DAMIEN 65I stretched out on the chair and I switched off my laptop. I heard a knock on the door. I already knew it was my secretary.She walked in and gently locked the door, she walked over and dropped the black file on the table.“Should I inform Mrs Isabella that you are done on my way out?” She asked and I nodded my head. She always knew what I wanted. It would be bad for me if she left the company.“No, don’t worry, I am also done I will go and pick her up when I round up here,” I said as I grabbed the file she came with. I placed it back into one of the cupboards. And looked at her."Bye," I said to her.“Alright goodnight,” She walked out of the door.I rose from my chair and I packed out all the things. I grabbed my phone and my wallet. I knew she was probably working herself out. She always closed later than anybody at the company. I would have to drag her away from her desk myself.I switched off the lights and I walked out of my office with my bag across my shoulder. Th
ISABELLA 66Am I dead? I thought to myself. It was very dark where I was. My eyes refused to open, it was like I was floating somewhere. I suddenly started spinning and I felt like was starting to crash down to the earth. The feeling of falling made me open my eyes.I opened my eyes and I saw a familiar Ceiling. The same stars I put up in Damien’s room. My throat felt very sore. I had been rescued at the last minute. The memory of that dark place became very hazy as if it hadn't happened before. As if it was being forcefully deleted from my memories without my consent.So I will spend the rest of my life in my fake husband’s house?“Isabella,” I heard Damien beside me. “How come I am still breathing?” I croaked. I almost sounded like a bullfrog. I blinked several times and coughed.“Because you are not dead,” He said and he leaned over and grabbed water from his table. It was a bit warm. I sat up and I took down the glass in a second. It didn’t feel like I just got unconscious
ISABELLA 67A few days passed me by and that was when I started to feel better. The angry red scars left behind from my horrifying accident had started to disappear.The end of the month was slowly approaching and there was no sign of Vito. Nathalia, on the other, kept getting nicer and nicer. She even went as far as helping me when I was sick.As much as I wanted to relax and tell myself that she had no bad intentions, I could not help it. Sometimes, I found myself lying wide awake in bed, waiting for her to finally drop the mask and attack me.Who knew? Maybe this was her secret plan all along. To keep playing nice while I laid in bed awake, too worried to close my eyes and go to sleep.I sighed heavily. "Is this my life now?" I asked no one in particular.The security around the building became tighter than ever and inside the house, it was way worse. It was like we were keeping the president’s fragile baby inside the room. The house was lined with men in black. Who never seemed to
ISABELLA 68I ran in an indefinite direction, I just ran where my legs took me. I didn’t know where I was going. I was just moving. My phone was not with me. I couldn’t call Damien to tell him my location. I just ran as fast as I could.My feet pounded against the ground, a desperate rhythm to outrun the encroaching fear. Each step amplifies the ominous presence behind me. Breathless and wild-eyed, I ran, driven by the primal instinct to flee from the unknown that chased relentlessly.I pressed my hands to my chest as I ran. I heard twigs and things snap as I continued to run through. My eyes were getting heavier with tears my heart was beating as fast as my feet were carrying me. I didn’t know what or who was coming for me, I was just told to run away and that was what I was doing. I stopped in my tracks as I tried to catch my breath. My heart was pending in my chest and my head was hurting badly. I suddenly became dizzy from how hard I ran. I was out of breath, I was having an
DAMIEN 69I sat in the middle of the room as I thought back to how she reacted earlier. There was a tracker in the car and the ring she was wearing. At least I could keep track of her in case anything went wrong. I chewed on the bagel in front of me. The soft resistance of the bagel yielded to the rhythmic motion of my jaw. Each bite released a burst of warmth, the slightly chewy texture offering a comforting contrast to the subtle sweetness. The taste unfolded with each mastication, a simple pleasure in the act of savoring the familiar satisfaction of a freshly chewed bagel.My phone beeped in my pocket, I placed it on the table and my tracker app beeped again.I signed into the app and the car was not showing on the radar. I tried her ring and it was not in the same location as the car or the house. She was very far away from it. I tried the driver’s number but his phone was ringing and he wanted to pick me up.A subtle knot tightened in my chest as frustration lingered in the air.
DAMIEN 70We stopped at the avenue as we promised and the cops were already waiting for us. They were all dressed like casual people. Some of them planned on using the house before then to infiltrate the building.Luckily, the house belong to a retired officer. By foot we slowly approached the house. Some of the cops took the other parts and posed as gardeners. We used the surrounding bushes to hide from them. They were about ten men at the door. We could take them down but they were armed. “The other members in the second house already kne the formation, the rest know what to do. Damien I need you to be safe because you will be the one to pull her out of that shit hole and corner Robert. We don’t have even staff. I hope you are as strong as you claim,” Officer Michael said and I nodded. Three men rolled over to the other side, I watched as they tranquillized all the men at the front. They all fell to the floor. It seems like it was going to be easier than I expected. They wa
Isabella 71.I was in a surprised daze through out the ride home. I could not believe what Damien had told me as soon as I was cleared to discharge. How could I be so careless? This changed a lot of things. If our marriage was fake, a baby on the way was the real deal."Are you okay?" Damien asked in a meek fashion as he drove.I did not answer him. For some reason, I was mad at him but I could not figure out why. In truth, we both did not know but it felt easier to blame someone."Just know that I am here and this changes nothing between us," He assured me and yet I said nothing."Say something, Isabella," He implored me softly."I have nothing to say to you right now, Damien, this is just too much for me right now," I snapped at him."This is a good thing, Isabella, and I do not understand why you are so upset," He told me with a confused look etched on his face.I will took a long deep breath."Who kidnapped me?" I asked him pointedly."Robert," He answer
Damien 72.It hurt when those words escaped from her lips. It hurt me more than anything that I ever felt. I took a deep breath as I sat close to her. I do not want a baby. It stung. It had been a dream of mine for a day like this to come.More than anything else, I wanted so badly to be a better father than Vito and I would always strive to be a better father.A knock sounded on the door and I went to get it. It was one of the hired maid. There was a tray of food in her hands. I turned to Isabella."We will talk about this later," I told her and excused her so she could eat alone. I wanted her to get better and also take a short sleep. I had changed from my work clothes as soon as I entered my room.A black Jean with leather boots, a black V-neck tee shirt with a matching leather jacket. I needed to get some things done. Earlier, I had called Officer Michael to see if it was possible to see Robert before he was transferred to Red Gate Penitentiary.I took the