IN A FEW DAYS
ISABELLA
Saturday arrived like a threat. I knew it was Saturday because my body woke up already tired, my soul tried to crawl back into sleep, and the universe whispered, Today you face consequences. I was halfway through pretending my ceiling was very interesting when the doorbell rang. I stared at it, it rang again, and I did not move. Then Michael's voice floated through the door.
"Bella? If you don't open this, Ina will open it herself, and she has zero fear of social norms."Michael said.
That did it, I dragged myself up and opened the door just in time for chaos to walk in. Michael's sister, Ina swept past me like a benevolent disaster. She was bright-eyed, overdressed for war, carrying three bags and a suspicious amount of confidence.
"Oh wow." She said, looking me up and down. "You are worse than I imagined."
"Good morning to you too." I muttered.
"She means that lovingly."Michael winced.
"I absolutely do not." Ina said cheerfully. "You are a blank canvas. A tragic one.'
I turned to Michael.
"You brought her here for what reason exactly?"I asked.
"To help." He said weakly. "You said you didn't know how to, you know prepare."
"I said I did not know how to survive a date with a fictional tyrant." I snapped. "Not that I needed a makeover arc."
"A date?" Ina gasped.
"A what?"Michael froze.
"He invited me on a date on your shift, do not pretend you know nothing, Michael."I sighed.
Too late. Ina grabbed my hands instantly.
"Oh this is serious. This is narrative critical. You don't send a girl into a CEO route looking like she tripped out of bed and lost a fight with destiny."Ina teased.
"I did trip out of bed." I said. "And destiny has been bullying me for weeks."
The doorbell rang again. I didn't even turn this time.
"If that's death, tell it to wait."I sighed.
The door opened anyway. Wanessa stepped inside like she owned the place.
"I brought emotional support." She announced. "And snacks."
She lifted a bag. Inside was chocolate, fruit tarts. Something labeled calming tea that felt like a lie. Ina's eyes lit up.
"You must be Wanessa."She said.
Wanessa smiled sweetly.
"I am. And you must be the fairy god-sister."Wanessa teased.
"I have never felt so seen."Ina clutched her chest.
"This is an ambush."I sighed.
"Yes." Wanessa said pleasantly. "But a loving one."
Michael backed toward the door.
"I am going to stand over there and emotionally dissociate."Michael said quietly.
"Right! Hair first."Ina clapped her hands.
"No." I said.
"Yes." Ina replied.
I was seated on a chair against my will. Someone touched my hair.
"I don't consent-"I began.
"Too late." Ina said. "You have excellent bone structure. Why are you hiding it? Trust me, I helped you before the Gala."
"Because it attracts plot." I muttered.
Wanessa leaned against the counter, watching with obvious delight.
"You made her pretty for a Gala?"Wanessa asked.
"Yes, I did."Ina nodded.
"You know." She said. "In my timeline, this is where the heroine realizes she can't run forever."
I shot her a glare through the mirror.
"I am not the heroine."I sighed.
"I know." She said gently. "That's why this is interesting."
"She looks like someone who's about to accidentally ruin a powerful man's life."Ina hummed thoughtfully.
"Oh, definitely."Wanessa nodded.
"Should I be concerned?"Michael peeked over.
"Yes." All three of us said at once.
An hour later, I barely recognized myself. Not because I looked glamorous, Ina had refused anything dramatic, but because I looked intentional. Soft clothes, clean lines. Hair styled like someone who had plans and not impending doom. I stared at my reflection.
"Oh no." I whispered. "I look date ready and I do not like it."
"Tragic."Wanessa clapped softly.
"Perfect."Ina beamed.
"Xavier is going to lose his mind."Michael swallowed.
"I hate all of you." I said quietly.
Wanessa slung an arm around my shoulders.
"You'll be fine. And if you're not-." She leaned close, whispering with a grin. "-I'll be there to watch."
I closed my eyes as I knew that this weekend was going to kill me.
"I look like I belong in this world." I whispered.
"Exactly."Ina smiled, satisfied.
The sound of an engine outside cut through the room. Low, expensive and intentional. Wanessa's eyes flicked to the window.
"He's early."She said and my soul left my body.
"I'm not ready." I said immediately. "I need at least three more internal monologues."
It was too late. Outside, a sleek black car rolled to a stop. The door opened, and Xavier stepped out. Perfect posture, dark coat. Hands calm at his sides like a man who never doubted where he stood in any room. He looked up, saw the window, and saw me, and froze. Just for a second, barely noticeable, but I saw it. His eyes widened not in shock, not surprise, but something softer. Like he'd inhaled and forgotten how to exhale. And then color bloomed across his cheeks. Pink, an actual, undeniable pink.
"Oh my god." Michael, watching from the hallway, whispered.
"I did that."Ina clutched her chest.
Wanessa grinned as she'd just confirmed a theory.
"Well." She said lightly. "That's new."
Outside, Xavier recovered quickly, he always did, but the damage was done. When he walked toward the door, his steps were slower, measured. Like he needed the extra second. The doorbell rang, but I didn't move.
"Go on, Princess."Wanessa nudged me.
"I hate that word."I sighed.
"You look like one."She teased.
I opened the door, and Xavier's gaze met mine fully now and this time, he didn't hide it. His breath caught.
"Bella." He said quietly.
My heart traitorously skipped.
"Yes?"I asked.
He cleared his throat, eyes flicking away briefly before returning steady, intent.
"You look…" He paused, and smiled, just a little. "Beautiful."
Behind me, Ina silently celebrated. Michael stared like he had witnessed a solar event. Wanessa leaned against the wall, delighted. I swallowed. This was bad, very, very bad. Because for the first time, Xavier didn't look like a threat. He looked like a man who had just realized he was in trouble.