Smiling softly, Isabella walked into the elevator, but she found it hard to shake off Charles's insistent gaze. It almost seemed like he was suggesting something as he stared at her.
Though it was reassuring to see him placing his attention on her, she found it somewhat nerve-wracking to be placed under his gaze in such a manner. So, to break into the moment, she simply said, "Hi."
After her quick greeting, Isabella found her stance beside his tall figure.
"Isabella," he returned, his voice a bit gruff.
The entire space wore awkwardness as words immediately failed her. Her head couldn't think of a thing to talk about either.
As she racked her head, Isabella almost laughed at her seemingly confused state. She found it funny that she was struggling to find something to say.
She was certain that some questions she intended to ask Charles had been racing in her brain before she pressed the elevator button.
Soon, the woman gave up. Isabella decided to live with the quietude and the state Charles Oxford kept sending her way.
Her eyes decided not to wander as well as they stayed fixed on her blurred image etched on the metallic wall opposite her.
Clearing his throat, Charles drove the silence that Isabella was almost enjoying away. Then, before she could spare him a look, without a warning, his arm circled her waist and a single pull was all it took for her to become glued to his side.
Startled, Isabella looked up at him and he greeted her with a smirk that stirred something within her. As his fingers dug even more into her waist in a way that was quite possessive, Isabella asked, "What are you doing, Charles?" There was a hidden excitement in her voice as she spoke. Indeed, their proximity gladdened her greatly.
"I am keeping you close," came his thick voice again.
"Keeping me close?" Isabella was yet to take her eyes off him. Her eyes kept darting across his fine face which wouldn't stop displaying an occasional clenching of its jaws.
"Yes. Close enough so you won't run off again."
A small smile came to Isabella's lips and she stylishly looked to the side. He sure did know how to use his words.
Her heart felt delighted on hearing his words.
As Isabella tried to deal with the uncontrollable flutter in her chest area, she felt his long fingers trace through the material on her body. That alone was provocative and when their eyes met again, Isabella was quick to deduce that Charles had a plan.
Before Isabella could voice the question in her mind, Charles' lips leaned towards her ear and he blew gently on its lobe.
Isabella found herself grabbing the end of his shirt in reaction. What he did felt so good... really good.
Almost biting into her lower lip, Isabella knew she wanted more but she had to control herself.
So, she didn't ask for more.
But Charles had no intention to stop at that one action. Shifting his position a little, his other hand found her butt cheek, and with a single push, he sandwiched their lower bodies, making that moment more sensual.
Trying hard to hide her smile, Isabella dragged a sniff of his intoxicating scent as she rested her head against his chest.
As she relaxed into that precious moment, she soon began to relish his igniting touch which had traveled to her bare arm. Slowly, with his fingers, he drew strokes that caused a certain kind of flame to grow within her. It was a flame that found her way to assure her in the midst of approaching pleasure. It was the kind of flame that she didn't ever want to be quenched.
"Isabella?" She looked up at the man who had just said her name with a whisper. "Kiss me, Isabella."
Isabella finally let her smiles find freedom before she tipped her toes to place her lips on his. She was about to make the lip lock more heated when Charles startled her again and had her against the cold wall of the elevator within a second.
Eyes filled with hunger for her touch, Charles claimed her lips in a much better way. The renewed contact had her shivering a bit as it felt so good.
But that made her question the moment a bit.
Was it all real?
Will that moment be a dream at the end of the day? Will she suddenly wake up at some point only to realize that she was still living a shitty life?
Isabella's pondering got a response as Charles bit her lower lip gently, a moan coming from her in response. Quickly pushing those questions aside, Isabella tilted her head better so that she could fully enjoy the kiss.
Their lips met with so much vigour and desire, and their heads danced slowly as they failed to keep their hands to themselves.
At that point, as she wrapped her hands around his neck, Isabella could already picture herself being naked in his arms. She bet it would feel so great to be in that position again and so...
The elevator door snapped open and Isabella pulled away, hoping that no one caught a glimpse of their heated session.
But as Charles gasped startlingly, Isabella's worry disappeared and she looked ahead.
"Charles," said the voice of the new presence. This presence was one of a kind.
"Mother," Charles responded.
The richly dressed woman, who decided to opt for silk-like palazzo pants and a white sleeveless top that was more of net than cotton, did not hide her snicker. "What is this? Has this woman clutched you so much that you'd risk your image this way?"
"Clutched?" As Charles spoke, Isabella felt that tension again. It was certainly not the kind of strain that typically exists between mother and child. "Mother..." Charles grabbed Isabella's hand, his face hardly wearing the anger Isabella was certain he was feeling. "Stay out of my business."
"I can't do that." The woman folded her arms as her daunting gaze watched her son wall out of the lift, his hand still entwined with Isabella's. Then, she said, "You are acting recklessly for someone who has an image to keep."
"Image? Look around Mother, there are certainly no cameras here. No one here cares if I have several billion dollars in assets neither do they care if I am being reckless."
Isabella could sense that his mother was not ready to back down. Mrs. Oxford wasn't the type to back down and the woman proved Isabella's point as the tone of her voice toughened when she said, " Charles, you can never. You can never know who is watching. As someone who runs a lot of..."
Charles held a hand up. "That's enough, Mother." A tired sigh followed, his shoulders almost slumping. "Honestly, I am tired of you being so concerned about keeping a nice image and all that bullshit."
"Don't use that kind of word with me, boy," she almost growled, her forehead creasing. "I am still your mother."
"Then act like you are my mother. Stop being so against my decisions. If they make you ache so much, stay out of my business. Please, I beg you." Isabella felt more terrible as she saw how hard Charles was trying to suppress his anger.
Weak laughter came from Mrs. Oxford who couldn't stop tapping her platform heels against the floor. Her eyes which were traveling to and fro landed on Isabella and she said, "You are doing something."
Isabella had the impression that the woman had nothing to say to her after the last meeting they had. But it seemed she was wrong.
Her brows twitching as she wondered what Mrs. Oxford had to say, Isabella's tender voice asked, "Excuse me?"
Mrs. Oxford made two of her fingers dance in Isabella's direction. "I don't know what it is, but you are doing something to my son. Because I know my Charles is sensible enough to know that a married woman is a no-go area."
His arm stretching in front of Isabella, Charles stepped forward and said, "Mother, you should stop trying like you know everything. There is a story behind my wanting of Isabella and Isabella alone. And I won't bother to tell you. I don't expect you to understand."
"I don't care. All I know is I won't let you ruin your life this way."
"Stop being stubborn, Mother. I am at a stage of my life where I can tell what is good for me and what's not. If you can't respect that, can you at least stay out of the decisions I make? Huh?"
Breathing a bit too hard at this point, Charles reached for Isabella's hand and without uttering a word more, he began to lead her away from that place that reeked of his mother's toxic concerns.
Isabella and Charles had walked a little distance when his mother yelled, "Charles, I won't let you marry her even if it's just for show."
Isabella could not ignore Charles's long sigh as he halted his steps. Not turning to take a look at his mother, he said, "I think you are mistaken, Mother. I am not marrying Isabella for show. My reasons for being with her are genuine."
Isabella looked back to see Mrs. Oxford's reaction. She was frowning deeply. "What do you mean by that?" the older woman requested loudly.
"Good day, Mother," Charles gave a simple reply. Then, after ensuring that Isabella's hand was still in his, he began to walk, his strides majestic as always.