"I need every single detail you can find about Isabelle on my desk. " Christian instructed Sean via the phone, while he slicked his hair back with his left hand. He didn't want to be around Isabelle when she woke up. He had been constantly hard almost the whole night. Sleeping beside her affected him in ways he thought he was entirely past.He wrote a note and placed it on the bedside stand with the pen on top. Before he could step out though, the woman stirred and mumbled his name."What's the time? " Isabelle croaked sitting up on the empire carved king size bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes. The first thing she noticed was the softness beneath her, then the smell of Christian's Cologne crowding her senses. Her eyes flew open, spotting a smirking Christian leaning on the frame of his bedroom door.He observed as realization kicked in, her confused face changing into an horrified one. She threw the comforter off her, screaming when she realized she shirt she wore had ridden up her waist.

Isabelle looked at her reflection in the mirror above the golden sink as she brushed her teeth. She noticed dark circles under her eyes and hair strands that were sticking on the side of her face. She wondered how she didn't have a hammering headache. After brushing, she trudged into the rounded walk-in shower stall. It was surrounded by thick glass walls that complimented the marble floor and the rest of the walls. She wore Christian's shower flops that made her look like a penguin.She took off the shirt and placed it on a wall-mounted wooden shelf by the shower entrance. "Here's your towel."Christian popped his head behind the glass wall, the neatly folded towel in his hand. He couldn't tear his eyes off Isabelle's nude body, the words dried in his throat that instant. He could almost feel the softness of her skin under his palms. Isabelle froze in place, under Christian's scrutiny that left her insides warming up again. She thought she would create a distance between them when sh

Isabelle's forehead throbbed, dizzying her momentarily as she bent to put on her trousers. She had to support herself on the dresser for the wave of nausea to pass. The trouser suit she wore the previous day had been neatly placed on the guestroom bed, including her pants. She wondered whether Christian had something to do with that. The thought, however, only brought a new set of moisture in her eyes.Isabelle's stomach rumbled, reminding her that she had missed breakfast. She couldn't care less about her tousled hair or swollen eyes. She finally managed to pull herself together and stood upright, though shakily. Isabelle decided to take a taxi and go give her patient a piece of her mind. She was a grown woman for goodness' sake. She didn't want to crumple under his treatment. She wasn't about to let him use her the way he pleased."I am not a whore." She whispered, raised her chin high, and exited, heading for the front door. She needed to get out of the place. She couldn't stand t

"Where did you get them?" Isabelle's voice was pinched and nasal; the words were forced out of her dry voice box and blocked nose. Her eyes remained fixed on the streets of Weston City as people went about their normal businesses. Her mind, on the other hand, was nowhere near there.It had resumed functioning after stuttering and pausing back at Christians' place."What? " Sean looked at her briefly, her red-puffed eyes, chapped lips, and tangled hair making his stomach tighten. He blamed himself for her panic attack. If only he hadn't invaded her privacy and her apartment. Looking at her as she struggled to keep more tears from flowing had him wish he could take time back. Isabelle chuckled, closing her eyes briefly. Sean was getting on her nerves by pretending he didn't know what she was talking about. "Someone broke into my apartment and went through my things. The photos were taken and somehow they landed in Christian's hands? " That was the most Isabelle had said since they left

"How fucking dare you? " Christians' voice became thunderous, resonating throughout the entire office. Sean stood up, finding himself in the middle of their issues again. Only that time, he wouldn't allow his friend to make the biggest mistake of his life. "Someone broke into Isabelle's apartment while you were dragging her to the club. Someone left those fucking photos, with the note taped to one of them. Can't you fucking see it Christian Black? Isabelle might be in danger! " Sean felt something scorching hot rising in his chest. Indescribable, the need to protect Isabelle that he couldn't get rid of no matter how hard he tried. It was as if Isabelle and him had already developed a connection that he couldn't sever.Christian ran his thumb and index finger on either side of his chin, staring at a spot on the glass wall. "Is that what she told you? " He chuckled bitterly, turning to face his friend, who had blood boiling in his veins. "This is all her doing, her plan to get her cla