Blackmailing His Runaway Bride by Dance-is-me (free biff chip and kipper ebooks .txt) 📕

Though Charles was oddly amused, the audacity of the man who was supposedly his biological father certainly couldn't be ignored. 

And the fact that Rodrigo could let his men point their guns at Isabella angered him. 

Though the men had left the room, he was still angry. He didn't want Isabella to be exposed to such things. 

Charles knew he had to act fast and get them both out of there without Rodrigo Ordinaz getting anything from him.

 He stole a look at his father who was still wearing a large grin. 

Charles realized that his mother was right. Rodrigo Ordninaz was not a man with good intentions.

 But that truth failed to sadden Charles. He had already sort of believed his mother's many statements about Ordinaz, so he wasn't too surprised.

But the part he didn't see coming was the part where his real father openly said he wanted to use his company and that of his wife as some kind of leverage.

"Are you going to sit down or not?" Ordinaz asked, an impatient smirk now etched in his bold face.

Charles, who had planned a means of escape earlier, swiftly pressed the emergency button attached to his shirt.

Thankfully no search was conducted when they were entering the house, so that device wasn't sniffed out.

 After pressing the small button numerous times, Charles became assured that Augustus would show up. Besides, Augustus was not a man who would fail to keep his word.

Looking calm, Charles pulled Isabella closer to his side. With a certain gloat on his face, he faced Ordinaz who snickered in reaction. Once Charles silently ascertained his dominance, he asked, "Do you think I will be willing to give you a fraction of what I have worked so hard for?" 

"We should sit down and discuss this."

"I have been sitting all day, Rodrigo Ordinaz. I am fine this way."

Ordinaz's short legs danced a bit. It seemed as though the man would begin to pace the room but a few seconds later, his legs stopped shaking. Rodrigo crossed his arms and heaved a deep sigh. "You are never going to call me father, are you?"

"There is someone else in my life who deserves to be called father."

"If your mother hadn't run away..." The man's voice approached sobriety and Charles, who wasn't counting on listening to the story of his life, interrupted him.

 "I am genuinely not surprised that she ran away. And I don't care how that made you feel. All I want right now is to go back to my home. I have seen and heard enough." 

Charles was making sure to give off his intimidating tone and though subtle, it was evident that Ordinaz was gradually realizing that he was not in a position to force things.

"Like I said..." Rodrigo took a sharp breath. "You can't go anywhere. Any wrong move and the men outside will react."

" Isn't it thuggish of you to be willing to kill your son because he doesn't want to ally with you?"

" Oh, Lord!" Rodrigo smacked his face and dragged his palms down the length of his face. "Charles," when their eyes met again, Charles saw evil in his eyes, " I would not have to think of killing you if you agree to my terms. For goodness sake, I helped you get united with the woman you love. Certainly, I should get something for that."

Charles caught a glimpse of Augustus who was already sneaking behind Ordinaz with quiet steps. He smirked and said, "Hmm. I think it's time for me to leave. It was nice to meet you, Rodrigo Ordinaz. But I can't work with someone as entitled and manipulating as you. I have a lot to protect and I feel you will ruin them for me."

"What are you doing trying to leave?" Ordinaz threatened with a thunderous voice as Charles grabbed Isabella's hand and had them facing the entrance again. "Stop them! Who is at the entrance?" he bellowed. On cue, the doors flew open and two seemingly lifeless bodies fell on top of each other onto the floor. Ordinaz sounded startled. "Wh- what is going on out there? I want-"

"Shut up," Augustus's solid voice ordered the man and he surprisingly obeyed.

Charles then turned, his entire face wrinkled into a smile of satisfaction. After making sure his father's attention was on him, he said, "Rodrigo Ordinaz, don't try to do anything funny to my family or trust me, I'll show you that I am mightier than you. Augustus, let's go."

"Okay, this is not related, but that was so sexy," Isabella blurted and Charles chuckled in agreement. "But, I can't believe that just happened," she continued as they walked past some more suited men who could do nothing but stare confusedly while they walked past. "Your real father is something."

"Hmm." His hand left hers and went on to snuggle her shoulder closer into his wanting heat. "I am glad I won't be seeing him again. All I want to do now is go home and relax with you."

Charles was aware of how cheesy he sounded.

 Normally, most people won't get to see him that way. In fact, they would be surprised to see the ever-stone-faced Mr. Oxford smiling and acting like a teenage lover boy.

But one could safely say that Isabella made him that way. And he really didn't mind.

"Uh...sir?" Augustus cut through Charles's thoughts. "There is an issue."

"What's that?"

"Apparently..." His eyes darted to the side for a second, his action rousing Charles's curiosity. "There was a blast and your house was uhm... blown up?"

Charles frowned at the uncertainty in Augustus's voice and then the furrow on his forehead deepened when the statement settled in his brain. "Did you just say, blown up?"

Augustus gave a curt nod, his hat following the motion and Charles looked down at Isabella who looked distraught already.

"Who did it?"

"The men believe it was Gabriel."

" Gabriel," Charles said that name like it was poison and he became instantly eager to tear the man apart. "Where is he?"