mane that fell over his face.
"You?" "Yes me" he replied. Isabella came up on her horse behind us.
"Oh hi, Don!" she greeted nervously, "And I assume this was all your plan?" she scratched the back of her head with a nervous smile.
"Why did you allow her to ride him when you know how he is with people other than me?" he scolded, "He didn't misbehave while Anaya was on his back, not until he saw you" she countered. He sighed and turned to me.
"Take Gold and Midnight back to the stable and come back here" he ordered Isabella and stretched his two hands towards my waist to take me off Midnight's back.
Electricity sparked in me once his hands came in contact with my waist. I held his shoulders firmly as he pulled me off Midnight's back and placed me on the ground.
I adjusted my cloth and handed the reigns to Isabella.
"Come on, Midnight. Back to the stable for you and Gold" Isabella said as she pulled Midnight along with her.
"You and Isa seem to be getting along" he commented, "Yeah. I'm surprised we weren't friends back in Riverdale. She seems... nice" I said with my gaze lingering on her still on her horse as she went back to the stable.
I turned to meet his eyes. Was there any hope that Don was truly as nice as Isabella said, hopefully, I would find even the tiniest bit of it in his eyes.
I stared deep into them for a while, but he didn't betray his neutral emotions for even a split second.
I turned away from him. But even after that, I could still feel his eyes on me.
"Why did you even come here, and how did you know we were here?" I asked to break the awkward silence between us,
"I hadn't seen either of you for a while, and I suspected that Isa would be here since night riding with Gold has become a part of her daily routine" he replied with his eyes still staring at me deeply, making me feel... weird.
"We are fine. We just decided to take a stroll around the villa, that's all. We'll come back inside later" I said, trying to hide how nervous I was suddenly becoming.
"Okay. Since the two of you are fine, I'm going back inside" he said and took a few steps closer to me.
'What is he going to do now?'
"See the two of you later then" he bent and placed a peck on my cheek before leaving.
I stood there frozen. Heat immediately rose to my cheeks, most especially where his lips were, making me feel like a hot mess inside.
"Anaya!" I heard Isabella call from behind me. I turned and saw her panting tiredly.
"What of Don? Where is he?" "He...um... He went back inside"
"Oh okay. He must have had some work left to do... Hey, are you okay?" "Yeah, why?" "Your cheeks are as red as a tomato"
I touched them in disbelief and had to admit, they felt hot.
"Are you blushing because Don said or did something to you?" she teased with a cheeky smile.
I don't know if I was blushing, but whatever it is it had never happened with anyone else. I felt so unusual and embarrassed at Isabella's tease.
"That's enough Isabella, let's go inside now" I replied with an embarrassed smile as I walked towards the gate with her giggling behind me.