CHAPTER 2

POV of Isabella

*

I had just returned from the ranch, which was a mile away, and as I made my way back to the mansion along the lonely trails, I noticed I was missing Phina. I met Phina in my first year of college, and she quickly became my greatest friend. She was also the closest friend I had to a sister, which was wonderful because I didn't have many friends because I was sort of an introvert.

When I realized I wasn't alone anymore, the smile turned into a frown. A mischievous smile was slowly flickering across the lips of Declan, an estate worker and one of my boyhood pals, as he walked in my direction.

He yelled, "Aha!" while I was quite close to him, and I couldn't help but laugh at how stupid he was. Did he really believe that I was so blind that I failed to see his approach at all?

He complained, "Isabella, I haven't seen you in ages. I ignored him and chewed my bottom lip in boredom rather than enjoying his comments.

"I'm speaking with you,"

Whose fault is it, then, that we haven't spoken in a while?

Look, bunny face, I know we didn't end on a good foot that day, but...

"Who in the world is Bunny Face?" In utter disgust, I scrunched up my face. He would refer to me as a bunny face, how? I wasn't carrying a rabbit's head.

Declan moved inexplicably close to me while his eyes sent a suspicious-looking glance in my general direction. He quickly seized me, and I instantly stiffened, glaring fiercely at his powerful arms, which over the years had grown more muscular. Declan was an adult now, but I wasn't sure if he still had the "little feelings" he had for me all those years before.

"I know you'll turn me down again, but I need this now." Despite the fact that his tone was so intense, I still rolled my eyes.

What is needed? I scowled mockingly. You are wasting my time, young man.

He exhaled. We both understand that I'm not a boy, he said, adjusting his brows and making kissy looks. And love, you understand what I mean.

Declan, I object. I was able to break free of his tight grip. I almost threw up just from hearing him use the word "love"!

Please just say it once.

"No. You can't get a kiss!" He didn't even need to say what he was anticipating.

"Even if it's only a little peck?"

My hands were yearning to slap him across the face as I shook my head. For goodness sake, we were at the tiny walkway leading to the ranch in the estate.

Anyone listening could misinterpret what they heard! To be fair to him, I was well aware that he had repeatedly asked me out for the past seven years, and I had consistently declined.

"You realize I adore you, right?" I was pinned against his chest as he questioned slowly and retraced his tanned palm around my side.

"Goodness…" My eyes rolled.

Yes, I love you, you.

Declan, you have lost your mind.

And I wouldn't have anything left for you.

His breath kept caressing the back of my ear, and every time his stubble pricked my chin softly, I would startle a little. We grew up together, so I recognized this as being familiar. I thought of him as a brother.

"I know but I don't like you that way, Declan." Declan, who is only one year older than me and whom I could consider a buddy, managed the ranch with two other men along with his father, whom I had known since we were children.

I've been holding off for a while. I want to"

~°~

POV of Alexander

"Should we give them another chance, sir?" posed Stirling. He probably felt exhausted because of the way he spoke. I had not hesitated to phone him the moment I had stepped outside for my run and had given him instructions regarding the Goslings Company.

They held stock in the corporation, but recently they had been requesting money for a nonprofit group.

The reason they wanted to help an NGO was not what enraged me. No, it was the sum they were asking for and the kind of force their group leader was prepared to use. He had given me threats, which I would never take lightly.

Okay, but if he insists on the sum after that, take immediate action. I moaned.

I'll phone you to let you know how things turned out after doing just that, boss. With a curt "later boss," Stirling responded and closed the call. Since I was already on my estate, I made the decision to just keep going and tucked my phone back into the back pocket of my trousers. It was unnecessary to continue running.

Please just say it once. Unexpectedly, I heard someone say in a pleasurable tone. In my tracks, I slowed down. Although I couldn't place the source of the voice, it seemed very familiar.

"No. You can't get a kiss!" A female voice responded. Even before I rounded the corner and saw her, I knew she was the one. They were both positioned near to a tree and to one another.

In her short dress, her creamy legs were on full view, and her rear was round and lovely. I took a big breath and gasped at the wonderful scenery. When I heard her male companion mutter something, my jaw started to twitch.

The defiance I admired most about her was evident in the way she spoke to him; it was the same defiance that always melted into softness and sweetness once she saw me.

"Even if it's only a little peck?" I turned to face Marcus's son Declan as he fixed his gaze on her as I looked away from her. I now understood why his voice seemed familiar. About an hour ago, while I was leaving the estate, I had a conversation with his father and my ranch manager.

The passion in his eyes was obvious even from where I was standing, and he had a smirk that I was sure she couldn't see because she was staring up at him with bewildered eyes.

The walkway that went back to my property was where I stood after turning the corner. When I heard his following remarks, I started to take a step but stopped.

He asked softly, tracing his hands around her two sides, which were now gleaming with labor-related sweat. "You know I love you right?" Something started to swirl in me right away.

I felt irritated and ferocious jealousy.

He didn't care for her. Simply put, her beauty had made him inebriated. What did he know about cherishing someone as lovely as my Isabella? I wouldn't be shocked if he even declared his intention to wed her. In her pants was all he wanted.

"Goodness."

Yes, I love you, you.

He would be caught by a blind man lying. She was being duped, but the girl wasn't even aware of his deceitful tone. She might not have seen the lust in his eyes, but I was able to make it out.

Declan, you have lost your mind. She continued, still appearing conflicted.

And I wouldn't have anything left for you. Was she actually believing this to be true? He seemed more like a pitiful creature, and that line was really misapplied.

"I know but I don't like you that way, Declan." unwillingly, she said. I exhaled forcefully. Instead of standing around, I should approach them. They were too near for my taste, and if burning his hand with something meant he would stop staring at her in that way, then I wouldn't mind.

He was clearly picking her eyes out.

I've been holding off for a while. I want to"

"What the hell is going on here?" He let her go, and they awkwardly started to back away. The girl yelled in shock as soon as they discovered they had company. Like she had done ever since she was a young child, Isabella avoided looking into my eyes.

I want a response, please. I resumed my calm speech. Although Declan had a threatening expression on his face, which made me realize that what I was doing was more pleasant than making threats, I was still not calm.

Declan tried to hide another emotion, which I could see, which was one of astonishment. He glanced at me almost in wonder, and I returned his gaze while posing a question.

He and I had never interacted directly, so based on the way he was looking at me, I could only assume that he was shocked to hear me speak instead of just grunt.

When I gave him a stern look, he hesitantly continued, "We...we were talking and she felt something itchy and..." His explanation quickly became halting.

I've never heard a more ridiculous justification.