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

"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.