Isabella:Love And Vengeance

I didn't sleep that night.

After Alexander dropped me off, I sank onto my couch, still wearing the black dress from our date. My heels were kicked off somewhere near the door, and my makeup was smudged from tears I hadn't even realized I'd cried. The night had been a whirlwind of emotions—perfect one moment, devastating the next, and somehow perfect again by the end.

Alexander Harrington.

His name lingered in my thoughts like a melody I couldn't stop humming. Everything about him—the way he spoke, the way he looked at me, the way he defended me—played on a loop in my mind. I couldn't help but smile, even as I replayed the confrontation with Aunt Linda.

She'd embarrassed me, sure, but Alexander's response had turned the situation around. He hadn't just stood up for me—he'd seen me. The real me.

I stretched out on the couch, staring at the ceiling. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his piercing blue gaze, the way he smiled when I laughed, the way his voice softened when he said my name.

"What are you doing, Isabella?" I whispered to myself. "You barely know him."

But the truth was, I wanted to know him. Every detail. Every secret.

I fell asleep sometime in the early hours of the morning, the sound of his laughter echoing in my dreams.

The alarm blared far too soon, jolting me awake. I groaned, dragging myself out of bed and into the shower. As the hot water hit my skin, I replayed last night's conversation in my head, savoring every word.

By the time I arrived at the café, I was running on caffeine and pure adrenaline. Sarah was already behind the counter, her curly hair pulled into a messy bun, and her usual grin firmly in place.

"Morning, sunshine," she teased, glancing at the clock. "Cutting it close, aren't we?"

"Don't start," I said, tying my apron around my waist.

She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Late night?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to share. "Something like that."

"Oh, do tell," she said, leaning on the counter. "You're practically glowing."

"Am not," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Are too. Spill."

Before I could answer, the bell above the door chimed, and my heart stopped.

Alexander walked in, carrying a bouquet of white lilies and pink roses. He was dressed in another impeccably tailored suit, his presence commanding as ever.

Sarah's eyes widened, and she gave me a not-so-subtle nudge. "Well, well, well. Who's this?"

I shot her a warning look before stepping out from behind the counter. Alexander's gaze met mine, and the small smile that graced his lips made my stomach flip.

"Good morning, Isabella," he said, his voice smooth as ever.

"Morning," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "What brings you here?"

He held out the bouquet. "These, for starters."

My cheeks flushed as I took the flowers, their sweet scent filling the air. "They're beautiful. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said, his smile softening. "I hope they brighten your day."

"They already have," I admitted, unable to stop smiling.

Sarah cleared her throat loudly, reminding me that we weren't alone.

"Alexander, this is Sarah," I said, gesturing to my overly curious coworker. "Sarah, this is Alexander."

Sarah gave him a knowing smile. "Nice to meet you, Alexander. And, uh, thanks for making Isabella's morning. She's been all smiles lately, and now I know why."

"Sarah!" I hissed, my face burning.

Alexander chuckled, clearly amused. "It's nice to meet you, Sarah. I'll take a coffee, please. Black."

"Coming right up," Sarah said, winking at me before heading to the machine.

As I arranged the flowers in a vase behind the counter, Alexander leaned in slightly. "I didn't mean to embarrass you," he said, his tone apologetic.

"You didn't," I assured him, though my cheeks were still warm.

"Good," he said, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before he straightened.

Sarah handed him his coffee with a grin. "Here you go. On the house."

"Thank you," he said, handing her a generous tip anyway.

He glanced at me once more before heading to his usual table by the window. As he settled in with his coffee and a newspaper, Sarah turned to me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"So," she said, drawing out the word. "Care to explain?"

"There's nothing to explain," I said, though the flowers in front of me made it hard to deny anything.

"Flowers from a guy like that?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Come on, Isabella. Spill."

"We're just getting to know each other," I said, hoping it sounded casual.

"Uh-huh," she said, clearly unconvinced. "Well, for what it's worth, he seems like a keeper."

I smiled, unable to help myself. "He is."

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Every time I glanced at Alexander, he was either reading or stealing a glance at me. When our eyes met, he'd smile, and my heart would skip a beat.

By the time my shift ended, I was exhausted but giddy. I grabbed my bag and stepped outside, only to find Alexander waiting by the curb, leaning casually against his car.

"Hi," I said, surprised but delighted.

"Hi," he replied, his smile as warm as the evening air. "Need a ride home?"

"I couldn't possibly—"

"Isabella," he said, cutting me off gently. "Let me."

I hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay. Thank you."

The drive was quiet at first, the hum of the engine filling the silence. But Alexander broke it with a question that caught me off guard.

"Do you like adventure?"

I glanced at him, curious. "What kind of adventure?"

"The kind that involves stepping out of your comfort zone," he said, a playful glint in his eye.

I tilted my head. "I'm intrigued. What are you suggesting?"

He grinned, a boyish charm breaking through his usual composed demeanor. "A date. On my yacht."

I blinked, stunned. "You have a yacht?"

He chuckled. "I do. And I'd like to take you on it. But there's a catch."

"What kind of catch?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"It's not just a yacht trip," he said, his tone teasing. "It's a dare. I dare you to spend a day with me, trying new things, no questions asked."

My heart raced at the idea, a mix of excitement and nerves. "No questions asked?"

He nodded. "Do you trust me?"

I thought about everything that had happened in the past few days—the way he made me laugh, the way he defended me, the way he looked at me like I was the only person in the room.

"I do," I said softly.

His smile widened. "Then it's a date."

As we pulled up to my apartment, I found myself wishing the drive had lasted longer. He walked me to the door, his hand brushing mine as we said goodnight.

"I'll see you soon, Isabella," he said, his voice low and warm.

I nodded, my cheeks aching from smiling so much. "I can't wait."

And I meant it.