Chapter 20

"The party has arrived!" Isabelle announced strutting into the restaurant. Her heels echoing against the tile floor as she walked. She styled her red waist-long hair in a high ponytail and wore sweats to get down and dirty with whatever Helen wanted. Isabelle said she would be Helen's slave to drag around for the day if it meant she would help Helen to relax. "No need to panic Helen."

"Thank you for coming," Helen said when she heard Isabelle's loudmouth. She felt a huge weight being lifted off her shoulders having someone who knew what she envisioned and wanted. Isabelle had spent countless hours around Helen hearing her talk about essence.

"No offense but you look stressed. That's not good considering you had a date last night. You're supposed to be somewhat beaming with fuzzy feelings not look tired as hell," Isabelle commented analyzing Helen's appearance. "You need to take a break. Take a seat and talk to me."

They both sat down while everyone else around them carried on with what they were doing.

"First of all Belle, I feel perfectly fine. I thought I looked good as I normally do but you're saying I look stressed?" Helen questioned tapping her face to give herself more energy in case she looked defeated.

Isabelle smiled awkwardly before replying, "Well you look cute, I guess."

"Thank you so much for cheering me up. What would I do without you here with these kind words," Helen sarcastically answered. But she did appreciate Isabelle dropping by to give her a helping hand.

Isabelle was a party planner, a good one to be precise. She knew all the mishaps which could occur in one tiny second because of her experience. The opening tomorrow would have a couple of friends and people from the public who were interested in seeing what essence had to offer with the taste and quality of the food. The first day would have a party-like kind of vibe.

"Take your mind off the restaurant for a second and spill all the details about your date with Eli. You don't seem angry or annoyed so I assumed it went well. Oh! I informed Julie about this and she told Jennifer, who is losing her mind by the way. Jennifer is dying to know how you snatched such a prize. She's most likely mad she failed to do it herself," Isabelle laughed, enjoying the fact that Jennifer was losing her mind over this.

Helen remained silent allowing Isabelle to enjoy the moment. They were all friends but the majority of the time, Isabelle and Jennifer would butt heads. Sometimes it was over the most ridiculous things in Helen's opinion. Jennifer did bug Helen a few times with her comments but she didn't dislike her. Everyone had their moments for being annoying and lovely.

Helen took whatever Jennifer said with a grain of salt. When would people learn she was the true catch, not Eli King? He was small fry compared to her. She had all of this confidence for a reason. Tip 101, always remember you are the prize. Never place yourself below anyone. She wouldn't be angry if Eli placed himself above her.

Forget being cute and complimenting people by putting them on some pedestal, everyone should just state the truth. The truth shall set you free! 'Maybe free out of a relationship if you got too cocky with the truth,' Helen thought to herself.

"Anyway, enough about that. Tell me what happened last night!" Isabelle scooted forward as much as she could to hear about last night. Her concern was out the window seeing as though Helen wasn't cursing like a pirate that the date was horrible. She just had to know what the man planned for the first date. "Stop making me wait."

Helen backed away from the overly excited Isabelle. Isabelle's happiness was almost making Helen want to throw up. "Maybe you shouldn't be so focused on my relationships and go find someone for yourself? You seem a little starved for love right now and it's scaring me."

Isabelle sat up whilst turning down her energy a notch. Maybe she was too excited but damn she wanted to know. "Just tell me and I'll leave you alone after."

She didn't mind appearing shameful at this moment considering there were so many juicy details to know.

"Promise?" Helen asked wanting the interest in her love life to disappear. She should've found a way to set Eli up with Isabelle but then she would have to hear double the stories of him and Isabelle. Helen's mood dampened even more at the thought. She was screwed either way.

"You know I can't promise you to stop when you have two more dates or maybe a lifetime more?" She hinted to Eli and Helen being together as if they found their marriage partner. Isabelle could just squeal with excitement. Dang, Helen was right. She needed to calm down.

"Slow down track star. We let it be known we're both not looking for a serious relationship right now and we're just going to have fun. It's nowhere near what you might be imagining," Helen said, watching the happiness quickly disappear from her friend's face.

"What!" Isabell screamed out loud forgetting where she was. Now all eyes in the restaurant were on her. She apologetically said sorry then lowered her voice to ask Helen, "What is wrong with you? How can you start a new relationship by saying you don't want anything out of it?"

"It's not a relationship-"

"It'll never be with the stupid deal you both agreed to. You just handed him the perfect hook-up on a silver platter. This is literally three strikes and you're out kind of deal. I'm going to remain positive for the two of you. The two of you will be in a serious relationship, get married, and have babies," Isabelle's thoughts started running wild.

"Woo woo, don't wish those little devils on me. I don't want any kids nor do I want to be married. That's your dream, not mine. I'll say it again, why don't you focus on your love life and leave me be?" Helen suggested. Lovey-dovey stuff was more for Isabelle. When the girl loved, she loved hard to the point she dragged Helen into her despair when her relationship ended. It was a nightmare.

"One day I'm going to enjoy you being helplessly in love with someone Helen and it's going to drive you crazy not being able to deny those feelings. I want to have a front seat view of that," Isabelle vowed.

"Why I never. Who knew Isabelle Hall was a masochist. It almost terrifies me," Helen admitted, slightly impressed. She didn't take Isabelle for the type to take pleasure in someone hurting. When nice people acted up like this you should run for the hills. Unfortunately, her sneakers are home and she didn't feel like running in heels.

"I've got a dark side behind this good girl persona. I'll let the stupid no serious relationship thing go, for now, tell me what else happened."

"Nothing much. It was a movie date and I got a tour of his home which is beautiful by the way. And this morning he sent me a bouquet with meat and then one with roses so I sent him dirt in reply. I would pay to see his reaction," Helen snickered, imagining how priceless it would've been.

Why couldn't she be a fly on the wall for just one minute? Flies got to see all the fun things.

Isabelle's mouth hung open flabbergasted with what they gifted each other. Did they get high last night? That was the only reasonable explanation. There was no way two sane people would find meat and dirt to be sentimental or meaningful.

Isabelle wasn't sure if she should laugh or cry for what Helen had gotten herself into.