Page 41 of Isabelle and the Beast

“Yes, I figured as much,” I reply.

I look around the office. Do I go out in the hall to speak with her? Or do I invite her in? I thought it was pretty clear two nights ago that I don’t want her here. Why is she now knocking on my door?

“What do you want?” I ask instead.

She’s silent for a moment. “I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?”

“For coming into your office.”

I stride over to the door and quickly pull it open. Isabelle jumps back, still in her pajamas but now with a robe pulled tightly around her waist.

I don’t say anything. I cross my arms over my chest, watching her and waiting. I can’t let her see how much her presence affects me.

She swallows hard. “I just want to…ugh, why are you so scary?”

My eyes widen. “I’m scaring you right now?” I wasn’t necessarily trying to look scary, just…unaffected.

“Yes! You’re standing there, all menacing and growly?—”

“I’m not growling,” I protest.

“I didn’t say growl-ING. I said growl-Y. You look like you’re about to pounce on an innocent little bunny.”

I snort a laugh.

“Hey, there’s a smile. Now it’s easier.” She smiles back at me, but I can read the uncertainty in her eyes. “I wanted to apologize for coming into your office. I don’t think I ever said the words ‘I’m sorry,’ and I do recognize that what I did was wrong. I shouldn’t have come in here when you specifically told me not to.”

I’m stunned speechless. She has been feisty and strong-willed, attributes I actually admire in her. Which makes this apology seem even more sincere and meaningful. If I’ve learnedanything about Isabelle over the last few days, she doesn’t speak unless she truly means it or feels it in her heart.

I don’t want to tell her that it’s okay, though. It’s not okay that she was trespassing. But all things considered, I can sort of understand why she did it.

“Thank you,” I finally say. “I accept your apology. And I forgive you.”

She nods once. I can see her shoulders drop in relief.

An awkward silence fills the space between us. “Did you speak with your father?” I finally ask.

She nods again. “He seemed relieved to hear from me. Apparently he even filed a police report.”

“Yes, he told me,” I say with a smirk. “But he reassured me that he had already called them and let them know you were all right.”

“He also said that he got me an interview with Inside Scoop,” she says. A wide smile spreads across her face. “It’s my first one. You said we have Internet now, right? It’s tomorrow morning, but I can do it on Zoom.”

I fight the grin that threatens to appear on my face. Her enthusiasm is so endearing. And I remember how excited I was when I got my first interviews leading to my very first role inOperation: Sand Dune. “Yes, we have Internet.”

“Yay!” she squeals.

I can’t help it. The smile breaks free. She tracks it, her eyes lighting, but I pull back into a scowl. “Your father seemed unaware that you refused to do the movie with me.”

Her smile drops and she looks sheepish. “I, uh…yeah, I didn’t tell him yet.”

I raise a brow at her, challenging her to admit that she’s possibly changing her mind.

She rolls her eyes. “Fine. Maybe…I was a little rash to say that I wouldn’t do the movie with you.”

“Oh?” I lean against the doorway, my arms still crossed over my chest. “And who’s to say I’d be willing to do it with you?”

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