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

Fourteen

Charles smirked to himself as he recalled the last few minutes he spent with Isabella.

Then as he looked out his car window, his excited expression fell. Isabella was toying with his heart and she had no idea.

Damn... that woman had no idea she was torturing him. Marriage aside, all he wanted at that moment was to hold her in his arms, tight. He would love, and protect her with his hold. But she was being reluctant.

As he shifted in his seat, Charles wondered what she faced while she was married to the Manifold guy. It sure was something ugly. It definitely was something that put some kind of fear inside her. Her question earlier sort of gave that out.

That was more reason he wanted her by his side. Charles no longer cared about revenge, he just wanted her to be safe.

In no time, his car stopped and his driver announced their arrival at the hotel.

"Thank you, David." The latter nodded as he waited for Charles to alight so he could go and park the car properly.

A strong breeze hit Charles as he made for the glass entrance and his mind went again to Isabella who he feared wouldn't like being alone on such a chilly night. But she was dancing on a line of choices, there was nothing much he could do.

So, he made his way to his room.

After a long elevator ride, Charles was almost at his destination. But he was soon stopped by the voice of his secretary.

"Mr. Oxford, you are back."

Charles turned to face the woman who was looking relaxed. "Obviously, Miss Kane. Did I get any calls?"

She made a thinking face for some seconds before she said, "No, you did not."

"Hmm." He eyed her quietly. "Miss Kane, whenever Isabella Shade calls, please never fail to direct the call to my line."

"Oh," was all she said.

"Is something unclear?"

"N-no, sir. You have been very clear sir."

"Good. Anything else?"

A finger went up. "Yes, sir. Your mother is around."

"What?" A frown quickly took over his face.

Wasn't he clear enough when he said he didn't want her around?

"She has been waiting in your room for a while now."

"Um, thanks. You may return to your room." Charles groaned inwardly. What on earth was his mother doing coming to meet him? Well, since he was close to his room, he could as well find out.

True to Miss Kane's words, his mother was seated right on his favourite seat like the sophisticated woman she was. "Are you just going to stand there?" she said when their eyes met.

"How is it that you are here, mother?" He flung his coat to his bed and walked toward her.

"What sort of question is that?" She patted her hair. "Can't I decide to see my son and know how he is doing?"

Charles took a seat opposite her and that particular chair was so uncomfortable, that he almost asked his mother to leave the seat that instant, but he held himself. "You could have called."

"I wanted to see your face."

"You are looking at it. Can you please leave now?"

A sigh escaped her lips. She adjusted her animal print coat before asking, "How is your search for a wife?"

"I will let you know how that is going in due time." The irritation in his voice was becoming obvious. He hated the fact that she dropped by unannounced.

"I don't want you to go around making mistakes."

"Why?" His legs crossed. "Are you scared of what your friends would say?"

"No. I am just worried about you. Can you at least appreciate that?"

"Maybe I would if you learned how to respect my privacy."

She sighed again. "I am not wanted here. I will leave you alone. But, know this, I am not going to sit back and watch you marry some cheap woman because of your real father. I will not stay alive to watch that."

Charles clicked his tongue as his eyes leveled with his mother's. "You may take your leave now."

The woman got up and without taking a look back, she left.

Charles got up and walked to his bed. The little thought that wondered what his mother was up to soon derailed as he lay recklessly on his bed and began to think about the woman in his heart.

Damn, he needed that woman in his life. If only she would agree to be his.

If only.

~

Isabella threw an appreciative nod at the quiet man who gave her a thumbs up to signify that he had taken care of the mess.

"Thank you." She said in case he found it rude that she nodded at him.

A heavy Russian accent replied, "It is good that you left your husband, but you have to be careful."

"Uh... Thank you." Isabella wondered how exactly he knew about her, but since he came with Charles, she needed not to rack her head too much. Sometimes Charles worked in a way she couldn't catch up with.

By the time Isabella got her head up from the phone in her hand which she had checked to see if Caleb had texted her, the man was gone. She didn't even get to ask for his name

A strong air flew in and, reminded Isabella of her undressed state. And, since she was not determined to grow goosebumps upon goosebumps, she rushed into her office to get dressed.

The Russian man did a good job on her desk, it was looking as good as new. But the image was still in her head and boy was it ugly.

Hurriedly, she put on some comfortable clothes and got her little bag which she had taken the pain to stuff with some essentials way before she left Gabriel. The bag was proving to be useful after all as she was to spend a few nights at Caleb's.

Things were different already and she just couldn't risk sleeping alone in such a huge place. That was why she called Caleb during the day to come pick her up.

"What the heck, Isa?" Speak of the man in her thoughts. Caleb, who had barged into the room walked up to her holding something white in his hand.

"Caleb, what's wrong?" Isabella searched his angry yet worried face.

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