Isabel arrived at Blackwell Corporation before the sun fully settled over the skyline which was more out of spite than professionalism.
"He won't catch me again,at least not today."She said as she walked into the building with tired eyes, coffee in hand and hair tied in a sharp bun as if preparing her battle.
When the elevator door opened, the receptionist at the executive floor floor blinked at her in surprise
"You're…. early,Ms Reeves."
"Yes, is that a problem?" Isabel asked with a sharp voice.
"No! No, not at all, just that Mr. Blackwell isn't in yet."
Good, she thought. Perfect.
She walked towards the conference room that they were assigned to use for the partnership. Notes, sketches and plans covered the table as she sat and inhaled deeply setting up her materials like a soldier arranging weapons for war.
Just then the Conference room door opened and Sebastian stepped in, looking like the morning had bent itself around him.He was in a pressed shirt, perfect hair,relaxed expression and in a good mood.
Good mood. Why was he in a good mood?
Sebastian looked at her and she looked away immediately when gripping her pen.
"Miss Reeves," he said calmly.
"Mr. Blackwell," she called back.
"Early today," he observed her as he raised a brow at her tone.
"So are you." She shut back.
"I own the company and you are just a guest?" he said.
Isabel didn't talk again but glared at him as he placed his files down opposite her.
"Let's begin. We have work to do."
"I know ,no need to remind "Isabel said.
Sebastian glared at her as she glared back at him and just like that, the peace was over but before Sebastian could retort to something sharp, someone knocked at the door.It was Marcus with two other people.The door swung open and a voice shouted."SEBBB!"
Sebastian closed his eyes as he heard his name and just then Emily hopped in followed by Lucas.
"There you are,"Emily said while rushing past Isaiah's desk and hugging Sebastian lightly.
"Emilyyyy….air please.I need air."Sebastian groaned but she only squeezed him tighter while Lucas dropped into a chair and towards Isabel.
"Hi,we are sorry for interrupting but wow! Is it just me or does the room feel like it's full of knives?"
"Get out." Sebastian said immediately.
"Nope, came to see you?"Lucas said while grinning
"You saw me last night Lucas,stop being nosy and by the way, don't you have work today?Sebastian said while glaring at him."
"You weren't at breakfast this morning and Grandmama said you already went to work, so we decided to come?"Emily said.
"You're interrupting a meeting,"Sebastian said through clenched teeth.
Emily looked at Isabel "Oh, Hiiii."she greeted.
"Hi" Isabel greeted back with a light smile on her face.
"Is she your partner Seb?" Emily asked while turning to Sebastian.
"She's not my Partner". Sebastian said.
"Or his anything."Isabel added at the same time.Emily glanced and looked at them confusedly while Lucas burst into laughter.
"Oh, this is adorable," Lucas said. "You two hate each other."
"We don't. . ." Isabel began.
"We actually do?" Sebastian said.
Isabel glared at him like she could strangle him with her stare.
"He's so grumpy now,"Emily said as she nudged Lucas.
"Yeah, he woke up smiling this morning." Lucas said. "That was weird."
"Are you both done?"Sebastian asked them while folding his arms.
"Yeah, bro."Lucas said."Emily,we should leave and Seb, please, try not to scare her off."
"Lucas."Sebastian called as he shot him a glare.
Emily kissed Sebastian's cheek and the two of them left the room, chatting and laughing down the hallway.
Isabel leaned back on the seat while looking at Sebastian amusingly.
"What?"Sebastian asked, returning back to his old self.
Isabel didn't answer right away, instead she crossed her arms while studying him like she was seeing a new animal in a zoo enclosure.
"That was unexpected," she said finally. "Letting people joke,tease and touch and you didn't shove them off."
"They're my siblings,"Sebastian said.
"I know," she said flatly. "but I didn't expect you weren't born inside a boardroom."
"That's none of your business."Sebastian said while glaring at her.
"Okay."Isabel l said as she went back to her notes pretending to focus but she kept casting curious glances in his direction.
"Stop staring at me? He said.
"I'm not staring."She lied boldly.
"You are." Sebastian said as they returned to their work but the room now felt somehow different because Isabel had seen something she wasn't supposed to see.
After the day's work, Isabel went home to her apartment with whatever emotion Sebastian left in her bloodstream. As she reached home and rubbed inside, she saw Steph sprawled across the couch eating plantain chips as she watched the TV.
Steph sat up immediately."ohh, you have that face, what did he do today?"
Isabel dropped her bag with a deep sigh.
"No, it was actually worse. He might actually be human." Isabel blurted out.
"No, don't say that, Do not ruin my favorite villian." Steph seafood while she gasped loudly.
"I'm serious."Isabel said as she ran her hands over her face. "His siblings came today aunt he wasn't…. terrible.He was human unfortunately."
"Oh my God, Isabel,you sound like someone who just saw her enemy smile and panicked."Steph said while she burst into laughter.
"No, don't start.I hate him."Isabel said as she pointed a warning finger at Steph.
"I know, I know." Steph said while throwing her arm over Isabel's shoulder in a
dramatic comfort."But this is hilarious."
"It's not funny."Isabel argued "because now, he's unpredictable.I understand him when he is just rude and arrogant but when he's suddenly a big brother who gets hugged and teased?"
"So, he's ... cute?" Steph teased.
"No, don't use that word near his name,He's never cute to me."Isabel said.
"Okay,fine," Steph said while laughing.
"Did you cook? I'm really hungry."Isabel asked.
"Nope, only plantain chips." Steph said while handing them to her.
"Steph,go to your house!"Isabel shouted while glaring at her.
"I know,I just love it here and I wanna spend time with my bestie too."Steph said while laughing.
"Oh, God, you will really be the death of me."Isabel said as she headed to her room.
The next day at work, Isabel sat at a long polished table surrounded by executives in suits as her designs spread neatly before her.
Sebastian sat at the head of the table. "We will begin with the architect's presentation,"he said.
Isabel stood up with a projecting confidence as she began."This development…."
"You can't speak louder?" Sebastian cut in without looking up.
"I'm speaking loud enough."Isabel said as she shot him a glare.
A quiet cough spread across the table as the executives shifted uncomfortably.Sibarban called without letting up
"Are you here interupting?" Isabel asked as someone gasped.
An older board member leaned towards another."Does she know who she's talking to?"
"Ms Reeves," Sebastian called with his voice dropping low.
"Mr.Blackwell,"Isabel called back.
"continue?"he said finally.
Isabel inhaled as she continued her presentation and after the meeting ended she slammed the boardroom door behind her so hard that the glass rattle and she didn't care she made her way straight to her car and to the Reeves and Co company. By the time she reached she was already vibrating with leftover anger.She threw herself into work dealing with drafts, blueprint correction, site layout revisions and cost estimates.She worked like a possessed woman that even her assistant lily peeked into her office.
"Is everything, Ma'am?"
"Yeah,Lily.I'm just motivated."
Lily slowly closed the door and went to her post.As hours passed,Isabel finished more work in one afternoon than she usually did in three days.
Just then, her phone rang and it was Sebastian calling. She considered throwing her phone out of the window but she calmed down as she swore under her breath as she picked the call.
"What?"