Isabella felt her heart thumping against her chest. It hurt as it kept trying to find a way to survive the turbulence that just hit it.
Abruptly halting her steps which had taken her farther from Charles's room, Isabella silently begged her heart to stop aching so much.
But her mind added salt to the wound and replayed the shocking image she had just witnessed.
And she recalled how she heard Charles telling his secretary who was naked as he was to stay still.
Was that how it was?
Did Charles help her out with the assurance of marriage when in fact he had his secretary to fuck as he pleased?
But why?
If she were to judge based on what she saw, then, Charles's offer to help her was nothing but a scam.
Was that his form of revenge? Isabella wondered as she patted her chest.
If it was, it was hurting so much and frankly, Isabella never knew she could feel such pain.
But then, could she complain?
Charles probably still wore the pain he felt years ago on the sleeve of his heart. After all, the woman he loved didn't show up for their wedding ceremony.
Isabella guessed they were even then.
She left him at the altar and in return, she got to watch him as he tried to fuck his secretary
But still...
As Isabella's chest ached some more, she clutched her top and let the tears finally flow. She had intended for them to come as small sobs, but, instead, her wail filled the empty corridor.
She didn't realise how shaky her hands were till she brought them up to contain her cries that did not seem like they would be stopping soon.
Isabella soon realised that she was crying because of other crazy things in her life and as her knees felt weak, she didn't mind crashing onto the floor to brawl some more.
But she never felt the chilliness of the tiles. Instead, she felt familiar warmth surround her as a pair of strong hands stopped her from dropping to the ground.
Isabella wished to get rid of the man's hold but she was just too tired.
"Isabella..." The way Charles's voice called her... it didn't sound like it held excitement at seeing her so down. Instantly, his arms went around her waist and his head came to lean on her small shoulders.
Her wailing had stopped but she kept sniffling as the tears never ceased.
Then, Charles began to speak, " Wh-when I told you that I- I would protect you. I meant it. But what just happened now..."
"Charles," she strained to call him.
Charles hugged her tighter. "What you saw there... it isn't true. It just looked that way."
"It isn't true?" she asked, her voice shaky, her mind almost approaching a state of anger at his unbelievable statement.
"Look at me." He nudged her.
"No."
Despite her refusal, Charles managed to twirl her until she was facing him. But she didn't let her eyes fall on his. It would be even more heartbreaking for her to stare into his beautiful eyes.
"Do you have any idea how long I had you in my mind? Even when I had Miss Kane by my side, I only thought of you." He shook her shoulders a bit. "Why? Why then would I find joy in sleeping with her now when I have finally found you?"
Isabella stayed quiet and pondered.
Should she believe him? A part of her already did, but then...
"Isabella," Charles called again, his hands holding her shoulders more firmly. "Look at me."
She still didn't share a gaze with him. Instead, she asked, "Why should I believe you?"
"You don't have to. Just..." His hold left her and a part of Isabella mourned the loss of that warm contact. "Just don't leave me again."
Moved by the emotion in his voice which she had never heard before, Isabella finally looked at him. And in those alluring eyes of his, there was something in them... something she could not explain. Something that found a way to make her heart ache with delight.
Isabella just had to get rid of the idea that he was playing her.
Crossing her arms, looking away, she asked, "How do you explain what I saw, then? And what I heard?"
Charles sighed. "I wish I could. After I drank the juice you left for me, I lost all my senses."
"What juice did I leave for you?"
"The... Wait, you didn't leave me a box of juice?" Isabella shook her head. "Did you even go for a run?"
"A run? I went to see my father."
"What?"
"You know," her brows arched, "my dead father."
"Oh." His shocked expression relaxed. "So, why did Miss Kane tell me you were...?" His statement dragged as he inwardly realized whatever it was that happened.
Isabella caught up fast. "She planned it all. Wow."
"The woman was naked and on top of me. Of course, she did this. But why?" His frown deepened as his thumb rubbed his chin.
Isabella wore an expression. "Because she admires you? She is crazy about you. Crazy about you to the extent of taking advantage of you."
Isabella who had never given much attention to the woman called Christina Kane suddenly felt great fury toward the woman.
How dare she?
Charles responded, "I know that she fancies me." Isabella found it very interesting that she no longer felt like her heart was about to be ripped. The bothered man continued, " But, I can't help but wonder why she decided to do something that crazy. Did she have some kind of assurance that the plan would work?"
"Charles..."
He seemed to be deeper in thought. "Did my mother push her to do it?"
"Charles..."
"If it is my mother, God knows I'll..." Charles was interrupted as Isabella pulled up his trousers. Looking down at the woman who was securing the buttons of the jean trousers, he asked, "What are you doing?"
Looking flustered, Isabella shyly said, "Your pants fell as you were talking." The space suddenly became hot and as she took her hands off his body, her hands fanned her face furiously.
"Why are you acting like you saw something good?" She glared at him for a second and the next second she looked to the side with more shyness. "What is it?" he asked amusedly.
Isabella replied with loud laughter, her eyes wrinkling with a certain kind of excitement as Charles looked more confused. Then, a small smile came upon his lips and all he did was watch her as she filled the air with mirth.
"Wh- what?" she struggled to ask as she failed to contain her laughter.
"It just occurred to me." His hands went behind him, his brows quirked a little. "It has been a while since I saw you smile. And seeing you laugh right now... it makes me even happier that you are with me."
"Oh." She looked away again.
"Isabella, what you saw in there wasn't true. I was put in that position."
Isabella could not help but agree. "It seems so."
"Then, are we good?"
Her smile grew bigger. "Definitely."
"Oh, I am glad." He reached for her hand and pulled her into his chest instantly. "I am really glad."
Isabella said nothing more. She just let herself stay in his arms. But at the back of her mind, she thanked the force within her for not being too harsh in reaction to the incident.
If she had been...
She shook her head slightly. It would be useless to be bothered by such things.
Instead, she should enjoy his hold as she has always done.
And, that she did, her eyes closed for the ultimate feeling that came with being in Charles's embrace.
~
"What do you mean by the plan might be ruined?"
Christina's mind was still racing just like it was when Charles looked her dead in the eye and fired her. His glare back then was so cold, that she felt a chill all over.
Now, to add to that, Mrs. Oxford, whom she had promised a good job, was not going to spare her for her mistake.
"Miss Kane, answer my question," Claire Oxford demanded.
Christina jolted out of her thoughts and faced the woman in front of her. "Well... the thing is-"
"Charles is approaching us right now," Mrs. Oxford hurriedly said. "Did things not work out?"
Christina could not produce a response. Charles's eyes stayed threateningly on hers as he walked toward them. Never before had she seen him so angry.
She knew then that there was nothing that could get her job or dignity back.
"S- sir..." He ignored her and faced his mother.
"You put her up to it, didn't you?"
"What are you talking about? I don't..."
"Oh please. Come off it. I know you are capable of doing anything to make sure Isabella isn't mine. But this time, you have gone too far."
Mrs. Oxford gave a small unbelieving sound. "Can you be more precise? I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Really? You didn't send Miss Kane to make it seem like I enjoy screwing her?"
Christina watched the woman's reaction closely. Her blank face didn't fail for once. "Miss Kane has always admired you. Perhaps she got frustrated and took an action."
Christina felt her whole system fail. But then, did she expect the woman to admit her crimes?
She scoffed at herself. She must have been crazy. She must have been indeed insane to agree to such a plan that could land her in jail.
"So, Miss Kane did it alone?"
"I have no hand in it, so I guess you could say so," Mrs. Oxford calmly replied.
Charles took one more look at Christina whose head was still trying to calculate how things would be for her from that moment onward.
"If you say so," he said. "I have fired her already. But considering the gravity of her offense, I believe she is yet to receive a suitable punishment. But mother, if I find you being sneaky and trying to get rid of Isabela, you will regret ever involving yourself in my business."
"I..." His mother barely finished her talk when her son walked away. Still wearing a blank look, Mrs. Oxford faced Christina. "You should have done a good job, Christina. Perhaps you'd still have your job."
Christina had no strength to argue or talk back, so she just ducked her head and cursed silently.
And, before the older woman could say one more word, she walked away and prayed within her that Charles's mother would fail in separating Charles and the woman he seemed to love.