"I think we are visiting the park with Dora by noon." Cade mentioned.
"She said so. I should get ready."
Isla and Cade went with Dora to the park and watched her having so much fun with kids her age, running around and laughing. Isla watched Cade beside her, being silent. She decided to start a conversation.
"Thank goodness the idea came in to put on this disguise with the benie and the nosemask. Paparazzi would have been around me creating a scene." She chuckled, waiting for a reply.
"True." Her heart danced a little. He wanted to talk to her.
"You see...."
"Um, I wanna go watch the kids on the rollercoaster over there. It'll be a good idea to take Dora there too." Her thoughts dropped.
"Okay." She replied him sadly. He went to Dora and asked if he could take her to the roller coaster. The child readily agreed and followed her father. Isla watched them, discouraged. She stared at her phone screen and saw a missed call of Mr. Sinclair.
"Dad!" She called him back.
"Hi, Dad." She greeted with a sad voice.
"Hey Isla, what's popping?"
"I'm not so good actually." Her dad became worried.
"What's the problem? Is Cade disturbing you? Or are you missing me already?" He smirked.
"Kinda. Because if you were here, you would have said the encouraging words I need." She replied.
"Okay, something is bothering you."
"I guess you were right when you said I liked Cade." Isla spoke word for word and her dad's eyes widened madly and he screamed at the top of his voice.
"WHAT? This is so exciting! I'm so happy for you my daughter. You're experiencing the sweet feeling of love once again in your life. Have you told him?" He asked curiously.
"I've proved to him countless times, but he just keeps ignoring me. Maybe he doesn't like me."
"Who won't like you, Isla? You're a hot catch. You're smart, beautiful and brilliant. You're jovial too. Why won't he fall for you?" Isla sighed.
"What am I gonna do? I'm tryna be seductive but it isn't getting to him."
"You are the only one to decide what next you're gonna cook up your sleeves. I can't do that for you. The only thing is for me to guide you. You're too big to try to look good for such a man. Why don't you just try to give him some space? Do your own thing."
"Okay Dad, I'll try to move away a little."
Dora and Cade were walking up a grassy hill to Isla.
"Dad, don't you think Isla is pretty and really nice? She has really done a lot for me." Dora smiled contentedly. Cade just nodded.
"If I had a mom, she would have done as much for me." Cade's heart tore a little but just stroked his daughter's hair.
"Hey, don't say that. Don't I try my best for you? Don't I make money just to take care of you? Are my parents not taking good care of you with everything they have? Don't talk like an ungrateful child."
"You do everything for me Dad. Grandma and Grandpa are also taking good care of me. But that isn't enough to satisfy my friends. They tell me that a motherly love is greater than anyone else's. Even the bully kids in our school have moms. I want to have a mom too. A mom like Isla Sinclair."
"What?" Cade stopped and exclaimed.
"Did I say something wrong? Isla is a good person. She isn't like those bad celebrities you tell me about. She's caring. I want her to be my mother. You know the most popular girl in our school, her mom is the best fashion designer in the country. She makes the best outfits for supermodels. She owns big, foreign cars. She wears hats and jewelry worth millions. If you can make Isla my mom, I'll be the new popular girl!"
"I'm sure you know that for Isla to be your mom, we both must agree." Cade tried to change Dora's mind.
"You guys talk right? You're the perfect fit. If you tell Isla, I know she'll say yes, since its about me." Cade was puzzled. He wasn't sure he wanted anything like that with Isla.
Although, he had erotic feelings for her, but never for once did he think about marriage.
"If I do that, will it make you happy?" Dora nodded.
"No. I don't think I'll do it." Dora made a puppy face.
"In the space of one week, I guess she must have thought about it. Please Dad. Try."
"If you say so."
Cade, Dora and Isla arrived home in the evening. Isla tried to get close to Cade but he didn't say a word to her. It was nighttime, and immediately after dinner, it was Dora's bedtime and Isla went to tuck her. She barely closed the door to leave her room when she saw Cade.
"Cade!" She closed the door and ran towards him.
"Why have you been avoiding me?"
"Its not like that...I've just been a little stressed up after going out today." Cade replied her and she was quite relieved. She was walking right beside Cade. They got to the kitchen and Isla poured two glasses of strawberry smoothie. They sat oppositely on the dining chair, staring at the drinks.
"Dora and I discussed something at the park today. Its been on my mind since."
"Really? What's that?" Isla was all ears.
"She wants you to be her mother." Isla's eyes widened like it was about to pop out of its socket. Her plan was finally working. She smirked.
"Well...what do you think?"
"Of course I told her no."
"No?! Why would you tell her no?" Isla exclaimed.
"Because I can't. Isla, I don't love you."
"Cade, why are you lying to me?" There were tears in her eyes. She was hurt and angry. All these weeks, all that was in her mind was how to get Cade closer to her. And he just denied the burning desire that was quite evident in his eyes.
"Are you telling me...you don't like me at all? Can you resist my face, my body, my scent? Are you telling me you don't want me? Its all a lie. I know all the thoughts you have of me. I know you've had this urge for months you've been working here. Living with your celebrity crush, makes you wanna hug her, touch her, caress her, kiss her, send your fire under her, get down with her?" Cade closed his eyes and clenched his fists. His heart was pounding in his chest as Isla spoke more alluring words that brought about erotical thoughts and sent fire down his arousal.
"If I go stark, won't you look?"
"Quiet. Isla, what's wrong with you? You claim you love your late husband and here you are, daydreaming about me. If you're really curious to know, its true. I've been thinking about having these moments with you. When I got to know you better, I realized you weren't someone that would just cheaply give your body to a random guy. All I feel for you is lust. And the more I look at you, the more I try to let those thoughts go." Isla was crying profusely.
She didn't know what else to tell this guy that would make him change his mind.
She didn't care about social or financial status, from the beginning she was feeling lustful and now that love was enough, nothing was enough to quench its fire.
"Stop crying, Isla. I can't do this. I've had urges a lot of times, and it hurts when you really want a girl and you can't have her. You're only sad because I've refused, and you can overcome that. If you're so desperate, why not find a guy who's as rich as you?" Saying that, Cade emptied the smoothie glass, gulping it down his throat.
"Thank you for the smoothie." Isla wiped her tears and nodded.
"We can be friends, right?" Cade smiled and reached out for her hand.
"Hm." She placed her hand in his and nodded again. She faked a smile.
"Goodnight then." She watched Cade going into his room. When he was out of sight, she threw the cup at the wall.
"Shit." Her phone buzzed and seeing the caller id, she answered the call, knelt on the ground and was crying.
"What's wrong my daughter? Are you crying?" She sniffed before answering.
"Yes Dad. Cade doesn't want anything romantic to do with me. And its heartbreaking."
"How can you say that, Isla? Have you forgotten who Cade is? Just a house manager! How can you like him to the point of wanting him so bad? Wake up, Isla. You're rich and influencial. You can't have anything to do with someone like Cade."
"Goodnight, Dad. We talk tomorrow." She hung up and crawled upstairs to her room. She was heartbroken to her knees, she had throbbing legs.
She was dozing already when a call woke her up.
"Hey, who's this?"
"Didn't you see the caller id? Its Rhea Sinclair." She checked the id and was disgusted.
"What do you want? Why are you calling me at this time of the night?"
"I'm your mom. I can call you anytime."
"So now you remember Isla Sinclair is your daughter and not Judy Keen." Isla rolled her eyes, sounding jealous.
"Don't get too angry. I have a deal for you."
"What deal?" Isla was uninterested in whatever she had.
"Its with BigEllie. They want you to be the model on their nail art materials. They are launching some new glitter packs on Monday, and they want you to be the face." Rhea Sinclair explained.
"Oh. When should I be at their company?" Isla asked.
"Tomorrow, 10am sharp. They need to prepare you for the big launch party. They need a kid too, but I already provided that."
"I'll be there. Text me the address when you hang up."
"Okay."
"Good..." Rhea hung up before Isla had a chance to say a bye. She tossed the phone aside and buried herself in her sheets.
"Good morning guys." Cade and Dora were already in the living room, playing cards. Dora ran towards her, hugging her tight.
"Hey Isla!"
"Did you have a nice night, sweetie?" Isla asked sweetly and Dora nodded.
"Alright, we're going out and its somewhere you're gonna love." Dora was curious.
"Where? The park? The movies? The mall?" She tried to guess.
"Well....its none of those. Its actually BigEllie."
"WHAT? I LOVE THEM! MY GRANDMA USES ALL THEIR MAKEUP!" Dora exclaimed.
"Good news is, they are launching new nail arts, and they want me to be the face."
"Wow! That's amazing! I'm so happy for you, Isla."
"They're featuring a kid in their ads too, and I really wish you were the kid." Cade was watching them interact with a plain look.
"Dude, why are you staring like that? Don't you want Dora to star in BigEllie ad?" Isla asked Cade, holding Dora's hand gently.
"I don't think its a good idea."
"It is, Dad! I'll make money! I'll be popular! Please Dad, let me be on the advert." Dora pleaded. Cade thought for a while.
"Okay, just this once."
"Yay! Thank you Daddy!" She screamed and hugged Dora.
"Go get dressed! I'll get ready too then we grab quick breakfast at one of the expensive restaurants around." Dora ran upstairs as fast as a cheetah and they both heard her door slam.
"She's really excited." Isla laughed.
"Thank you Isla. Its a good thing my daughter met you. The one who makes her happy." Isla gave him an icy look. She was happy and deep down, hurt.
"Just kiss me and say you want me to be the mother of your child." She thought.
"I'll stay here and wait for you both." He broke the eye contact.
"Yeah sure." Isla nervously let out and went to her room to change. She was melting at this guy's hotness.
"One time Dad wants me to get married again, another time he's saying Cade isn't good enough for me because I'm richer than him. I don't give a damn about you, Dad."
Dora and Isla went to BigEllie dressed in cute outfits which were the talk of the city. They arrived in a black Porshe and Isla introduced Dora as the kid for the ad.
"But Amelia Gray has been picked by the board for the ad and is getting dressed." A lady at the check-in desk told Isla.
"Who said Amelia Gray won't be in the ad?" A smart looking petite woman walked in.
"Isla Sinclair. She is the face of BigEllie now." The lady told the stranger, whose name was Athena, the manager of BigEllie Cosmetics.
"This is Mrs. Athena Jason." The check-in lady introduced Isla to Athena and they exchanged formal greetings.
"Who is the little girl?" Mrs. Athena questioned.
"The one who I'll feature in the ad."
"This isn't your deal, you know right? You were only lucky enough to be picked. Just because we spoke to your mom, Rhea Sinclair. We've talked about Amelia. She's the one for the ad, and she has signed already."
"Oh c'mon. You're having me be a model for your new nail art products and you dictate who I'd work with. Never." Isla stood in front of her boldly.
"What is this girl saying?" Some men walked towards them, dressed in suits.
"The model wants to feature another child for the freaking ad." Mrs. Athena was furiously telling the men.
"This is BigEllie, Miss. Isla. You don't state what we're gonna do here, especially with our ads. All you have to do is take photos and go back to your hell." One of the men yelled.
"Hey, that's rude!" She raised her voice.
"Miss. Isla, we have only five minutes left till its time for shoot. Miss. Amelia is ready and waiting for you." Isla followed the worker who came to notify her, storming into the dressing room with Dora.
"It looks like I'm not gonna be on the ad anymore." Dora looked heartbroken.
"Don't lose hope, Dora. Don't you know who I am? If I'm gonna do this ad, you'll be in it." Isla made Dora sit on a comfortable fluffy chair while she got dressed. Amelia entered with some older ladies. They were her workers.
"Hey! Who are you?! Get off my chair!" Amelia shouted at Dora rudely.
"I'm sorry, Isla asked me to sit." She pointed at Isla trembling.
"You had better sit there, Dora!" Isla thundered and confidently went to Amelia.
"I should be asking you who you are. Just a random girl, out of nowhere wanna be on BigEllie cosmetics. Do you even have fans? You're so shallow!"
"How dare you?" Amelia was shocked at the way she was insulted in front of her maids.
"I'll call my aunties, they'll both trash you out of here!" She threatened. Rhea Sinclair walked in with Brenda Gray, Amelia's aunt.
"Amelia's nail art hasn't been fixed. Why? We need to shoot as soon as possible. Isla, get this kid out of here!" Rhea complained.
"Dora is a daughter to me and she's featuring in the ad, not Amelia Gray."
"How do you even have a daughter when you've never been in a stable marriage let alone have kids?" The nail artists and others around were laughing when Rhea Sinclair said that. Isla's blood boiled and tears welled up in her eyes. Her cheeks turned red and she clenched her fists.
"Are you still gonna do this shoot or..."
"I don't know how such a horrible bitch like you be my mother! You gave birth to me, Rhea Sinclair. How could you be so cruel towards me? All my life you've shown me nothing but hatred just because you're envious of my fame and money. All these years I've made my own name and grew independent, you've always wanted to be like me. That's why you just want everyone in Illinois and the whole country to hate me just like you. Am sure people who watch your fashion shows would admire you, but they don't wanna see that she-devil off runway." Isla cried out.
"I hate you, it could have been better if I never had a mom, It would have been better if you were dead!" Isla pushed Rhea to the ground and stormed out of BigEllie with Dora.