CHAPTER 5

The front door slammed open with a thunderous bang, shaking the chandelier in the hallway as Isabel stormed into the Westwood mansion, her heels clicking furiously against the marble floor.

“Maria! She shrieked, her voice slicing through the silence. Where the hell is everyone?” She yelled in irritation, she didn't need all this, she sighed as memories of how she kissed and fucked an old wretched man, whom she thought was Xander.

“How was that even possible?” She was conscious, although she knew she got a little high, just because she thought it would add to the thrill.

From the kitchen, the startled housekeeper appeared, wiping her hands nervously on her apron.

“Ma’am, I” 

“Don’t ma’am me!” Isabel snapped, her eyes burning with rage. Get my mother. Now. She said as she started to pace up and down the sitting room.

In a few seconds Mrs. Bluey appeared in a robe and an obviously annoyed expression as if her precious time had just been interrupted, well, it was.

“Why do you do this Isabel? I had a long night yesterday with your father as he couldn't keep his hands to himself, I only rested this morning after he went to work” She said those words barely with any shame.

Isabel's brows snapped together in a sharp, disbelieving frown, eyes narrowing into slits that gleamed with a mix of disgust and fury.

“Maybe you shouldn't brag to me about how you screwed my father all night and worry about Amanda”! Her nose flared, and her eyes weren't particularly smiling.

“Worry? And why should I worry? We are free, Bella, you are going to marry the most prestigious man in New York. The man Amanda never got, and that's an achievement”. Her eyes lit up with a glint as she spoke.

“She is alive”. Isabel interjected.

“What? You’re joking right?" Bluey laughed loud, messy, almost manic. Amanda is dead honey, I made sure of that, she and her children except for that tiny sick brat she left with Xander”. Mrs. Bluey said with a smug smile like a mother who is all proud that her child took her first step.

“Okay, then I guess it's her ghost who tricked me into having sex with a wrinkled, haggard looking man instead of Xander, and it was also a ghost who called me to know if I got her fucking gift right?”. Amanda was panicking, her eyes kept shifting from her mother to the floor as if she were lost.

“No, it's not possible”. Her mother threw her hands in the air in objection to what her daughter had said.

“Even if she wasn't dead, there is no way she could pull such a trick on you. She is just a dumb, wretched girl who can't fend for herself. She is utterly useless and can't come against us. We beat her in all ways”. Mrs. Bluey tried to lie to herself.

“Fuck…Mum I am starting to think you are the dumb one here”. She seethed. Amanda knows what we did to her, she knows we tried to kill her, and she is back to avenge herself from the infliction we caused.

“When I picked the phone up, her voice wasn't all timid and stupid as she used to be, something is different mum”. She said all this with a vivid hand gesture.

Bluey face hardened immediately, but how? She asked herself, but there was no answer.

“I will find out about what she is up to and if she is here for our downfall, I will let her know she is about to bite more than she can chew. Behave neutral and make sure you don't let anyone know about who you slept with, not even Xander”. Bluey said as her thoughts spiraled around so many things.

“Yes mum”. Isabel nodded.

******

Meanwhile, at the Westwood headquarters, Xander sat in his chair as memories of last night hit him again. Her skin, her hair, and the way she moaned and moved in rhythm to her moans. She was nothing like Isabel. However, he couldn't tell because the face was unclear and when he asked Adrian the next morning. He told him he slept with Isabel, but she left earlier to sort things out.

“Xander…. Xander”. Lucas called out angrily, you seem to be zoning out for someone whose company was hacked by an untraceable source hours ago. Lucas said with disbelief.

Xander's jaw was locked, muscles ticking beneath skin stretched tight as he stood up. “Don't do that bro You caused all this, if you hadn't drugged me last night, then I would have been able to tackle the problem even before it happened”. 

“Fuck”… Lucas cursed silently as his eyes traced Xander's groin.

“What?” Xander asked dryly. 

“You are hard man”. Lucas lifted his hand to his mouth, fingers barely concealing the grin that tugged at his lips. A low chuckle escaped, muffled but unmistakably smug.

“Isabel did something to you, huh”. He smirked, but quickly wiped it off when he saw Xander wasn't smiling.

 "Shut the f** up, Lucas. Xander's face remained completely blank, jaw relaxed, brows neutral, lips barely moving. Focus on finding the motherfucker who dares mess with me”. He pointed to emphasize his command.

Just this morning, Xander woke up to an empty bed, hazy memories of last night and thousands of missed calls from the company, apparently someone hacked into the Westwood group and embezzled millions of dollars. But they couldn't find who did this. 

“Yes boss, but whoever did this is an expert”. Lucas answered before he continued to type with creased eyebrows. However, the door burst open revealing Adrian who seemed like he was flying because of how fast he walked.

“Sir. I have news”. He sounded excited and at the same time scared.

“Okay”! Xander replied with one word as he sat down and placed his hands under his chiseled chin.

“You won't believe this sir, but after all these years she is back sir. You have to see what the news is saying about her”. He breathed in to stabilize himself.

“Who the fuck are you talking about, Adrian”, Lucas chirped in. He seemed lost, and he was tired of trying to understand what was going on between the two figures.

Xander’s fingers twitched at his sides before slowly curling into tight fists, His jaw was rigid, a muscle ticking near his temple as he fought to maintain the mask of control. Then abruptly, he reached for his tie and loosen the noose.

“Where is she?” He asked.