What was he up to?

Isobella’s POV

The next time I heard footsteps, I turned swiftly and to my surprise, it was the lady who had ushered me in earlier. 

"Did I scare you?" She asked, her face masked with worry. 

"Uhm… I'm fine." I replied, wiping the seat off my brow. She kept staring at me for a while before a smile crept to her lips. 

"Come with me. Your room is ready." Shs said invitingly. I nodded then began to trail after her. A few minutes later, we were standing in a large hallway which had about six doors— four on one side then two on the other side. 

"Ma'am…" I called. 

"You don't have to address me formally,ma'am. Just call me Zoey." She replied, still wearing her smile. 

"Alright, I'm Isobella but you can call me Bella." 

"Yeah. This way." She said. We walked a bit further before coming to a halt in front of a door. 

"This is your room. When you have freshened up, you come down for dinner. I made a sumptuous meal for you." She didn't allow me to respond before she turned around and scurried away leaving my tastebuds to water because I was very hungry.

Gripping my phone, I lowered myself on the foot of the queen sized bed which was unbelievably soft and comfy. I stretched out my arms to either side of me as a soft groan escaped my lips. A shrill tune pierced my thoughts almost immediately notifying me that I had a call. It was Jhena.

"Mrs. Artemis." She called merrily on the other end. 

"Stop it, you are mocking me." I scowled, creasing my brow in distraught. I really wished I could turn back the hands of the clock — heavens knew I wouldn't have visited dad when he asked me to but now, it was too late.

"I should be the one using that tone considering the fact that you betrayed me." She replied with my earlier tone and I could already imagine the scowl on her face. 

"Jhena you got to believe me. I had no idea about the whole thing until I got home. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I'm married. It's as if I'm dreaming right now." 

"It's a pity that your husband turns out to be Artemis, the famous playboy. I hope he changes now that he is married." I didn't respond, hence inviting silence into our midst. 

"Are you still there?" She asked a few minutes later. 

"Yeah. Why about Brady? Is he alright?" I asked, holding my breath in anticipation of her response. 

"He can't be alright. Place yourself in his shoes and tell me if you would be." She retorted. 

“Please Jhena, can you stop sounding as if it is all my idea? My father apparently sold me out to Artemis to pay off his debts. Everything that happened wasn't my fault." 

"I understand. I just wanted you to understand how Brady is feeling right now. I'm also at fault you know." 

"How? Don't say that, I'm the one to be blamed."

"If I hadn't brought Brady along, he wouldn't have found out." 

"Then what happens when he does? Hell will be let loose when he does. Thanks for bringing him along." I was being sincere. We continued chatting for a pretty long time and I decided to use the opportunity to inform her about the lady from earlier. 

"You need to leave as soon as possible, otherwise you will be brought out as a corpse. What was Artemis thinking? Bringing in a wife when he already had a mistress? That's absurd." 

"So what do you suggest I do?" I asked.

"Run away before it becomes too late."

Before I could find my tongue to reply, I heard a knock on my door and moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Zoey at the other end. 

"Aren't you coming down for dinner? I don't want you to eat when the food is already cold." She said. 

"A minute please." I replied and she closed the door. 

"I will call you in half an hour." I said then hung up. 

For the first time since I got into the room, I allowed my eyes to wander around my queen-like bedroom. The whole set up screamed wealth and elegance. 

Still exploring the room, I allowed my eyes to linger on the built-in wardrobe and with well calculated footsteps, I walked towards the furniture. 

Flinging the door open, I was left in awe with the clothes and accessories it contained. It was as if he had been expecting a bride in his home all these while. 

"But I don't love him. I wonder how I'm going to cope living here." I groaned. I really wished mom was here to save me. 

The moment I heard footsteps, I dashed into the bathroom then banged the door shut. I didn't want Zoey to see me in the room doing nothing. 

While waiting for the owner of the feet to leave, I began to take in the view of the bathroom which was the size of my former room. The bathroom was spick and span, not only that, everything was in place. 

"It wouldn't be bad if I take a bath now." I mumbled, rubbing the soap against my skin. 

After a warm bath, I wrapped myself with the large white towel which was hanging on the rail after which I stepped out of the bathroom. I had barely taken a step into the room when I saw an intimidating figure staring back at me. I blinked my eyes to confirm who it was. It was the lady who had threatened me.

"You didn't leave?" She asked, interrupting my thoughts, with hands across her chest. 

"Wh-who are you?” I stuttered while praying that someone came in to save me. I was tired.

"I'm Natasha Lewis, Artemis' fiancé." She announced, stamping her feet against the floor to drive home her point. 

"Now that you know who I am, get your filthy self out of this mansion this very minute." When I didn't budge or even act as if she had spoken to me, she stormed towards me then grabbed my arm making me wince in pain. It was at this moment that the door flung open and Zoey walked in. 

"No wonder you didn't hear when I knocked." She mumbled, drying her hands against the apron she was wearing. 

"What are you doing here?" Natasha asked, loosening her grip on my arm. 

"I should be the one asking you that. Before my boss left for work this morning, he asked you to leave and never return." Zoey retorted. 

I darted my eyes between them in confusion. What was going on?

"You know about this right?" Natasha asked after a while. 

"About what? Please leave from here. I don't want my boss to return home after a long day only to see you still loitering about." Zoey scoffed. 

"Don't you dare talk to me in that manner, do you know who I am? Go around and ask about the Lewis family, I am the heiress…"

"And? You are the heiress that's the more reason why you need to respect yourself and leave now." Zoey interrupted. Of course, she was no match for Natasha. 

"What exactly is going on here?" Artemis’ familiar voice rang through the room sending shivers through me.

"Welcome sir. I stumbled into Natasha harassing Bella, I'm sorry." Zoey curtsied with a little bow. 

"Natasha?" He asked with a raised brow, darting his eyes around the room until his eyes settled on Natasha who was fuming with rage. 

"What are you still doing here?" He asked. Though he didn't yell, the echo was enough to put fear into someone. 

"But…"

"As you can see, I'm married now. Moreover, we had called off our relationship several weeks ago." He interrupted, loosening his tie. 

"Married? But you left this morning unmarried." She scoffed, her expression showing disbelief. 

"That's how it always happens." 

"So, you have been seeing some nitwit behind my back.” She scowled and yanked at my hair hard causing me to squeal in pain.

"What do you think you are doing?" Artemis covered the distance between us. He pulled her hand away and shielded me from her hateful gaze.

"Isn't it clear? Sending this nitwit back to where she belongs." She yelled, trying to come back to me but he pushed her away. 

"One more step from you, Tasha and you will find yourself dumped outside. Not only that…" he pulled her close to himself then whispered something into her ears. 

Whatever he has said to her must be very serious because her facial expression changed almost immediately as she veered backwards. I really wished he was audible. 

"Artemis please, please forgive me, I can't do without you." She cried, falling on her knees. 

"You were doing just fine before you crept into my life. You can still creep out and do just well." He scoffed and with his briefcase in his hand, he turned to leave only to turn around seconds later.

"Zoey." He called. 

"Sir." 

"Show her the way out." He said, using the tip of his fingers to scratch the bridge of his pointed nose. 

"Yes sir." She replied. With a smirk on her lips, she walked up to Natasha who was still on her knees. 

"You heard my boss." 

"Don't touch me." Natasha snapped. 

"That's only if you do as my boss says." She replied, scrunching her nose. 

After one last look at me, Natasha stormed out of the room with Zoey trailing behind her. With the two gone, I was left with Artemis who was gazing at the wall. 

"Did she hurt you?" He asked with a coy smile a few seconds later. 

"No, thank you." I said, eyes fixed on the floor. I was scared of having eye contact with him. 

Moments later, he began to make his way towards me as he flinged his briefcase in his hands. Unable to look back at him, I pressed myself tightly against the wall. 

"What? Are you scared of me?" He asked, grabbing my chin. 

"No." I gulped in response, my eyes tightly shut as his hot breath fanned my sweaty face. No doubt, his face was just a few inches away from mine. 

What was he up to? — that was the only question on my mind.