"Charles wait," Isabella broke the long silence between them and put a stop to her steps as Charles made to open the door to his room.

With worry, he asked, "Is something wrong?"


"No. Well..." Her fingers played with each other as her eyes bore an uncertain look. "Maybe."

His legs changed position and he was gathering her arms into his hold in no time. "What is it Isabella?"

She sighed. "I am just worried about your mother."


"What?" Charles was almost laughing.

"I know she is doing things ridiculously, but I think she is just trying to look out for you. She certainly doesn't want you hurt."


"Isabella..." He stood straighter. "Let me ask you a question. Are you ever going to hurt me?" She felt herself go pale at that question. Guilt coursed through her. "I am not referring to that time Bella, that was in the past."

"Oh... I- I won't hurt you. I won't even dream of it."

"Then my mother has nothing to worry about. I am not going to get hurt. So she has no reason to worry. All that drama she is putting on is unnecessary."

Isabella nodded slowly in understanding. But she still hadn't said her mind. "But-"

"Isabella..."

"Let me talk," she gently said, her hands finding his in the warmest way possible. "You still need to talk to her in a much calmer way. Explain things to her better, help her see she has nothing to worry about."

"You don't know my mother Bella, she won't listen."

"Do you want her to keep pointing fingers at me?" Isabella asked, her eyes communicating a lot more. "I don't want anything to add to my present sorry situation. So please, try to reason with her. I like you too much to lose you again."

"My, my. What is this? Are you falling in love with me all over again?" Charles teased Isabella who looked to the side to hide her smile. Suddenly, her hold on his hand got reversed and he used his grip to bring her closer to him like in the elevator.

"Charles..." she whispered as her eyes met his dancing ones again.

"Let's continue what we started earlier," he said.

Isabella relaxed into his hold and had one of her hands going to his hair that fell back well. "There is a tiny problem Charles," she said after a light sigh.

"What?"

Mischief in her eyes, she leaned towards his ear and said, "I am feeling really sleepy." Then, she winked, left his hold and went into the room.

"Damn you woman." Charles sounded like he was going to do what he wanted anyway. But at the end, all he did was lay beside her, that was enough comfort for the battling woman.

And till she slept, his gaze was all she felt.

~

"Miss Kane, what do you think about it?"

"Ma'am?" Christina could have cleaned her ears if possible. The woman in front of her just proposed a plan.

That was something she did not see coming.

And to top it, the plan was very good. It was harmless too but that didn't mean it wouldn't do the job.

"Are you going to be zoning out a lot? Maybe I should move on to the next woman on my list."

Christina adjusted herself. "Your list?"

Mrs. Oxford gave a light chuckle. "Do you really think you are the only woman I want for my son? The list is very long and if I want to honest, you are the least worthy."

Christina batted her eyelids furiously as she tried to recover from the blunt response. "I uh- The plan will definitely do."

"Good." The older woman flashed her a smile. "Have you gotten the information on Gabriel Manifold?"

"Yes ma'am," Christina replied, sliding the brown folder beneath her hold towards Mrs. Oxford.

Without taking a look at it, Mrs. Oxford asked, "When is the next hearing?"

"Next week."

"Good. We should start our plan before then. Miss Kane?"

"Yes ma'am?"

"Don't mess up, okay? We need to make sure the divorce doesn't happen."

Christina laughed inside her head. Mess up? Her one chance to be with the man of her dreams? Never. "I wouldn't even dream of messing up ma'am."

The woman smirked and finally let her back rest. "Good. We need Isabella Shade out of his life."

"I will do a good job."

Mrs. Oxford gave her a curt nod and instantly wore a look that drove away any form of human contact. Christina knew it was time to leave.

"Good day Mrs. Oxford." She gave her an inaudible response as her phone settled in her palms. Christina's heels pressed into the hard rug and she was about leaving when she recalled something. "Ma'am?"

"What are you still doing here?"

Christina could not afford to show her displeasure at the woman's attitude, so she kept her anger within her fisted hands. "Someone came in earlier to meet Charles."

Her head came up. "Who?"

"His father?"

"His father who?"

Christina found the question ridiculous. Who else would be his father if not her husband? "Mr. Oxford?"

"What? When?" Christina found it odder that she was so shocked at her information.

"Like I said, earlier today."

But the sophisticated woman soon gathered herself and with composure, she said, "That's fine Miss Kane. You may take your leave now."

"Yes ma'am," said Christina whose mind instantly got raided with numerous questions as she walked out of the room.