As Isabella entered the lift, she found it hard to shake off Charles's insistent gaze. It almost seemed like it was suggesting something.

"Hi," she simply said as she found her stance beside his tall figure.


"Isabella," he returned, his voice a bit thicker.

The entire space wore awkwardness as she had no idea what to say next. And that was funny, she was certain she had many questions in her head before she pressed the elevator's button.

So, her eyes didn't wander, they stayed glued on her blurred image ahead.


Charles cleared his throat, chasing the silence away. Then, instantly, his arm circled her waist and he drew her closer to his side before she could react.

Startled, she looked up at him and he greeted her with a smirk that stirred something within her. As his hand dug even more into her side in a gentle manner, she asked, her voice trying to hide her slight amusement, "What are you doing Charles?"


"I am keeping you close," came his thick voice again.

"Keeping me close?"

"Close enough so you won't run off again."

A small smile came to her lips and she stylishly looked to the side. He sure did know how to use his words. As her heart kept smiling, Isabella felt his long fingers trace through the material on her body. As her eyes met his again to ask another question, his lips leaned towards her ear and he blew gently on its lobe.

Isabella found herself grabbing the end of his shirt in reaction. That felt so good. And she wanted more already. But she didn't ask for it.

Charles who had no idea what was going on in her head seemed to have ideas that resembled the ones in her head as his other hand went to her buttocks and used a simple push on them to glue her into him.

As she sniffed his intoxicating scent some more, she relished his touch which had traveled to her bare arms. Slowly, he drew strokes that started a kind of flame within her. A flame that assured her of a lot. The kind of flame that she didn't ever want quenched.

"Isabella?" She looked up at the man who had just called her. "Kiss me Isabella." A grin came before she tipped her toes to have her lips properly on his. As she made to make the lip lock a little heated, Charles startled her again and had her back against the cold wall of the elevator within a second.

Eyes looking hungry for something not called a meal, Charles claimed her lips even better and had her shivering a bit as it felt so good.

But that made her question the moment a bit.

Was it all real? Will it be a dream at the end of the day?

Her questions got answered as Charles bit her lower lip gently, a moan coming from her in response. Pushing questions aside, she tilted her head better to enjoy the moment more.

Her hands wrapping around his arms the way they could, Isabella could already picture herself in his arms, naked. She bet it would feel so great and so...

The elevator door snapped open and Isabella instantly jumped. This time, Charles was the startled one.

"Charles." And they had an audience.

"Mother."

The richly dressed woman who decided to opt for broad silk-like pants and a white sleeveless top that was more of net than cotton, did not hide her snicker. "What is this? Has this woman clutched you so much, that you'd risk your image this way?"

"Clutched? " Isabella felt that tension again. It was certainly not the kind to be seen between mother and child. "Mother..." Charles grabbed Isabella's hand. "Stay out of my business."

"I can't." Her arms folded as she watched her son come out of the lift, his hand still entwined in Isabella's. "You are acting recklessly for someone with an image to keep."

"Image? Look around mother, there are certainly no cameras here. No one here cares if I have several billion dollars in assests neither do they care if I am being reckless."

Isabella could sense his mother was not ready to back down. "You never know who is watching. As someone who runs a lot of-"

Charles held a hand up. "Enough mother. Honestly, I am tired of you being so concerned about keeping a nice image and all that bullshit."

"Don't use that kind of word with me boy," she almost growled, her forehead creasing. "I am still your mother."

"Then act like you are. Stop being so against my decisions. If they make you ache so much, please stay out of my business."

A weak laughter came from Mrs. Oxford who couldn't stop tapping her platform shoes against the floor. Her eyes which were traveling to and fro landed on Isabella and she said, "You are doing something."

"Excuse me?" Isabella wondered what she had to say to her again.

Two of her fingers danced ahead of her. "I don't know what it is, but you are doing something to my son. Because I know my Charles is sensible enough to know that a married woman is someone else's"

"Mother, you should stop trying like you know everything. There is a story behind me wanting Isabella and Isabella alone. And I won't tell you." Charles's eyes narrowed before he said, "I won't expect you to understand."

"I don't care. All I know is I won't let you ruin your life this way."

"Stop being stubborn Mother. I am certain at this stage, I know what is good for me and what's not. Isabella..." She looked up at him. "Let's go."

As they walked a little distance, his mother said, "Charles, I won't let you marry her even if it just for show."

Isabella could not ignore Charles's long sigh as he stopped his steps. Not taking a look at his mother, he said, "Correction Mother, I am not marrying Isabella for show. And please, once again, I plead, stay out of my business and focus on more important things, like telling your husband your whereabouts."

Isabella looked back to see Mrs. Oxford's reaction. She was frowning deeply. "What do you mean by that?"

"Good day Mother," Charles said instead, re-held Isabella's hand and walked away, his strides majestic as always.