ISSABELLE

Issabelle was brooding over her miseries lying in the hospital bed. How much more would she be cheated by people she thought. Was it going to be a vicious non-ending cycle?

She recollected her memories, her mother's funeral, and after that how she went to her own dad's place to seek shelter, to be thrown out by her dad's security guards. She realized that the guards were following her step mother's instructions, not to let Issabelle in. She realized that her father had remarried. Four years was a pretty long time! She could feel her mother's soul was present in that house. So many memories good and bad were trapped in that house.

Issabelle called up her friend Diana after she was denied entry to her father's house, as she was virtually homeless. Diana invited Issabelle to stay with her. She was a real solace for Issabelle's broken heart, but was she? Diana introduced Issabelle to her friend Sam 'Costa, a fashion photographer, who used to also shoot portfolio's for upcoming models. Sam liked Issabelle's look at first sight. He viewed her as a prospective supermodel. He coaxed Issabelle for a photo-shoot. Issabelle reluctantly agreed to it. Was this going to be another destructive chapter of her life? How could she know then? Sam sent her photograph's for the Supermodel talent search competition, without her knowledge. She was chosen in that competition, and though reluctantly, but she entered into the world of modeling. She had both modeling as well as ramp walk assignments lined for her. Sam 'Costa was always busy as he was also now her manager. She also bought a luxurious apartment for herself.

Issabelle didn't realize when she fell in love with Sam. But was it love or just plain infatuation? How could she be able to judge than? In between shots, she would squeeze a lunch or a dinner break with Sam. How she would wait for the weekends, to go for long drives with Sam. Those stolen kisses. Gradually they started to exchange heated kisses, with their tongues entwined, exploring each other, moaning and panting and fondling one another. How those kisses got rough later because of heat building up in them. But she never crossed her limits, saving her virginity like a prized possession.

She could still clearly remember, the party to which she and Sam were invited. All A-Lister's were going to be present there. Sam insisted that they attend the party, as meeting the right people there would help further her career. Issabelle agreed reluctantly. She wore a crimson red off-shoulder gown, that hugged her figure, showing off the necessary curves. She had a very slender frame. She wore matching heels. She wore minimal makeup and left her hair loose. She wore tiny diamonds and ruby hoops in her ears, and a matching diamond and ruby pendant. She was looking like a goddess, who was dressed to kill.

She made heads turn at the party when she entered with Sam. The party was at a lovely mansion, with a stamp of luxury present in every nook and corner. Sam introduced her to so many new people. The host of the party was a very good friend of Sam. Issabelle never knew she was going to receive the surprise of her life, when with the kind permission of his host Sam made an announcement before the audience, about his engagement with Issabelle if she agreed to his proposal. He then went down on his knees and proposed to Issabelle. How could she refuse when she thought that what she felt for Sam was true love. Issabelle nodded with a confirmatory, yes, and Sam slid a diamond ring on the ring finger and kissed her hand gently. Toasts were raised to the couple. Sam brought her a drink, but she refused as she never used to drink. He coaxed her to take a small peg, which he himself bought for her. She felt she had never been so happy in her life. She accepted the drink for Sam's satisfaction. She only had a few sips when she started feeling dizzy. Her head was spinning so badly. She went and sat down in a corner, as she didn't want to embarrass Sam. Sam noticed her from the other side of the room. He rushed towards her, but Issabelle was not able to walk, she seemed to be drunk. Sam lifted her into his arms and rushed up to the first floor of the mansion. Issabelle kept on apologizing, her speech slurred, but Sam said he did not mind and put her down on the empty bed in the bedroom. He said he would soon be back. Isabelle was very drowsy and barely managed to keep her eyes open. There was a knock at the door after a few minutes, thinking it to be Sam, she asked him to come in. The worst of her nightmares were yet to come. She saw her stepfather and Sam together, with money exchanging hands, from her stepfather to Sam. After that hefty compensation which Sam received, he left her and went away. Tears started flowing down Issabelle's cheeks.