Blackmailing His Runaway Bride by Dance-is-me (carter reed .txt) 📗

Thirteen

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 despite walking away 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 of 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 where a huge deal of her wardrobe lay scattered.

But she was hardly halfway there when a shriek escaped her lips. With bulged eyes and nausea in her system, Isabella took steps back as she struggled to keep conscious.

The sight on her desk was gruesome.

It was not clear what it was, but it seemed to be a crazily mutilated cat. And its eyes... its eyes were staring right into hers as blood flooded everywhere.

Isabella was almost losing her mind, she knew she had to call someone. Only one person came to mind that minute.

Charles.

Luckily her phone was on a chair that stayed far away from where her desk was. Hurriedly, she reached for it.

After two rings, her call was picked up by his secretary.

'Mr. Oxford's office, how may I help you?'

"Uh... hi." She took a deep breath to keep calm. "Can- can I speak with Char... Mr. Oxford? I am Isabella Shade."

'Oh. Mr. Oxford is not around right now. Do you want to leave a message?'

Isabella stole a look at the scene on her desk, and her heart rate become rapid once more. Shaking a bit, she replied to the woman on the other end, "N-no. Never mind. Please forget I called."

Isabella did not miss the scoff that came as a response before the call was cut.

"Are you by any chance calling my office?" Isabella jumped at the voice of her unexpected visitor.

"Charles..." She whispered into the night.

"We should get rid of that mess on your table." He removed his hand from his pocket and approached her. "We both know how much of a dislike you have for cats."

It was then she noticed the tall man that came with Charles. His hat which covered his face well didn't allow her to properly make out his appearance. Without a word, he made for the desk and got down to business.

Charles helped pry her eyes away from the man as his hands held her by the shoulder and walked her outside. When they got to the corridor, Isabella recalled that she was still in her bathrobe and she was naked underneath. She pulled the robe even closer.

As she looked up at Charles, she said, "You remember."

"Remember what?" His hands went off her.

"That I don't like cats." The past they shared came rushing at that minute.

With a small smile on his dashing face which looked especially shiny that night, Charles replied almost dreamily. "How could I forget the reason we got together that summer?"

"That cat practically haunted me, I had to stay glued to your side." Even she had a smile on her face. It couldn't be helped.

"I couldn't complain, you were the best thing that happened to me that summer and..." She could feel his gaze on her. "I am just glad you are okay." Isabella was more than convinced at that moment that she threw away a good life when she left Charles.

But that was in the past. "Thank you for coming to help me."

His hands went behind him. He did that a lot, Isabella noticed. "I just decided to drop by. I was on my way up when I heard your scream."

"I am sorry to be such a bother."

"Do you think it is Gabriel?"

"Maybe." She shrugged.

Charles looked her way again. This time his stare was more intense, it was burning unspoken words into her skin. Failing to resist the urge to meet his gaze, she looked into his green eyes which did not still tear off her.

"What is it?" she asked almost quietly.

He shook his head but still asked seconds later, "Are you fine?"

"Truthfully, no." She looked away, as the hold of his gaze was becoming too much for her. "I feel really tired. I..." A soft bump into his nicely scented chest shut her up and without struggle, she accepted the hug.

"You sound like you need a hug." Her hands went around his waist as she became more comfortable. "Have you thought about my proposal?" She shook her head in negative. "Why? Don't you want to be with me?"

The hug ended there for her. She took a step back. "I don't think I want to be with someone right now."

Isabella watched from the corner of her eyes as he nodded slowly to her response. "You do realize that you need protection right?"

"I can protect myself."

Charles let a light chuckle escape him. "Isabella, look around you, this whole place could be renamed as solitude. You are dangerously alone. Don't be stupid and let me protect you." He reached for her hands and something changed in her. Something softened in her. " Let me be the one to assure you that that ex-husband of yours will not hurt you."

"Hmm." She cleared her throat as words failed to leave her mouth.

Charles's hands went on to cup her cheeks and he brought her face closer to his. "Bella..." she was beginning to feel hot. " I want to wipe off this sad look in your eyes. So, for once don't make a decision you would regret."

"Hmm, Charles?"

"Yeah?"

"I will think about it." His hold left and he had her cheeks feeling nothing but want for the warmth he brought when he touched them earlier.

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