The Prince and The Charming

5. Home and Family

Isabella heaved a heavy breath, even her heart and body didn't know that she was holding. Her heart was In a constant swindle of thoughts. She had no idea about her decision, she had just compulsed it and now, here she was standing in front of the huge skyscraper, on the clean street of Liverpool in London.

She roamed her eyes around, sensing the moving corporates, coffee occupied hands, coat smitten bodies and phone striking ears.

She heaved one final breath, walking inside the skyscraper.

Receptionist smiled at her, guiding her towards the elevator, where she was guided towards the twenty seventh floor.

As the elevator continued to move up, the transparent walls of the elevator made the view on the outside clear, Isabella noticed the surrounding reflecting buildings disappear and the view of city becoming clear.

Her hometown, London!

Resting her head against the glass walls of elevator, she looked down at the small clustered houses of the clean streets of Bradford, the lavish colonies of Mayfair and colloidal houses of the number streets. A small point of London Eye and Thames reflected on the surface of the view as well.

Isabella rolled her eyes, still not believing that after eight most vulnerable years of her life, that she spent building her own life, with her own choices and career, she was actually back in her hometown.

The elevator stopped with a ding, alerting Isabella as she turned around and walked out of it. Her eyes felt defocused because of the bright white reflecting from each and every surface. In front of the a huge white desk with two blonds wearing white jumpsuits, high and neat ponytails hanging down their shoulders, pointed features sat wearing head sets, working on their systems.

In front of their desk, in silver was written ‘Bruce Enterprises’. Walking upto the receptionist Isabella spoke.

“Excuse me, I'm Isabella Rowan. I'm here to…”

Listening to her name, one of the receptionist got up immediately looking at her with a wide smile.

“Mr. Bruce is expecting you.” she smiled guiding Isabella down a white hallway, with white tiles, waiting sofas, white coffee table so clear one could see their face. She lead her down another similar corridor, opening a double wide wooden door.

“Mr. Bruce, Ms Rowan is here.”

The receptionist gave out her sleekiest smile looking back at Isabella who just looked at her with utter confusion.

As the receptionist walked out Isabella searched her surroundings. It was an utter white room, with white tiles, walls, desks, chairs with silver support. Isabella found herself trapped in a 2050, post apocalyptic, the rich corporate zone. She looked around and found no sign of any human being. She cleared her throat, hoping to find her sensing right.

The desk was utterly neat and empty except for a single thin closed lid MacBook air that was placed right behind the turned swivel chair.

The swivel chair suddenly turned around making Isabella gasp as she saw a bald middle aged man, sitting over the chair with his legs crossed, eyes closed, wearing a loose white cotton shirt, through which Isabella could easily see his manly hairy chest, n*****s, and bulged tummy. He wore garland of small silver beads around his neck that ended in the middle of his chest. His closed fists rested over his knees on both sides and his fingers were covered with stone and metal rings.

“Namaste!” With closed eyes he greeted adjoining both of his hands.

Isabella stood awkwardly confused at his behavior.

“Don't be confused dear.” He spoke in a thick English accent, finally opening his eyes.

“Oh my, you are one hell of a beauty.” He gasped holding his palm over his chest.

Isabella gave out a small smile, looking around awkwardly.

“Oh honey, sit down make yourself comfortable.” sensing his tone Isabella took in a seat right opposite to him.

He gasped out loud as Isabella sat down making her look at him with wide confused eyes.

“I see burden.” he squinted his eyes at her.

“Are you a shrink?” she asked in a low murmur.

“Shh!” He immediately shushed her, “I sense a weight.”

“I'm sorry I didn't mean to sit down in a sloppy way…” she mumbled again.

He squinted his eyes at her, studying her posture correctly, “I see light in you.”

“Me?” she gestured at herself, looking down at her peach floral sundress.

“I see you holding back that light. I see you hiding that light. Not sharing it with people who deserve it.”

Sensing that this might be the wrong Bruce that she wanted to see she got up from the chair. “I think I'm at the wrong place.”

“Sit! You're exactly where you belong.” he gestured at her shrugging his shoulders. He got up as she sat down immediately. He walked sideways to the table and Isabella saw the cotton shorts he wore that were hugging his thick thighs.

“I am Matt Bruce.” He continued stretching his body, using the support of the table, “I believe in a life filled with soul and spirit. I am a huge Jain believer.”

“Jane? As in Jane Austin?” Isabella asked in utter confusion.

“Jain, is a Hinduism believe, that there is more to life, more to give than to take.” He corrected her as she bit her tongue on her words.

“Look around you Isabella what do you see?” he asked her and she awkwardly searched around.

“White?”

“Nothing!” he immediately corrected her again, “There's nothing you see. That's the concept of life. We have nothing to keep. Now Isabella I would enjoy having a lovely conversation with you on your aura…” he sped the conversation looking over at the clock.

“My aura?” she asked looking around her.

“Of course honey, you use your verbal skills to hide your burdens and pains of heart.” he shrugged at her, “But we will leave it on some other day. For now, here are the papers that need to be signed.” he passed her down a file.

She opened it up and saw them as the approval papers for the seaport construction as they still weren't approved by the local authorities.

“But weren't this supposed to be your company's responsibility?” she asked with confusion.

“See as I said, you talk too much to hide your burdens.” he sassed at her, making her look at him with wide offended eyes, “They require a final meeting with the international agencies involved and you were left so you have a one pm meeting with the transport ministry and it's already 11. Don't be late, he's an ass.” he whispered at her.

Isabella got up as she saw him leaving his room.

“But won't you or someone from your company come with me?” she asked following him outside.

“Oh honey, this world is where everyone needs to carry their own burden and do their own work.” He lightly tapped her shoulders, “Besides the minister is such a piece”, he winked at her, “Too bad he's not my type, hope you can make him sign these papers. What a stubborn ass!”

Isabella was left shocked at her spot.

It was to Isabella’s revelation that he was indeed a gay, mantra preaching, rich soul loving person. Who was too blunt and already a hard man to work with.

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The last Isabella remembered was some old guy, who held the British ministry of transport.

No way he would be a piece.

She thought to herself, sitting anxiously in the small waiting room, tapping her light blue Gucci heels. Biting her bottom lip, she looked around and her gaze fell on the old grumpy assistant of the minister who was sitting behind his desk and looking at her with anger driven eyes, as her foot was creating a disturbing noise throughout the whole room, where only he and Isabella were sitting.

She stopped tapping her foot and picked up a magazine placed on the brown coffee table.

What the hell did I push myself into? I was better off in Barcelona.

She scrunched at the thought looking absent mindedly at the magazine.

The front cover of the magazine held a photo of a young handsome man standing next to a young beautiful woman, holding her hand, flashing the diamond ring. But Isabella was unaware of the picture on the outside.

“Ms. Rowan! Mr. Rowan will see you now!” she heard a voice calling out and felt confused at the second name pronounced, thinking that maybe she had been called twice.

Without much consideration she knocked onto the single wooden door and after hearing a small reply, she opened up the door and stood frozen looking at the man sitting in the middle of the room behind the huge creamy desk.

He looked at Isabella with confusion all over his face but got up immediately as soon as he recognized her.

Slowly she began walking up to him, with her heart thumping out of her chest.

Her feet felt light, not believing herself, as her brother stood right in front of her. he slowly paced towards her with a small smile playing over his lips, he still wasn’t sure if it was his sister or not. He didn’t remember seeing her the last time. Maybe he was still in college and it was the summer before she left home.

She looked at her handsome brother, just as tall as ever, his body still giving the essence of his athletic past. Maybe he still practiced soccer. Her heart burst out loud inside her chest when he opened his arms and she ran and hug him tightly.

Everything else was at blur, she never expected to see her brother right at her first day in London.

“Oh my God! Look at you. You have grown into such a beauty!” he said pulling away and cupping her cheeks. “Is it really you Isabella?”

She smiled at him, feeling the thick tears rolling down her eyes. she nodded her head at him with a sweet smile. “I missed you so much.”

She hugged him tightly and he hugged her back. For him, unlike his entire family she was his baby sister, closest of all the siblings. The two had the same physical features and were mistaken as twins many times because of Isabella’s masculine figure back then.

“I missed you too, small B!” he called her the nickname he had given to her and listen to him say those words while she hugged him, meant the entire world to Isabella.

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“I still can’t believe how did you lose all the weight?” Aaron asked Isabella, sitting at the table from across her in a lavish black interior restaurant, where he had brought her for lunch.

She smiled softly at him, “I know, I lost eighty kilos can you believe that? I got sick during sophomore year, typhoid, it really shook me down. I was straight on boiled and liquid diet.”

“Wow!”, He stated, his smile slowly disappearing. “Still can't believe my lil Izzy is such a big one now.”

She smiled feverishly at Aaron, “Look at you now, Secretary of State of Transport, engaged to Pamela Bernand.” she pointed at him, “Daddy must be really proud of you.”

Aaron understood the void in her voice, “You know he's proud of all his children.”

Pursing her lips tights, her eyes filled with mist, still remembering the fight she had with her parents before she ran away. She simply shook her head at Aaron.

“Izzy… They're just…”

“Please, let's not just talk about it right now.” She cut him off.

“Of course.” he smiled sheepishly, “So what brought you back here in London? And what brought you to my office?”

Isabella slapped her forehead, being the sluggish person she was, “I almost forgot. I told you I worked for Barca constructions right?”

He nodded his head, eating over his steak.

“They're making the new sea port and I'm the head design architect of the project.”

Aaron c****d an eyebrow, impressed with his sister’s success.

“So I needed these papers signed for the project to commence from next week.” she opened her bag and passed it down to her brother. He took in the file, and read through the papers.

“You said you needed to meet every international agency involved, well Barca constructions’ the final one left.” she smiled with a proud shrug.

He studied his sister for a moment, all he could calculate was pure success and immense positivity. A part of him loathed her, he felt so complete yet so impeached with his inner peace. He did seem young and successful in front of the the glow his sister had, the way she laughed and smiled, he envied her. and more than that he saw potential filled in her veins. Potential that could get him to places, if he used them right.

“I'll sign the papers.” He smiled at her.

“Of course, why wouldn't you?” She asked with a casual shrug.

“But you'll have to do something in return.”

She looked at his stern expressions and she felt confused.

“What can I do for you?”

“Go and meet, Mum and Dad!”

Isabella sat shocked for a moment, thinking about Aaron's words.

Isn't this what I had planned when I decided to come back to London to reconcile with my family, and now meeting Aaron, it was a sign perhaps.

“How mad are they?” she asked trying to compensate her meeting with her parents.

“It doesn't matter Izzy, they're your parents and you have to see them. Consider this as a payback favor to me for signing your papers.”

Isabella felt stunted at his words.

Payback Favor for signing my papers? Wasn't he going to sign them without it? Is he really that kind of minister?

She thought about his words for a second but she didn't want to dive in any further and simply nodded her head.

_________________________________

I can't do this! I can't do this! I can't do this!

She breathed in and out, throwing her head back on the head rest of the seat.

I can't meet them. I can't look in their eyes. What if they hate me? What if they don't want to do anything with me? I was selfish for letting them down. A huge disappointment! I can't win them over!

“Are you getting out or what?”

The cab driver spoke breaking Isabella’s stance.

She had been sitting on the backseat of the cab for the past fifteen minutes, contemplating her decision, standing outside her parents’ mansion in Mayfair.

The sky was getting darker by every passing second as the purple in the sun dissolved sky was now drenching with darkness. The boundaries of the private estate were a little too higher than the usual with wall embedded lights spacing out through the inner carvings over the small pot plants placed in each distant gallery created within the outer surface of the wall.

My mom's still so extra!

Isabella smiled looking over the same design of her family house.

“Yo! You going to spend the entire night in the cab?” The impatient driver spoke again.

She groaned in frustration, “The meter’s down right? I'll pay it!”

Paying the taxi, she got out and stood at the outskirts of the private estate of Rowans, the well-known socialites of London. Known for their close apprentices and allegiances with the Royal family!

Isabella looked over at the nameplate and tightly held her bag in her hands.

“The Rowans!”

She stated the name with a grunt and entered through the gates of the mansion. No guard was located at the main gate, showing her parents had either stopped showing off or just had their security off for dinner.

She walked in, wearing a pastel white sleeveless sundress that had a deep lower back that was covered with her long flowing, straightened hair.

She wore three inches block heels and carried a mink coach handbag. Never in her life had she ever dressed so feminine on purpose just so her family would find lesser reasons to be mad at her.

She remembered the fight she had with her parents, when she had applied for Spain and got the scholarship. Printing the email, she proudly presented it to her parents when her father torn the letter away, yelling that she needed to stay with them and go to London School of Economics just like her sister. Even her mother and sister didn't support her.

Hysteric crying in her room, she felt the need to do something in her life. She was already rejected by the guy she once loved with all her heart and this was something that she wasn't going to compromise on. So she grabbed her savings and ran away. The money was enough to keep her going for two years of college and she had a plan to work further. She did succeed on it though!

But at the loss of her family. Her relationships were left to nothing. When Emily finally contacted her after two years on f*******:, Isabella felt happy and connected. The two shared a lot of stuff about their lives. But when Isabella couldn't be at her sister's wedding, that was the point after which Emily stopped replying to Isabella and she eventually felt at loss of contact with Aaron too.

Knocking at the wooden door, Isabella felt foreign in her own house.

The double wooden door was opened by an unfamiliar face of a housekeeper.

“How may I help you?” The butler asked wearing a r****h suit with a bow.

“I… I….” Isabella didn't know how to introduce her own self in her own home.

“I…”

“What the f**k?” She heard a huge shriek making her look over the butler’s shoulder.

“What the f**k are you doing here? You let you in the premises!”

Her sister, Emily yelled walking down the spiral staircase down at the main foyer.

She looked no different than she used to be, except for being a little chubby on the sides. She had to! She was a mother of two children now!

“Oh honey, what's going on?” A tall male, in his late thirties walked down the staircase behind Emily. He was a handsome man, with a muscular built, fitted in his formal button up and formal trousers. He had a small shave outgrown over his jaw and held an impressive personality.

Emily stood right in front of Isabella with flexing jaw and hate filled eyes.

“How dare you show your face….”

“Em please…” Isabella began but Emily cut her off.

“Don't you dare call me that.” she stepped ahead but stopped when she reached near Isabella something within her asking to not to do the unthinkable.

“What's going on? Why’re you screaming?”

Another female voice spoke and everyone turned their heads towards the mid end of the staircase where Mr. And Mrs. Rowan stood trying to have a look at who Emily was yelling at.

And once they saw their hearts wrenched once they saw Isabella standing at the doorway.

While Isabella’s heart burst with joy at the such a close view of her parents. Her blood gushed warm looking at her parents from up close after such a long while.

“Is… Isabella… Is That you…?” her mother asked stepping down the staircase hurriedly as Isabella pushed past Emily inside the house.

But she stopped once her mother stopped down the staircase.

“Mum… I…”

Again she felt like her tongue got caught by a cat. So out of words.

“Did you have a disorder in Spain or what?” Emily hissed at her, pushing Isabella’s shoulder as she walked away from her to stand right next to her father who stood right behind her mother.

While Emily's husband standing over on the side, decided to leave, giving the family their personal space.

“Emily I'm sorry, I was in Vegas when you sent me the mail to your wedding. You could've at least left me a message…” Isabella began clarifying like a culprit that her family claimed she was.

“Where else had you been enjoying?” Her mother asked in a sinful tone.

“I was working…” she clarified again.

“Why are you here now?” Her father spoke in the same command as he always did.

She looked between her parents and noticed the grey over their hairs, with streaks running in patterns, the wrinkles around their eyes now more prominent and the lines around their lips more deep and darkened.

“I met Aaron and….”

“Get out!” Her mother cut her off with a loud screech.

“No! Please. At least let me explain.”

“Explain what?” Emily yelled with a much higher voice, “Didn't you just listen to her? Just get the f**k out.”

“Lower Emily, the kids are sleeping.” her father low but commanding voice spoke.

“Now you!” he pointed at Isabella, “It's better you leave and never show us your face again.”

He turned his back and so did everyone walking away.

She felt tears rolling down her eyes as her heart broke into millions of pieces, “Mum…”

She tried calling her mother who did stop, listening to her daughter's hurtful voice. But her father held her wrists, preventing her from talking to Isabella.

He stood with his back facing Isabella, not even bothering to look at her face.

“You died for us the day you left this house! We don't have a third daughter. It's better you leave before we call the security to kick you out!”

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