It was too quiet in there. Not that Charles expected chairs to be flying out of the room already, but it was really too quiet. No one would be able to suspect the duo behind the doors are discussing a really intense topic.

Already pacing with restlessness, Charles began to contemplate entering the room already. Isabella wouldn't be surprised if he did it anyway. So he might as well do it. But something told him to stay back for a minute or more.


So he did, restlessness still in his steps. As he decided to take a break from the seemingly endless pacing, he heard a familiar feminine voice call him. "Miss Sands." Her name rolled out of his tongue like it was pure poison.

"Good day Mr. Oxford." Shyly, she stood in front of him, her hands clutching the mini purse in her hand whose off whiteness matched her blue outfit.

"You haven't left." It was taking Charles every nerve within him to not lash out at her. He just couldn't get the image of her being so... sexual with him out of his head at that instant. His hands forming into a fist, he furthered his question with a raise of his brow.


"I uh..." Her thick lashed batted seriously as she seemed to struggle to find a stable stance or even look him straight in the eye. "I decided to take a small vacation to help me gather my thoughts together."

"Hmm." He eyed her. And silence befell them. Not really finding her presence a lovely one or the silence a pleasant one, Charles made to walk away but her voice stopped him.


"I am very sorry sir." Her eyes pleaded seriously. "I must have been so stupid to think I could have you by doing what I did."

Charles scoffed. " You must have really been stupid. And I have got to say, I am really disappointed Miss Kane. Even if you wanted me that much you shouldn't have dreamt of teaming up with my mother. Can you see where that has landed you now?" He frowned deeply as he felt sorry for her situation. "You don't have a job anymore. What are you going to do now?"

"I-"

He did not ask the question to receive a response, so he cut her short. "I wish you all the best Miss Kane. It was nice working with you."

"I feel the same sir." She gave a sigh of defeat. "I will take my leave now."

She gave him one last smile before she walked away, her shoulders looking sagged.

Charles had no time to pity her further as a loud scuffle came from inside the room and without double thoughts, he rushed into the room where he met Isabella standing firmly over Ben who had two chairs sprawled by his side as he shook slightly.

"Bella, what's going on?"

She ignored Charles's concern and approached the man whose eyes were already fluttering. "Why did you do it?" she asked quietly yet threateningly. "Why?"

"I-" The man began to make choking noises and that brought Charles's attention to the syringes around him. They were all used.

"Do you think you can go this way?" She moved even closer. As she squatted in front of him, she clutched the collar of his shirt firmly. "Do you think I will let you go like this after all you have done? Uh?" She screamed and the man soon started to chuckle. " Is this funny to you?" Charles could see her grip was getting tighter. "You freaking killed my father! You drugged him to death!"

He gave some more chuckle which was easily interrupted by fits of cough. "Isa... Your father... he was a big sinner. He deserved it."

" You freaking bastard!" The room grew still as her right arm lifted to a certain angle, ready to deliver a huge blow onto the man's face.

"Isabella..." Charles moved closer to her to prevent her from doing something crazy. The man looked like he was dying already. Her touch could have just finished him and Charles didn't want that. He desired to see the man suffer greatly for his crimes.

"Let's call 911."

As she lowered her hand, her head hung and the room wore silence again. A gasp from the man had Isabella getting up and reaching for his phone in his pocket. Charles watched curiously as she punched some things on the man's phone. When she was done, she placed the device on his heaving chest.

"There..." She sounded so tired. Charles wondered what really happened while he was outside. He also wanted to know how things led to Ben being drugged. "Speak to 911 yourself. If you survive drugging yourself, know that you will never have peace till you leave this life. If you don't..."

She began to take steps back, her tear filled eyes finally visible to Charles. Slowly, she walked out of the room. Charles took one more look at the man in a deplorable state whose mouth kept quivering to form a statement. Then, he went after Isabella who he stopped with his arms coming around her from behind.

As he felt her relax into his hold, he nuzzled her hair with his chin and she let out a small sigh causing him to hug her tighter.

"Anthony..." The way she said his rarely used name made his heart squeeze. He wanted to regret telling her the truth, but it was for the best that she knew and that too on time. "That man killed my father," she said, her voice really shaky.

"And he will pay for it."

"He overdosed my father and watched him die."

Hugging her even closer, Charles realized he had to get them both out of that environment and he had just the idea of where to go. "Isabella?"

"Yes Charles?" She sniffled.

"I want to take you somewhere."

Her head shifted to the side a bit so he could see the tears that managed to fall onto her beautiful face. "Where?"

Caressing her skin, he soon dissolved his hold and he grabbed the woman's hand and walked towards the elevator, determined to make her feel less shitty.