Chapter 2
Isabelle felt her throat tightening around her, allowing little air to pass through. Her lungs burned, while her feet failed to obey her command to run. She wanted to get out of there and go straight to the hospital to get checked. Her mind failed to make connections of the events that night. The more she probed, the more the contents inside her head became a jumbled mess.
She could hear whispers around her but she couldn't make out the words clearly. Her father's booming voice however surpassed the rest, she felt every venomous vibration as he roared. "You are a disgrace to this family! "
Every mumble quieted down as the older man approached his daughter in long strides. His shoulders were squared, hands balled into tight fists, while his chest rose rapidly. She couldn't control the tremor that overtook her. ' I didn't do it, please believe me. '
Isabelle felt wetness on her cheeks past the confines of her eyelids. A stickiness she couldn't wipe off, was left by the salty liquid as it flowed uncontrollably. Her hands shook as she attempted to stretch them, to get the hug her father so much liked to give her.
'Don't touch me you dirty pervert.' He stepped back as if his daughter had burned him. The action had the young woman's lips trembling and her chest aching further.
'I never want to see your pathetic face. ' The man sneered, his lip curling upwards. Isabelle had never seen that side of her dad directed towards her. She had never been on the receiving end of such rage, almost palpable.
'No please dad...please don't do this. ' Isabelle sank on the ground, grasping her father's suit covered leg. The man unapologetically kicked her hands with his free leg, a sounding crack following there after. She crawled back, ignoring the stinging pain that radiated from her thumb, climbing up to her hunched shoulders.
'Mum p-please, p-p-please mum. ' She turned to her mother who was silently watching the scene unfold. Isabelle's voice had become raspy and strained due to her inflamed vocal chords. She could barely swallow saliva without her throat burning. She watched in wide teary eyes as her mother tilted her head, directing her sight elsewhere.
'Please.'
She whimpered, stretching her injured arm shakily yet again. Deep emotions stirred violently inside of her. She couldn't believe that her parents were disowning her out for something she didn't commit. What she had perceived as a good evening had turned into the worst day of her life faster than she could blink. Everything she had known was shattered into nothing but shards of glass that were stabbing her everywhere she stepped.
'Told ya! ' Said Sam happily.
Isabelle couldn't even look at him without picturing him seeing her nude. The thought of him invading her privacy like that to a point of taking pictures had the blood in her veins boiling. She picked up a piece of the broken glass on the pebbled ground. With the little energy the woman could master, she ran towards him in wobbly feet.
'I'll fucking kill you, fucking liar. ' She shouted.
Her father however pushed her back, pinning a scornful on her. "You are lucky your cousin didn't file up a case on you, if it were me you'd be stuck in prison for the rest of your life. ' Spat her father.
'I wouldn't want her to stay locked up, I forgive her. She had been drunk after all. ' Chimed Sam, hiding a smirk that was threatening to form. Isabelle couldn't believe that no one was defending her. One look at them and she could see the disgusting gazes they had fixed on her.
'M-um, please momma believe me.' Who was she kidding, the photo was there for everyone to see. How could she even begin explaining to them that she didn't remember a thing that happened that night? She had been pretty drunk, had seeing Sam at some point around the pool but that was that as far as her mind could take her.
'You have 30 minutes to go collect whatever shit is remaining in my house. I don't want to find you there by the time we get home. Isabelle Blue, from this moment I cease to be your father. ' Mr Jenkins, her father roared, the sound resonating in the entire back yard.
'No, please, p-p-please. ' Her voice was barely audible as she crawled yet again, following her father. His nostrils flared, his back tense as he attempted to reign his emotions inside. ' He paused and bent down. He gripped her upper right arm painfully, squeezing the flesh between his fingers. 'If I find you there, If I ever see you again...I won't worry about getting imprisoned for killing such a pathetic, useless whore of a daughter. '
He spat in a low voice, walking straight into his brother's house. Isabelle turned to her mother again, only to see her retreating figure on the other side of the open space. She felt as if someone had continuously stabbed her and left her to die. Gathering the energy she had left, she dragged her weak body towards the front. She stood in front of her old mustang, sniffing loudly. She still couldn't understand why her parents chose to believe him over her.
Her parent's house and Sam's were practically next door neighbours. It usually took only two minutes to walk to either house. Knowing that her father had been serious about his warning, she dragged her feet to their two storey house. Even though she didn't live there anymore it was still her home. She often missed her parents and uncle when she was in school.
She picked a teddy bear that her mother had gifted her as a 5 year old. It was old and tattered but she loved it, couldn't sleep without it whenever she visited from college. She had recently graduated with honours in nursing and had been working part time at a private hospital.
Isabelle had no desire to carry any piece of clothing, she wanted nothing to remind her of the evil that lived in the house except the teddy bear. With an intake of a shaky breath, she proceeded down stairs. The young woman was unable to control her tears as they fell one after the other. She was after all leaving her childhood home and not because she had become of age.
'The pastor cannot know about this. ' She heard her father state firmly to her mother. She couldn't believe that, that was all he cared about. His perfect image from being tainted by her actions.
'Of course honey, it is such a disgrace. ' A sob choked her when her mother replied nonchalantly. There was no single emotion of remorse or pity in the voice of the one person she thought loved her unconditionally. She wondered what he had told her parents to make them believe him without question.
'Pick them up and get the fuck out! ' Dozens of photographs were thrown at her by her livid father. She squatted to pick them up and when she caught a glimpse of one image, her blood froze in her veins.
'No, no, no, no. ' She collapsed in a heap on the rug, eyes wide. Her heart beat resumed, pounding erratically inside of her. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Her tongue suddenly felt weighty while she became a blubbering mess. She looked at the image yet again then at her parents who were looking down at her in murderous glower.
She attempted to explain but words jammed inside her tightening throat. She could feel her chest burning as she attempted to breathe in. Her vision blurred but the image of her naked on top of her cousin, remained crystal clear in her mind. This was much clearer than the one Sam shown. It showed her face up close with her eyes wide open and her grip around his neck.
'I-I..' She stuttered, swallowing saliva painfully down her sore throat. She couldn't even remember when the photo had been taken. She wasn't even familiar with the place it was taken. Her thoughts became a tangled mess inside her head. She scrunched her head into her shoulders, blinking rapidly. She tried digesting the information, raking her mind but nothing came up. She didn't buy Sam's story about the party.
'See, now you can't even speak. ' Mr Jenkins sneered, pointing at the front door.
She gathered the photos, her whole body shivering from the onslaught of the tsunami that had hit her. She dragged herself up, her brows pulled together. Her tears had dried up as she attempted to digest what she held in her hands. With one look at her parents, Isabelle opened the door and stepped out into the darkness.
She felt numb, a lot of questions going through her. As she descended down the stairs of her front porch, Isabelle couldn't help but ask herself why Sam had gone to such lengths to have her kicked out and disowned. There had been gaps in her memories for a week and the imagination of what could have transpired had her collapsing yet again on the pebbled pavement. Then like a bolt of lightning out of nowhere, bits of images of a party she had attended with her friends began flooding her mind.
One stood out, capturing all her senses and putting them to a halt. She opened her mouth to let out an earth shattering scream but only whimpers came out. She remembered her cousin Sam dragging her upstairs. The last thing she remembered about the party was her desperate cries, the smirk on her cousin's face as she begged him to stop advancing towards her. Isabelle whispered the answer to her previous question in disbelief.
Sam might have forced himself on her.
'Please pick up, please please. ' Isabelle mumbled in a scratchy voice, one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding her phone to her ear. She had been trying to call her boyfriend Dylan countless times. Each time her calls went unanswered. She just didn't want to be alone after what had transpired at her uncle's place.'Aaargh fuck! ' She dropped the phone on her lap, gritting her teeth. She knew Dylan's shift at the bakery was over, so she couldn't think of any reason why he wouldn't respond. She was speeding down the highway, heading to his place. Isabelle could feel the shattered pieces of her heart, breaking further the more she thought of the situation.It wasn't long before she got to his apartment. Knocking on his door while shuffling on her feet, Isabelle waited but no response was given. She banged again, grimacing when pain shot up on her right hand up to her elbow. The image of her father kicking her hand when she grasped his leg popped up. She squeezed her eyes sh
'You did what? ' Christian scrunched up his face when one of his close friends and co-worker shrieked.'Could you at least lower your voice Sean. ' Said Christian.'After what you just said, god no! I want to know what exactly happened. ' Sean crossed his legs and leaned on the leather chair opposite Christian. The two were in Christian's office, chatting away during lunch break. Christian had mentioned having sex the previous night with a stranger at the pack.'You like gossip...' Chuckled Christian. His friend pinned a playful glare on him, tapping his palms on his thigh as he waited for the man to talk.Christian sighed, knowing that his friend wouldn't give up. "I was at the pack, routinely like I always am after dinner. While I was just chilling enjoying the cool breeze, I spotted a young woman from a far. " He paused, remembering how her gut wrenching sobs had brought out a part of him he thought he had buried for years."She was a crying mess men, I am telling you whatever had
Isabelle was coiled up in her red velvet couch, staring at her phone for almost half an hour. The screen would light up during an incoming call, then it would go black once the call ended. She would recognize the number from anywhere, she wondered why she hadn't blocked her cheating boyfriend yet. Her laptop was on top of the coffee table, the words how to deal with stress and betrayal written on the search bar.Realization had since sank in, that only a lover and a parent could wound so deep, cutting to the very crux. Where there was once peace was total emptiness, an isolation coupled with a barricade between her and her family. She had whispered a million why(s) and if(s) but she remained with no answer except for her parents didn't love her like they claimed. She concluded that Dylan and Tiffany had always been fake and mean-spirited.She got up, ignoring her phone once again. Her chapped lips stretched into a small smile across her hideous looking face, when she felt a sweet pain
Isabelle sat still on the black and brown leather seat, striving to push the urge to squirm back to it's confines. She battled with her eyes to remain focused ahead even though she desired to look at Christian from her peripheral vision. Christian observed her stiff posture, her alluring throat as she forcefully swallowed saliva. His eyes went down further to her plain maroon blouse that was tucked neatly under her skirt.The material left just a small cleavage to pique his curiosity. Isabelle felt his eyes on her and she lost her struggle. She shifted on her seat, grimacing when her lower back ached. She hadn't slept for two days, it was by chance that she had no bags under her eyes. The brief scowl on her face didn't go unnoticed by Christian."Relax. " The man stated, focusing his sight back on the busy road."Huh? " Isabelle concentration was elsewhere, her eyes couldn't waver from his hands as they gripped the steering wheel. The sleeves of his button up navy blue shirt were fold
"Welcome to your new home. " Isabelle couldn't begin imagining leaving under the same room with Christian. The man had so much power over her despite the short time they had known each other. What could go wrong anyway? She would be working, she needed to only go through his file and get an idea of what she would be handling. "Thank you. " She whispered. Her voice was still hoarse given the crying she had had. She still felt guilty about creating a mess on Christian's blue shirt. He however insisted that it was just a piece of fabric. Like a gentleman, Christian opened the door for her, spreading his palm for her to take. Isabelle eyes went wide, she thought she was at a fictional place."What the f..." She trailed off, eyes glued on the vast, slick unique house. She was witnessing the finest architecture on a private residence. "This is simply magnificent. " She breathed out, looking around at the masterpiece. Isabelle pulled her hand out of his and took a step back. Questions began
"You had one job, Carol, one fucking job! " Christian's voice boomed in his office, his burning eyes pinned on his one week old secretary."Sir, I called you countless times..." The woman trailed off when her boss lifted his right hand up, signalling her to shut up. Christian breaths were coming out in short puffs, his tense shoulders going up and down with every forceful breath."Shut the fuck up stupid woman! What did I say about dealing with my clients? " Carol hang her head."Answer me! " She flinched at the loud voice that reverberated in the enclosed space of work."That I should never strike any deals with them in your absence or Sean's. " Carol's low voice never shook as she answered despite a cold sweat that had began forming on her forehead."This is her first mistake since she started working here. " Sean who had been quietly observing the scene chimed in. Christian ignored him and turned to his secretary. He gave her a once over, grinding his teeth for what her stupid mist
Isabelle wasn't sure she wanted Christian to find out where she lived. In her four years of studying at the Weston East University, Isabelle never brought friends to her studio apartment except for Tiffany and Dylan. To her, the house was more than a place to sleep, it was her safe haven. Somewhere she could wallow, relax on her own without any disturbances."Uum you can drop me off at the hospital, I need my car. " She stated when Christian asked for directions to her house."I will have someone drive your car to my place. " Isabelle bit down a scoff."No, it's too much work for you. Plus you are supposed to be at work, your phone hasn't stopped ringing." Isabelle insisted, praying that he would just take the hint that she wasn't comfortable with him going there."I am beginning to think that you just don't want me to see where you live. " Chris deadpanned."Look, I know we barely know each other. But I think I deserve some benefit of doubt considering the fact that I didn't hurt yo
"Isabelle..." Christian didn't know how to say no to his nurse without hurting her further."I want to forget. " Isabelle's broken voice was barely audible as she clutched on Christians lean body."You have to pack what you need. " Said Christian, ignoring her whisper. He pried her off him, pinching his nose when she looked at him in teary eyes."There's no need, I'll pack tomorrow. " Christian could feel the indifference in her newly found firm tone."Isabelle you have to understand that you can't keep having sex whenever you get hurt. " Christian explained. The woman turned to look at him, slowly taking her time through her blurry vision."I need to be alone. " She spoke after seconds of silence and deliberation. She couldn't comprehend the power and control he had over he body. She burned to feel his warmth envelop her, she craved to orgasm in his arms again. She thought that he was the only one who could help her forget just how messy her life was."But w...""I will drive up tomo