**IsaI hung up the phone and headed to the printer to grab the new documents that had just been sent to me for another client SoulMode had picked up. Earlier that morning, Callan and I had filled out the HR paperwork signifying that we were beginning a serious relationship, but that we would remain professional in the workplace, and there would be no favoritism played between us. It was a strange thing to do, I thought. It was as if we had to get permission from his place of work. But on the other hand, I felt a great sense of relief. Since the documents were so official, it felt like I would have a good defense if anyone asked me about our relationship. On my way to the printer, I watched everyone out of the corner of my eye to see if any news about Callan and I had been leaked yet. Considering all of the rumors I'd heard about him when I first got here about him being a playboy and having had something to do with the last few people who worked here, I assumed
**IsaI wondered if it was really okay for me to go to Callan's sister's birthday party as his girlfriend when I hadn't yet met any of his other family members. The only one I'd seen was his father, and last I knew, he didn't seem to be a big fan of mine. "Won't your dad be upset that I'm here?" I asked when Callan opened up the passenger side door for me to get out of his car. Callan helped steady me on the grass as I was wearing my new purple Gucci heels. "I've talked to him," he said. "He won't make you feel uncomfortable. I have his word."I intertwined my fingers with Callan's and let him lead me up to his family's house. It still felt too soon to be meeting his whole family at once. "And what about everyone else?" I asked as we neared the house. My whole chest was vibrating with my anxious heart. Callan stopped me and spun me gently to face him. He placed his hands on my hips and planted a little kiss on my lips. "They're gonna love you, I'm sure
**Callan"I guess that means it's you and me again this year," Aunt Veronica said with a sly smile. She slid her hand through the crook of my elbow and tugged me towards her. I glanced at Isa, who looked both surprised and nervous. She was watching Alyssa skip towards us wearing a big smile like Alyssa was taking a jaunt down the yellow brick road. "Isa," I asked, "are you sure you're okay with this? If it's too much then—""No. No, it's fine," she replied with a small grin. "It'll be a good chance for me to get to know your sister. I just hope she doesn't hate me for never having made a cake before.""The only way I could hate you is if you did something to hurt my brother," Alyssa said nonchalantly, popping up behind Isa. "Contrary to popular belief, I actually kind of like the guy–most of the time."Isa startled. "I don't think you have to worry about that, dear," Aunt Veronica told her, winking at Isa. "We had a good talk earlier.""I gues
**IsaEven if I didn't exactly get Tevin's blessing, it was still worth it to go to Alyssa's birthday party. By the end of that day, Alyssa and I felt like sisters, and Veronica felt like my aunt, too.I even got to talk with Veronica's husband for a while, as well as a couple of Callan's cousins. Roman showed up at the end, and we were able to get fairly acquainted.To be honest, I was on a high after that weekend. A happy high.Even the continued whispers at work weren't enough to bring me down. Yes, it was discouraging to hear people say that I was using Callan, or even that he was being irresponsible by dating someone who worked under him, but I really took Veronica's advice to heart.She had told me that people wouldn't understand or come to accept our relationship if we kept trying to hide it. Well, now that it was out in the open, there wasn't any reason I thought of that should keep us remaining in the dark.So even if we weren't holding hands or o
Chapter 47 - Non-Father**Isa"It's my dad," I said. The muscles in Callan's jaw tightened. I hadn't talked much about my dad with Callan, and I never told him about the last time I met with my father or his demand to give me the inheritance money. But I guessed learning what kind of guy he had been during my childhood was enough to make Callan dislike him. "He didn't say what was wrong exactly, but he said it's urgent, and that he needs to speak with me in person as soon as possible. He even… mentioned that my mom is with him and that they want to have a family discussion," I said. I felt like I was in a daze. If my mom was involved, it must be something serious. That thought scared me.Callan patted my hand. "Should we go? I can go with, if that's okay."As much as I didn't want Callan to have to meet my father, I was more afraid of another scene breaking out between us. If Callan was there, I knew I'd feel safer, and perhaps my dad wouldn'
**IsaRather than being exhausted when we got back home from Portland, I felt lighter. I had been amazed by Callan this weekend. He got along so well with my friends, he handled my father with silent and stern strength and composure, and even if my mom didn't say anything, I thought he might have had a positive effect on her too. I was really starting to feel like things were going to be okay now.Callan was so much more than I thought from the first night I met him. But my first impression of him was right: he was special. I was glad that my feelings lingered as long as they did, and that, when he finally came around to remembering me, we found a way to become part of each other's lives. Yeah, for too long I'd let myself get knocked around by the fear of what other people would think of me, but now, especially after the weekend, I really felt Callan's love. I really felt my appreciation for him, too. It made me realize what him and Myalin and even his aunt
**Isa"Boob check," Maggie chirped, leaning around me and placing her hands on my chest. I gave her a look of dead disbelief. Earlier, she'd put me in a strappy form-fitting blue top and skirt and told me that it was guaranteed to make Thomas (my ex) regret dumping me and losing his business partner in turn."Personal space, dude," Erin said, swatting our friend's hand off of me. Maggie rolled her eyes and adjusted her dress to show off another quarter inch of cleavage. "What's it gonna hurt?" she pouted. "You know what they say about how to get over one man…""Yeah, yeah, you have to get under the next—" I started flatly."Nope," Maggie said smugly. "You just have to go out into the world looking hot and get complimented by all of the other men in the world. At least… that's how I do it."Erin rolled her eyes but smiled. "Let's go get hit on then," she said, looping her arm through mine and heading inside the bar. Maggie pittered behind us, still distracted by her o
**IsaFirst-day jitters had never been a thing for me. Even when it came to my first days of school each year or going on first dates or starting new jobs, I just wasn't a nervous person. Instead, it was more thrilling to me than anything. I wasn't COO of my investing app anymore, but I would have the opportunity to try out a new area of business that I had always been interested in. As the Chief Marketing Officer of this new company, SoulMode International, I would finally get to put my Master's Degree in Marketing to use.I was excited to get started at such a prestigious place as SoulMode International Clothing. I knew I didn't have to create something with my own hands in order to feel successful, so while it was tough to leave a company I had been co-operating for more than four years, it was refreshing to get to start again. Confidence.My mother had always told me that's how businesswomen had to get through work and through life. That's how she got through divorc