The CEO’ s second choice novel Chapter 49

　　Elena

　　“Ugh, you simply must, Elena,” Isaac says yet again in that Scottish accent of his that I love so much. He was currently trying to convince me to come to the MacGowan Biannual family gathering. “I already told you I hate these things!” I say, yet again, but he only rolls his eyes, then smirks devilishly. Oh, no. I know this smile all too well. This smile got me in trouble in my second week here at Exeter when he made me ask a professor for their number just to slip it to him. Did I forget to mention that he was a naughty bastard?

　　“Well, Edgar Cooke will be there, but I guess you hate these things too much to come,” He says and turns to walk away. But I grab his wrist and pull him back. “Excuse me, tart?” I ask him and see his grin growing to supervillain levels. “Yes, Edgar Cooke will be there. You know, your favourite author and all. Did I forget to mention that he’s my godfather? And I asked him to come as a favour but it’s okay I’ll tell him to leave it and revoke your invitation.”

　　“The heck you will!” I exclaim, knowing this was only a ruse to get me to come, but I admit defeat and give in, taking my invitation from him. He laughs and kisses my cheek. “You’re going to Hell for bribing me like this, Isaac. Shame on you!” I say with a pout, but he only flutters his amazingly long eyelashes at me and laces his arms with mine as we walk to our next class.

　　Isaac was a tall, sophisticated guy who made red hair look extremely sexy. He had piercing blue eyes and a fashion sense that could put me to shame I suppose being openly gay does that to some of those that were out of the closet. He had a little fan club of females trying to turn him straight but, as he said “I am as straight as a screw, lovies.” We clicked on my first day here and I am so thankful to him for befriending me.

　　“Canny wait! It will be brilliant, I promise.” He says, and I sigh. Then I remembered something. “Will Anabelle be there?” I ask and see him roll his eyes. I couldn’t understand why he did not like Anabelle. There was just a weird atmosphere around these two when they were in the same room together. So much so that I never invite them to the same thing together. “Nae, and I will not have her there.” He says with such acid behind his tone that I stop to look at him. “Okay, I’ve had enough of this, Isaac. Will you tell me why you hate Anabelle so?” I ask, having grown tired of their pettiness with one another. Anabelle was exactly the same when I spoke about Isaac to her.

　　I give her a hug and another ‘excited’ smile. “Thank you, Ana. Well, I’ve gotta be off. See you tomorrow?” I ask and she nods before kissing my cheek and waving goodbye. I get into the vehicle and sigh sadly. What she has advised would be considered a fashion disaster as per Meghan Black. The mauve Dior she sent was in error as it does not match my pale skin tone, she also advised me NEVER to wear wedge heels with a short evening dress and black Louboutin would go with any dress, especially the short mauve one if it had matched my skin tone. Also, the rubies she mentioned looked hideous.

　　Realization hits me worse than I expected, and I feel tears welling up in my eyes. Isaac was right. How many times has Anabelle tried to sabotage me and succeeded? Was she the one who leaked my fight with Mirabelle to the press? It would make sense since she was the only one present, but I would never have thought it was her. She was like a sister to me, my best friend. Who also now proved to be my worst enemy.

　　The tears that welled in my eyes now fell free as I mourned the loss of what I thought was an amazing friendship.