Isabel sat on the branch of the tomato tree, taking a bite of the ripened tomato that she just plucked. She was enjoying the breeze and the beautiful view when she heard her name being called. “Senorita! Senorita Isabella! Where are you?” said a woman’s voice. “Senorita Isabella?” repeated the woman again, when she realised that the place had become quiet. Isabel smiled mischievously. She swung upside down when the woman, who was her maid, was now standing right beneath her. “Boo” was what she said. Her maid, Maria, yelled out, terrified. “Demons! Be gone! Away you go!” Maria said frantically, punching the air furiously, while Isabel laughed out of amusement.
When Maria realised that she was being teased by the young lady in her care, she became angry. She folded her pudgy arms as she glared into Isabel’s sapphire blue eyes. “Isabel Seraphina Manuel!” she warned. Isabel stopped laughing. She knew when the old lady in front of her says her full name, it was a serious matter. Isabel dropped to the ground like a gymnast, though Maria fussed over her. The short, pudgy maid had been taking care of Isabel since she was in diapers. It also meant that she had put up with Isabel’s mischievous ways since she started to walk.
“Senorita Isabella, why must you make me have headache? I know you’ve always been like this, but you are eighteen! Your ball tonight proved it so” Maria said worriedly. Isabel frowned, making Maria to nudge her to stop doing so. In the Manuel family, when a young lady turns eighteen, she will have a ball to officiate her coming of age. It’s also a way of the lady to socialize with the opposite sex. The goal was to find a proper suitor to continue the family lineage. That was why the Manuels invite men from prominent families. But Isabel hates those types of things. The men or rather, ‘young masters’ were all pompous brats and boring. This was why she ‘ran away’ from her home, to get some fresh air from all those dress fitting sessions and dance lessons.
Now, after being found by Maria, she has no time to escape. Even when she hated it, she would never disappoint her parents. As the youngest out of four siblings, she must make her parents proud, like their previous children before her. She followed Maria to the big mansion, where the residents were all busy with the preparation for the ball. Footmen were running around, completing each and every errand given to them. Maids busy cleaning the mansion for the umpteenth time. Cooks were frantic in preparing the food. Isabel took a glance at the grandfather clock. 5 p.m. In three more hours, the ball will begin, and she wasn’t excited at all.
*8 p.m.*
“You are a very beautiful lady, Senorita Isabel” murmured the young maid, Stella, as she admired Isabel’s figure. Isabel was wearing a baby blue chiffon dress, fitting her well-endowed and slender figure perfectly. Her neckline fell right above her cleavage, exposing her creamy white skin. Her jet black hair was tied at the right side of her head, with a white satin ribbon. Her hair had curls at the end, so the curls hung right above her head when she tied it that way. Her rosy lips were covered with red lipstick. She hated the lipstick; it made her feel gaudy, but it complemented her creamy skin. She didn’t wear any thick make-up, since she refused to do so. The hairdresser agreed to it; Isabel was already beautiful even without the help of make-up. When the finishing touches had been made, she walked out of her bed room. Maria was by her side, fussing over her. “You better mind your manners, Senorita. It may be your ball, but everyone will be watching and evaluating you. Make your Papa and Mama proud” she said. Isabel nodded obediently at this, and then walked towards the ballroom that her father had built for events such as these.
When she entered the ballroom, she could feel the pressure. As she walked towards her parents, she felt a hundred pair of eyes following her every move. Her father, Vincent Manuel, introduced her to his colleagues. Along with the colleagues, they have their sons with them. So when her father started a conversation with the parents, Isabel must entertain the son. She made small talk and danced with them. As she thought, most of them were either boring or pompous brats.
Like the first man she talked to. He was two years older than her, yet he was so serious and quiet, he only answered her questions with short replies. The second man was the same age as her. He was the typical rich brat; criticising the decorations and food, claiming that his family were better. He even had the gall to tell her that, if she married him, she could indulge herself in all those things. She refused him flat out with her fake sweet smile. For the third man, she danced with him. The man seemed to have two left foot; he kept on making mistakes by stepping on her toes. She worried that her toes would end up bleeding if she danced with him any longer.
After going through all that, she was already tired. And it was only 9.30! All she wanted was to get some rest from being with the sons of her father’s colleagues. Her mother seemed to sense her discomfort, but she just squeezed Isabel’s hand, as if to say, ‘only for tonight, dear’. Isabel didn’t mind then, but she was just too worn out to do anything. She then thought of scenarios of romance novels in her head. She would have been dancing with a handsome rich man right now, enjoying her night away with him. But it was only a mere dream. There couldn’t have a handsome rich man who she enjoys being with at this party. Most of the men that were in the ballroom were handsome, but they were only rich from sucking off from their rich parents. The ones in the novel were rich men who made their own money.
She took an egg tart from a waiter and took a bite of it. She noticed that her father was now talking to a different man. She groaned. Not another one, she huffed. But she walked towards her father anyway, out of courtesy. When she was nearer to them, she realised that she did not recognise the man who was having a conversation with her father. In fact, he was quite young. Maybe in his mid 20s, Isabel thought. “Isabel! Come here, I want you to meet someone special. This young man here is Hugh Bradford, CEO of Bradford Corporation” Vincent introduced the man. “Good evening. I always knew that the youngest daughter of the Manuels would be beautiful, but seeing you up close, I find you very enchanting” said the man known as Hugh with a rich and deep voice. She held out her hand, her heart skipping a beat as she did so. The man has striking features. Before she could study his looks any further, the man took her hand. Instead of shaking it, he brought the back of her hand to his lips, looking into her eyes as he did so. Isabel blushed, and couldn’t help but think that he was like the hero of the romance novel she recently read.
“Even so, it’s quite admirable, for such a young man to become a CEO at your age! How old were you again, twenty-five?” Vincent interrupted, oblivious to his daughter and the man’s warm atmosphere. “Yes. It may be seem weird, to take such an honourable position at a young age, but I’ve been involved with the company since I was at the tender age of eighteen” Hugh tried to explain. Vincent waved at the air, as if trying to ease Hugh’s worries. “I knew about it! It was you who spread the company’s wings even further than your father, right? For me, that is already proof of your worth in the company!” Vincent said. Isabel noticed Hugh’s face darkening, as if unsatisfied. “The world may have a cruel overview of you, since they think that you are riding your father’s coattails, but you made a point in using it to prove your worth. All I can say to you is, well done, young man” Vincent assured Hugh, making the latter smile.
“That’s enough talking! Why not I let my daughter bring you to the dance floor? I heard you have a good sense of rhythm, it’s not wrong for my daughter to have a share of it” Vincent teased, making Isabel blush while Hugh only laughed. “It will be my pleasure” he said, bringing her to the dance floor. They didn’t speak during the dance, but Isabel took the opportunity to study her partner.
She had to admit, he was very handsome. Among all the young men in the room, he was the handsomest. He had sandy blonde hair which was a bit long for a typical businessman. He was tanned and quite muscular; she could feel how strong his biceps were when she temporarily grabbed it a few moments ago. He had a strong jaw and had the nicest smile she had ever seen. What intrigued her were his eyes. His sharp blue green eyes appeared to be gentle as he looked into her eyes. They didn’t say anything; they just communicated with their eyes.
When they were about to dance to the third song, someone patted Hugh’s back. It was the pompous brat she talked to earlier, saying that he didn’t get the chance to dance with her. Hugh politely stepped away, though he took a glance at her face. She was unsatisfied by this turn of events, but she didn’t say anything to avoid any commotion. As they started to dance, Isabel took a glance at Hugh, who was now walking out of the dance floor. At the exact same moment, Hugh looked behind him. Their eyes met, and for a second Isabel wanted to just walk towards him and leave the man she was dancing with, yet she refrained herself from doing so. Hugh winked at her, making her blush.
After enduring the man’s continuation of his speech during the dance, Isabel searched for Hugh. He was surrounded by a crowd of women. One girl, who was known as Victoria, was squeezing his arm and standing close to him. Isabel somehow lost her interest in Hugh, though not entirely. So he was that type of man, she thought with disappointment. Hugh seems to notice her, though she was already walking away from him. He was about to call her out when Isabel bumped into someone.
“Isabel, are you all right?” the person she bumped into asked, the voice deep. When she looked up, she smiled so wide, that she felt it wouldn’t fit her small fit. John Harper was looking at her with a face full of worry as he inspected her. “John! I didn’t know you were here” she said happily; glad to see a familiar face. John Harper was her childhood friend, whose family comes to visit Spain during the summer. They have been playmates ever since John stumbled into her family’s garden at the back.
John chuckled. “How could I not attend the birthday of my precious best friend? So, have you found the man?” he teased. Isabel nodded but considered about Hugh. She then shook her head. “What are you trying to say? Have you or have you not?” John asked, confused. “I have, but I think it might be a temporary crush” she said, pouting. “Excuse me” said a voice behind her. John looked up from her face, his face somehow puzzled.
Isabel looked behind her, and saw Hugh standing there, his face somehow unsatisfied. Isabel obligingly introduced the two men. She noticed Hugh and John exchanging different looks; Hugh with his dark expression, John with his somehow amused face. “May I ask you to spend some time with me at the balcony?” Hugh asked his expression changing as he looked at Isabel. She felt her arm being squeezed by John. “Go. I will be your cover” he assured her.
Isabel followed Hugh to the balcony, where the night breeze was blowing. The balcony was somehow a short escape from the stuffy environment in the ball room. “What can I help you with?” she asked stiffly. Hugh leaned on the balcony, studying her. She was uncomfortable by this, but she didn’t say anything. “I know this might be considered odd to you, but honestly, even I feel out of place right now” he started to say. “I fell in love with you at first sight” he said, making Isabel so shocked, her knees turned to jelly.
For Hugh, she looked like she was about to fall on the floor, so he ran up to her out of panic. “Are you all right? Forgive me, for confessing to you so suddenly, but it’s the truth” he said, his voice soft. “I don’t know what to say” she admitted. “What would you want to do? We can at least ease up the tension” he said, smiling at her. “We should dance” she said, mentally kicking herself. Hugh chuckled at this. “As you wish, senorita” he said, saying the word ‘senorita’ with a sweet voice, making her weak. As he tried to grab her waist, she ran away, though unsuccessfully. “W-wait! I said that out of whim! Anyway, there’s no music” she said, frantic. As if on cue, the music inside started, its notes slow. “There you go” he smiled at her, making Isabel lost of what to do. She obediently danced with him, following his every lead.
When she looked up, her vision was filled with his blue green eyes, and even though she tried to look away, she wasn’t able to. There was something behind those sharp eyes that attracted her to him. His eyes may look sharp, but when seen closely, there was sadness in them, and it was somehow lonely. She was so engrossed in his eyes; she didn’t notice his face was closing in on her. His lips met with hers and she felt like an electric shock just struck her body. His lips melted into hers, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Isabel pulled herself away from him, pushing him away before she stuck to his lips. “We just met tonight. I don’t think this is supposed to be what you call a ‘first meeting’” she said, her tone low. Hugh grabbed her hand, looking into her eyes. “So, if you know me better, will you fall for me?” he asked, his voice gentle. Isabel was about to answer when the door to the balcony opened. “You guys, it’s better for you to go back in there or the elders will be suspicious of your disappearance” John said, his face worried.
As Isabel walked towards the ball room, she felt her arm being grabbed by Hugh. He pulled her into a kiss, though shorter this time. “Meet me at the pier at 7. It’s a promise” he whispered into her ear. His warm breath paralysed her, making her knees turn to jelly again, though she didn’t stumble. She nodded at him and quietly followed John. She looked behind her, and Hugh was watching her, his eyes somehow bright; not lonely and sad as she had seen before.
TO BE CONTINUED
