Chapter 7 The Big Car

Quietly and politely, Isla finished her arrival procedures and came out of the airport. A luxury sedan was waiting for them. The moment she saw the Spirit of Ecstasy sitting on the hood of the car, her mouth fell open in shock. She had lived her life comfortably and had a few expensive cars, but she had never seen a Rolls-Royce right before her eyes, physically standing.

“Is that… is that… is that for us?” stammered Isla.

Desmond was loving her expressions. “Yes, it is!”

“Are you out of your mind? Why would you rent such an expensive car?” snapped Isla in a whispering tone. “I get that you sold everything to shift here, but won’t you need that money? How will you keep your new wife happy?”

“Ohhh! You are so worried about my new wife? Worried about me? Aww!” teased Desmond.

“What!!! Why would I be worried about your wife? I am… I am… yes, I am worried about myself. What about my school? My college? My training?” said Isla. For a second, she, too, thought about why she was worried about Desmond’s new wife. She was the enemy. Isla must not think about her.

“Just sit down! you will understand everything in a minute,” said Desmond. The driver got out of the car, bowed down to Desmond and Isla and opened the back door. Isla’s mouth fell open. She felt like royalty. She had to clear her throat and then calm herself.

“But what if we make this car dirty? How much will you have to pay?” asked Isla, getting close to Desmond’s ear. She didn’t want the driver to hear anything.

“Don’t worry, Miss Harrington. I will clean it. It’s my job! You just sit comfortably,” suddenly the driver spoke. She didn’t understand how he heard her when she whispered every word in her father’s ears.

“Um… right! Sorry! Wait… you know my name?” asked Isla.

“Yes, Miss. Do you prefer Miss Isla or Miss Harrington?” asked the driver.

“Isla would be fine,” smiled Isla.

“No! A lady must be addressed with proper etiquette.”

“Oh!” Isla raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Then you can call me Miss Isla. And your good name, Sir?”

“You are a polite, sweet girl, aren’t you? My name is Theodore Locke. You can call me Mr Locke or simply the driver,” smiled Theodore.

“Hah! Polite! Sweet! Get familiar with her, and soon you will see how polite and sweet she is,” mumbled Desmond tauntingly.

Isla gave her father a stink eye, but after hearing Theodore’s words, her heart ached. “What? Why would I call you the driver? Who calls you the driver?” asked Isla, slightly angry.

“No one! Please sit, and I will drive you to your destination.”

“Okay, then! And I am going to call you Mr Locke, if you don’t mind!” smiled Isla.

“Why would I mind, Miss Isla?” Theodore gestured for her to get in.

Isla sat inside the big car and looked at everything in awe. The cabin was extremely comfortable. She ran her fingers on everything she could touch. She even forgot about being angry at her father or that he still had her phone with him. His warning did wonders. She didn’t fight with him for even a minute. Desmond sat beside her, and Theodore placed all the luggage in the trunk.

“Do you want the window open or closed?” asked Theodore.

“Open, please!” smiled Isla.

The car started, and slowly the heat and dust of the city started creeping into the car. But Isla didn’t mind any of that. Living in a small town, she had not seen such hustle and bustle all around her. She was enjoying her view. Soon, the view changed, and she started on winding roads. The tall trees lining the road looked like happy giants waving happily in the soft wind.

She had her face over her folded hands, resting on the door. A sweet smile played on her face. Suddenly, she remembered that she was not supposed to enjoy anything. She was there to be naughty, as naughty as she could be, as troublesome as she could be, simply a delinquent. She wanted her new mother to get tired of her and then throw her out of the house so that she could simply run back to her real mother.

She sat back up straight and looked angry and sad. She had to show everyone that she was not going to back down. She was never going to accept the new family. Her family was Claire, and if Desmond was ready to accept her mother, she would accept Desmond too. No one else could come in between.

“Here!” said Desmond and broke her concentration.

“What?” asked Isla and looked at what Desmond was pointing at. He was giving her phone back to her. She was taken aback. He had said that he was going to give the phone back after they reached their destination. So, why was he showing so much trust and love?

“You were nice to Theodore. This is your present. Just take it before I change my mind!” snapped Desmond.

Isla twisted her lips to show him her arrogance, but snatched the phone out of his hands.

“Are you not going to say thank you to me? Your politeness is only for others, not me?” asked Desmond, teasingly.

“Why do I have to thank you?” asked Isla, condescendingly.

“I didn’t post any selfie from your phone! I didn’t embarrass you,” Desmond raised his eyebrows a few times, taunting her.

“Oh my god! I am so thankful to you! I have never been thankful to anyone in my life. Thank you!” she replied mockingly and gritted her teeth in annoyance. Desmond let out a big laugh, which annoyed Isla even more.

The car turned left and entered a huge black gate. After driving for about ten minutes, a huge courtyard appeared before Isla. The moment she saw the building before her, her jaw dropped to the floor, and her eyes were ready to come out of their sockets.

Desmond scoffed and stifled his laughter.

“Come out, Miss Isla!” said Theodore and opened the door for her. Still keeping her eyes on the huge building before her, she got out of the car and stood there without blinking, drooling like a kid who had wandered into Candyland.

“Do you like your new home?” asked Theodore.

“Ne…w… hom…ee! WHAT THE FUCK!!” shouted Isla at the top of her lungs.