Chapter 8

• Luke wanted to bring Isabelle to the city with him and he would send her to college. He didn’t like her to be so far from him. He knew that she could continue studying because of a scholarship which was granted to her by a private organization. He ordered his bodyguard to find out who the head of the organization was. Luck was on his side because its head was a former classmate of his mom in the university. He felt happy that it was easy as pie. Mrs. Fernandez said yes immediately after he told her that she would take care of everything Isabelle needed. He did it because he was expecting her to seek his help. What angered him was the fact that another man would be willing to help his Isabelle especially a suitor who was her best friend's brother. Over his dead body will he let that f*ckass help her by giving her a job.
• ***
• Isabelle almost groaned when she saw that their front door was close. That meant that her grandmother wasn’t home. From her peripheral vision, she saw Luke’s car stopped in front of the wooden fence. He turned off the engine and she heard him got out.
• "Isabelle," he called in that deep voice of his as he walked towards her.
• She had no choice but to turn her head to look at him.
• "Can we talk?" he asked. He was carrying a paper bag.
• “I can’t Luke. I need to do something,” she replied.
• She chose to use his first name after he told her that he would call her Mrs. Contrero if she would continue calling him Mr. Contrero. Luke’s lips twitched. He thought that it was better than Mr.Contrero but eventually she would have to call him babe. He smiled with the thought.
• "Can we go inside? I don't want to have a conversation with you out here," he said.
• Isabelle bit her bottom lip. She didn't want to be with him alone inside their house.
• "I will behave, " he added mockingly as if reading her mind.
• She glared at him. He had a sexy grin on his sinfully handsome face. She wanted to throw her books at him but of course she didn’t. She sulkily turned and walked to her grandma’s house. Luke was really annoying her. He didn’t stop pursuing her. He always did what he felt like doing regardless.
• This man’s confidence and bossiness is beyond me! –she murmured to herself.
• A feeling of panic engulfed her when they got inside. She offered him to sit down and he smirked.
• "I have something for you, my Isabelle," he drawled and handed her the paper bag.
• "What's this?" she asked frowning.
• "Open it,” he said throatily.
• Her frown deepened when she saw what was inside. It was a very expensive smart phone.
• "Why are you giving me this?" she asked.
• "I bought it for you babe so I can call you,” he said casually. To check on you!- he thought.
• “I don’t need this.”
• She returned the box of the phone inside the bag and put it on the table. She was more annoyed due to the fact that he was acting as if she was his woman.
• Whether you like it or not babe, you will have to accept the phone and use it. – Luke thought.
• He leaned on the sofa as he looked at her with intensity, "You do need that babe. I saved Joyce’s number and mine in the sim card. I will take care of the bill so you can call me anytime," he said.
• She stood up angrily, “Why do you act this way? I have told you for the nth time to leave me alone! Get out and bring your cell phone with you!” she said defiantly. She didn’t want to accept anything from him.
• "Sit down babe. We'll talk. And this time, you have to listen to me first. If you will not do as I say, I will kiss you," he threatened with his eyes narrowed. He sounded serious. He ran his eyes from her face down her body. Isabelle’s black skirt went a little below her knees and he could see her smooth and creamy legs. She had naturally clear skin since she was half Swiss.
• Isabelle didn’t want to do as he said but she felt the seriousness in his voice so she did sit again.
• He let out a satisfied smile before he spoke again, "I have to go back to the city because I have to deal with something. I want to make sure that you and your grandmother are safe so I will constantly call you. Either you accept that phone or I will get you a bodyguard," he declared which made her gape.
• "Are you really out of your mind?”
• She didn’t know whether to be sad or relieved that he would be leaving. She had to admit that she would somehow miss him. She had been used to seeing him every day. She chewed the inside of her cheek because she shouldn't even be having such thoughts.
• "Which do you prefer babe? A bodyguard or a cellphone?" he asked in a surprisingly calm voice.
• She tilted her chin before she spoke, “None! We have been living here for many years now and we have been fine so you don’t need to check on us! I don’t even need a cell phone! ”
• Luke’s expression changed, “Don’t think that things will be the same after we met. Your life has changed when I set my eyes on you and you have to accept that! I am going to be busy and I don't want to worry about you. If you will accept my offer to you then we will not be having this conversation. I told you that I will take care of you and your grandmother. I want you in Manila with me,” he said.
• She couldn’t believe her ears but she didn’t make any comment anymore. She thought about the withdrawn scholarship and she almost sighed heavily.
• "Is something else bothering you?" he asked all of a sudden.
• She was surprised by his question, "No! You can go now.”
• She didn’t want him to know. The last thing she wanted was any help from him.
• A muscle jerked in Luke’s left jaw. He felt that she didn’t have any plan of telling him about her scholarship, "You can tell me anything babe.”
• She looked at him straight in the eye, “ I have nothing to tell you.”
• "I offered to take care of you. It still stands.”
• She rose again. Luke would never stop if she didn’t.
• "I don’t need your help. I can take care of myself. Just go."
• He also rose to his feet, "Take and use the phone. You can call me anytime," he added in an expressionless tone.
• She stopped herself from snapping at him and he just nodded. He knew that sooner or later, Isabelle would succumb to him. He was Luke Contrero. No one could stop him from doing and getting what he wanted, not even Isabelle herself.
• "Don't even think about defying me, my Isabelle. I am just after your welfare. I don't want anything bad happening to you,” his voice was chilly.
• She sighed, “It’s you I am not safe from,” she murmured.
• Luke frowned, "What's that babe?"
• "Nothing! I was just saying to myself that I should have been finished doing what I have to do by now if you didn’t come.”
• He looked at her intently. A sexy grin broke his lips, "I'll see you before I go tomorrow."
• She felt relieved when he was finally gone. It was tiring talking to him. He never listened to her. His name should have been Duke not Luke. He was like a member of the royal family whose demands and orders must always be obeyed. She released a sigh. Curiously she took out the phone. Joyce’s phone was similar to this though this one had a bigger screen. She switched it on. She was startled when it started to ring. She accepted the call.
• "Issa!" came Joyce’s voice.
• She rolled her eyes,” So you know that Luke wanted to give me this phone! You even let him save your number here!”
• She heard her friend sighed, “ Stop complaining Issa! Do you know how much that phone is?!"
• "I don’t want to know! I told him that I don’t want anything from him but he doesn’t listen! “
• " Oh my dear friend Isabelle dela Vega! We are not just talking of an ordinary man here! I want you to be my brother’s girlfriend but we can't deny the fact that Luke is way hotter and richer. And from what I have seen and heard, he is determined to get you so stop fighting him! I have even accepted the fact that he will never see me because he has his eyes just on you! Are you really blind or just pretending? He is so damn hot! If he didn’t seem to be besotted with you I would try to seduce him!”
• “Oh please just stop it Joyce! I don’t like him!”
• “No! It's you who should stop and listen! Think about this Issa! If you become his woman, he will take care of you! You don’t have to worry about anything anymore especially money!”
• Isabelle just shook her head and decided to not comment anymore. This conversation would never end so she decided to change the topic, “Why did you call?”
• Joyce was quiet for a few seconds before she spoke again,” You can evade the topic all you want but I want to wish you good luck.”
• “Good luck? What for?” she asked frowning.
• “You need it because I am one hundred percent sure that sooner or later you will give in to Luke.”
• She shook her head and sighed, “ Why did you call?” she asked again.
• "Go to the resort in San Fabian tomorrow. They are hiring.”
• "What position?" She asked curiously.
• "I am not sure but I heard that the work starts in the late afternoon."
• "Okay, thanks, " she said.
• At least she could go there tomorrow morning before her classes. She was hoping that she would get the job because she badly needed one.
• ***
• She dressed smartly the next morning. She wanted to get the job at the resort since the schedule of working there won’t clash with her classes' schedule at the university. She could work after her last class. But after talking to the female staff, she felt that something was off. The offer was too good to be true. She would get fifty thousand pesos which was about a thousand US dollars a month. She would only work two hours a day. Her job was from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. The resort’s car and driver were at her disposal. Her task was to just make sure that the inside of the villas were in good condition once the guests checked out. Sometimes she would be an assistant receptionist of the female spa and massage room. That was all. Even the teachers and other professionals in their small town don’t earn that much money. What was more surprising was she got the job without taking an interview.
• "You can start working tomorrow Miss dela Vega," The woman in-charge of hiring announced. Her name was Rona.
• She was about to ask her something but the landline on the desk started to ring.
• "Excuse me, I have to take this.”
• She just sighed and looked around the small office as the woman talked on the phone.
• "Yes sir.. okay sir,” the staff murmured before ending the call, "Miss dela Vega, you can start working next week. Don’t worry, you will still get your full salary.”
• She chewed her bottom lip, "Miss was that your boss?" she asked. Rona frowned but nodded, "Can I talk to him?"
• The staff shook her head, "You need an appointment if you want to talk to the big boss. Anyway see you on Monday Miss dela Vega."
• "I just want to thank him," she lied.
• "He's busy. He’s leaving later.”
• What the woman said made her clench her teeth. She almost stomped her foot when she got out of the office. So she was right all along! Luke seemed to have bought this resort and he was the man Rona talked on the phone a while ago. She remembered that he told her he was going back to the city to deal with something. She saw a chambermaid passing by. She asked where the most expensive villa was. She was sure that Luke would be staying there. She saw two big villas next to each other. A foreign looking man was sitting in the balcony of the first villa so she decided to ring the bell of the other one. She was pissed. How dared Luke manipulate her life! She had a strong feeling that he was behind her scholarship being pulled out. The man could do even the impossible. When the door opened, her jaw dropped.
• Luke was only in a pair of jeans. His chiseled chest was bare.
• "Babe?" he asked looking really surprised.