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

Forty Four

After a two-hour meeting with some folks who had ideas to improve things in one of his many acquired companies, Charles closed the laptop in front of him.

Then, he caught a glimpse of the silver band on his fourth finger.

Charles felt like he was still in a dream. But he was glad that he wasn't. 

He was glad that he was finally married to the woman who occupied his mind ever since he first met her during his company’s annual boat cruise. 

As a lucky winner of one of the few tickets given out that period, Isabella joined the cruise with the aim of letting loose. And after so many glances in her direction, Charles could tell that she was making good use of the sea view to feel relaxed.

Without knowing her personally, he could tell she was a quiet person. 

But Isabella wasn’t so quiet when he walked up to her. Perhaps it was because of the effect he had on ladies, he wasn’t sure. 

But Charles thanked whatever made Isabella open to him when he walked up to her.

Within a short period of time, they had gotten closer and Charles's mind wouldn't stop thinking about her. So many times, he caught himself imagining what she would look like in his bed. And, sometimes, he just wanted to know how she would look in one of his shirts.

Apparently, Isabella felt the same way. So much so that she did not mind him being the first man inside her. 

Charles, who never forgot that fact, smiled to himself. 

Then, he went back to the wonderful replay of his memories.

After three weeks, the cruise ended but their story had just started. While Isabella worked in a small company as a temp, she kept searching for a much more reliable job. Charles on the other hand was ensuring the increase of his father’s wealth, and at the same time, he worked for himself in order to be independent of his father. 

But time and distance never stopped them. 

Whenever he could, Charles would travel to where she was and within small, yet precious time, they would have had lots of laughter over ordered meals and wine. After, they always ended up in her little bed.

Charles never ceased to wonder how the bed never broke after the many sizzling moments they shared.

That routine was repeated for about five or six months until Isabella changed the timetable. This time, she was the one that came to him and three days after her visit, he asked her to marry him. 

Isabella was much more eager than him about the wedding after she accepted his proposal. She almost successfully changed his mind about having a simple, quiet joining at the cathedral not so far from his abode. After she gave in to his cathedral plan though grudgingly, all that was left was the d-day’s arrival. 

Nervous to his bones, Charles had arrived at the venue, but little did he know that he would be waiting for a really long time. And little did he know that the wedding night they had both envisioned would never happen… 

Something dropped onto the floor and the flashback ended. As Charles sighed and picked up the pen from the floor, he realized he was yet to see that sparkle Isabella used to have in the past.

That sparkle always perked him up even on bad days. 

Well, Charles had very good plans to restore that which was missing from her life. 

Gathering his belongings, Charles soon walked out of the room. 

And as he walked, his thoughts raced. 

He knew he couldn’t kid himself.

 His plans to starve Bella of his intense touch were beginning to affect him. 

And, the state in which they slept the previous night didn’t help matters at all.

 But that didn’t mean he was no longer intent on making her pay for leaving him. 

It was only a matter of time. She would soon be screaming his name when he shows her that she is his and his only.

Isabella was going to experience being with a man in a much more different way and when he’s done, she’ll barely have the strength to even walk away from him talk less run.

Charles felt his body twitch as a naked image of Isabella flashed in his mind. A small groan followed as his eyes struggled to stay open. 

There was really no doubt, his plans were starting to affect him.

But Charles knew he had no intention to be hasty. He was going to have fun starving her of his mere touch. Then, when she least expects, he would act and remind her that he would never let her go.

After a few minutes, as Charles approached the entrance to his room, he noticed Isabella dragging her feet into the house, a distant look on her face. Wondering what could be on her mind that she didn’t notice him, he called out to her with his deep voice.

“Charles,” she mouthed from where she was and a small smile followed. 

He could tell it was fake.

“What is wrong?” he asked as he rushed to her side.

“Gabriel…” Charles instantly felt anger rise within him at the mention of that name. “He called me.” Charles wished to burst but soothing his woman was a priority. So he pushed the urge to strangle Gabriel aside. Isabella looked up at him. “He is coming for me."

“No, he is not,” Charles strongly retorted.

“He said it.” Isabella threw her hands into the air tiredly. ”He said he is watching me, he said he will be back for me.” Charles could smell fear all over her and he hated Manifold more. 

No matter what anyone says, Charles was certain that Manifold did things during the damn marriage. Things that broke his woman.

“Bella,” Charles called and pulled her into his chest. As her hands went around him, he combed through her hair gently. “Gabriel won’t be coming for you. I won’t let him.”

“But-"

Charles hugged her tighter. “He won’t lay a hand on you, I promise you.”

“But he’d want to hurt you.” Distress took over her face as she looked up at him. “I don’t want you to get hurt. Not because of me.”

‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‍