**Chapter Nine: Isabella - Nik's POV** The stakes felt impossibly high, but I was resolute. There was no way I was letting Maya slip through my fingers—not after all I had done to secure her presence. I leaned forward, my voice steady as I laid out an offer that I knew would overshadow anything Eden could conjure, even in his wildest dreams. "Niklaus," my father inhaled sharply, rubbing his palms together with the kind of exaggerated effort that signaled his attempt at diplomacy. "Let’s be realistic, shall we?" “Let’s not,” I shot back, my glare fixed on him. He might have been accustomed to favoring Eden, but this time I wouldn’t let him undermine my position. “Like I said, realism is necessary,” he pressed on, the gleam in his eye betraying his cleverness. I knew he had something in mind, but this time I refused to be swayed. “So, what now?” I asked, irritation sharpening my tone. “We’ll put Maya to the test,” he declared, a sly grin creeping across his features. “Test?” Maya’s face paled, panic flickering across her features. I could see the doubts clouding her mind, the weight of her insecurities bubbling to the surface. The girl had a serious inferiority complex. “Yes, dear. Just like my son suggests—what if Annabelle fires you? Turn the tables; what are the odds that Isabelle won’t do the same?” My father utilized my own argument against me, a poker player reveling in his winning hand. “Zero, probably,” Eden added with an obnoxious snort, and it was all I could do to restrain myself from delivering a punch that would silence him. “So?” I shot back. “I’m her father. I decide who gets fired, and Maya’s not taking the damn test.” “And I’m Annabelle's father. I also decide who works here,” Eden replied defiantly, anger sparking between us. “Before her request!” I interjected, earning another withering glare from him. But then, I caught the glimmer of a smile on his face—a warning that this was far from over. “Yes, Nik, I concede that. But let’s have an honest discussion here. What have you done for Izzy? Nothing. The only decent thing you’ve done is drop her off at your father’s place for safe-keeping,” he retorted, his words like daggers. “I told you—her name is Isabelle, not Izzy,” I growled, feeling the heat of rage pooling in my fists. But Maya's voice broke through the tension like a sudden crack of thunder. “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but if you both don’t chill out right now, I’m walking out of here and never coming back!” There was a fierce determination in her tone as she turned to me, jabbing her finger into my chest. “And for the record, I’m taking the test, so you can either deal with it or forget about me!” I stared at her, momentarily stunned by the fire and confidence she exuded. I was supposed to be angry for her defiance, yet I couldn’t help but admire how fierce and unexpectedly charming she looked. “What's the test?” she asked, her resolve oddly inspiring. I just hoped she wouldn't end up heartbroken when Isabelle turned a cool shoulder to her efforts. “Get Isabelle to come down for dinner,” my father announced, producing a wave of freezing dread in the pit of my stomach. Maya's expression, however, suggested otherwise. “Just that?” she scoffed, unaware of the storm she was about to face. “Yes, love,” my father replied with an overly sweet smile. “So if I get Isabelle down here, I get to be her nanny. What happens if I fail?” Maya thrust her chin up, defiantly challenging the impending blow. “You go back to being Eden’s date for the night,” he declared, the words rolling off his tongue like a death sentence. Eden wore a grin that belied the fury simmering beneath my skin. It was painfully obvious that Maya stood little chance; Isabelle was a force of nature that didn’t respect anyone’s authority. I marveled at the futility of it all; she had rejected my dinner invitation more times than I could count. “Deal. Where’s Isabelle’s room?” Maya asked, her bravado faltering as reality crashed around her. “I’ll take her,” Emily offered, and my father nodded approvingly, blissfully unaware of the muttered comment Eden made by his side. Maya followed Emily, ascending the stairs with a mixture of anticipation and dread. When they halted before a door at the far end of the hall, Maya's gaze landed on a large notice glued to it. “Busy. Do. Not. Disturb.” She read aloud, the words dripping with sarcasm. “Really?” Emily raised an eyebrow at her. Emily chuckled lightly, “Welcome to Isabelle’s world. And just a tip—call her Izzy if you want to make a decent first impression.” “Wow, she must be a real sweetheart,” Maya murmured, though Emily responded with an incredulous shake of her head. “Don’t joke, Maya. She’s brilliant for her age—ten and already sharper than most adults.” “Fine,” Maya sighed. “Just wish me good luck.” “Good luck, plus I’ll have a nice burial planned in case you don’t make it back in one piece.” “Seriously?” Maya laughed, uncertainty fading as determination took hold. “I’m serious. I’ll even inscribe your epitaph—‘Lo, behold the heroine who died trying to get Izzy down for dinner.’ How does that sound?” “Screw you,” she shot back with a smile, her confidence returning as she squared her shoulders. “I’m going to get that brat down for dinner.” “Now that’s the spirit!” Emily cheered her on. With one last hug, she whispered a final good-bye, leading Maya to the battleground ahead. Maya took a deep breath before disappearing through the door, leaving Emily to watch with a mixture of hope and knowledge. She understood the truth: Izzy was notoriously stubborn and resistant, and the chances of anything positive coming from this encounter were slim. As she returned downstairs, Emily shot me a look that clearly begged for a miracle. Unfortunately, I didn’t believe in miracles, only hard work—and I was all out of it. “I'm not optimistic about this, Nik,” Emily sighed, biting her lower lip, always a telltale sign of her doubt. “Neither am I,” I replied, snatching a glass of wine from a passing waiter and turning my attention to Eden, who was blissfully self-satisfied. “Congratulations, cousin. You’ve won this round,” I said, raising my glass in a mock toast. “Oh, I don’t think so. We should wait for the actual result,” he replied, though I could see the glee sparkling in his eyes. “No, let’s toast to your victory.” I clinked our glasses together, both of us sipping slowly, our thoughts consuming us. “You’ve won this round, Eden,” I nodded once more, “But don’t think this is over.” “Oh, don’t worry,” he cooed back mischievously. “I’ll hit it pretty hard with Maya. By the end of the year, who knows? You might be holding a baby niece in your arms.” Fury surged through me, and I lunged at him. But just then, I caught sight of Tina, and I stifled my impulse. I shook my head in frustration, unwilling to disgrace her. “Consider yourself lucky,” I grumbled, gripping my wine glass tightly, afraid it might shatter under the pressure. “Nah,” Eden scoffed, a triumphant smile dancing on his lips. “I’ve always been lucky. But you clearly aren’t,” he murmured, nodding subtly toward a figure approaching us. There stood Maya, empty-handed. No Isabelle. “Looks like we already have our answer,” Eden said, stepping aside for her to pass. I could see it in her expression—the disappointment etched across her face. “I tried, but…” she began, her voice trailing off. “I know,” I replied, forcing a reassuring smile, though inside I was crumbling. Losing to Eden stung more than I cared to admit. “I guess that makes you my date, then,” Eden announced, his voice almost mocking. He reached for Maya’s hand, leaning in for what promised to be an infuriating kiss. But then a loud gasp broke through the air. Turning around, I found a smaller version of myself, arms crossed defiantly, frowning as she addressed a waiter. “And you call this a party without a fortune cookie?” A smile uncontrollably crept across my face. Isabelle.