ISABELLA

"Seriously? To make money?" Lucas questioned.

The celebration was over and done with so he and Sebastian had gone home. Which is practically the mansion where Sebastian lives.

"It was a cool line," Sebastian replied.

"Excuse me, what?"

"Come on. I heard it from this really cool movie..."

"Sebastian," Lucas cautioned and Sebastian clamped his lip shut, his cheeks bulging out in the process giving him the most adorable look.

"You're the CEO now, so please stop this gimmick of yours or people will find something to bring you down." Lucas sounded like he was scolding a five-year-old.

Sebastian sighed. "Fine,"

"And also..." Lucas stopped talking when his father, Harper came in.

"Dad," Sebastian called.

"Congratulations on becoming the new CEO," His father said, stepping closer with a broad smile on his face.

"Thank you so much, Dad." Sebastian returned the smile.

"I've come to give you this," Harper said and brought out a flash drive.

"What's in it?" Sebastian asked.

"It contains all the list and names of the most influential people here in B City. People you should work with." Harper explained.

Sebastian twirled the flash drive in his finger as he studied it, he gave Harper a little nod.

"Thanks, Dad. I'll use it wisely." He said but Harper shook his head.

"You should keep it safe instead. A lot of greedy people are dying to get that in their hands." Harper said and turned to leave.

"Dad," Sebastian called and he stopped.

"Thank you," Sebastian said.

Harper turned and gave him a smile. "You'll do great son." He muttered and finally walked out.

Lucas looked at the flash drive in Sebastian's hands.

"What are you gonna do with it?" He asked.

Sebastian sighed heavily. "You can go now Lucas, let's talk tomorrow."

Lucas looked like he wanted to say something but he stopped and nodded instead.

"Have a good day, Sir." He bowed and left.

Putting the flash drive into his bag, Sebastian entered his room and quickly undressed. As he stood under the shower allowing the water to pour on his body, he thought of all that happened in the day.

Now he was the CEO of ORBIT, he knew there was a lot of work waiting for him. It was not going to be easy as everyone thought.

Drying up his body and putting on his pyjamas, he then climbed his bed.

"What a long day." His eyelids became heavy and he gave to sleep.

****

AT B PROVINCE.

The sunlight shone even brighter here and the birds tweeted as they flew about.

"Isa." A woman called.

"ISABELLA!!" She shouted this time and a young girl came out from her apartment, her hair dishevelled from the night's sleep and her eyes were halfway closed as she rubbed them.

"Seriously, you're still sleeping at this time?" The woman didn't look surprised.

"Good morning, Mrs Ferdinand." Isabella greeted sleepily.

Isabella lived in a joint apartment with Mrs Ferdinand, the wall being the only thing that separated them. Mrs. Ferdinand was kind enough to take care of her most of the time. And one more thing, she's black.

"Don't you have work today?" Mrs. Ferdinand asked.

"My next shift will be late this afternoon, so..." She shook her head. "I don't have anything to do this morning." She added.

"Then can you help take Mason to school? You see I have something to do at the town hall." Mrs. Ferdinand explained.

Isabella smiled a smile that made her dimples deepen.

"I'll be more than happy to do that. You don't have to ask." She said.

Mrs Ferdinand smiled back. "Bless you, child." She said.

"Just give me a second to change from these pyjamas," Isabella said and went back into her room.

Isabella's room wasn't big, given the fact that she didn't earn much from her jobs. This was the only kind of house she could afford and it was worth it. Due to her financial status, she didn't attend college but that was the least of her concerns because the main thing in her mind was to 'Survival first'

Minutes later, Isabella came out dressed in a simple blue gown and a pair of sandals that helped her walk more comfortably. She went over to Mrs Ferdinand's apartment and knocked.

The door opened and a ten-year-old boy came out wearing a white buttoned shirt well tucked into a blue short. His white socks were drawn to his knee and he wore a black shoe.

"Hi, Mason," Isabella waved with a smile but the boy returned it with a frown.

"I'm not going to school." He grumbled.

Just then, Mrs. Ferdinand's footsteps could be heard as she came out. "You better get those legs moving now or so help me God, I will bash you with my slipper." She cautioned the boy.

"But Mama, I don't wanna go to school," Mason whined.

"Allow me to talk to him, Mrs Ferdinand," Isabella said in an attempt to calm the rage of the little boy's mother who was already advancing towards Mason.

"Hey, Mason, your mama is right. Didn't you say you want to be an engineer?" Isabella asked.

"Yes, I did." Mason nodded.

"Then studying is a must," Isabella advised him.

"Mason, you should listen to your mother and go to school."

"Yes, Mason, you should listen to me." Mrs. Ferdinand added.

Mason tugged at Isabella's gown and she looked down at him.

"Miss Bella, do you think I can do it?" He asked timidly.

"What? That's not a question Mason baby, you can do it. I believe you and you should also believe in yourself so that you can become what you want to be. You will achieve your dreams more when you go to school." Isabella said with a smile.

"Then I'll do it for you, Miss Bella," Mason said.

Mrs. Ferdinand gasped. "For her? Are you doing it for her or yourself? Wait a minute, even if you have to do it for someone else shouldn't it be me? I'm your mother, young man," She repeated "Your mother,"

Both Mason and Isabella laughed.

"But Miss Bella is very pretty, and she doesn't shout at me." Mason grinned.

Isabella couldn't help but chuckle at the little boy's thoughts.

"Goodness, Mason," Mrs. Ferdinand rubbed her forehead tiredly.

"Come on, Mason, time to go." Isabella took his hand.

"Bye Mama." Mason waved at Mrs. Ferdinand who was also waving back at them.

"Mama loves you!" Mrs. Ferdinand called after him, smiling as she watched them leave.

****

IN B CITY inside a gym house.

Sebastian had his headphones on as he ran on the treadmill. The door to the gym opened and a lady stepped in looking sophisticated in her red armless gown that hugged her perfect curves.

She stood at the side, admiring Sebastian before walking over to him.

Sebastian turned off the treadmill and removed the headphones before turning to see her. He smiled.

"Babe." He called.

Clarissa smiled and hugged him despite his sweaty body.

"When did you get back? I would have picked you up." He broke the hug to look at her.

"I wanted to surprise you." She pouted.

"Well, I'm really surprised." Sebastian grinned, leaning forward for a kiss. He gently connected their lips as Clarissa also leaned forward, both engaged in a steamy kiss.