Isla followed her friends outside, laughing and chatting as they said their goodbyes. After watching them drive away, she turned and headed back into the house. As she entered the living room, she noticed Cade standing by the window, looking curious.
"Hey, what's going on?" Cade asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I couldn't help but overhear some of the conversation about a baby shower. Who's pregnant?"
Isla smiled, happy to share the news.
"Julie's having a baby! We're planning a shower for her, and it's going to be amazing."Cade's expression changed from curious to surprised, and then slightly annoyed.
"Julie's pregnant? Why didn't she tell me?"Isla shrugged. "I think she's still getting used to the idea herself. She's about a month now, so we're planning the shower for her eighth month."
Cade nodded, processing the information. "I'm happy for her, of course. I just wish she'd told me herself."
Isla walked over to Cade and gave him a reassuring hug.
"I'm sure she'll fill you in on all the details soon. She's probably just been busy getting ready for the baby's arrival."Cade smiled, feeling a bit better.
"Yeah, you're right. I should probably reach out to her and congratulate her."Just then, Cade's phone buzzed, reminding him of an upcoming video call.
Cade stared at his phone screen and saw his sister was on the caller id. Isla snatched the phone, threw it on the cushion and wrapped her arms around Cade's shoulder.
"Lady, what are you doing?" Cade blushed.
"You haven't been giving me attention. You've been ignoring me for that family of yours! And its not fair!" Isla complained.
"They are my family, Isla. They are important too. I'll advise you to let go right now. Dora can come downstairs any moment."
"I don't care. I'm bored, I just want you right now." Isla whispered seductively.
"I can't stop thinking about that night." She continued whispering and Cade blushed even more.
"Me too." Cade replied with a smile.
"Can we..." Isla bit her lower lip, pleading with her puppy eyes.
"I have to take Stacie's call." Cade watched his phone ring. Isla angrily picked the phone. Switching it off, she threw it in the air.
"ISLA! What if it broke?"
"Don't care."
"You're making yourself important!"
"I'm important, Cade. I'm your boss. Stacie should understand that she needs to move aside, in some cases. I'm more important!"
"No you're not!"
"I am!"
"You're ridiculous sometimes."
"No I'm not. I'm just being professional. You have to pick one. Sister Stacie or Isla Sinclair. Choose."
"What are you making me do, Miss. Sinclair?"
"Choose." Isla folded her arms, waiting for his answer. Cade brought his face closer to hers, and locked Isla's lips in an endearing kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist and swept her feet high above the ground. They stopped to catch their breaths before Cade took her upstairs and placed her gently on the bed.
His deep kiss was hot and hungry, filled with intense desire and passion. Isla moaned softly when she felt his lips tracing her neck and tingling her, until he gave her a soft love bite.
Cade's tongue tickled her, passionately and playfully, tracing sweet kisses to her valley, as his hands toyed with the ropes of Isla's dress that was already loose. As he caressed the smoothness of her skin with his sharp fingers and raced around her full round tits with his tongue, Isla's moans drove him crazy.
They completely lost it when they heard an ear splitting shriek.
"Who's that?" They stopped to face the door. They could hear the person in heels, running down the stairs.
"Maybe...maybe its Dora." Isla wiped her sweat with the sheets and tied her outfit's knots again.
"Its not Dora. Dora is supposed to be in her room sleeping." With an angered countenance, Cade went downstairs to check, and Isla followed him. They saw Julie on the sofa, her face buried in her hands.
"Julie! Its you!" Cade was shocked.
"What gave you the effrontery to barge into my house like this? Who let you in?" Isla was furious.
"Sorry I ruined your 'fun'. " She quoted the 'fun' with her fingers and laughed cheekily.
"Who let you in?" Isla asked again. They both sat.
"Those outside, of course. And the door wasn't locked so I just came in." Julie shrugged, seeing no wrong in what she did.
"You both have no shame. Why were you doing that with your door wide open? What if it was Dora who came in? What would you tell her?" Julie scolded them.
"What if it was Lindsay, Sasha or Wendy?"
"Since when have you even been standing there?"
"Since...since you gave her that alluring bite on her neck and started caressing her all over." Julie bit her lip and threw her head back in laughter. Isla's cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
"It was Isla. I was about to call my sister when she seduced me."
"What? I never seduced you, I simply asked you to choose someone you'd wanna be with."
"And I chose you. You'd be annoyed if I chose Stacie."
"I wouldn't be. She's your sister!" Julie watched the two exchange words.
"You guys love each other so much." Julie smiled.
"Love?" Cade and Isla exchanged weird glances.
"Why do you look puzzled? Isn't it what you express everyday?"
"I guess not..." Isla was signalling to Julie to change the topic but she wasn't ready to.
"By the way congratulations on your pregnancy." Isla was glad Cade ignored the love stuff.
Julie smiled warmly as she turned to Cade, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thanks, Cade. That means a lot coming from you." Cade had just offered his congratulations on her pregnancy, and she was sitting comfortably between him and Isla on the couch.Isla chimed in, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"So, how's Lucas taking the news? He's got to be thrilled." Julie's smile broadened as she began to respond, but then her expression turned slightly wistful.
"Actually, I've been meaning to talk to you guys about something else. It's been a while since I last heard from Wendy. I'm starting to get a little worried."
Isla's brow furrowed in concern. "That's weird. Do you think she's okay?" Julie shrugged. "I have no idea. Even her boyfriend has no clue about her whereabouts."
"That loser."
"Why are you calling him a loser?" Cade was curious.
"He's poor, and skinny. He doesn't have any abs!" Isla exclaimed and Cade chuckled.
"There might be something good about him that you might not know of."
"Like what?" Julie asked.
"He might be good in bed. You could try him." Cade faced Isla and she rolled her eyes.
"What are you saying? Why would Isla try someone else when she has you?" Julie laughed mischievously and Isla's cheeks flushed.
Just as they were speculating about Wendy's disappearance, there was a knock at the door.The door swung open, and Wendy walked in, looking radiant with a bright smile on her face.
"Hey, guys! Sorry I've been missing in action." Julie, Isla, and Cade exchanged surprised glances before breaking into wide smiles.
"Wendy! Where have you been?" Julie asked, her voice filled with relief. Wendy settled into an empty chair, looking serene. "I went to the Maldives. I needed some alone time to clear my head." Isla and Julie exchanged a look, both of them pretending to respect her decision without prying further.After catching up with each other, Wendy turned to Isla with an excited glint in her eye.
"Hey, I have a proposition for you. BigEllie is looking for models for their new nail polish line, and I told them you'd be perfect." Isla raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical."I don't know, Wendy. Last time I worked with them, it was a disaster." Wendy's face fell, but she quickly recovered, pleading with Isla.
"Come on, it'll be fun! They've promised to make it up to you." Isla hesitated before finally agreeing."Fine, but if this ends in embarrassment again, I'm blaming you." Wendy grinned, relieved.
"The shoot is scheduled for 8 pm. I'll pick you up at 7." As Wendy mentioned the time, a sly smirk spread across her face, hinting that she had something planned.
"I can't believe Wendy came all the way here, not to hang out and chat for hours but for the stupid gig with BigEllie." Julie was irritated.
"She's crazy! Since when did Wendy become so quick with words? Didn't she have anything she had to say about her trip to Maldives?" Julie added.
"Hmm..." Isla sighed.
"You're crazy too." Isla hit Julie with the pen she was holding.
"Why were you talking about love earlier?" Isla questioned.
"Don't you guys love each other? I was only talking about what we already know." Julie shrugged.
"We don't." Isla cut Julie's air.
"What?" Julie made Isla look at her in the eye.
"Are you for real?" Isla nodded.
"I told you then... That night when he wanted to go, he couldn't control himself any longer. We are just together - to fulfill our sexual desires and nothing more. No emotional thing is attached to us." Isla confidently told Julie.
"This is the most toxic relationship I've ever heard of. How can you be dating Cade without loving him? This guy is so lovable with everything you've said about him. Why are you doing this?"
"I can't get emotionally attached to a man for now."
"Then when are you going to take the next step in this relationship of yours, and tell him you love him!"
"I don't."
"You do. I can see it in your eyes. Since he's just a fucking sex worker, then why do you blush when I say his name? Why do you blush when I say things about what I saw in there? I - What I saw in there wasn't lust or desire - it was purely love. He was gentle, he treated you like his own. He loves you."
"Isla, don't lie to yourself." Julie warned as she stared at the sky above them on the terrace.
Julie groaned, her body curling into a tight ball as she clutched her stomach. The sudden cramp had woken her from a sound sleep, and she couldn't stifle the tears that pricked at the corners of her eyes. Beside her, Lucas stirred, his voice groggy with sleep.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, his hand reaching out to gently stroke her hair.
"I...I don't know," Julie whispered, her voice shaking. "I just have this awful cramping feeling. I think it might be the baby."Lucas was instantly alert, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and padding barefoot to the kitchen.
He returned with a jug of water, pouring a glass and handing it to Julie. "Drink this, hydrate," he said softly.
"Let's get you comfortable."Julie took a sip, her eyes locking onto Lucas's as he guided her to lay her head on his chest.
His warm fingers began to massage her stomach, gentle and soothing. She let out a shuddering breath, feeling some tension ease out of her body.
"I love you, Julie," Lucas whispered, his voice a rumble beneath her ear. "I'm here for you, always. Through all the ups and downs, the good times and the bad. I'll stay by your side, no matter what."
As he spoke, Julie's eyelids began to droop, her body relaxing into the warmth of Lucas's chest. She felt safe, protected, and loved. Her breathing slowed, and before Lucas could finish speaking, she drifted off to sleep.With a tender smile, Lucas gently laid Julie down on the bed, pulling the covers up to her shoulders.
He watched her sleep for a moment, his heart full of love and devotion. Then, he slipped under the covers beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist and letting out a soft sigh. Within minutes, he too was asleep, his chest rising and falling with a peaceful rhythm.
Wendy pulled up to BigEllie, her eyes narrowing as she spotted Isla waiting outside. She quickly dialed one of BigEllie's officials, her voice firm and authoritative.
"Ensure Isla is taken care of before the manager arrives," Wendy instructed before hanging up.
Meanwhile, Isla was growing increasingly frustrated as she waited for what felt like an eternity. The chatter of the people around her only added to her irritation.
"Isla, isn't it? I thought for sure the new cosmetic model was going to be Doris," one of them said, sparking a chorus of agreement.
"Who the fuck is Doris? Where is the manager!" Isla thought aloud.
Just then, the official Wendy had called returned with a warm smile. "Ms. Isla, I'm so sorry for the delay. The manager will be with you shortly. In the meantime, can I offer you a cup of tea?"
Isla accepted the tea, taking a sip as the official walked away. Within minutes, she began to feel dizzy, her vision blurring. The last thing she remembered was being weak and disoriented before everything went dark.When she came to, Isla found herself tied up and locked in a room, her mind foggy from the effects of the drug.
Meanwhile, Wendy had arrived at Isla's house, wearing a dress that left little to the imagination. The red silk hugged her curves, the neckline plunging daringly low. The hem was short, barely covering her thighs, and the fabric seemed to shimmer in the light, accentuating every move she made. A pair of stiletto heels added to her already statuesque frame, making her almost unapproachable.
The guards at the gate handed her the doorkey with barely a second glance, their faces expressionless. Wendy slipped into the house, her eyes fixed on Cade's door. She moved with purpose, her heels clicking on the floor as she went straight to knock on his door.