Chapter 42

Isabella Castillejos could be described in so many words, but patient will never be one of them. Being the only child of one of the oldest aristocratic families in Imperial Manila did not help in developing that virtue very much. She’d always been used to being pampered and catered to every single waking moment of her life and the concept of waiting was alien to her. But here she was, waiting, waiting for the call of the one man who could rescue her from total disgrace. Unbeknownst to all, the Castillejos family was facing total ruin and only her marriage to Gabriel Montoya could save them.

Truth was, the Castillejos business empire had not been doing very well even before his father took the reins upon the death of her grandfather. The books revealed they were heavily in debt due to several bad business deals. Her father tried his best to revive the Castillejos finances to its former glory, but tragedy struck a few years later when Isabella’s mother was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. They took her to the best doctors in the US and Europe, but nothing could be done for her. She died within a year and her father slipped into despondency, burying his grief in drink, and more drink. Later on, he stepped up the ante and moved on to women and high-stakes gambling. Within two years their businesses started going under. Only their real estate and construction businesses remained afloat but, as was later revealed by her father, only through the aid of some unnamed benefactor.

To the outside world, Isabella endeavored to keep on projecting the image of a cold, spoiled heiress. She had to if only to maintain their place in society and to squelch the rumors about their family’s fall from grace. The business world was basically lorded over by a small and highly exclusive group of elite men and women. It was a very privileged, private world where gossip and intrigue could make or break even the most powerful of dynasties. Among their ranks, just like in any other societal order, were the most influential, the most ruthless, the most unscrupulous, the most heartless of personages–the sharks, or those who were always on the lookout for the next kill. Fortunately, amongst them also stood a rare breed of humans, those who still espoused the values of honor, honesty, fair play, and camaraderie.

Luckily for his father, it was one of those rare breeds who got wind of their family’s financial misfortune first and not one of the sharks. Their benefactor, saving her father from public disgrace, had kept it between only to the two of them, and their very discreet solicitors. Their agreement, however, though done out of kindness and sympathy, was by all intents and purposes, still a business deal and therefore subject to its basic principles. Meaning that the help being extended to them had conditions, and of course, a time limit and as of today they only had thirty days before their benevolent patron ceased extending financial aid to their floundering businesses.

For years her father had kept this secret deal to himself but when it became apparent he would not be able to resurrect their dying business in time, he was forced to divulge it to Isabella. He wouldn’t tell her the name of the benefactor, though. Isabella remained confident her father would be able to make things right, but when he finally admitted the extent of their problems, only one solution came to her mind: find a very rich husband, FAST! And she already had the perfect candidate for the role. She’d been seeing Gabriel Montoya on and off for the past year. It was a casual affair, purely physical, with no emotional attachments. Still, it was a good starting point considering the immediacy of her need. However, a few problems were preventing her from accomplishing her goal.

For one thing, Gabriel was already engaged to someone else. But as Gabriel had made his aversion to the betrothal crystal clear, it was the easiest hurdle to overcome. Aside from the physical aspect of their relationship, though, the two of them had no real connection. She found Gabriel too arrogant and independent for her taste, preferring men she could easily manipulate and wrap around her fingers. Had Gabriel not been so hard to resist, she would not have troubled herself with him. The hardest obstacle she was facing, however, was Gabriel himself. He was just too controlled, too smart, and too cunning for his own good. It was nearly impossible to trick him into marriage. In order to get Gabriel Montoya to the altar, Isabella must be more Machiavellian than normal.

Thus, began the biggest charade in Isabella’s life. She had to make the elusive bachelor marry her before time ran out, easier said than done, as the following months had proven.

She tried to maintain the status quo: no emotional attachments and no demands. She’d set those boundaries herself and it would be to her detriment if she changed it abruptly. She continued to fan the flames of his opposition to his betrothal and she had actually been progressing quite well, yet, no matter how hard she tried to get close to Gabriel remained detached. And despite their bedroom acrobatics, Gabriel would be cold and distant afterward. He was also very fastidious about taking precautions during those steamy sessions, which killed any hope of trapping him in that manner.

She tried to remain distant, too, in an attempt to reel him in; make him relax his guard until she could wriggle herself into his well-protected emotions. No dice, his heart seemed barricaded behind a solid steel wall. She even tried breaking things off with him and dating other men to make him jealous. But it backfired when Gabriel exhibited no qualms in cutting their involvement short, forcing her to quickly discard the experiment. She was already at wit’s end and she’d almost given up her aspiration of snagging Gabriel Montoya when out of the blue she met someone who changed the course of her life; someone who totally understood her situation and was even eager to give his complete and unquestioning support. He was truly suited for her, a man after her own heart. It would’ve been nice if he had the means to rescue his family from financial ruin. Sadly, he was not a man of great wealth.

Still, Isabella now had someone to help her ensure the success of her plans, someone to help her become the Montoya heir’s wife. And everything had been going smoothly, her goal finally within her grasp until Gabriel decided to go back home. She had been livid when she learned that Gabriel had slipped through her fingers. All those months of hard work could be undone in an instant. She had to do something. Good thing her partner-in-crime was more cunning than she thought and was able to contrive some last-minute maneuvers.

Isabella heaved a deep sigh and slumped against the numerous pillows laid out behind her. She was tired, tired of all these scheming and underhanded tricks, tired of putting up a front and fight these never-ending battles. Still, she couldn’t stop now, not until she was able to restore her family’s honor and status in society. Not until she was assured her father would be okay. Not until she could be freed of her obligation to him and finally live her life, her chosen life, not the one that had been chosen for her.

She loved her father dearly. There are times, though when she couldn’t help but heap curses on his head. He should’ve made use of the time and the money, the second chance, their patron had given them. He used to be a brilliant businessman but somehow, he’d lost his edge. Or probably, he’d lost his drive, his motivation, and it hurt Isabella. Wasn’t she enough of a motivation for him to recover from his emotional stupor? She’s not blaming her father for mourning her mother; she mourned her loss, too. But didn’t he realize his wife would be turning in her grave if she knew what he had done with his and his daughter’s life? Wouldn’t she have wanted them to go on living instead of going down the abyss of despair?

Nonetheless, everything was all water under the bridge. She must go on as planned. Her father was depending on her, just as her future happiness depended on this, too.

And so, despite the protestations of her soul, she picked up her phone and dialed the number she had already committed to memory. It’s been days since she’d delivered her shocking revelation to Gabriel, yet nothing had come of it. It’s pretty clear she was waiting for his call in vain. Apparently, she had underestimated his nerve.

Hah! There’s more than one way to skin a cat, Gabriel. You’re not my last resort, you know. How dare you ignore me like this! If you’re not going to make your move, then I’m sure you won’t mind if I made mine. And you better be prepared for it!

It’s time she took matters into her own hands.

Again.