MasukCHAPTER FOUR
ADRIAN'S POV I couldn’t believe I’d walked out of that house with Isabella going untouched. I couldn’t remember the last time someone laid their hands on me and lived to tell the story. I didn’t know what had come over me. What possibly could make me act like this? I couldn’t be that sex starved. I hadn't been with a woman in so long. I was trying to focus more on building my empire and work. I didn’t have time to think about all that. There was just something about Isabella that drew me to her. I came across beauty every day, what about her was different? I felt even more confused when I handed my number to her. Maybe I should have just taken my loss of rejection and moved on but something in me just couldn’t. I didn’t think she would call me, not after she slapped me. I also couldn’t believe she had refused me. Any other girl would have jumped at the opportunity. I mean, she definitely needed the money. I got back into the car. “What happened in there?” Seb asked. “Nothing. Let’s go.” I replied through gritted teeth. “Is that a handprint on your face?” He turned my face to the side. “It’s nothing.” I slapped his hand off my face. “Drive,” I instructed. I couldn’t let him know that she had laid her hands on me but of course, he already knew. My cheeks were still hurting from the slap. We got back to the house. I didn’t have any more work to do for the rest of the day so I freshened up and got into bed. I tried to fall asleep but I couldn’t stop thinking about that girl. I kept touching my cheek so I could at least feel a part of her. I was tossing and turning in bed. I was getting excited just thinking about her. I had to hop back in the shower to take a cold one. I was wiping my face with a towel when I got a call from an unknown number. Could it be Isabella? There weren’t a large number of people that had this number but I couldn’t get excited thinking it was her. As I picked up the phone, I spoke immediately. “Hello?” There was silence on the other end. “Hello? Who am I speaking to?” I could hear the breathing on the other end so there was definitely someone there. I sighed and was about to hang up when a voice spoke up. “Hi.” It was Isabella’s voice. I’d recognize it anywhere. “Isabella,” I said, my lips curling into a small smile. “You called.” “The offer… is it still on?” I could tell she was trying so hard not to stutter. “Yes, of course. I didn’t give you my number for no reason.” “How much?” “Any amount, you heard me.” “50k.” She answered without any hesitation. “Only?” I didn’t know what I was thinking asking her that question. “Yes.” “I’ll send half of the money to you now and send the balance later. I’ll send someone to pick you up in an hour.” I said and hung up the phone. I couldn’t let Sebastian know what was happening. I told him I had to leave the house and that I would be back. Shortly after, I got to the hotel and instructed Romeo to tell one of the drivers to pick her up. I also transferred 25k to the account she sent to me. I didn’t want to stop and think at any point. Why was I spending that much to have sex with a girl I barely knew? I shook the thoughts out of my head. As I waited for her to arrive, I sat on the balcony and lit a cigarette. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, I heard a knock on the door. I also heard the keycard swiping. I had instructed them to give her a key card so she could let herself in. I walked back into the room. She stood in front of the door, staring straight at me. “I didn’t think you’d come.” I crushed the cigarette in my hand into the ashtray. “Well, you paid me already.” She answered. “You could have gone with the money,” I said as I walked closer to her. “And how far would I get?” She scoffed. “You don’t look like someone who plays about his money.” I smiled. “You’re brilliant. I like that.” “What exactly do you want from me? Why me? You could have had any other girl. Why did you choose me?” She demanded, folding her arms. “Don't you need the money?” I questioned. “That’s not your problem.” “I know it’s not.” “So what do you want from me?” She asked again. “I'm about to find out. Come here.” I gestured for her to come closer. I didn't expect the confidence she had. She adjusted her dress and walked confidently to me. She stood directly in front of me, not breaking eye contact. “What now?” She asked, crossing her arms. “You can walk away, you know?” I said and she shook her head no. That gave me all the confirmation I needed. I grabbed her by her waist and pulled her closer to me. She was in a little bit of shock at how abruptly I moved. I stared at her lips longingly. To my surprise, she wrapped her hands around my neck and pulled me closer. She had to stand on her tiptoes to reach in for a kiss. I met her lips halfway and kissed her greedily. I carried her and she wrapped her legs around my torso. I moved towards the bed and dropped her in the middle. I didn’t give her time to think and immediately hovered above her. I gave her a kiss on the neck which elicited a moan that absolutely turned me on. I showered more kisses on her neck and then made my way down slowly. I undid the first button on her dress and slowly undid the remaining ones. I felt a little bit skeptical about everything so I looked up to her again with longing eyes. She nodded slightly and I went ahead. At that moment, everything else disappeared. It was just me, her, and tension between us.CHAPTER TWENTY NINE ISABELLA’S POVThe ache from every part of my body dragged me back to reality. I was having a hard time remembering where I was or what happened in the last few hours.“Bella, wake up.” I recognized Julius’ voice. “She’ll be fine, don’t worry.” That was Sebastian. I finally regained full consciousness and remembered what had happened. I was finally safe. I started sobbing instantly when I realized that.Sebastian finished untying me from the chair. Julius pulled me up to stand on my feet but I ended up falling back into the chair.“You’d have to carry her.” Sebastian said. “She hasn’t used her legs in almost 24 hours. They’re weak.”Julius slid one hand behind my shoulder and the other beneath my thighs and carried me bridal style. I winced at the contact.“Are you okay?” He asked but I couldn’t speak. I didn’t have the strength to.“Now’s not the time for questions. Let’s get her to a hospital.” Sebastian said and started walking towards the door.Julius follow
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHTISABELLA’S POVMy whole body ached. My mouth was dry and I could barely move. I was trying to regain consciousness but my body wouldn’t let me. I struggled and finally opened my eyes.It was dark but I was sure it was bright as hell outside. I tried to move but I realized I was bound to a chair. My legs were tied and another rope was wrapped around me tying me to the chair.I tried to scream but there was a cloth in my mouth. I rocked the chair trying to break free but I only made it worse because I fell to the ground along with the chair. Pain shot through my body when I hit the ground. I couldn’t even cry because my body was too tired to do that. I was hoping desperately that someone would come, so I would have an idea of what I got myself into. I laid on the ground helplessly until I heard a door open from behind me. The lights also came on and I heard footsteps approaching. I looked around and it looked like I was in a warehouse, an abandoned warehouse. The
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVENISABELLA’S POVI didn’t even have the time to explain anything else. It was immediately ringing in my ears when I got the call from Cassie saying there was a fire in the bookstore.I ran out of the ice cream shop with Adrian and Theo. I quickly hailed a cab and got in with both of them.“What bookstore?” Adrian asked.“My bookstore, okay? Don't ask me any more questions.” I say frustratedly.“Mummy, what happened to the store?” Theo asked.“Nothing, baby. Don’t worry about it.” I assured him. It was one of his favorite places to be in.“Okay.”We got to the store in about nine minutes and I ran out of the cab without even paying the driver. I turned around to pay but I saw Adrian paying already.I ran to the front of the bookstore. The firefighters had already put out the fire but there was still a lot of smoke coming out.“What happened? How did the fire start?” I asked Cassie.“I don’t yet.” She was crying profusely. “I heard the alarm and I went to the storage
CHAPTER TWENTY SIXADRIAN’S POVSomething shifted immediately I held my son in my arms. I had been thinking about what I was going to do if I met him but standing there I didn’t have a clue what to do.He was scared of me. I could tell. “Hi, son.” I said and he immediately started crying. I didn’t know what to do.Sebastian took him out of my hands. “You don’t have to cry. There’s nothing to be scared of.” He rubbed his back gently.Isabella wanted to step forward and take him but when she saw Seb had it under control she took a step back.“You guys can sit down.” Isabella said, pointing to the couch. Jessica, her best friend, and her mom sat down on the single couch. The only available space was beside the man sitting down. I didn’t know who he was as Isabella hadn’t introduced him yet.Sebastian moved to sit down beside him. I sat beside Sebastian who was still holding Theo in his arms. “Daddy.” Theo said and I looked over at him but he reached his hands to the man sitting beside
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVEISABELLA’S POVI woke up to a text from Adrian from last night saying they had arrived and they were staying in a hotel until morning. I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up. Julius was still asleep. I went to the kitchen to start making breakfast. By the time I was done, Julius was up and had woken Theo up. They freshened up and came to the dining room to join me for breakfast.My eyes kept drifting to Theo. In a few hours, his world as he knew it would change. I didn’t know how to introduce him to Adrian yet. All his life he knew Julius as a father. How was I going to take that away from him? We finished breakfast and I cleared the table while Julius did the dishes. After he was done with the dishes, the three of us took a walk around the neighborhood. We usually did so every Sunday.We got back to the house and Theo went straight to his toys. I sat down in the living room with Julius.“Should we tell him? Before they arrive.” I said.“Is he
CHAPTER TWENTY FOURADRIAN’S POVI hung up the phone and turned to face Isabella’s mother. “Do you believe me now?”She was still in shock. “I can’t believe my daughter would hide something like that from me. She has a son. I have a grandson. No wonder she was in such a hurry to leave the country then. She told me she was going to further her education and get a job. I can’t believe this.”“Well, it’s the truth. It’s finally time for me to get my son back.”“What are you going to do?” She asked.“Huh?”“If she doesn’t let you see him. What are you going to do? Are you going to kill me?”“Why do you assume that?” “I don’t know. There's no other option for you it seems. If she doesn’t respond, are you just going to take me back to my house? You’re just going to let it go like that?”I sat down on the couch opposite her. “That’s a very good question. I know she’s going to come back here. She isn’t going to leave you here. She thinks you’re in grave danger.”“Am I not?” She chuckled.“Ar







