Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Isabella's pov;

Mike, "I think I made a decent decision in keeping him here."

"What?"

While he was handing me the meal in the service area, Olivia called him back to the kitchen. What made him say that?

I served the food to the customers after bringing it out of the kitchen. The couple who received the food from me, both laughed and glanced at me. Is it my imagination or are they laughing at me?

Emily brought me to the counter and said, "I know you were married recently and have a great husband, but do you have to flaunt it like this?"

"How many times do I have to advise you not to refer to him in that manner?"

She put her hand on my neck and whispered, "Listen to me, Do you want all of our customers to know what a wonderful night you had?"

"What!?"

I dashed to the restroom to see what it was. When I looked at my neck, I thought, "A hickey?" Can he really do this to me? Now I see why everyone was staring at me. I'm humiliated. I'll start by changing my shirt.

When I exited the restroom to head to the changing room,

"Bella!"

I noticed Isaac walking through the main door, holding a floral bouquet.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm good." "Congratulations," he said as he handed me the flowers.

"And for what?"

"It's for the wedding!"

"Ah! Sure, thank you."

"Um, I suppose you neglected to cover something up." And indicated the hickey.

"Argh! I was ready to change my clothing but I noticed you and forgot about it."

He nodded and asked, "I'm glad you're living your life joyfully."

"How's Steve doing?"

"He's great. He actually got out of his cast a week ago. I hope he doesn't get into another fight."

For a while, I laughed and talked with him.

Everyone left as usual as the clock struck ten. I exited the restaurant and gazed out onto the street. Mr Martinez has not yet returned from his office. What is it that is taking him so long? I was furious at him in the morning, but now I'm concerned. Argh! I can't believe it. Why am I like this? Should I make a phone call? No, let's wait a while.

An hour has passed. I dialled his number. To my amazement, he responded swiftly.

"Where are you?"

"On the main street. I'll be there in a couple of minutes."

"Okay." I hung up the phone. Why did I make the call? He was almost here.

Mr. Martinez's vehicle came. He stepped out of the car and approached the restaurant. I stood up and entered the restaurant. He followed me behind.

"Did you become concerned?" I know he would tease me. I should have waited for some more time.

"I waited for the door to close."

I shut the restaurant after he entered and attempted to return to my room.

"I missed you a lot today, honey," he hugged me from behind.

"Stop saying that, it's strange."

"Did you have dinner?" he whispered into my ears.

"Yeah… What about you?"

"I had dinner with my clients."

I remembered the hickey and asked, "I was embarrassed because of you," as I removed his hands from around my waist.

"What happened, why?"

"Everyone gave me a weird look because of you," I remarked, showing him the hickey.

He stroked his finger across the hickey and asked, "Can I give you another one?"

"Go to sleep," I said as I pushed him away. And went to my room.

"Good night, honey," he says.

The following day,

I stood up and opened the door after hearing a constant knocking.

Mr Martinez stood in front of me.

"What do you want?"

He didn't say anything and just stood there. I rubbed my eyes and turned to face him. He was staring at my body, and I was only wearing my undergarments.

I grabbed a nearby coat and asked again, "What is it?"

"You fail to remember to open the restaurant. It's ten o'clock in the morning."

"Today is a holiday." When I tried to shut the door, he came to a halt and asked, "Really? Is today a holiday?"

"Yes. So, please leave. I need to sleep."

"Let's go on a date," he remarked as he entered the room.

"Now?"

"I couldn't even get a hold of you on weekdays. And, on weekends, I get busy with my work. I could only see you before going to work and at night. We're not even chatting properly because we're both exhausted from work. Let's go out today, please." And displayed the puppy eyes to me.

"Okay. I'll go take a shower first."

"It's all right. You look fantastic in your underwear."

"Leave the room." I said, hurling a pillow at him.

While driving,

As soon as he started the car, I let out a yawn.

"You are welcome to take a snooze."

"Then you should have left me back in the restaurant," I slapped him on the shoulder.

He laughed and resumed driving.

"Where are we heading then?" I asked after a time.

He shook his head and stated, "I'm not sure. Would you like to go somewhere?"

I sighed and questioned, "Should we have stayed at the restaurant then?"

"How about going to the beach?"

"The beach looks beautiful only at night, with all those waves crashing on the shore."

"How about a film?"

"Then we should have sat in the restaurant and watched it."

"Snap out of the restaurant and think about something else," he added with a flip and continued, "Take out your phone and look for a place."

"I didn't bring it with me. I forgot."

He handed me his phone, and I got a few results, i said, "There are so many in here,"

"What is it?"

"Tubing."

"Okay, we'll add that to our list of locations to visit today. Next?"

"How about foot passage?"

"Pass. Would you like to?"

"Nah. What about going snowshoeing?

"All right, next?"

"Stargazing?"

"That has already been done."

"Beach night?"

"I've done that as well."

"Wait, are you taking me out based on this website?"

"Um… What's next on the agenda?"

I stared at him and said, "Watch dancing performances, hockey games, shop until you drop, gym class, polar bear dive, sledding, snowboarding..."

"Enough with the list. I have a place in my mind. Let's go there."

"Where?"

"You'll see after we get there."

After a while, he stopped in front of some building.

"Where are we?"

We exited the vehicle. "We're at an animal shelter," he said as he placed a scarf around my neck.

"Really?" I became ecstatic.

He nodded and continued, "I also did not look it up on the internet. I came up with the idea on my own."

I grinned and gave him a short hug before saying, "Let's get started. I'd like to see all of those adorable animals inside."

After he gave a nod, we walked inside hand in hand.

Within the animal shelter,

"Awww! Take a look at this adorable puppy. How adorable." He licked my hand and scented my face after I rubbed a little on its neck.

"Do you like dogs?" Mr Martinez asked me.

"I'm not sure because I've never raised one, but I think they're cute."

The woman in charge stated, "George is his name. He arrived two weeks ago."

"Do you accept dogs?" I inquired.

"Yes."

"He's really adorable."

I fed George the dog food that the caretaker had given me. While George was eating dog food out of my hands, I asked Mr Martinez to come to me.

"What?"

I poured some dog food on his hand and said, "Feed him."

"What?" His eyes almost popped out of his socket.

"It's only a dog. Please feed him."

I went over to the other dogs and fed them dog food.

When I looked at Mr Martinez, he was hesitant to provide the food, and the dog was hesitant to eat it from him. It appeared as if they were identical.

The cats surrounded me and began meowing at me while I was looking at them and smiled.

"Can I feed them as well?" I inquired of the caretaker.

"They only ate a few moments ago."

"Oh, okay."

I held one of the cats up to Mr Martinez and showed him "Look at how adorable he is. Hold him, please."

"It's all right. You keep it."

"Hold him. See, he's coming for you." And placed the cat on his thigh.

Looking at him, the cat meows. He hesitated before brushing the cat's head. He finally smiled. He also stroked the cat's body. I photographed him holding a cat and smiled at them.

"You like cats, heh?" I asked as I sat next to him, holding a cat.

"No."

I shut the cat's ears and warned, "Do not speak it aloud. What if they become depressed when they hear it?" And kept playing with the cat.

Another cat brushed his head against my legs while I was holding one. I picked him up, kissed him on the cheek, and asked, "Awww! Why are you so cute?"

Mr Martinez suddenly gave a peck on my cheek and remarked, "You're cuter than them." And resumed brushing the cat's head.

I gave him a blank stare and went to play with two cats. I snapped selfies with the pets.

"Do you want my help taking pictures?" inquired the caretaker.

"With delight."

"Sir, can you look at the camera?" the caretaker said after receiving the phone.

He fixed his gaze on the camera.

"Sir, hold the cat in your hand."

Mr Martinez approached, brushing his shoulder against mine, putting his hand over my shoulder, and placing the cat on his shoulder.

The caretaker took numerous photos of us with the kitties and commented, "Such a cute couple." And returned the phone.

"Did you hear that?" Mr Martinez asked quietly.

"I'm not deaf." And continued playing with the cat.

Mr Martinez began driving somewhere after we left the animal shelter.

"What are we going to do now?"

"Snowboarding."

"But I'm not sure how to accomplish it."

"It's not as if only known people may come. Anyone is welcome to visit."

"Are you familiar with how to do it?"

"Let's learn together," he said as he shook his head. And turned to face the front.

We got to the snowboarding location.

We changed into the outfit, buckled into the safety apparatus, and stood beside the trainer.

The trainer appeared to be taller, more muscular, and more attractive.

"Stop gazing at his body," Mr Martinez said as he grabbed my ear.

How did he come across me?

I walked up the hill and stood at the top after hearing the trainer's instructions.

According to the trainer, "You got to the top far faster than I expected. Is this your very first time?"

"I had a trekking experience."

"Great. This will be simple for you. You carefully stroll down the hill when descending. But you're going to slip down the hill here. It will be simple after five or six attempts. Are you prepared?"

I nodded and began slipping down the hill. I tripped and rolled in the snow. The trainer assisted me in standing and stated, "You are welcome to wait while I train him. Let us try again later."

While I was watching him, I noticed Mr Martinez fall. He didn't roll in the snow, but zigzagged down the hill, making me laugh out loud. He climbed up and then slipped down the slope. It was better than the last time. Mr Martinez catching up pretty quickly.

Because of him, I got motivated and stood up, climbed the slope with him, and then slid down. I lost my footing and rolled down the hill again.

Mr Martinez said to me as I was sweeping away the snow off my coat, "If you roll for another two rounds, you will become a snowman… i meant snow woman." And then he laughed at me.

"Wait and see."

I rolled down the hill no matter how many times I tried. I sat in the snow and threw the walking stick on the floor.

Mr Martinez sat next to me after carefully sliding down the hill many times.

"You caught it up quickly."

"I'm a quick study. I can learn anything quickly." He muttered something into my ears.

I pulled him away and collapsed on the snow.

"Hey, don't lie here. It will be freezing."

I indicated the spot near me and replied, "This location was not cold. Lie down."

He tapped his fingers on the floor and lied down alongside me, saying, "Yeah, it's warm."

"Are you tired?" the trainer inquired.

"Yeah! I couldn't even feel my hands or legs."

"Call me if you want to try again." And left.

While I was lying on the snow, I heard some bell rings. I turned my head and looked at the tarot reading aged woman.

I tapped on Mr Martinez's chest and said, "Let's do tarot reading."

"I don't believe those things. Moreover, it's fake."

I stood and said, "Let's do it. It'll be fun."

He let out a sigh and said, "Come on." And walked before me.

I sat down in front of the tarot reader. I extended my hand when she asked for it.

"You've been through a lot in your life, don't worry, you'll live happily ever after."

I smiled as she said it.

Martinez added that "That applies to everyone on the earth. Nobody has ever lived a happy life without encountering obstacles." "Come on, Isabella, let's go," he urged me.

"One of your parents must have died."

I was surprised to hear her say that. How did she find out?

"And you lost both of them," the lady added to Mr Martinez.

"I'm fairly popular among the paparazzi, you would have known through them," Mr Martinez told that lady.

I took Mr Martinez's arm in mine and said, " Let us first listen to her."

The lady looked both of us in the eyes and stated to Mr Martinez, "I'm familiar with people like you. You won't believe it unless you see it for yourself. I'll tell you something about yourself that no one else knows. You two are keeping something from me... Those rings on your hands have not been correctly switched, one is wearing the ring alone. Am I correct?"

That took me by surprise.

"That is correct. How did you find out?"

"Please extend your hand."

She noticed my hand and replied, "By chance. Destiny. These two words are always used together. When happenstance meets destiny, the bond is formed."

Is she referring to Mr. Martinez and me? By chance, I was hit by his automobile. Mr Martinez first spotted me when I was four years old and then again 11 years later, which is destiny. Is she implying that we'll have a good relationship in the future?

The old lady said, "You won't get answers if you talk to yourself."

"Did you just read my mind?"

She smiled and asked Mr Martinez's hand. He didn't give his hand so i took his and gave it to her.

"While everyone was growing up with siblings and parental love. You grew up with feelings of loneliness, concern, dread, and rage. You won't have any problems in the future because loving that person causes you agony."

She stated to me, "You believe that everything has been fixed and that you can now live a happy life. That is incorrect. You must suffer once again. It'll be as difficult as ever this time."

Mr Martinez grabbed my hand and dragged me away from that lady.

"You can never escape fate, Isabella!" exclaimed the lady.

When she uttered my name, I came to a halt.

I inquired of Mr. Martinez, "How did she know what my name was? Please respond."

"She must have heard me calling you. Don't trust her. Let's get out of here."

I leaned against the window, thinking about what the lady had said to me. Will I suffer as she predicted? What am I going to endure?

"Where do you want to go next?" Mr Martinez massaged my head.

"Take me to the restaurant."

"Okay."

They eventually came to a stop, and I got out of the car. When I stepped in, it didn't look like my restaurant.

"How did we end up here?"

"Let's eat before we return."

"I requested that you drive me back to my house."

"We'll have lunch and then we can go."

Mr Martinez inquired, "Shall we go watch a hockey game?" while enjoying the food that arrived promptly after ordering.

"I don't want to go."

"We're going." And he kept eating his salad.

To watch the hockey game, we went to a local stadium.

"Do you understand how to play this game?"

"Nope. So, how about you?"

"No, from me as well. But I've seen that with my clients on occasion."

"Can we leave?"

He gave a nod and we left the stadium.