Chapter 22 ~ Isabella #3
I look up and smile to myself. Who is this man? “No, I’ll be fine.”
He walks to the door and looks back. “I’ll be back in a minute.
I’ll knock first before I come in.” His smile is genuine, wide and showing off those damn dimples.
Those dress pants hug his hard ass, and his thighs are thick as I watch him walk away.
And that butterscotch scent he leaves behind. .. Yum. I shake my head.
What the hell, Izzy? Maybe I’m developing Stockholm syndrome as well as pregnancy hormones.
But to be fair, it was never Alexander’s appearance that was the issue.
It was his need to dominate, demand, and bellow.
His inability to compromise. I’ve only been awake a few hours and already my emotions are playing whiplash.
I dig into the bag and pull out a few pairs of leggings and a couple of sweaters, as well as new underwear and a bra. I slip into the panties and dig the last thing out of the bag; she got me a HP nightgown with the Hogwarts crest on it. Awesome!
I slip that on and gently put my burning toes under the covers and lay down. Who knew having a shower could be so exhausting?
Alexander knocks, and I tell him to come in. He’s carrying a tray, and gently sets it across my lap.
He lifts off the lid, and it’s a simple breakfast. Toast, one egg, hash browns, and lots of sliced fruit. I smile and look up at him. He’s studying my face. As soon as he sees me smile, so does he.
I pick up the fork and stab a strawberry, saying, “You can leave if you have other business to attend to.” I pop the berry into my mouth.
“You are my only business.” I chew, covering my mouth with my hand, and swallow.
Well, that sounds ominous.
“I will only stay till you’re done with breakfast, then I’ll go back to the house. You should call Anna since it’s Friday, I’m assuming she’ll be free to spend the weekend with you.”
My heart jumps. I miss her so much. I take a bite of toast and chew. He shifts his weight to his other leg and back. Waiting for what I don’t know.
“Would you like to sit?” I point with my toast. He smiles and pulls up his pant legs as he sits down, getting comfortable.
“I don’t understand what’s going on here, Alexander.” I tilt my head to the side.
His smile falters, “I’m just keeping you company till you have your breakfast. Did you think I had an ulterior motive?”
I snip out, “With you, there is always an ulterior motive.” Alexander tips his head back and sighs, and even I wince. That was just, wow... mean of me.
I toss my toast down on my plate. “I will not lie and pretend I feel otherwise right now, Alexander. Obviously, I can’t.
My mouth has had a mind of its own lately.
But I will not pretend that I’m happy waking up here because my life in Fargo was what I always wanted.
I loved my job; poor Mrs. Schmidt will be going crazy wondering where I am. ”
“She won’t. I sent Sebastian and Carlos to pack up your apartment and explain everything to her.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Just like that, huh?” I snap my fingers. “So easy for Alexander to decide. Stupid Izzy, she can’t make it in the big bad world, so you’ll step up and be the big protector.”
“I never said that.” His voice lowers, and he glares back at me.
“You don’t have to; you prove it true every time.”
His back goes straight: “What’s that supposed to mean, Isabella?”
Now I’m getting livid and my voice raises, “Are you kidding me right now? You’re kidding me, right?”
“No, I’m not kidding you. I actually don’t even know what you’re mad about, so please explain.” He continues looking at me.
“Holy fuck!” I pick up the breakfast tray and set off to the side of the bed so I can lean up and point in his face.
“I didn’t want to do this shit right now.
I was trying to play nice till you left, and I could sort my thoughts out and be reasonable and have an adult conversation with you.
But you, you butterscotch pudding-smelling asshole!
You have no clue what you’ve done to my life. ”
I can see him trying to hide a smirk, and that just sets me off to nuclear.
“You threatened to kill me, locked me up, forced a marriage on me. Took my job, my friends, I missed it all. I missed the opening at the exhibit. Did you know that? I worked for over a year on that piece. It was my night to show my father and the rest of the world that I wasn’t just a fat lump of shit, that I had a brain.
It was for my Nonno. He taught me to love art.
But no, no! Alexander wanted his toy to stay where he put her. ”
The tears start again. Damn hormones.
His eyes crease at the corners, his mouth gets tight. “You are not my …”
I yell at him now, “Shut up, just shut the fuck up! You started this. I’m going to finish it, and then you can leave.
” I grab a tissue and wipe my nose. “I missed it because of you!” Stabbing my finger in his face.
“I missed it because that night, I knew you were going to kill me, and I would have rather died in that fucken box than spend another day under your psycho mood swing and rules. But here I am again, stuck under your thumb, only this time you’re not going to kill me fast with a bullet.
Oh no, you’re going to slowly suffocate me till there’s nothing left. ”
He sits there stunned and angry, his face white, his hands now clenched into fists.
“Am I wrong, Alexander? Am I so out of my mind, like they want the world to believe that everything I said is a lie? I told you on our wedding day that it was my funeral, no matter how I played it out on the chess board. I was going to die, by your hand or my own.”
Alexander stands up and reaches over me, taking the tray. “Everything you said is true. All but one.”
I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. “And what would that be? Because so far I think I’ve nailed the last 8 months of our relationship.”
Alexander turns and walks to the door; he opens it and stops, looking back at me.
“Call Anna, and you have my number on your phone if you need me. But Isabella, you’re wrong about our wedding day.”
“Oh, and how am I wrong about that?” I snip at him.
His voice wavers, “I meant every vow I said. I will love, honor and cherish you. No matter how much you hate me.” He closes the door and leaves. I toss my pillow at the closed door.
Butterscotch smelling motherfucker!