It really was him. Isabella sat back into her chair. She had been hoping it was a dream, but it wasn't. He really kissed her. Anthony... Charles actually aroused her without trying hard. After six years he was still that good. Her fingers grazing her lips, she recalled to the last detail how he took her with more intention than he used to when they used to date.
That same day, when she got home and took a look at Gabriel, Isabella realized it had been a while that she felt so strongly aroused. Her husband never took the liberty to make her feel good during sex. All Gabriel ever wanted to do was empty his nut into her.
Feeling sadness set in again, Isabella wondered how life would have been if she had not run away few minutes to her tying the knot with Anthony. She wouldn't be derived of intense intercourse, certainly. She probably won't have a failing company to be worried about too. Sighing, Isabella reasoned that it was useless to swim in regret at that stage. If anything, she should be working harder at getting her company out of its ruins.
Isabella's eyes travelled to the card that had been lying on her table. Temptation surrounded it. It was calling to Isabella to pick the hard paper and dial the number on it.
"Isa, there is an issue." Caleb's voice snapped her out of it. As he sat down, Isabella prepared herself for the terrible news that was going to come out of his mouth. Earlier that day, one of their loyal customers had an accident in the bathroom and that gave a dent to the already collapsing state of the hotel.
"I have called every single person that promised to see if they could help us, none, I mean no one is willing to merge. It is just so terrible. It is as though they all had an overnight meeting and decided to not consider us at all. Isa..."
"Caleb. What is going on? Why does everything keep getting worse? Just yesterday..."
Caleb reached for her hand and stopped her lamenting. "Hey Isa, don't do this now. Sulking about the state of this place is not going to help." He tapped her skin gently, in an assuring way before sitting back. "I was thinking, don't you think it is high time you started considering selling this place."
Isabella sighed, shook a bit as his realistic question reminded her again how things were. "You know," her voice had turned a shade of remorse as she twirled in her seat. "Before all these crisis started happening in this hotel, this whole place was the only thing that made me really happy. Genuinely happy. It is makes me happy even now that things are crazy, weirdly. Caleb," her eyes flickered to the attentive man. ",I don't want to lose this place. Apart from the fight I put up with my father to win this place, this hotel is..." Isabella shook her head frantically as she searched for the right word.
"This place is the only thing stable in my life. I wake up every day in that damn place I call my husband's home and the next thing I want to do is rush out of there and just spend the whole day here. Selling this place is a good idea, but..." Isabella could feel her heart thumping with fear at the mere thought. "It is not going to be as easy as saying it."
The small, encouraging smile that stayed on Caleb's face made her realize how pitiful she was making herself look. So, she looked away, one hand wiping away the tears at the corner of her eye. "I really wish you would explain the reason why it will be so difficult to leave that Gabriel."
"One day Caleb. Hopefully."
The both of them left the remaining words in their mouths tucked in and they both sat in silence, each man delving into their thoughts.
Moments later, Caleb said, "We still haven't called Mr. Oxford though." Her eyes darted to him sharply. "I checked him yesterday on Google and I must acknowledge, that man is in money. Apart from his father's fortune, he has made himself a ton of money. And their empire? It flourishes daily."
"You think he would be able to help?" Isabella started replaying their moment, she felt hot immediately. It really bothered her. The fact that he came out of nowhere and still, he has as much effect on her as he did years ago.
"He did mention that he was interested in our case."
"Maybe I should go meet him then. Hopefully he is able to help." Isabella wanted to slap herself for saying that. For some reason, Isabella was angry at Anthony and that was stupid because she was the one that ran away before they could get married. She broke his heart, she destroyed a beautiful relationship without giving a single excuse. She did not have it easy either after the whole running away drama.
But to speak the truth, she had no other option. Isabella knew meeting Anthony was the only hope left for her company. If that doesn't work she might as well sell the hotel no matter how painful it could be.
"Do you want me to come along?"
Isabella wanted to meet Anthony alone, so she shook her head in response. As her hands went to tuck beneath her chin, she thought, 'Maybe it is time I explained everything about six years ago to Anthony, I need to clear my conscience'.
~
The house was unusually quiet and that gladdened the brunette who would have killed for some alone time in the house. Kicking off her pumps, Isabella found herself twirling on the smoothness of the tiles before she made her way to the kitchen.
Their bedroom was just few distance away from the kitchen, so the noise she heard as she downed a gulp from the wine bottle she opened on a certain midnight, was without mistake from that room. Dropping the bottle on the marbled counter, she grabbed her bag and made for the room.
The sight that greeted her made her knees grow weak. "Gabriel..."
Her voice was so faint and full of pain.
With no care at all, her husband opened his eyes and took off the slender hand on his naked chest. After whispering something to the three ladies that immediately rushed out of the room giggling, with no clothes on, he finally faced Isabella.
"Why did you interrupt my fun?"
"Your..." She scoffed. "Gabriel, why on earth would you decide to bring hookers into our home?"
"Why? Are you jealous that they are getting all my attention?" He moved even closer. "You know what you have to do to get it."
"Get what? Your attention? Oh please. If there is any getting to be considered, it will be getting out of here."
"How dare you?" He was glowering at her, his breath kept fanning her mercilessly. "How dare you talk to me that way? In case you are forgetting something, your father is the one who gets to suffer if you try anything funny."
His huge, rough hand grabbed her by the hair and tugged so hard, she had to give a loud cry.
"Gabriel..." she reached for his hand which kept tightening his hold. "Please... Stop."
He glared at her, his offensive smell hitting her nose even more. "I need you to understand that a wrong move from you means that it is all over for your father. You don't want to be the reason your father loses everything do you?"
She could not respond as she was trying so hard to ease her hair from his painful hold.
But her silence offended the irritated man who grabbed her roughly from behind and dug his fingers into her buttock.
"Do you understand?"
"Y-yes." Isabella nodded quickly.
"Good. Now, I need you to do something," he finally released her.
"Take off your clothes and get on the bed."
"Uh?" Isabella was screaming in her head. Him sleeping with her mean more pain and not just physically.
"Get. On. The. Bed." He growled at her.
"I- I am on my period."
"What? You are of no use then. Get out," he mumbled as he made his way to the bed with a short frown.
Her hands stylishly massaging her head, Isabella walked in to get a small bag she tucked just behind the door. As she made for the entrance again, her mind still in disarray, she faced Gabriel who was playing with his groin.
"I have to go to the office." That place was more like a home compared to the hell she got married into.
"Get some groceries on your way back," he instructed without looking her way. "And, call those beauties back in. I am getting bored."
Isabella let out a shaky sigh which could have led to her breaking down into tears had she not held herself together with the last string of sanity and patience within her.
As she made her way into the kitchen to get some food, Isabella made an inner cry for the miracle she had been wishing for.
She really needed it at that moment.
There was definitely something off with her.It was as though she was lacking something or maybe she wanted something so bad.Whatever it was, Charles wondered what it could be.Sitting back into the leather chair he had specifically had constructed to his taste, he wondered when she exactly was going to walk into that room and ask what his proposition was with attitude.He smirked to himself. She sure acted like she did not break his heart six years ago. And he knew her so well, it was sure that she would keep up with that attitude for a while until he decides to break it. Smiling even more, he could totally picture the defiant look on her face once he does kill that attitude.Charles groaned inwardly.She was driving him crazy.So, so crazy.And that was wrong to him. He should be the one making her regret. He was m
"Are you joking right now?" Charles was impressed. He wasn't sure why- it might partly because she still maintained a cool look- but he was."You heard me Miss Shade. Marry me and your debts will disappear, I assure you."Isabella let out a bitter chuckle as she got up. "You must be joking.""I most certainly am not.""So, you just want me to marry you." She moved dangerously yet graciously towards Charles."Be my wife and that's all you need to do.""Did you hit your head? Or don't you know that it is stupid to tell a married woman such nonsense?"Charles's eyes narrowed as he thought confusedly, 'She is married?'He checked her ring finger for both hands but there was no sign of her being married. He wondered if she was lying. The man who had her situation checked didn't mention anything about a husband and truthful
AUTHOR'S NOTEHey guys, before you go on with this chapter, you should know that there is a bit of violence towards the end. Even though I tried to make it less graphic, if you do not roll well with reading stuff like that, you can always skip it. Thanks for reading :)~Isabella violently adjusted the neck of her gown which felt like it was growing into the length of her neck to suffocate her more and more. But she was just harming the poor gown whose neckline did a good job of giving her chest breathing space.Her hands leaving the almost mutilated material, Isabella found a nearby bench to sit on to gather her thoughts properly.At that moment, the only source of help at that moment was putting her in a spot. A spot she definitely did not see coming.Recalling his proposition which he said with all seriousness, Isabella wondered why her of all people.
Like every other human on earth, Claire Oxford had her past sins.And typical of such sins, it was back to haunt her and take grasp of her son, Charles. Wondering what he was doing at that moment, she took another second to silently pray that he did not stray or fall into wrong hands.As she took a seat on one of the cushions in her tailoring room, Claire wondered if it would be safe to let her husband know of the situation.She certainly did not hide her previous shameful marriage with Ordinaz from her husband. And she appreciated that he did not judge her based on the fact that she was sold to Ordianz, he even accepted her son with whom she had run away with when troubles kept mounting troubles in Ordinaz's home.No.She shook her head as her eyes wearily wandered the huge room that reeked of lavender and was a sight to anyone who loved expensive garments. Telling her
Isabella felt dirty.She did when Gabriel first slept with her. Hours she spent under the shower trying to console herself, trying to assure herself that things would be okay. She had told herself she wouldn't regret her decisions.Years after, nothing was okay. No amount of days spent under the shower could assure her of better days in Gabriel Manifold's house.As she gathered the mattress into a corner of her office, Isabella immediately cringed. The pain was still screaming into her head, her whole being was crying for help.But she was tired. Fighting was a ridiculous thing to her at that moment. She just wanted to give up or maybe give in. She was sold off to her husband anyway, she might as well let him finally use her the way he wanted.She could give up the company and become a sit-at-home wife who does nothing but follow her husband words. Occasionally, she could visit h
"Tell me you are making some kind of stupid joke," Isabella said as she felt her bones shake."It is no joke. Your father is-""I heard you already!" she exclaimed as she took another step back, her eyes darting in confusion. Without seeing his proof, she sort of believed him. It made sense a bit. Her father being dead explained his silence. But... why?"Here." Her legs totally failed her and she hit the floor before Charles could help her. As she flipped the photos which revealed it all- her father's body, his death certificate, his funeral- she wondered why she was kept in the dark.According to the pictures, he died a year ago. Uncle Ben had been lying to her. According to the pictures, he also attended the funeral. But he said nothing to her, he just kept assuring that her father would someday call.Like heck he would. Isabella was resisting the urge to laugh at her life. Her
As soon as Isabella parked Charles's car in the scanty car park of her sorry excuse of a company, she suddenly figured that he was probably still waiting upstairs for her to come with his car.And... waiting for her response. Which she had no idea what it really was till that moment.Now that she had freed herself from Gabriel's suffocating hold, she had a chance to start things all over again. But the question was how?Isabella sat back into the driver's seat and pondered.She could let the bank take possession of her almost ruined company and she could start a life somewhere far from her hell.Or... the other option that kept dangling in her face, she could agree to become Charles's wife, save her company and remain close to her hell.Isabella shuddered for some reason.The second option sounded scary. Not only because she would be clos
It was crazy. The way her heart was banging.She had just taken a shower and all she thought about was the last time Gabriel was in her. Actually she could still feel him forcing his way into her and it made her scared.To make it worse, Isabella's mind could not help but replay Uncle Ben's advice about leaving Gabriel and Charles's words about the same matter.That she might not be safe after all from Gabriel made her even more scared.She took a deep sigh.Something at the back of her mind told her to maintain her calm. She was doing a good job at scaring herself and that was not a good thing. At that rate, she could begin to hallucinate and give herself unnecessary heart issues.So, Isabella took in another deep breath and after releasing it, she reached for her robe and walked out of the shower into her office. Humming a tune, she made for behind her desk