Independence & Consequences, M J Marlow [read out loud books .txt] 📗

as he took Isabel by the hand and led her downstairs to the studio. “The first solo.” He told her what the steps would be and was astounded when she performed them with only a slight hesitation. She seemed to freeze every time he touched her. “You can’t seize up on me when I touch you, Isabel. It will throw off the lines.” He remembered what Tabitha had told him. “I am not going to hurt you.” “Can we do it again?” Simon watched them from the shadows as they moved through the first solo until Isabel had relaxed and it was performed almost flawlessly. He clapped his hands as he saw the chemistry build. This couple was designed for each other. He had been right in his choice of Isabel as a substitute for their fallen prima. They turned towards him, David annoyed, Isabel blushing. “You are perfection itself,” he said as he kissed Isabel on the cheek. “I knew you could rescue us.” He frowned. “Your parents think this is enough for your first practice. They say you have an appointment with a lawyer?” “My late father-in-law’s will,” Isabel nodded, with a frown. “I’d better go. I’ll be back later.” She smiled at David. “Thank you for putting me at ease, David.” “She is married?” David asked as he put a towel over his shoulders and wiped his face. “But she’s so young.” “It is a sad story,” Simon frowned. “One you will need to ask her about.” He eyed the boy closely. “I saw chemistry as you danced. Keep that up and this production will be a smash!” He laughed at David’s innocent look. “The company would like you to go over your first entrance with them, if you would be so kind.” “Yes, Master,” David bowed his head. While the practice continued, Isabel and her parents went to the attorney’s office. She was shown to a seat next to Ricardo. The lawyer looked up at her and smiled. Enrique had known how to choose a woman for his son. This child was exquisite. He opened his briefcase and pulled out the will. He knew there was going to be fireworks when he read this document. It had arrived at his office, witnessed and notarized, the morning before Enrique had been shot. He looked at Enrique’s children, the sullen Rafael, and the deadly Alejandra and smiled to himself. The boy would not care, but his sister would be quite angry. “Now that we are all here,” he said and had their attention, “we will read the will. It was changed the morning before Enrique Alvarez died. Some of you may not like what he says,” he looked pointedly at Alejandra and she scowled at him. “Some of you may be quite surprised,” he looked at Isabel. “Here it is in a nutshell: To Isabel Alvarez, all of the personal accounts and the estate. To Rafael Alvarez, the sum of 15 million dollars, 5 million of which he is to donate to the hospital of his choice in his father’s name; and the house in Pasadena, Maryland. To Alejandra Alvarez, the sum of 15 million dollars, and the yacht. To his widow, Olivia, the remaining properties, and funds held in trust in her name; valued at 30 million. The business accounts will be turned over to his brother, Ricardo Alvarez, in full.” “This is ridiculous,” Alejandra hissed. She turned on Olivia. “She was only married to my father for less than a week! How can he leave such a sum to her? And she,” Alejandra glared at Isabel, “is only my brother’s wife.” “It was his wish, Alejandra,” the attorney told her. “His will further stipulates that anyone who disputes his wishes will find their inheritance donated to whichever charities his widow deems worthy.” Alejandra stormed out of the office, the look she shot at Isabel filled with venom. “And you, Rafael? Do you share your sister’s displeasure?” “No,” Rafael replied. “I am frankly stunned that he would leave me so much. And,” he continued as he lifted Isabel’s hands to his lips, “I am pleased that he chose to place his trust in my Isabel.” “Isabel,” the attorney said once Rafael had left. “It would be advisable to make your wishes known as soon as possible.” “The house goes,” Isabel said, stunned by the will. Enrique had given her practically everything he owned. “I do not want it.” She looked up at the lawyer. “I can do that, can’t I?” “It is your property,” the attorney smiled at her as he put the will away. “You can burn it down, if you wish.” He rose to his feet. “The will has been filed,” he said as he handed her several checkbooks and a set of keys, “here is your inheritance.” He looked over at Ricardo. “There will be a meeting of the board tomorrow at 3:00 to discuss the transfer.” He turned to look at Olivia. “If you would remain, Olivia, there is one further item that your husband wished to address.” Isabel didn’t wait any longer. She left the room and ran right into Alejandra. The girl slapped her across the face. Rafael pulled her off as she went at Isabel with her claws. Alejandra pulled free of his hold and stormed off without a word. Rafael looked at the shock on Isabel’s face and he stepped towards her. Isabel backed away from him, shaking her head. She turned to find herself in her father’s arms. “You had better keep an eye on your hermana,” Sebastian suggested to Rafael, his voice cold and hard. “If she comes near my daughter again, I will hurt her.” He put his arm around Isabel’s shoulder and led her to the elevators. Liza followed behind them, pausing to glance back at Rafael and Ricardo. “He means it, Rafael,” Ricardo said to his nephew. “If you have any love left for your sister, you will keep her away from Isabel.” He saw the boy’s frown. “I would hate to bring her before the Council because she couldn’t keep her claws in.” He saw Rafael’s stunned look. “I will do it, Rafael, with great regret.” His eyes went deadly cold. “But I will do it.” He saw him look towards the elevator. “She is your wife, Rafael, but I think it best you go slowly now. Win her, as you would have, had you been allowed to court her.” Rafael nodded and went out of the building. He got in his car and followed the Guerrero car and wondered why it was pulling up in front of the Grand Theater. The car pulled off, leaving Isabel behind. He went inside in time to see Isabel writing a check out to the theater manager. The man hugged the girl and danced around the room. He set her down and held the check up for the other people to see. There was cheering and applause as he drew Isabel up on stage. “Our goddess has just given us enough money to keep the company running for the next decade!” Simon enthused. “But we digress. It is time to see how well our new Clara and her prince have learned their first solo.” He went to the piano and hit the opening chord while the other dancers filed off stage and took seats in the auditorium. “David. Isabel. When you are ready.” Rafael settled in the back row and watched as a tall, lean man with red hair moved into position. Isabel joined him and the way they fit together made Rafael feel very angry. As the solo continued that anger mounted. He should be the one with his arms around Isabel, not this rooster. He looked away as Alejandra slid into a seat next to him. She didn’t say a word. She could see from the rage in her brother’s eyes that he was nearly ready to be manipulated. Alejandra watched the dance and she could see what was disturbing her brother. Isabel and her partner danced as if they were joined to each other. “Meet me at the yacht, hermano,” she said as the solo ended and she rose to leave. “We will talk.” David smiled down at Isabel, amazed. They moved as if they had been dancing together forever. He found it hard to believe this was only their second try at the solo. Isabel blushed as people came up to praise them. It felt good to have people accepting her. David pulled her aside and smiled down at her. He pulled her into his arms and spun her around, much as Simon had. But unlike Simon, Isabel could feel that this young man was beginning to form an attachment to her. She pulled away from him and went over to Simon to demand an impartial critique of the solo. He gave it to her and she was annoyed. “Honestly, Isabel,” Simon told her truthfully,” Simon said to her as he noted her annoyance. “You dance it like that on opening night and the audience will be enraptured.” He looked over at David. “He is a good man, Isabel. He will not hurt you.” He motioned David over. “Run through the second solo. Once you have it, we will review it. Then practice is over for you both today. Snowflakes; to your places. We will run over your corps piece.” David and Isabel went downstairs and he described the moves to her. They went through the lifts until she was comfortable with them. Then they pulled it all together. Emilio and Guillermo took up positions outside of the studio and did not disturb them as they worked. Up until the point where David and Isabel froze; their eyes locked. David lowered his head towards Isabel and she looked up at him shyly, but unafraid for the first time. Emilio cleared his throat and David moved away. Isabel felt a wave of annoyance rush through her. They went through the second solo and then turned to leave. “Are they going to be around long?” David whispered as he leaned in close, in the subterfuge of moving a strand of hair out of her eyes. “If they aren’t here,” Isabel replied softly, “then neither am I. My new father has told me he will take me to San Matteo if I don’t accept their presence.” They moved upstairs and took their positions on the stage. The company watched as David and Isabel danced, their movements together perfectly in sync. There was thunderous applause as the solo ended. Isabel went to change and came out of the dressing room to see Rafael standing outside. She tried to move past him and he remained in the way. He was, in fact, making her back into the dressing room. Rafael closed the door and admired the way the exercise made her glow. An image of her in his bed entered his mind and he sighed. “What do you want, Rafael?” Isabel sighed as she sank down on the couch. “The man who called himself my father is gone now, Isabel,” he told her as he came to sit near her. He frowned as she got up and moved away. “I would make my intentions plain.” “Stay away from me,” Isabel warned him as he got up and came towards her. She felt behind her body and her fingers came across the jar of face cream. She held onto it. “I will hurt you.” “You?” Rafael laughed, seeing her as no threat at all. “Come now, Isabel. You can not expect me to believe this virginal attitude when I saw the way you danced with that rooster.” He pinned her into the corner of the room and ran his hand along her cheek. He caught her arm as she brought the jar towards his head and made her drop it. “As much as I know I should go slowly with you,” His hand cupped her chin and he