CHAPTER 7
Dilvan
Dilvan was elated when he pulled up at The Shore Hotel and saw Isabella Torres emerge from the back seat of a black Denali.
A feeling of elation swept over him. He was thrilled that he was staying at the same hotel as she was, and without wasting any time, he adjusted his dark sunglasses and walked swiftly in her direction.
“It’s Isabella, right?”
“Yes,” she said, all smiles as she turned to look at him.
“I remember you from the Nags Head shoot.”
“Oh, yes,” she smiled. “Of course.”
“I’m Dilvan Alexander, by the way,” he said, extending his hand to her.
“Isabella Torres,” she responded, her hot pink lips forming a wide smile. “So, we’re both staying here, huh?”
“Looks that way. I think most of the models are staying here. It gets no better than The Shore.”
“True. Hey, maybe we can have a cocktail later or something,” she suggested.
“That sounds good.” Dilvan whipped out his cell. “What’s your number so I can properly set this up?”
She rattled off her number to him, and afterwards, he tucked his phone back into the front right pocket of his jeans.
“I’ll ring you a little later. How does eight sound?”
Isabella checked her phone. The time was 5:42 p.m. “I should be good and settled by then. I’ll look forward to your call, Dilvan.”
“I look forward to calling, Isabella.”
She walked away with a strut, wearing a white pencil skirt and a sheer, royal blue blouse that showed a black bra underneath. She completed her outfit with a pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos – hot pink ones to match her lipstick.
Dilvan folded his bottom lip underneath his teeth, watching her walk away. He imagined having a deeper one-on-one conversation with her at dinner later, wanting to desperately know every single detail about her. She was a woman he could see building a future with.
Why was he thinking about a future with her already? They hadn’t even had dinner yet.
Settle down, Dilvan. She’s just a woman. Keep things in proper perspective. I mean, why wouldn’t she want you?
* * *
After unpacking his bags, he walked to the bathroom, took a shower, then, standing naked in front of the mirror, he looked his body over for any blemishes that might need to be addressed before the shoot.
He flexed his muscles, ran his fingers through his wet hair and shaved again, even though he only had a shadow of hair that couldn’t possibly be seen by anyone.
But he’d be sitting close to Isabella tonight. He had to make a good impression.
He slipped into a pair of shorts and a button-up, short-sleeved dark purple shirt, then after taking his phone from the nightstand, he stepped out onto the balcony, feeling the breeze on his smooth skin. Tall palm trees swayed while he stood there taking in the beauty of the ocean.
He smiled. Life was magnificent. It couldn’t get any better than this.
Deciding to check in to see how things were going back home, he called Beatrice.
“Hello,” she answered.
“How’s everything going around there?”
Beatrice wanted so badly to hang up, but Dilvan was still her boss. So instead, she said, “Hello, suh. I see you made it to California.”
“It was a smooth flight all the way here. How are things going there?”
Beatrice rolled her eyes. He couldn’t be calling to inquire about Gabrielle, could he? A woman he hated so much...
“Things are going just fine and dandy.”
“How’s Tyson treating you? He’s not any trouble, is he?”
Beatrice frowned. You’re the trouble, she thought.
“No. Tyson is a perfect gentleman. As a matter of fact, he done a lil’ work ‘round the house today.”
“Good. I don’t need my mother paying him for nothing. Make sure he has plenty to do every single day.”
Beatrice rolled her eyes again. Oh, Tyson was busy, alright. Busy taking care of Gabrielle. The thought had her tickled pink.
“Did you hear me?” he asked.
“Yes. Will do, suh.”
“How is everything else?”
“By everything else, are you referring to your wife?”
“Not really, but since you brought her up, what has she been up to?”
“Nothing much,” Beatrice muttered. She wouldn’t tell him that Gabrielle had to go to the hospital today. He wouldn’t care, anyway. “She’s been stowed ‘way in her room most of the day.” For added irritation, she continued, “I think she misses you already, and it ain’t even been a full day yet.”
Dilvan grimaced. The idea of someone missing him was something foreign. He’d never been with a woman any length of time, well besides Gabrielle, but he didn’t want her or their arrangement. Still, it baffled him at the thought that Gabrielle could miss him after the way he’d been treating her.
“You still there, suh?”
“I have to go, but give me a call if you need me.”
“Aw’right. Hope you have a good night.”
“Same to you.”
Dilvan walked back into the room and placed his phone on the nightstand, then laid back on the bed, his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. Could it really be possible that Gabrielle could miss?
And why had he treated her so harshly? Because Padma set them up and forced him to marry her?
That was part of it, but he truly hated Gabrielle.
He couldn’t stand to look at her, let alone be in her presence.
She was the opposite of everything he wanted in a woman.
He read her profile from the arranged marriage website, and after doing his own investigation of her, he knew she came from a poor family.
How could he, as a man, grow his empire – his family – with a woman of her poor background?
Money married money, not a woman who had nothing to her name.
A woman who was nothing, and didn’t have the educational background to ever be nothing.
Isabella was different. She was a go-getter, a woman with drive, a nice body, a career, and best of all, a career in the same field as him. He smiled, thinking about her. He couldn’t wait to finally have his time alone with her tonight.