Jameel went into Dominic's study to get rid of the blood-stained clothes.
"Jameel, what's all the commotion up there for?"
"Sorry Boss. I'm tryna clean up some business mess in here"
"Oh, why? I mean it's just us, isn't it?"
"Isabelle's coming over" he shouted frantically.
"Oh for heaven's sake" he got frantic as well as he carried the child to his medical quarters and set up her basic care.
Jameel rushed out of the study and went to his room.
"What are you doing?" Benjamin asked Jameel.
"I'm trying to beautify the place for them, lighten the mood" he said as he scattered flower petals on the floor.
"I see. And where did you get those?" Benjamin asked, referring to the flowers.
"Oh these? These are from my mom's last birthday. We used it for her decorations"
"Well, let me get my best wine" Benjamin said and went to his wine cellar and got one of his favorites. He set it on the table and went into the kitchen.
"Jameel, help me get these to the table," he said, handing him two wine glasses. He dished dinner on two plates and placed them on the table as well.
"That looks good, don't you think?" He asked Jameel.
"Yeah, this will do"
"The child is still asleep and should be for a while"
"Okay then we're good to go"
"Will Isabelle be spending the night over by the way?" Benjamin asked.
"Uhm, I don't know, I didn't confirm from Dominic"
"Oh dear"
"I'll be outside" Jameel said and headed to his favorite spot in the house
"Alright then"
Isabelle and Dominic eventually walked into the beautiful setup Jameel and Benjamin worked out. After dinner, she finds a familiar door and hears a voice from inside.
"Did you hear that?" She asked Dominic.
"Hear what? I didn't hear anything but why don't you come with me..."
"Papa" The child shouted again. Isabelle reached for the knob to open the door.
"Dominic. Dominic open this door" she said tensely.
"Isabelle, just calm down and come "
"Open the fucking door Dominic"
"It's not even locked, you just have to apply a little force. The lock is rusty" he said and opened the door.
"Hello little one" Dominic said in a cool voice, smiling at the child. Isabelle walked out of the room and Dominic followed her.
"Isabelle. Isabelle! Isabelle, wait I swear it's not what you think" he said and reached for her arm, but she slapped him.
"Isabelle," he said softly, holding his face.
"You swear? What could you possibly swear Dominic? That you have a child and probably a wife and you accidentally hid it from me? That's what you want to swear?"
"What?" He said, as the allegations of marriage and fatherhood sounded crazy to him.
"Don't you ever, ever in your life come near me" she yelled at him.
"No Isabelle wait, will you please just calm down?" He said as he held her from behind.
"Let me go! Let me go" she yelled as she struggled with him.
"What is going on here?" Benjamin asked as he walked in on them fighting.
"Benjamin, did you know Dominic didn't tell me he had a child? Could you believe that?"
"What? Dominic? You have a child?" Benjamin asked
"You didn't even tell your own Father, are you for real Dom?"
"For fucks sake I don't have a child" he protested.
"Then who was that?"
"You mean Rayna?" Jameel said from up the stairs, carrying her on his back.
"This right here is my little girl" he said as he climbed down the stairs.
Isabelle's face squeezed in confusion.
"How on earth is she your kid Jameel? You're black? And I'm not fucking stupid"
"What? Her mum's genes are strong as hell. Didn't you do no biology?"
Isabelle looked at Benjamin and at Dominic.
"That's his kid, not mine" Dominic said, pointing to Jameel.
"Then why was she calling you Papa?"
"She wasn't calling me papa, she was calling for papa" Dominic pointed out.
"What's my name?" Jameel asked Rayna playfully, giving his biggest smile.
"Papa"' she shouted.
"Yaaay, that's my girl" Jameel said.
"You see?" Dominic said.
Isabelle calmed down and was sober.
"I'm sorry" she said looking at Benjamin and she turned to Dominic
"I'm sorry Dominic. I mean, with one look, anyone would assume you're the father" she explained.
"Ay, what's that supposed to mean? I don't look good enough to be her father, that's what you're saying" Jameel said, pretending to be offended.
"No, I never said that Jameel, I just meant…"
"Oh, so because I'm black, I'm not allowed white or Mexican women, is that it? "Not at all what I mean Jameel, what I'm trying to…"
"I never thought you to be a racist Isabelle. I thought we were friends" he said and walked up the stairs.
"Jameel, Jameel! I'm sorry" she called after him.
He turned and looked at her, he shook his head in disappointment and pretended to be sad.
"I think you should go Isabelle, goodnight" he said and climbed the stairs. Isabelle looked at Benjamin and at Dominic.
"Guys I'm sorry, I'm not a racist and you know it"
"It's alright now Lamb" Benjamin said and went to his room as well.
"You're not mad at me too, are you?" She asked Dominic.
"For what exactly? For slapping me? Or for calling me a liar? Or for accusing me of marriage and infidelity at the same time? Which one is it Isabelle?"
"For everything" she said looking at her folded palms in guilt.
"Do you want me to go?" she asked, her voice breaking.
"Of course not little dove" he said gently.
"I've ruined our date tonight"
"No, don't do that. You didn't ruin anything"
She hugged him.
"But I think we should go see a movie or something or go somewhere for dinner"
"I like the sound of a movie"
Isabelle said and smiled.
He opened the door, and they got into the car, and he drove to the cinema.
"Two tickets please" he said to the staff over the counter.
"What movie would you like to see sir?" She asked.
"Isabelle? As you wish" he said, showing her the display of options. "Hmm, I think I would like to see the avatar" she said
"Hmph, what kind of adult would want to see the avatar" someone behind them muttered under his breath but Dominic heard it.
"What was that?" He asked approaching the man.
"Huh? No, nothing. I didn't say anything" the man said fearfully.
"Good. That's what I thought."
He and Isabelle got their tickets and went in to see the movie.
"Oh God. It's so cold here. She said as she rubbed her shoulders"
"Here, have my jacket" he said and placed his leather jacket over her shoulders.
"Thanks" she said and rested her head on his shoulders, and they enjoyed the rest of the movie.
"Goodnight little dove" he said as he dropped her by her place.
"Goodnight Batman" she said gently pulled him in for a kiss. She got out of the car and walked to her door.
"Rosa where the fuck are you coming from?" She asked her sister who was also walking home,
Rosa froze.