Chapter 19 ~ Isabella #2
I walk up the stairs and open the door. I close it behind me and stand still beside the wall by the door. Alexander is pacing back and forth in front of the stairs. His suit jacket is open. He has one hand on his hip, the other curved around his mouth as he glares at the floor.
He hears the door click and stops, looking up at me.
I can see it clearly in his silver eyes.
The disdain, the hostility, he’s barely holding back.
He takes a step towards me and I retreat, my back flush against the wall now giving me nowhere to go.
He stops short and pulls his shoulders back, squaring his shoulders as his eyes narrow in on me.
“Go to your room and shower; clean yourself up.” He looks at my body with disgust.
“I’ll see you in my office in one fucken hour.” He turns and walks away, slamming the office door behind him.
I wait for what I don’t know, but I can’t seem to move forward. I look up at the stairs, trying my hardest to move my body. Fresh tears slowly trickle down my face and I wipe them and move towards the stairs. I hold the banister as I take the steps slowly, my legs trembling.
I try to empty my mind and concentrate on taking each step carefully, one at a time so my knees don’t buckle beneath me.
I walk towards my room, my eyes following the intricate pattern on the carpet.
Once I reach my room, the door is already open, so, I go in, slowly closing it behind me.
I head over to the bathroom, dropping my sweater on the floor behind me as I go.
I peel my t-shirt off, dragging my leggings and panties down as I push them to the floor, stepping out of them as I snap off my bra and open the glass door to the shower.
Turning on the tap, adjusting it till it runs hot, then pulling the knob and stepping under the spray.
The hot water hits my skin, and I wince as a million needles pierce like shards of glass on my skin, making my bum burn as the hot water tries to chase away the chill inside me.
As the water soaks my hair, I turn my head and tilt it under the spray.
Squeezing some shampoo into my hand and scrubbing my hair.
I rinse and follow with the conditioner.
Quickly washing the rest of my body, taking care not to irritate my raw bum or my still tender boob.
Leaning back I let the hot water cascade over my body.
The tension slowly drains out of my body and flows down the drain with the soapy water at my feet.
I have gone over every scenario in my head over and over again, and no matter how I play it out, there is no other alternative.
My mind settles as I think of only one way to fix this.
If I can manage to do this right, Alexander will get what he wants, and my father will get the position and power he needs.
And I will finally be free of them all.
I turn off the water and wrap myself in a towel. The steam covers the mirror as I look at the shadowy figure in the reflection in the glass.
Grabbing a hand towel, I dry my hair and then run a brush through it, removing the knots. I head out to my suitcase and dig through it, pulling out clean underwear, my jeans and a long black turtleneck sweater.
My diazepam drops to the floor as I shake out my sweater.
Bending over to pick it up. I stare at it, contemplating taking one.
As I tilt my head to the ceiling, I squeezed the bottle and closed my eyes.
It would be so easy this way, so simple for all of them.
I drop my hand and turn to the bathroom.
Can I do this? Do I really want to go that far?
I go to the bathroom and lift the lid on the toilet. I snap open the cap, pour the bottle in, and flush it. I watch the pills swirl around the bowl and close the lid.
Going back to my bed, where I left my clothes. I put on new underwear and get dressed. I head to the door and look around the room. A wave of sadness washes over me, thinking about all that has happened in my short stay here and all that will.
I sigh as I settle on my decision. It’s the only way I’ll make it, the only chance to let everyone in this twisted game win.
Turning, I close my door. I look over at Alexander’s bedroom door.
Crossing the hall, and put my hand on the cold wooden panel so much like the man himself.
If only it could be another way, or if I was a stronger person.
Someone capable of being the woman he needs me to be, the person he deserves by his side.
My hand slides down the door, and I turn, a tear escaping down my cheek. I swipe at it as I head down the hall to the stairs. As I round the corner to the second landing, Carlos is coming in from parking the car.
He stops and looks up at me, anguish pinching his features. I smiled at him as he fumbled with the keys in his hand. He stands straighter and watches me closely as I approach him, holding my hand out for the keys.
He looks at my face, noting my puffy red-rimmed eyes and swollen lips, then looks back at my hand, his eyebrow arching.
I quietly say, “I’ll take them to him. I have to meet him in his office now.”
“Piccolo.” He breathes as I take the keys from his hand.
I figure, since I already made up my mind, I will switch to Italian out of respect for our heritage. I put my hand on his chest and smile up at him.
“In the short time I’ve known you, you have become a friend to me.” I look around the foyer; “In a world where I have never felt like I had a home, you made me feel that for a brief moment. I just want to thank you for that.” I pat his chest.
Turning, I start toward Alexander’s office door; I take a breath before I turn the handle. I open the door and he is sitting behind his desk scrolling on his computer, his finger flicking up and down softly. He looks up at me; his expression remains the same as earlier.
I walk over to the chair across from him, place the keys on his desk, and sit down, sweeping my damp hair over my shoulder to rest the long length on my lap. I look him squarely in the eyes.
I’m done hiding. I’ve accepted what the fates have determined to be my destiny.
Alexander adjusts his head back, cocking it to the side. His eyebrows slightly crease, and his eyes dart over me, taking in my appearance.
I keep looking him in the eyes, waiting for him to unleash the onslaught of rage he’s been hiding behind his facade of calm.
He clears his throat, putting both hands on the desk and straightening his shoulders to take a deep breath. His tone is bitter.
“You will remain in this house until I return from New York. You will be permitted to leave only under the care of my mother. A bodyguard is to be with you at all times if you are required to go anywhere outside of this house. “
He looks at me, but I just stare at him, no tears streaming down my face, no outburst or a shocked inhale of breath. I maintain eye contact and wait. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
“My mother has scheduled your appointments for the dress fitting. The remainder of the necessities required for the wedding will take place here at my home. Your phone will remain with me till I return. I have also placed a call to your professor. He agreed with me that you would not be going back to work till after the wedding.”
His voice lowers and is laced with more aggression now since he started laying out my life.
“Anna will not be spending the weekend with you, or at any other time, while I am away. She will be allowed to attend the fitting, as well as your sister since I would assume they will be your bridesmaids. I know of no other female friend in your acquaintance. You left your laptop back at the lab in your hasty retreat, so there will be no contact with her until I return.”
My hands tighten their hold on my hair and my heart drops. His eyes drop to my hands, catching the minor stiffening of my body. I loosen my grip, trying to hide the effect his words have on me.
I fight the prick of tears as I fully comprehend what his intentions are now. Isolation and fear.
Little does he know that has been my life since birth.
I expected to be his prisoner to a degree, but I didn’t think he would take away my career.
I didn’t foresee his wrath to this level, but then again, why should I expect anything less?
I’ve made my decision, so I’ll just bide my time, and play by the rules.
He brings his eyes back up to mine, which have never strayed from his silver ones, and a flash of empathy softens his face. But as quickly as it came, it was replaced by the only expression I’ve known since meeting him. Hostility.
He taps his desk lightly with his finger, “The rest of today you will stay in your room. Your meals will be brought up to you.”
He waits for a reaction once more. But I don’t have one. He made the rules clear and I now fully comprehend them. I keep my gaze fixed on the fiery silver in his eyes. He clears his throat once more, his fingers now locked together on the desk.
“I fly out this afternoon and will return for the rehearsal dinner. My mother will arrive tomorrow morning to go over the week’s schedule with you. Sasha is your new bodyguard. We will station her outside your bedroom door and be with you at all times until I return.”
I sit silently as he examines me, looking for my reaction and any slight movement in my body. His features pinch together in question, but I stay perfectly still, only focusing on his eyes.
“Do you understand everything I’m telling you, Isabella?” I quickly nod at him.
He lets out an exasperated sigh, his hands opening wide. “Nothing to say? No tears?” Every word is laced with sarcasm.
I remain still, my eyes locked on his.
And that’s how the next few minutes pass. Staring at each other, waiting. Finally, he leans back in his chair, pointing to the door.
“Go to your room, Isabella. I’ll send Sasha up with your breakfast.”