Chapter Four

ISABELLA POV 

I lick my lip, my head spinning from the blow my father just delivered to me.

I pace down the Hallway sweat dripping down my back even as the space is cold.

My heart slows, my footsteps are loud in my ears and my fingers in my mouth, my mouth drys up in fear and I pant slowly into my cupped hands.

The door opens, and my mother coming out, her brows relaxed, and her eyes holding sadness, “Bella” she breathes out, her voice cracking 

“I'm not going to do it, Mom, I can't!” I ignore her still pacing down the hallway.

“I mean how could he agree to such an arrangement? He knows my dreams, he knows how much I wanted real love, like yours” I pause swallowing. The words cracking as I speak.

“And my new Job, I was just getting everything right, why did he have to agree to some Marriage arrangement with some monster!” I say my words drifting out in pants, anger in my veins, but most importantly fear.

How did I meet that man yesterday? Watch him kill some man and then shock me by calling out my name plunging me into uncertainty and fear as I came back home last night

And today? Was it all planned? Did he have this in mind already? I pause, turning to my mother.

“Have you heard the things they say about him, Mom?” I say my voice shaky

She breathes out a heavy sigh, pulling her hands out to hold mine steadily, seeming to want to steady herself more.

She shakes her head, “He comes from an old family, with money, you will be taken care of” she says sadly casting her head down

Tears start to drip down the side of her eyes as she tightly holds my hands, “I’m so sorry my dear Bella,” she pauses her eyes searching mine

“I knew about your father gambling again, taking risks, faking documents for the company, I warned him to stop but…” she exhales, pulling out one arm to wipe her face of tears.

“But he wouldn't listen now this happens!!” she yells out in tears, almost going crazy in the hallway

I pause my heart dropping in my chest, she knew about it? “Dad is gambling again?” my expression scrunch up, burning intensity shining in my eyes.

She nods hastily, “He owes Dominic Deluca, his life practically!, he beat him up to get him to agree, I can't imagine what else he can do” she cries out biting her lip nervously.

I breathe out a sigh, biting my lip, already making my decision, “I will speak to Dominic Deluca, I will give him a reason why he shouldn't marry me and why he should spare Dad” I say in one breath

She tilts her head in confusion, “Bella” she says her voice shaky with fear.

“I'm sure he can see reason, trust your daughter, Mom, I will get us out of this,” I say hastily, my footsteps carrying me outside.

The fresh air hits my face and I head towards the SUV, the driver pulling the back door open.

“Where to mam?” the driver turns to me slightly as he slides into his seat.

I bit my lip, actually confused about where to go, His house? His office? My eyes lit up with an idea,

“To the Gentlemen Lounge,” I say quickly as he starts the car.

The car ride is long but the car comes to a stop in front of a popular lounge the DeLuca’s are known to own.

I reach the door, a huge guard standing in front of it, “Stop! Do you have your key?” His deep voice calls out 

Shit! I didn’t think this part through

“No, but I have to see someone inside,” I say quickly my eyes wide as I move forward.

He stops me again, “You can’t enter without a key” 

“But..” I drawl out, annoyed at this encounter, “I really need to see Mr DeLuca,” I say my voice pleading.

Before he can reply, the door behind him opens, revealing three men.

Two men pass by, revealing a dark hallway and one man.

Dominic DeLuca.

“Xavier, let the little lady in” his deep voice calls from the dark moving forward to reveal his face, this time dressed in a dark brown Italian suit and a red tie which makes his eyes pop.

I gulp my eyes meeting with his for the third time in 48 hours.

“Miss Isabella” he calls out my name, the guard stepping aside for me to enter.

“Or should I say Mrs DeLuca?” He lifts his head, his eyes meeting mine in a piercing gaze.

His gaze causes my breath to halt and just like that, all the air in my lungs is sucked out and leaving me breathless.

He notices my still posture and snaps his fingers in my face bringing me back to life

I cough nervously, “Mr DeLuca, I want to speak to you” I look around the hallway, “Privately,” I say my eyes meeting with the guard at the door nervously.

“If I can remember clearly, I have business with your father and not you,” he says with a cold voice, spinning around and walking down the short hallway.

“Yes, but you can‘t marry me Mr DeLuca,” I say walking hastily behind him, my feet unsteady from taking huge strides as I chase after his long legs.

“Your father has agreed already Miss Isabella” he stops right in front of the entrance turning his cold eyes to me, his lips in a straight line.

“That’s the thing, my father made the wrong decision, give me three months and we will pay you everything we owe you,” I say squaring my shoulders and looking him straight in the eye

He lifts a single brow at me, causing me to step back in fear, I bit my lip confused by his reaction.

A small smirk creeps on his lips and I almost miss it when he turns around swiftly, the door pulling open from the inside revealing a classy bar and club.

The space is filled with men in suits, the room smells like smoke and cinnamon, eyes turn our way as we enter making my steps falter.

He turns to look at the staring men and then back at me, his gaze landing on my fearful gaze, he stops turning to me, and his fingers slip into mine, his cold touch immediately shocking me

My eyes widen, my heart pumping steadily as I turn to look at him shocked at his behavior.

He doesn’t say anything as he drags me down to the double doors at the end of the room.

As soon as we enter the dark office, he lets go of my hands swiftly.

I cough nervously, confused about our interactions, how can he make my heart drum so fast and loud but at the same time pump fear and anxiety through my veins? What’s the next emotion he will make me feel?

He turns on the low lighting in the room still silent as he moves through the documents on his table, he pulls out a stack of files handing them over to me.

He leans on the table fully turning to me, his legs crossed over each other and a proud look on his face.

“Your father owes me about 60 million dollars and with interest of over a 120 million dollars Miss Isabella,” he says his voice icy as it drops an octave lower, “Tell me how do you intend to pay this enormous debt in three months?” He lifts a brow at me, his eyes gleaming with superiority.