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 her father...
Her father.
My father. She thought as she picked her phone from the desk where it had been laying ignored for the past few days. Ignoring the numerous messages and missed calls she had gotten from Caleb and surprisingly, Gabriel, she selected the contact of her father's secretary who happened to be her godfather.
'Isabella my girl,' a mellow voice said from the other end.
"Uncle Ben, hi. How are you doing?"
'You know how silly old men like me are, I have been moody all week about how much wrinkles keep appearing on my face.'
Isabella managed a genuine chuckle before she said, "I am certain you are still finer than my dad anyway."
'He must not hear you say that. How are you, Isabella? How are you holding up?' Uncle Ben, since he was in no place to have a say in her life, could only console her when he found out what his friend was up to. He held her up with words of fortitude when everything happened.
"I am trying to keep sane Uncle."
'I'll be praying for you from here.' Isabella smiled, she could not tell him about Gabriel's craziness and how he has been treating her. She hasn't been able to tell anyone.
"Is my father there?"
'Uh... no. He just left.'
"I always get this feeling that he doesn't want me around him." Isabella's voice shook as tears threatened to pour.
'No darling, don't say that. Your father loves you regardless of how he acts towards you, know that.'
"All I know is, if he really loves me like you say, he wouldn't have distanced himself like he did ever since my damn marriage."
'Isa...'
"Goodnight Uncle Ben. My regards to my wonderful father."
As she ended the call, the tears came right after. Ever since what Gabriel did, her tears always came easily. She didn't have the strength to keep them tucked away for long.
"Isabella..." Caleb squatted by her side as he held her firmly and allowed her rest on his chest.
"Why doesn't he want to speak with me?" Isabella asked a clueless Caleb through her sobs. "He is the reason I am in this mess in the first place. He left me in this mess after making sure I did as he wanted."
"Isabella, it is okay."
"No!" She threw her hands in the air as she released herself from his hold. "It is not fine. If I had not given in to his demand, I would be married to the man I truly loved. I would be happy." She whispered the last words.
"Talk to me Isa. I need to know what you are talking about."
"I..." Her words were interrupted by footsteps that helped themselves into the office.
"Good day."
Isabella immediately got up, her hands wiping off her tears hurriedly. "H- hi, welcome."
"We are from the bank," the man who appeared to be the leader of the suited trio said.
"Oh yes, hmm welcome." She waved to Caleb to offer them seats.
"Actually, we won't be taking much of your time." Isabella did not trust the smile on the man's face. "Our bank really appreciates your patronage over the years. But we regret to inform you that if payments of debts are not made within the next three days, the bank will have to take over your company."
Isabella's legs went weak as she asked quietly, "What?"
"Wait, we still have about a month left to settle that," Caleb butted in, a equally confused look on his face.
"We really hate to inform you about this, but our new management had that window sewn a bit tighter." Isabella hated how the man and woman with him kept nodding in agreement to what he kept saying. Their uniformity that extended to the colours of their hairs also pissed her off. But that was not even the issue.
She sighed. "This is so... this is crazy."
"In case you won't be able to meet up with that deadline, we have with us documents that you can sign to hand over Shades and Cloaks to the bank without hassles."
"What the heck guys? At least let us try to pay."
"Caleb," Isabella gave him a soft smile. "It is fine. Can I see those documents?"
Caleb rushed to her side. "What are you doing?"
"I am taking a look at the papers."
The lady from the bank who had been standing with a small frown on her face paused the fetch from her bag. Their leader asked, "Is everything okay? Is there a problem?"
"No, there is not." Another voice joined the party.
"Mr. Oxford," Caleb was elated to see who he probably saw as a saviour at that moment.
Isabella was shocked.
"Hello gentlemen and... ladies." The frown on the blonde's face changed instantly to a smile.
Talk about miracles. Isabella thought within herself.
"I will be helping out my darling over there with her debts. I have been a terrible boyfriend and I need to make it up to her. So..." He took out a book. "How much is this debt?"
"Well..."
Isabella was quick to pull Charles out of the room. "What on earth are you doing?" she asked once they were far from her office.
"Helping my woman out?" He stood akimbo as he looked down at her with a smirk.
"Wipe that smug look off your face, I am not getting married to you."
"Oh trust me, you are going to, eventually."
Isabella scoffed, "Don't you get that I can't be with you? Not only am I married, my father's life depends on the marriage."
"Your father?" Charles was almost laughing pitifully.
"Yes, my father."
"Isabella..." He reached for her arms and sent warmth that she ignored, through them. "Your father is no more."
She immediately tore off his hold, anger began to build within her. "What the fuck are you saying?"
He sighed, licked his lower lip and said, "Your father... is dead. And I have proof."
"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
Charles smirked to himself. Then as he looked out his car window, his face fell. Isabella was toying with his heart and she had no idea.Damn! That woman had no idea she was torturing him. Marriage aside, all he wanted at that moment was to hold her in his arms, tight. He would love, protect her with his hold. But she was being reluctant.Charles wondered what she really faced while she was married to the Manifold guy. It sure was something ugly. It definitely was something that put some kind of fear inside her. Her question earlier sort of gave that out.That was more reason he wanted her by his side. Charles no longer cared about revenge, he just wanted her to be safe.In no time, his car stopped and his driver announced their arrival at the hotel."Thank you David." The latter nodded as he waited for Charles to alight so he could go and pack the car properly.
"What on earth did you get yourself into Isa?" Caleb had just heard the whole situation his friend was in and he obviously was pissed and unhappy. "Gabriel sounds like he is going to end you."Isabella stretched her leg onto the length of the red leather couch. "I have no idea what to do," she said. Caleb scoffed loudly. "What?""What on earth do you mean by you have no idea what to do? It is very obvious Isabella.""I don't think I am ready for another marital life." The look on her face distressed Caleb who looked at her like he was wishing a simple hug could solve her problems."But you need protection from the one you just left and trust me, the next time I recieve a letter, I don't want it to be your blood on it.""So," Isabella shrugged as she sank into the couch into a laying position. ", I have no choice but to marry Charles.""Running away right now
"What is going to happen now?" Isabella was almost biting off her thumb as she stared out to the clear sky."How do you mean?" He handed her a glass of water before he went on to find his stance behind her."Gabriel is not going to simply leave me if he sees me with you. He will get even more furious and heaven knows what he will kill and send this time around.""Bella," he gently placed his hands on her little shoulders. "You are with me now." He reminded her again. "I am going to take care of things from now on."Isabella turned instantly, her eyes surfaced with some tears. "How Charles?""How what?" he reached for a strand of her hair and played with it."How can you help me like this? I hurt you."Clearly, the hurt was still there because his eyes dashed to the side for a second. "Truthfully Bella," he started, his hand retreating to
A kind of fear Isabella loathed immediately came over her and she instantly gripped Charles's shirt for some kind of assurance of protection.He held her closer.Gabriel, with a sinister look on his face moved a bit closer. "I didn't know you were quite a whore. No wonder you didn't want me to sleep with you. What?" he scoffed. "Does Mr. Charming here fuck you good? Is he the reason you won't give me a child?""Wh-" her throat had gone dry. She cleared it. "What are you doing here Gabriel?""I came here for my wife. Instead..." his smirk widened. "Instead!" he exclaimed. "I meet her letting another man touch her.""I am not your wife Gabriel, not anymore.""Say that to my face bitch."Charles moved almost violently towards Gabriel, Isabella pulled him back. Slowly, she got down and faced him squarely. "Gabriel," she folded her arms. ",lik
"Right here Isabella?" Charles was down for the idea. Very ready to do what she asked. But a look at the floor got him asking, "Are you sure Isabella?"Her legs tightened even more around him, he almost groaned. In a teasing manner, she went up and down, slowly.Damn, she was still the naughty girl she used to be.His jaws locking to contain his coming outburst, he made her look him in the eye. "Isabella, the floor is very dirty. Are you sure you still want me to take you?"She resumed the slow grinding and smiled. "We don't need the floor Charles. All we need is each other." The look in her eyes was something else."Hmm. You sound like you have been yearning for this." His hands stopped her pleasuring motion. "I am glad you are finally voicing that.""Ugh Charles. Less talking. I want you to feel me. Everywhere." The look in those innocent eyes of hers. Damn