Though Charles was oddly amused, the audacity of the man who was supposedly his biological father certainly couldn't be ignored.
And the fact that Rodrigo could let his men point their guns at Isabella angered him.
Though the men had left the room, he was still angry. He didn't want Isabella to be exposed to such things.
Charles knew he had to act fast and get them both out of there without Rodrigo Ordinaz getting anything from him.
He stole a look at his father who was still wearing a large grin.
Charles realised that his mother was right. Rodrigo Ordninaz was not a man with good intentions.
But that truth failed to sadden Charles. He had already sort of believed his mother's many statements about Ordinaz, so he wasn't too surprised.
But the part he didn't see coming was the part where his real father openly said he wanted to use his company and that of his wife as some kind of leverage.
"Are you going to sit down or not?" Ordinaz asked, an impatient smirk now etched in his bold face.
Charles, who had planned a means of escape earlier, swiftly pressed the emergency button attached to his shirt.
Thankfully no search was conducted when they were entering the house, so that device wasn't sniffed out.
After pressing the small button numerous times, Charles became assured that Augustus would show up. Besides, Augustus was not a man who would fail to keep his word.
Looking calm, Charles pulled Isabella closer to his side. With a certain gloat on his face, he faced Ordinaz who snickered in reaction. Once Charles silently ascertained his dominance, he asked, "Do you think I will be willing to give you a fraction of what I have worked so hard for?"
"We should sit down and discuss this."
"I have been sitting all day, Rodrigo Ordinaz. I am fine this way."
Ordinaz's short legs danced a bit. It seemed as though the man would begin to pace the room but a few seconds later, his legs stopped shaking. Rodrigo crossed his arms and heaved a deep sigh. "You are never going to call me father, are you?"
"There is someone else in my life who deserves to be called father."
"If your mother hadn't run away..." The man's voice approached sobriety and Charles, who wasn't counting on listening to the story of his life, interrupted him.
"I am genuinely not surprised that she ran away. And I don't care how that made you feel. All I want right now is to go back to my home. I have seen and heard enough."
Charles was making sure to give off his intimidating tone and though subtle, it was evident that Ordinaz was gradually realising that he was not in a position to force things.
"Like I said..." Rodrigo took a sharp breath. "You can't go anywhere. Any wrong move and the men outside will react."
" Isn't it thuggish of you to be willing to kill your son because he doesn't want to ally with you?"
" Oh, Lord!" Rodrigo smacked his face and dragged his palms down the length of his face. "Charles," when their eyes met again, Charles saw evil in his eyes, " I would not have to think of killing you if you agree to my terms. For goodness sake, I helped you get united with the woman you love. Certainly, I should get something for that."
Charles caught a glimpse of Augustus who was already sneaking behind Ordinaz with quiet steps. He smirked and said, "Hmm. I think it's time for me to leave. It was nice to meet you, Rodrigo Ordinaz. But I can't work with someone as entitled and manipulating as you. I have a lot to protect and I feel you will ruin them for me."
"What are you doing trying to leave?" Ordinaz threatened with a thunderous voice as Charles grabbed Isabella's hand and had them facing the entrance again. "Stop them! Who is at the entrance?" he bellowed. On cue, the doors flew open and two seemingly lifeless bodies fell on top of each other onto the floor. Ordinaz sounded startled. "Wh- what is going on out there? I want-"
"Shut up," Augustus's solid voice ordered the man and he surprisingly obeyed.
Charles then turned, his entire face wrinkled into a smile of satisfaction. After making sure his father's attention was on him, he said, "Rodrigo Ordinaz, don't try to do anything funny to my family or trust me, I'll show you that I am mightier than you. Augustus, let's go."
"Okay, this is not related, but that was so sexy," Isabella blurted and Charles chuckled in agreement. "But, I can't believe that just happened," she continued as they walked past some more suited men who could do nothing but stare confusedly while they walked past. "Your real father is something."
"Hmm." His hand left hers and went on to snuggle her shoulder closer into his wanting heat. "I am glad I won't be seeing him again. All I want to do now is go home and relax with you."
Charles was aware of how cheesy he sounded.
Normally, most people won't get to see him that way. In fact, they would be surprised to see the ever-stone-faced Mr. Oxford smiling and acting like a teenage lover boy.
But one could safely say that Isabella made him that way. And he really didn't mind.
"Uh...sir?" Augustus cut through Charles's thoughts. "There is an issue."
"What's that?"
"Apparently..." His eyes darted to the side for a second, his action rousing Charles's curiosity. "There was a blast and your house was uhm... blown up?"
Charles frowned at the uncertainty in Augustus's voice and then the furrow on his forehead deepened when the statement settled in his brain. "Did you just say, blown up?"
Augustus gave a curt nod, his hat following the motion and Charles looked down at Isabella who looked distraught already.
"Who did it?"
"The men believe it was Gabriel."
" Gabriel," Charles said that name like it was poison and he became instantly eager to tear the man apart. "Where is he?"
"My men are still searching for him, sir."
"Contact James, he should get the plane ready, we will be leaving in an hour. And keep checking with your men, we must get his location." Again, Charles glanced at Isabella who looked more distressed, and with guarantee in his tone, he said, "We will get him for good this time."
~
Several hours later, Isabella and Charles were back in London.
And thanks to Gabriel Manifold, they didn't have a home to go back to.
Everything was in ruins. Everything was gone except for parts of the unique building which remained but with scars.
Presently in a hotel room, waiting for news on Gabriel who clearly had an intent to kill, Isabella could not help but start to pace again as she had been doing ever since she saw the chaos her ex-husband created.
"Bella, please sit down. You are making me nervous," Charles called from the corner he was.
Her pacing stopped and she leaned on the head of the only couch in the large room which took simplicity as a motto with the plain duvets, single-coloured walls, and normal-looking carpet.
"I can't help it. I..." She was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Are you expecting someone?" Charles got up without a word and walked towards a confused Isabella who perceived that his silence was hiding something. "What is it?"
"I called Daphne here." Isabella stood upright and raised her brows, unsure how to react. "I need her to apologise to you."
"But I don't need an apology." Isabella almost sounded snarky.
"You don't?" Charles frowned.
After easing her growing temper, Isabella wore a gentle smile. "I don't think her apology would change anything for me. She hasn't offended me in any way."
"What do you mean by that? She came to our house and claimed to be pregnant for me. She could have destroyed our union."
"And, I am glad she did not." Isabella ducked her head and she quickly ran through some details in her mind. "Truthfully..." She resumed her talk. "Right now, all I want is to finally get to live a peaceful life with you. But now that Gabriel is..."
" Hey." Charles embraced her before her anxiety could crease her forehead. "It will all be fine, I promise."
"I really hope it will." Isabella could not help the tears that rolled in due to the jumbled feelings within her. "I might not even be able to give you a child. But you are-"
"Hasn't it been settled that we will try other means?" Charles cut short her statement. When she met his eyes, there was an unspoken message that soothed her over and over. "We will have a child, Isabella. And if we don't, that doesn't mean I will toss you away. You and I are meant to be together for a long, long time."
"I am glad you won't toss me away." As she wrapped her hands around him, Isabella closed her eyes and her silent sobs intensified.
"You are such a crybaby," Charles teased while their embrace became more and more passionate and assuring. "My crybaby." She sniffled before giving a reckless giggle. Then he said, " I promise you, Isabella. You will find that peace you are looking for right here with me."
Isabella, whose heart was fluttering hard, was about to give a response when the door flung open.
The hugging duo darted their eyes toward the entrance and their sights landed on Augustus who was trying to catch his breath.
"Any news, Augustus?" Charles had impatience in his voice.
"Yes. There is news."
"Where is he?"
Finally calm, Augustus adjusted his stance and walked a few steps closer.
"At the company's hangar," he replied.
Isabella looked up at Charles who frowned instantly and asked, "The one here in London?" When the man nodded, Charles's anger resurfaced and he said, "Let's get him. Is he still there?"
"Well...I think someone beat us to that."
" What do you mean?"
"Well... the thing is..." Augustus briefly looked at Isabella and that made her wonder what the matter was. Had Gabriel escaped? Or did he do something worse?
Augustus replied to her growing questions as he said, "Gabriel is dead. He was burnt to death."