"Your blushes add so much to my arousal." Cade continued.
"Would you please! Stop it Cade!" Isla couldn't control herself.
"I've always wished to do this. I feel like I've found you, my missing piece." Cade winked and Isla buried her hands in her face in shyness.
"When I come close to you, I don't see anyone else. I don't give a damn even if Dora barges in on us." He stared at her.
"You must have a map in your eyes because I don't know why I keep getting lost in them." Isla let out a loud laughter.
"Isla Sinclair, I've fallen completely in love with you."
"Cade, I'll never get tired of your sweet words." She laughed again.
"Oh! I forgot about your laughter. It's my favorite sound."
"Hmm.."
"I'm not kidding. When you attended LilyTV interview, you were laughing about a particular celebrity who took you on a trip and almost embarrassed you with seafood. I recorded that sound and I guess I must have lost it."
"That's cute."
"I can't wait to tell Dora that she's now got a mom."
"She'll be so happy about it." They smiled. Isla reached out for her robe and Cade held her hand.
"Isla. Let me watch you stark."
"Cade, are you crazy? I'm not comfortable with the way you're gazing at me. It's giving me butterflies." Isla's phone buzzed under the sheets and Cade watched as she searched for it.
"Here." He handed it to her.
"Hello?"
"Isla."
"Oh, dad it's you!"
"Yes my dear. Just wanted to let you know that I'll be home in a few hours." Isla's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Why? Didn't you miss me? Don't you want me to come home now?"
"Of course... I can't... I can't wait to see you!" She pretended.
"Okay dear. Bye for now." He hung up.
"Cade, we have to clean up...and you'll be off to your room."
"Why?"
"Dad is coming home soon!"
"So what?"
"He'll call us when he's on his way."
"Really, Cade? What if he barges in on us?"
"No way. We'll hear him when he comes in."
"Okay then."
"Call him in the next one hour and then we'll clean up and I'll leave too." He tried to keep her at peace.
"Okay." Cade pulled her close.
"I smell my scent on you. I like that." They both smiled gracefully.
"This must be your dream come true. Me in your arms, your heart must be dancing right now."
Mr. Sinclair stepped off the plane and onto the cool airport tarmac, his eyes scanning the arrivals hall for a familiar face or a sign of his awaiting ride. Instead, a porter wheeled his suitcase up to him with a courteous smile. "Welcome back, sir. Your luggage, sir."
Mr. Sinclair nodded curtly, his gaze darting around the crowded area. Spotting a discreet sign that read "Private Waiting Area," he strode towards it, his suitcase in tow. Once settled into the plush armchair, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"John! What the...?! Why didn't you arrange for the car to be here waiting for me? Do you know how humiliating it is to stand around like some common traveler?!" Mr. Sinclair's voice rose to a shout.
"I'm so sorry, sir. I apologize for the oversight. The driver is experiencing some traffic issues, but I'll ensure the car is there within the next 10 minutes," Mr. John replied, his tone placating.
Mr. Sinclair's anger didn't dissipate immediately, but he bit back his retort, choosing instead to seethe silently. The minutes ticked by, and just as he was about to call Mr. John again, his phone buzzed with a text: "Car arriving now, sir."
True to Mr. John's word, the sleek black sedan pulled up outside the private waiting area a few minutes later. Mr. Sinclair stood, smoothing his rumpled suit, and strode out to the car. The driver, a bespectacled man with a respectful smile, greeted him and loaded his suitcase into the trunk.
As the car glided through the dark, deserted streets, Mr. Sinclair's ire slowly gave way to fatigue. The sky was still shrouded in darkness when the car pulled up to his mansion. The clock on the dashboard read 6:00 AM. Mr. Sinclair yawned, rubbing the grit from his eyes, and stepped out of the car. "You can go, I'll take it from here," he told the driver, before turning towards his home.
"ISLA! I'm home!" He called as he tiredly pulled his stuff himself.
"Aren't you gonna come downstairs and help?" There was no response.
"Cade!"
Isla's eyes flew open suddenly. She saw Cade was fast asleep beside her, and according to her clock, it was 6:02am.
She gasped and woke Cade up hurriedly.
"Five more minutes, babe." He called from his sleep.
"No! Dad is home! He's gonna find us here!"
"Did you fall asleep?" Cade stretched and struggled to get up.
"Why are you naked?"
"What the fvck? You asked me not to cover myself up."
"Oh hell."
"Will you get off the bed and look for your clothes?" Isla yelled at him.
"Why are you yelling? I can't find my clothes..." He searched under the sheets.
"Find something to cover yourself up! There's your robe!" As Isla reached out for her robe, the door flung open and the two froze.
Mr. Sinclair was standing there, furiously at their stark nakedness on the same bed.
"Cade Hudson." He called, and his lips quivered having no explanation for what Isla's dad had just seen. Isla squeezed his hand under the sheets.
He turned and slammed the door angrily.
"Fvck." He cussed.
"Cade..." Isla tried to touch again but Cade slapped her hand away.
"No. I won't let you get into more trouble. Go see your dad."
"Cade.."
"Isla. I'm sure you heard me right."
"Cade..."
"Isla, did you see his reaction? He is furious. He is enraged. Go calm him down. I'll take my leave to avoid further embarrassment."
"You'll leave? Cade, you're not going anywhere."
"No..."
"Look at me!" Isla pulled him to herself.
"He employed you for me. He can't just fire you without asking me."
"Isla, go talk to your dad." Cade pulled her away and wore his clothes.
"Cade, look at me."
"Don't feel guilty about whatever we've done here. And you're not leaving this house, okay? Let me explain things to Dad. Stay here, okay?!" Isla slid into her robe and ran out of the room.
"Dad!!" She saw him sipping coffee with his laptop on the table.
"Dad! Dad, Dad...what you saw there isn't what you think at all."
"I'm highly disappointed in you, Isla. How could you give your body to a man who doesn't have any class or standard?!" He thundered, making Isla flinch. He was staring at her with burning anger.
"I left a man in your care and went to work, all you guys did was to roll in bed together! When you told me you liked him, I thought you would be sensible enough to take things like the mature age you've clocked!"
"But I think that day by day you get even more and more stupid!" Isla's heart broke as her dad hurled words at her. Cade was watching from the staircase.
"This guy is whatever he is today all because of the favor I did for his father! I can't imagine it that you'll ever have anything sexual to do with him! How could you fall to that extent? Isla, you've gone nuts!"
"Dad...."
"This guy has no plan for a living! What makes you think he's the best for you? He's poor and shameless. Why do you even think he's worth your time? His father couldn't save a company, how will he save a relationship? My daughter deserves better! I can't have someone make my daughter suffer again. What is love when you marry someone who can't do without your money? This guy is worthless. And speaking of him, he'll be fired...."
"Stop right there! Just hold it right there, Dad! How could you say such bad things about Cade?" Isla snapped.
"Isla. You're the one who should hold it. Remember he's your father. It's wrong to snap back."
"Who are you to interfere in my daughter and I's discussion? So shameless of you, having sex with someone who can feed your family for the rest of their lives! Y'all are so poor and shameless, without me you can't live! Get out of my house!"
"Dad, stop it!" Isla cried out.
"Save the embarrassment for me. Don't say anything to Cade."
"Isla, I'll take my leave with Dora. And if there's anything I want you to do for me, is you should not cause any trouble with your dad. Send my stuff to me... much later."
"You're not seeing this guy again! And, you're grounded for a month! You're not allowed to go shopping, or for shoots, or anywhere around Cade Hudson! If I get you near him, I won't spare you!"
She sat on the edge of her bed, her slender shoulders shaking as she sobbed uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto her trembling hands, which clutched a worn-out tissue. Her eyes, red and puffy from crying, stared blankly at the floor.
The room was dimly lit, with only a sliver of moonlight peeking through the curtains, casting an eerie glow on her face. Her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were rumpled, as if she'd been crying for hours.
Every now and then, a fresh wave of tears would wash over her, and she'd let out a heart-wrenching sob. Her body would shudder, and she'd gasp for air, as if she'd been underwater for too long. The sound of her own despair echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder of her pain.
In this moment, she felt utterly alone, lost, and broken. The world outside her window seemed to fade away, leaving only the echoes of her heartbreak. As she wept, her body seemed to release all the emotions she'd bottled up, leaving her drained, exhausted, and vulnerable.
She took her phone from the other side of the bed and tried to call him the 17th time, but he didn't pick up.
"Why is Cade doing this to me?"
'Cade, I'm sorry for the things Dad said...'
'Cade, we need to talk.'
'Cade, please respond.'
'What is wrong with you, Cade??!'
'Cade, I'm crying. Remember you don't like it when I cry.'
He didn't reply - anyone of them.
And Isla, she thought it was the end.
"Go check up on my daughter. She hasn't opened her door for two days!" The maid walked upstairs with a glass of milk in her hands.
She knocked gently:
"Miss. Sinclair...."
"Miss Sinclair..." The unfamiliar voice woke Isla from her snooze and she went to check who it was.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"I'm the new maid Mr. Sinclair employed. My name is..."
"Sheesh. And why were you knocking?"
"Your dad asked me to check up on you and I thought I'd bring milk. It really helps to support brain development."
"Did I tell anyone of you downstairs I had a problem with my brain? What the fvck?!" Isla exclaimed annoyed.
"If you come to this room again, I'll skin you alive." Isla snatched the milk and poured it over the maid's head.
"Get lost." She threw the glass out and slammed the door.
"Hey Isla"
"Hi."
"You sound dull. What's poppin'? Isn't Cade home?"
"Dad fired Cade!"
"Why?" Julie was shocked.
"I...he came home and caught us in bed."
"Oh, shit. Why were you guys that careless?" Julie scolded.
"We fell asleep."
"Now what do we do?"
"Dad even grounded me and Cade's not replying any of my texts or picking my calls! Dad really hurt his feelings."
"Hmm..."
"Julie, please try to call him and explain things to him... apologize on my behalf. He has been ignoring me."
"Okay, girl. I'll call him tonight."
"Thank you so much, Julie."
"Did you cry?" Isla sniffed.
"No way. I'm a really strong girl yunno. I can't cry so easily because I'm sure Cade will come back to me."
"Did you just sniff?"
"You did it again."
"Can I come over?"
"No, no, no! Dad will know I must have leaked the news. And he'll be mad. I don't want more drama."
Isla finally came downstairs after a week.
"Good morning, Dad." He didn't reply and Isla rolled her eyes.
She headed to the dining where food was already served. Her phone beeped and she jolted, thinking it was a text from Cade.
But it was only Sasha saying hi to her.
"You bitch." She cussed.
"Isla."
"Hmm?" She stared at her dad's direction.
"I thought about our misunderstanding. And I feel really bad, the way I hear you sniffing and crying day and night alone in your bedroom, it's heartbreaking. I don't know if you'll forgive me for all the things I said to Cade. It really hurt you, and I know it." He waited for his daughter's response, but Isla pretended to be lost in her food.
"I've realized how much you've fallen for this guy. And I understand what you might have felt when I fired him. I was only disappointed that you gave your body to a guy that I thought wasn't worth your time. I...I should be blamed for whatever damages this might cause. Because... I was the one who asked you to get a guy for yourself. I was the one who asked you to get married again." He went closer to her and touched her shoulder.
"Isla, I'm proud of the fourth trial you've made with love again. This...Cade Hudson is the perfect man for a woman like you. You need a man who's intentional, and that is one of his qualities. Cade is a man who can understand you, and I'm the happiest father in the world that you've fallen in love with such a guy. He's so different from Brian, Jake or Nigel. I've decided not to let you bury your feelings for this guy. Please forgive me for whatever I've said to hurt you both."
"I'm giving you both my blessings, because I'm not going to stand your crying anymore. If Cade is the man that will make you happy, then I'll accept him with open arms!"
"Really?" Isla's eyes twinkled. Mr. Sinclair nodeed and she hugged her dad warmly.
"Thank you so much, Dad! You're the best!"
"Anything in the world for you, Isla." They broke the hug.
"You'll not be grounded anymore! Go after your man!"
"Yay!"
"But he's not going to stay here and work."
"Okay..."
Isla stood at the gate, her boarding pass in hand, a bright smile on her face as she presented it to the attendant. "Seat 17C, pleasure to fly with you today!" the attendant said with a nod. Isla walked down the jetway, her excitement building. She had been waiting for this trip for what felt like forever – a journey from Illinois to Hollywood to reunite with her man.
As she settled into her seat, the flight attendants began their safety demonstrations. Isla buckled her seatbelt and glanced out the window, watching as the ground crew scurried about on the tarmac. Before takeoff, she ordered a coffee and a packet of peanuts from the flight attendant, savoring the taste as the plane soared into the sky.
During the trip, Isla munched on snacks and watched a movie, but her mind kept drifting to the moment she'd see her man. She imagined the look on his face, the way he'd smile, and the warmth of his hug.
As the plane began its descent, Isla's heart skipped a beat. She felt a rush of excitement, her palms growing sweaty as she gathered her belongings. After landing, she disembarked and made her way to baggage claim, retrieved her suitcase, and hailed a cab.
"To 1234 Hollywood Boulevard, please," she told the driver, giving him the address of her man's apartment. As the cab wound its way through the famous streets of Hollywood, Isla's anticipation grew. She could hardly contain her excitement, her heart racing with every passing block.
Finally, the cab pulled up to the apartment complex. Isla paid the driver, grabbed her suitcase, and stepped out onto the sidewalk. She took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on the building. She was really here! She couldn't wait to see her man, to feel his arms around her, and to continue their time together.
With a spring in her step, Isla walked towards the entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. She was just a few moments away from reuniting with the love of her life.
Isla wheeled a suitcase as she knocked on the door. She was mesmerized by the two- storey building.
The door flung open.
"What do you want...." Stacie's eyes nearly popped out of it's socket.
"Isla Sinclair!!!" She yelled and Isla's grip stopped her from collapsing.
"Oh, gawd, is this real???" Stacie was being dramatic.
"Oh no." Stacie stood on her feet.
"Is this really you Isla Mirabelle Sinclair?"
"How did you...know that name?"
"It's because I'm a really big fan of yours! Isla, am I dreaming?"
"Let's go in." She said calmly and they both walked into the house.
"Mom, Dad, surprise!" Cade's parents who had been watching a show turned around.
"Isla Sinclair!" They said in unison and excitedly went to welcome her.
"Sweetie. Our family holds you so dear. We love you so much!"
"You're so beautiful in real life!"
"This is a dream! How's your dad doing?"
"He's fine." They ushered her to the biggest and comfiest sofa they had.
Stacie sat glued beside Isla.
"What would you like to eat? We have the finest of foods."
"I want to eat... Cade." Isla spoke nervously.
"Sorry??"
"Cade. I want to speak to him. Where is he?"
"He said you didn't need his services because your dad was now home."
"Stacie, take Isla to Cade's bedroom.."