The night of the gala came and everything turned out as grand as one would expect when it comes to event aristocrats of New York City.
Luxury cars parked along the entrance of the grand hotel, let off more and more elegantly dressed guests onto the red velvet carpet.
And right in the middle of all these was Liam Callahan, a hulk of a man in an elegant tux for the occasion, who held Isabelle's arm in a rather possessive manner much to the delight of the paparazzi and media people.
"Smile, darling," said Liam quietly, as the light of photographers' flashes was momentarily blinding as they resumed their metronomic flashing;" Aww common, you think it's your right to disappoint the masses now do you?"
Isabelle forced a warm grin and her facial muscles ached while she continued to nod and wave to the people around.
But though she looked every inch the socialite, beneath her stomach was a tight ball of nerves and fear.
This was the first time, the launching of what would ultimately be the wife of Liam Callahan.
She had this knot in her stomach that told her that this was going to be the end for her, that she was walking straight into the lions' den completely naked.
As the couple entered the lavish ballroom, Isabelle was instantly covered in a whirl of glitz and glamour of pretty gowns and dark tuxedoes buzzing around her with the smell of lavish perfumes mixed with rather rich champagnes.
Liam took her by the elbow and led her through the crowd, stopping every couple of minutes to take the hand of someone and lament that it had been so long since they had last crossed paths or they would like to introduce her to this or that person.
"Ah, Liam! This I suppose must be Isabelle that everyone has been telling me about." A moustached, balding, cherubic man joked leering openly at Isabelle.
Liam's arm tightened around her waist, his grip bordering on possessive. "Indeed. Isabelle, this is Charles Winthrop, one of our most valued investors."
Isabelle just said "hello" and tried to smile, offering her hand for a handshake. "It has been quite a success to make your acquaintance, sir," She said to Mr. Winthrop.
Winthrop grinned with smiling eyes and cast a glance at the revealing part of the gown that covered such toned bosom.
"It was all my pleasure, ma'am."
Liam grinning from ear to ear, "You, my dear, must be the light that penetrates the darkness of this vile place. "
Suddenly Isabelle's stomach churned with revulsion, but all the liveliness of the young man allowed her to come up with a response that was cut short by Luam.
"Don't mind that old pervert," he said more amicably although one could easily detect the slight hint of scorn present in his voice. "Poor man has had a wandering eye from day one."
Darn, I messed up!
Isabelle thought, realizing her throat suddenly felt dry. "To be honest with you, I did not expect or imagine that I would be paraded around like that. "
Liam squeezed her slightly in his arms and responded: The nightclub must have a lot of interesting performances.
"There's not much you can do about that now, sweetheart," he replied, clamping down on his anger. "As wife of Liam Callahan, you will always be subject to discussion and comment among people of the town. Might as well get accustomed to that immediately. "
His words weighed in my ear like a boulder, a rude wake-up call about the golden cage I had chosen to be put in willingly.
When dancing between couples in the ballroom, Isabelle felt as though the spectators eyed her like the prized livestock they could see in the market.
It was during one of these all too excessive introductions that a familiar face drew Isabelle's attention to the floor like a moth to a flame.
Max.
He faded against the backdrop of the magnificent night, albeit by a few feet, his impressive tuxedo adding to the intense desire in the ambiance.
Their eyes locked and she felt ten volts surge through her, a shock that would remind her daily of the tie they had – and the risk of that tie.
Liam appeared to notice her change in focus, his gaze swivels to see in the direction she looked.
Then his eyes met Max and he scowled, his muscles tightening around his jaw.
"Pardon me. " He growled low and dangerously and pulling Isabelle away from the group of people, he had her arm twisted painfully in his grasp.
They stopped at an empty pillar and stood behind a potted plant that obscured their view from passersby.
Liam whipped around to face her, his gaze sharp with anger.
"What did I tell you about him?" he asked menacingly, lowering his voice.
Isabelle furrowed her eyebrows as she looked confused. "Liam, I didn't –"
"Do not try to turn cheeky on me, Isabelle," he said angrily, interrupting her. "But I saw how you were staring at him," she replied, her voice dripping with scorn, "like a stupid, besotted boy. "
She winced at the hatred-filled words that he had said and she felt her pulse racing. "It's not true! Max is just a friend to me, nothing more. "
Liam laughed and the sound that came out of his mouth had a bitter ring to it.
"A friend? Don't be naive, Isabelle. Max does not have friends or companions he only has plans. And his goal is to subvert me at every possible chance, to take pleasure in my shortcomings and hardships."
He moved towards her and because he was a big man he towered over her.
"Well, he'll never know it. You are mine, Isabelle, my wife, my property. And I can't let some infatuated painter steal you away."
The threat was there looming over them like a malignant presence and the darkness seeped into Isabelle as well.
She was about to argue with him but he just stared at her with an expression that said she had no right to say a word.
He glared at her, "Not one more word. "'From this moment forward, I do not want you to talk to Max again ever. Is that clear?'
Isabelle choked on her pride and the fear of the unknown and her heart raced furiously in her chest.
Max was her sole link, her only source of company apart from the new husband whom she was now confined into a golden cage.
Looking into Liam's 'clear skies' face told her that persuading him would not be possible.
Everything very much revolved around him; he was the master of the house and he knew it, which allowed him to lord his authority over her.
Choking bit her lower lip and looked at him squarely in the eye, her determination rising. "Got it," was her soft response and the syllable seemed to leave a bitter taste in her mouth.
Liam allowed his lips to twitch into a bitter sort of smile.
"Well done. Now you and I'll go out there and remind the world what a great couple we are, right?"
With his arm around her, he pulled her back onto the dance floor; the heavy weight of his body and dominant presence was a reminder of the new chain she wore around her neck.
As they danced and mingled with the other guests in the room Isabelle couldn't help but glance over at Max and hoped that he would look back at her.
But he looked as if he disappeared and become a mere speck in the mass of tuxedos and gowns, that enveloped them.
It was only when she was undressing for sleep in the luxurious isolation of her bedroom that she fully realized the gravity of the situation concerning Liam's ultimatum.
Max was out-of-bounds, the proverbial 'apple' that was too juicy and alluring not to snatch despite the strict understanding they were forbidden fruit in terms of their relationship.
Lying on her soft comfy bed, with her mind filled with questions and hidden fears, Isabelle couldn't help but think – how long can one pretend that everything is fine when the reality is far from it?
*******
In another part of town, in the magnificent, business-like offices of Russo Enterprises, Damien Russo angrily strode up and down his expensive office.
"Well?" he asked aggressively, turning to his assistant, Rachel. "What news did you get from the gala?"
Rachel glanced at the tablet in her hand, her face still as emotionless as always. "Well, I would say that our little bird caused quite a stir in her role as Mrs. Callahan. "
A rather bitter smile flitted across Damien's lips. "Of course she did. Liam always has a flair for the dramatic. "
He moved slowly towards the large windows that began from the floor and reached the ceiling; his eyes were set on the shimmer of the city outside. "And what of our other… player in this little game?"
Rachel frowns slightly, drawing her brows together. "The only person who was also present was Max Callahan and, judging by his relations with the girl, one can say that they were sort of limited... "
"Limited?" Damien retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, I am sure our friend Liam had something to do with that. "
Rachel nodded. "According to our sources, he threatened the girl telling her the consequences of further communication with Max are grave. "
The cruelest smile appeared on Damien's lips. "How gratifyingly typical he is. The great Liam Callahan is scared of letting things get out of his control. "
He then looked straight at her and he had this brutal look on his face. "Well, we can't have that now, can we? It's time we turned up the heat, and gave our little pawn a glimpse of what's truly at stake here. "