The icy gaze

Isabelle was led back to her room, a prison she couldn't escape. She couldn't help but wonder why she had ever listened to Stacy's advice in the first place. The blame crept in, but she knew deep down it wasn't Stacy's fault - just her own ill luck. The date had yielded a nice man for Stacy, but a monster for her. Defeated, she flopped onto her king-sized bed, feeling utterly helpless. Ruby, her dog, jumped up beside her, hoping for playtime, but Isabelle pushed her away, her frustration and despair evident.

"Why did he even bother getting me a dog?" she thought, her mind filled with resentment. As she lay there, the pungent smell of her unwashed body hit her.

"I haven't taken my bath throughout today!!" she exclaimed, her eyes scanning the luxurious room for the bathroom. She spotted a door on the far side, partially hidden by a sleek glass partition.

Isabelle strode towards it, her fingers already imagining the warm water and soothing suds. As she entered the bathroom, she gasped at the opulence before her. Marble countertops, a freestanding tub, and a separate rain showerhead gleamed in the soft light.

She couldn't help but feel a little indulgent, sinking into the tub's warm embrace. The water enveloped her like a gentle hug, melting away the tension and stress of her captivity. For a moment, she closed her eyes and let herself forget about Collins, the driver, and her precarious situation.

But as the water began to cool, reality crept back in. She couldn't stay here forever, no matter how comfortable the billionaire's bathtub was. Isabelle sighed, opening her eyes to face the challenges ahead.

After her bath, Isabelle wrapped herself in a plush towel and reached for the body cream on the counter. She smoothed it onto her skin, feeling the softness and scent of vanilla and honey envelop her. As she dressed in a fluffy robe, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and smiled, feeling a little more like herself again.

Next, she made her way to the closet, curiosity getting the better of her. As she pushed open the door, she gasped in surprise. "Isabelle" was written in bold letters on a small plaque, and the closet was filled with an array of beautiful clothes, each one tailored to her size.

Her eyes landed on a soft, pale blue nightdress with delicate lace trim. She couldn't resist the charm of it and slipped it on, feeling like a princess. As she settled into the comfortable fabric, she heard a soft whine from the corner of the room.

"Rose!" she exclaimed, rushing over to the puppy, who was waiting patiently by the bed. Isabelle scooped her up and showered her with kisses, feeling a sense of comfort and companionship wash over her.

With Rose snuggled up beside her, Isabelle climbed into bed, feeling a strange sense of peace in this opulent prison. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered what the next day would bring.

....

Isabelle woke up to a beautiful morning, with Rose by her side. She stretched, yawned, and slipped out of bed, feeling the soft carpet beneath her feet. After a quick bath, she wrapped herself in a plush towel and played with Rose, chasing the puppy around the room and laughing as Rose chased after her. she noticed a hint of morning ginger in the air, a subtle scent that added to the luxurious ambiance of the room. She spent the morning testing different clothes in the closet, trying on outfits and discarding them on the floor. Rose chased after the discarded clothes, yelping with glee. Isabelle laughed and played with Rose, tossing a diamond-encrusted ball for the puppy to catch. They played hide-and-seek behind the curtains, and Isabelle even tried to teach Rose some tricks, giggling as the puppy struggled to sit on command.

As they played, Isabelle felt a momentary escape from her prison. She forgot about the driver, Collins, and the mysterious man with icy blue eyes. All that mattered was the joy of the present moment, the laughter and excitement of playing with her new furry friend.

But as the morning wore on, reality set back in. She was still a prisoner, still trapped in this luxurious room with no escape.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and Isabelle called out, "Enter!" She was sitting on her bed, looking elegant in a white satin robe, her hair tied up in a loose bun. The driver entered with a tray, carrying a delicious breakfast spread. "Good morning, ma'am," he said, his eyes gleaming with warmth. "I brought your breakfast."

Isabelle's eyes widened as she took in the spread. "Wow, you really know how to make an entrance," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm impressed."

The driver smiled, unfazed by her sarcasm. "I'm glad you're impressed, ma'am," he said, setting the tray down on a nearby table. "I'll leave you to your breakfast. If you need anything, just let me know."

As he turned to leave, Isabelle called out, "Wait!" The driver turned back to her, his eyes questioning. "What's your name?" she asked, her voice a little softer.

"Kelvin, ma'am," he replied, his smile charming.

Isabelle raised an eyebrow. "Kelvin," she repeated. "Well, Kelvin, I suppose you're my personal prison guard, then?"

Kelvin's smile faltered for a moment before he recovered. "I prefer the term 'personal assistant', ma'am," he said. "And I'm here to make your stay as comfortable as possible."

Isabelle snorted. "Comfortable?" she repeated. "In a gilded cage?"

"Comfortable, huh?" Isabelle said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, if you want to make me comfortable, Kelvin, I have a special request."

"Anything, ma'am," Kelvin replied, his eyes sparkling with eagerness.

"I want to know every single item on the Añejo menu," Isabelle said, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Kelvin nodded and pulled out his phone. "I'll take care of that right away, ma'am," he said, and quickly dialed a number.

Isabelle watched as he spoke briefly into the phone, then hung up and tucked the phone back into his pocket.

"I'll be right back, ma'am," he said, and turned to leave.

"Wait, what's going on?" Isabelle asked, confused.

But Kelvin just smiled and said, "You'll see, ma'am. I promise."

And with that, he was out the door, leaving Isabelle to wonder what was happening.

Just a few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Isabelle got up to answer it, and found Kelvin standing there with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Here you go, ma'am," he said, handing her the paper. "The entire Añejo menu, just as you requested."

Isabelle took the paper, her eyes scanning the list in amazement. Every dish, every drink, every dessert - it was all there.

"Wow," she said, impressed despite herself. "You're certainly efficient, Kelvin."

As Isabelle sat down to enjoy her meal, Rose, her furry companion, wagged her tail and sniffed the air, sensing the delicious aromas.

Isabelle laughed and scratched Rose behind the ears. "You want some, girl? Sorry, this is people food!" Rose whined playfully and nuzzled Isabelle's hand, her big brown eyes shining with hope.

But as they dug in, Isabelle and Rose soon realized that they had bitten off more than they could chew. The portions were enormous, and despite their best efforts, they couldn't finish the meal.

Isabelle pushed the plate away, sighing in defeat. "I think we overestimated our appetites, Rose," she said, laughing.

Rose, who had been struggling to finish her own dog-sized portion, looked up at Isabelle with a comically guilty expression, her tail wagging weakly.

Together, they left the remains of the meal on the table, a testament to their failed attempt at gluttony. "Well, I guess we won't be finishing that anytime soon," Isabelle said, chuckling.

And with that, they both got up and walked away, leaving the unfinished meal behind.

.

.....

It was evening, and almost 7 o'clock. Isabelle sat on her bed with Rose by her side, expecting Collins to arrive any moment. She had spent the afternoon getting ready, and her hair and makeup were perfectly in place.

Just as the clock struck 7, she heard a knock at the door. She straightened up, expecting Collins to walk in. But to her surprise, it was Kelvin who entered, carrying a tray of dinner in his hands.

"Hey, ma'am," he said with a smile. "I brought your dinner."

Isabelle's heart sank, and she felt a pang of disappointment. "Where's Collins?" she asked, trying to hide her dismay.

Kelvin's expression turned apologetic. "I'm so sorry, Isabelle. Collins isn't able to make it today. Something unexpected came up, and he had to cancel."

Isabelle's eyes widened in disbelief. "Cancel? But he said he would come!"

Kelvin nodded sympathetically. "I know, I know. He's really sorry about it. But he'll make it up to you, I promise."

Isabelle sighed, feeling a wave of disappointment wash over her. She had been looking forward to Collins' visit all day, and now it seemed like she was stuck with Kelvin and a tray of dinner instead.

.

Isabelle sighed and nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. "Okay, thanks for letting me know, Kelvin."

Kelvin smiled and set the tray down on her bedside table. "I'll leave you to your dinner, then. Enjoy!"

Isabelle thanked him and began to eat, her appetite slightly diminished by the news. But as she took her first bite, she realized that the food was delicious, and her hunger soon took over.

As she ate, Rose sat by her side, wagging her tail and hoping for scraps. Isabelle laughed and fed her a few bits of chicken, enjoying the simple pleasure of sharing a meal with her furry companion.

After dinner, Isabelle spent some time playing with Rose, tossing a ball around the room and watching her dog's joyful leaps and bounds. As the evening wore on, she began to feel a sense of contentment wash over her, despite the disappointment of Collins' cancellation.

Finally, as the night drew to a close, Isabelle settled into bed, Rose curled up beside her. She reached over to turn off the light, feeling a sense of peace settle over her.

"Goodnight, Rose," she whispered, her eyes drifting closed.

And with that, she fell fast asleep, the events of the day fading into the darkness.

Isabelle suddenly woke up in the middle of the night to see his icy blue eyes staring at her.

"Hello pookie, sorry to wake you," he said, his voice low and husky.