Arabel's POV
My make-up is intentional.
After exfoliating my face and body in the bathroom, I spray rose water over my face before applying my face cream and make-up.
On a normal day, I would have applied light makeup but for no genuine reason, I take my time in beautifying myself today.
I don't want to think about Richard or what he will feel when he sees me today but I know I want him to see what he is missing. I want him to know I am no longer the Arabel from four years ago who would nod meekly like a dove to everything she is being asked to do.
I am an independent woman.
The fact that he asked if I was married made me flare up in anger. Controlling my anger has become an impossible thing to do these days. I am sure he is suspecting that I am just pretending.
He asked if I was married to confirm his suspicions and I also feel he asked that simply because he wanted to know if my new status and identity was as a result of my re-marriage.
I really do not know why men take women who are financially independent for granted but assume there is a man's doing behind it all.
There is no man. Though, I plan to make him believe there is.
That way, he will get rid of his suspicions about me pretending to be someone else. I will make him believe I am indeed Bella Portillo and not the woman he married seven years ago.
Getting to know that my ex-husband is the CEO, I would have given up on this partnership if only this partnership wasn't one of my dreams. But I know it will take me to places I have been dreaming of.
I won't let Richard make me give up on my dreams. This is just business. Nothing more.
The ringing sound of my phone jerks me out of my reverie. With Daisy sleeping on my bed, I quickly grab the phone to pick up so she won't wake up from the loud sound.
Alex's name flashes across the screen and a smile leaves my mouth.
“Hey, I'm outside”, he shouts, making me hold the phone away from my ear for a second.
“Why the shout?” I scold him, getting up to pick up my purse.
“You don't want to be late for your first appointment, do you?” He retorts back sharply.
“I'm coming”, I say before disconnecting the phone and dropping it in my purse.
I walk towards the bed and peck Daisy's cheeks and giggle when she turns slightly before rushing out to call Anita, the nanny.
I didn't intend to come back to New York but the partnership forced me to. I thought of Richard the moment I saw the proposal but waved it away quickly as soon as it came, ensuring that our paths would never cross again.
Four years ago when we got divorced, I was so mad that I prayed so hard never to see him again. I was annoyed till the point of daydreaming about how I would hit him in the face if we ever met again.
But that was gone.
Though I am still enraged.
“Ma'am, sir Alex is waiting outside”, Anita almost bumps into me as I step into the large living room.
I nod at her. “Daisy is in the room sleeping. Take care of you two.”
With a wave, I smile and walk towards the exit grateful for having Alex. If he wasn't here, I would have had to stay in a hotel till I got myself a decent apartment for Daisy and me to live in for the main time before heading back to London.
When I step outside, he is on his phone. He sees me and says a quick goodbye to the person on the other side who I am suspecting is his mom before opening his arms wide to embrace me.
I narrow my eyes and step backwards.
He pouts and I laugh.
“Let's go, please. Being late isn't a good first impression”, I murmur and push him aside to enter the car. With a great, melodramatic sigh, he gives up and turns around to the driver's side.
When he slides in, I punch his shoulder laughing. “Let's go already. Stop with this drama. We saw each other at the airport, didn't we?”
I know he misses me. This is the reason for his funny acts.
“You look good”, he comments as he ignites the car engine into action and I nod, proudly.
“Thank you.”
My phone rings again. Stella's name flashes across my screen and I pick up immediately wondering what is happening.
“Good day, ma'am”, She greets politely.
“How are you doing, Stella? Is everything ok?” I demand impatiently.
“The appointment with the Griffins has been rescheduled for tomorrow evening. I tried to get them to postpone it till next weekend when you would be back but I think the manager is due for a leave soon.”
I exhale. The meeting with Richard is today but I need to do other things before going back to London. Besides, our partnership agreement signing might extend till the weekend.
“You know what? When I get back home tonight, I will give you a call”, I tell her, rubbing my forehead.
“Yes, ma'am”, she mutters before disconnecting the call
Stella is my secretary and she is in charge of everything now till I am back in London. She is resourceful and my trip down to New York is as a result of her.
“Is everything ok?” Alex questions, sparing me a glance before looking back to the road.
“Yeah”, I only say. After tonight, I will find a solution. If there is nothing I can do, then I will have to talk to Ashley about my trip to London and ensure I come back as soon as I can.
Alex and I became friends four years ago. We met at Cambridge when I got newly admitted into school. Being pregnant with Daisy didn't stop me from going back to school. I knew that was the only thing to keep me away from brooding and attempted suicide.
I was broken.
Richard broke me. But Daisy kept me going. If I wasn't pregnant before I left his house, I wondered what I would have done to myself.
The reason for my anger towards him that night was because he deceived me. I always knew Eve was his obsession but I thought he had gotten rid of his feelings for her the moment he stopped being cold towards me and started showing me care and concern.
I never knew it was fake.
We even had sex. It was a night filled with passion and it meant a lot to me until that night he asked me to sign the divorce papers nonchalantly as though he was asking me to sign a contract to own a house.
A clap pulls me out of my thoughts. It is Alex.
“What is going through that little head of yours? Are you sure everything is ok back in London?”
“Stella was unable to reschedule my appointment with the Griffins. I'm afraid I will have to go to London tomorrow and be back as soon as I can.”
“Oh!” He mumbles before asking. “Can't I go in your place? You need to sort things out here first.”
“I wish. Let's get the Earthbound contract done first then decide on what to do”, I say with optimism. This is no problem. If it doesn't go my way, then I will book an early flight to London tomorrow.
Very simple.
He nods in understanding.
I'm sure he knows I don't want to add that to the list of things running through my head.
“So how is my pretty little girl doing? Are you enjoying the house? Is Anita nice enough?”
I chuckle lightly. “Yes to everything you asked.”
“I also asked how my pretty little girl is doing?”
“Obviously, she is fine and asleep”, I roll my eyes at him. If Daisy wasn't asleep, she would have insisted on coming along with me.
Not just because this is about seeing New York and making new friends but also because she is now friends with my sole enemy.
“What about her beautiful big mom? Is she fine and looking pretty as usual?” Alex asks with a wide grin plastered on his face which makes me laugh out loud.
“Let me be, please.” I shove him away when he leans forward with a funny face.
Finally, we get to the company and my mood changes from light to heavy. My heart is thumping wildly in fear of seeing him again.
It makes me wonder how long I have to do this. How long do I have to keep seeing him until our partnership is done? How long do I also have to pretend to be someone else?
When Alex parks his car in the parking lot, I sit still, with my eyes shut, trying to calm my nerves before stepping out. While doing that, I hear the sound of the door opening and closing.
I figured it was Alex coming to get to my door like he usually does. As soon as he throws my door open to let me out, I open my eyes with a smile plastered on my face so he won't suspect a thing.
Looking away, I want to step down when something catches my eye. Someone is watching me.
I stare forward to see him sitting in his car and watching me intensely. It makes my heart beat twice its normal rate. Realizing what I am doing, I look away instantly and finally step out.
I touch Alex intentionally and he mumbles something funny into my ears. I laugh just in time for Richard to appear before us from nowhere.
“Hello, Mrs. Bella Portillo. Is this your husband, Mr Portillo?” There is a smile tugged on his face as he stretches his hand at Alex whose face suddenly turns sour.