"Hi! I'm Robert. I'm the new guy in town," Robert beamed.

He had gone to introduce himself to Chelsea at her house as many of the newcomers had a tendency to do. He had blue hair he took very good care of, keeping it soft and lush. His eyes were bright amber, giving him an almost catlike appearance. Though he didn't have the best salary in the world, he always made sure to stay very fashionably dressed.

"It's nice to meet you," Chelsea smiled back.

"I came to this island because I heard the famous Chelsea de Rougue was living here." He saw her smile falter a bit at hearing her last name, but only for a moment. "I came here for a change of pace. After all, if a fashion tycoon to be, a pop star, and a gourmet chef are living here then it must be a nice place. I'm excited to look around the island." He smiled again at her.

What he didn't tell her was that he not only knew who she was, he was working for her mother Clarice Veronica de Rougue. He wasn't sure if he was surprised or relieved that Chelsea hadn't recognized him. Then again, why would she, when wherever she went she had kept her eyes down or straight ahead. He had been working for the company for years, setting up the studio and getting the models into their dresses, but he always stopped to watch Chelsea glide through the room. She was always so quiet, graceful, and beautiful she absolutely took his breath away. For many years he would watch her and plan their future together. Oh, and he had many plans.

"Well, it might be a little plain," she said with a giggle, "but I hope you like it here." She held her hand out to him for a hand shake.

He took her hand in his and planted a kiss, looking up into her eyes. She was smiling and laughing! What had happened to his quiet angel? Though he masked it, he had been shocked to see her in such plain clothes when she opened the door. But her hair was just as silky as it had naturally been, and her face as beautifully shaped as ever. His heart melted as those gorgeous blue eyes looked into his.

Chelsea was a little taken aback at having her hand kissed, but she did her best not to show it and prayed he would let her hand go soon. He seemed to be thinking about something as he looked at her. But he eventually let go of her hand, and excused himself out the door, but not before turning back and saying, "You can call me Robbie if you like," with a wink, and then he vanished.

"Thanks," Chelsea said aloud to herself, "but I think I'll pass."

As he walked off the property and back to the hotel, his mind was in a whirl of what had transpired the past few days. He was so thrilled when Madam Clarice had revealed to him that her daughter was in fact alive; it had set his plans back into motion.

Despite being teased about it in his youth, fashion had always been where his heart was. He had started interning at Rougue Studios as soon as he had entered high school, and had gotten a job no sooner than graduation. He was two years older than Chelsea, so for a total of eight he had watched her. His greatest dream was be the owner of that glorious studio someday, to be the one to make the choices of what was to be exhibited, and he knew just how to accomplish his goal; marry Chelsea de Rougue. For eight years he hoped to catch her eye, win her heart, and take his place by her side. That way, she wouldn't have to run the company and it would stay in the family; everything was all set.

However, no matter what he tried he could never pull Chelsea out of her shell. He would offer her refreshments, ask her opinion of a dress or a suit, or simply stare at her until she got the uncomfortable feeling she was being watched. Nothing worked; she would quietly refuse, or give her opinion in monotone, and no matter how he stared she kept her eyes down. He also attended all of her concerts, and oh what a joy she had been to listen to, but he could never get close enough to compliment her after the performances. So when he had graduated high school he decided to kick it up a notch and work to become Clarice's personal assistant.

He finally acquired the job a little less than a year ago, and then tragedy struck. Chelsea was nowhere to be found, and they had finally discovered the boat she had snuck off on only to be told that it had sunk to the bottom. All of his plans ruined, not to mention the heart ache he felt when he imagined his poor angel drowning in that storm. He couldn't sleep for over a week. Eventually he faced facts and changed his tactics. He was still Clarice's personal assistant, but he also began appealing to the board members, and doing them whatever favors he could. If there was no heir, then the least he could do for the company was be in place when the board had to vote.

Franklin de Rougue had in fact gotten worse in his daughter's absence. Robert believed it was partly because he grieved for his daughter, but there was no denying that he had been on borrowed time for the past few years. It was proved all the more true when even upon seeing his daughter again his health did not improve. But last night, the most startling event had occurred.

It had been the Starry Night Festival, and Franklin was still very ill. They took him out to the evening party for a couple of hours, which he had to spend in a wheel chair, since he was too weak to stand. After about two hours his strength was spent and he had to return to the hospital. Clarice was at his bedside and Robert in the chair behind her, still on the clock and busy with her schedule for tomorrow. It seemed as though Franklin and Clarice were having yet another fight about their daughter which were becoming evermore frequent, so he just kept his eyes down and worked on her schedule.

Suddenly he heard Clarice shriek, "You can't mean that!" and Robert was compelled to look up at the hospital bed.

"I am sorry Clarice, but," and he looked directly into Roberts eyes as he said, "I hereby deem Chelsea an unsuitable candidate to inherit the company."

Robert dropped his pen and stared. It wasn't possible; Franklin had just said the impossible. Clarice yelled, pleaded, and shrieked at him to reconsider, but a change had come over her husband and the man who once bent to her will so easily was now as firm as steel. Nothing she said (or threatened) could change his mind.

When Franklin fell asleep, no longer able to keep up the exertions, Clarice rounded on Robert. "You are to tell NO ONE what you've heard today, do you understand me?!" Robert nodded silently. "He's… he's just delirious from being out so late tonight. He didn't mean what he just said."

She was pacing the room now. Robert watched her from his seat and calculated. Oh, he would keep his promise and keep quiet… for now. After all, his angel was alive, and he still had a chance to win her over. He could keep the information to himself, his trump card if wooing Chelsea should fail, at which point he could go to the board with this knowledge and ask them to take a vote. Clarice finally stopped pacing and pointed her finger at him. "You are to watch Chelsea closely. I'll arrange for the speedboat to be ready by the time you get to the docks. That way you'll arrive there by morning. You are to stay until I say otherwise. I will have it considered as a business trip, so all of your expenses will be paid for. You are to tell me of ANYTHING she does that is overly suspicious!"

Robert simply nodded silently and left her schedule on the table next to him. He left the room and tried to stay composed as he walked down the hall to begin packing. He was used to Clarice's temper and was no longer intimidated by it. Quite the reverse, he had to fight the urge to dance with joy. He was going to the island to see his dear Chelsea! Everything was falling into place again. He had his new trump card in his deck, he had Clarice's trust, and now he was going to be close to Chelsea. The only missing piece was to find a way to keep in touch with the board, but he would worry about that later.

He hastily packed his things from his apartment, stuffing everything he could in his suitcases. A car arrived to take him to the docks and he read the many text messages that came to him from Clarice as she arranged for him to stay in the large hotel on the island. He reached the docks in next to no time, and spent the night asleep on the boat as it sped its way to the island to be there by morning. No sooner had he finished putting his things in his room he set off for Chelsea's farm to see his angel.

Yes, so much had happened in no more than a day or two. He was still appalled to see Chelsea so plainly dressed, but surprised at the same time to see her smiling. Perhaps once he got closer to her, he could convince her to wear something a little more flattering. After all, women who were in love would do many things for their crushes. Yes, he would enjoy his time here.

Robert finally arrived at the Hotel and went into his room. He took his pad of paper and began taking notes of everything he had observed so far. Nothing was of interest yet to Clarice, but the details might come in handy for later observations. He spent the rest of the day greeting people and observing the crowd Chelsea was now socializing with.