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

"So, it is basically a hotel?" The fat man asked again.

"She just said..." His partner gave up trying to explain anything to the man who was making light of the little meeting they were having.

And Isabella was trying so hard not to get unduly angry. Her free hand kept tugging at the tablecloth, and at the same time, her smile widened. "Yes, it is a hotel. But a vintage kind of hotel."

"Why would anyone want to stay in such a place?"

"The services offered there are like no other, sir. Everything about the hotel is amazing and magical. Our guests always have a good time."

"If it is so magical, why is it failing?" David Maxwell's secretary gasped with shock at the directedness of his boss. Isabella could feel it, the anger, it had made its way to her chest. Her hold on the cloth became fiercer, it shifted off the table.

Caleb placed his hand over hers to placate her.

"We are working on ways to improve the standards of the hotel. We just have a bit of monetary…"

"Save it, Ms. Shade. Your hotel is a lost cause. The best thing you can do right now is selling it. That's the advice I can give."

'How dare you say such a thing? Do you know how hard I worked to get this company?'

Isabella wanted to cry out, but she maintained that smile. The smile of defeat. The side of her eyes blinking with tears, she looked down and said, "Thank you for your advice sir."

"I wish you the best Ms. Shade." Isabella nodded and looked in the other direction to see if any waiter was in sight. She needed a glass of wine. Actually, a bottle of wine would do the job.

"Mr. Maxwell, can we join you?"

That voice! Isabella felt her body shiver.

No, it could not be him!

Still looking for a waiter to pass by, Isabella resumed squeezing the cloth.

"Mr. Oxford, of course, you can. I am glad you made it today."

"I am glad as well."

No, no. It couldn't be.

A glass of wine found its way to her hand immediately and she faced another gathering that was concentrated at a table.

"So, anything fun going on here?"

"Well, Ms. Shade over here was telling me about her hotel. Ms. Shade," she immediately faced David Maxwell so she could not see the man's face if at all he was who she thought he was, "tell Mr. Oxford here about your place. Maybe he might be able to help."

Isabella shook a little as her head shifted to face this Mr. Oxford.

If she had her way, she could have become invisible at that instant. It really was him. With green orbs staring right into her with a snarky smile beneath them, Isabella noted how much he had changed. He looked huger, more built, more handsome.

"Well, Shades and Cloaks is a vintage hotel. As the name vintage implies, everything about the settings is purely historical."

The side of his mouth had gone up with a smile while she talked. His smile. It always found a way to affect her back then. And at that moment, it was affecting her with even more intensity than before. Why not? Anthony was looking like a complete sex god that women fall in love with without him even trying.

She pinched Caleb lightly for him to take over. As soon as he did, Her eyes traveled to the woman beside him. She was pretty. They suited each other.

Good for him.

Isabella darted her eyes to the side as she began to feel Anthony's stare fall heavily on her as he responded mono-syllabically to Caleb's explanation. She needed to get out of that place. She needed to find a way to regain composure. "Um… please excuse me."

As Isabella walked towards the restroom, she became tempted to look behind to see whether or not he had his eyes on her.

On getting to the restroom, her hand slamming the door hard, Isabella went to the mirror and leaned against the counter, staring at herself. She could read the mixed emotions inside her by just looking at her eyes. Isabella could not afford to have that happen.

Not now. Not ever.

Sighing, she reasoned out her present situation.

Isabella never thought she would be meeting Anthony so soon. She always thought if at all they would meet, it would be when they are old and close to their graves. Her mind picturing the magnificent-looking man, Isabella felt her hands shake a bit.

It really was him.

Gosh! How many years had it been?

Five? Six?

Recalling the circumstances of the past, Isabella shook again. She had done something terrible to him.

Oh, God! Rubbing her forehead, Isabella wondered what she could do. Crazily, explaining the situation that caused her action in the past was not an option she was willing to explore at that moment.

But then, she needed something, anything to help her face him.

A knock came on the bathroom door. "Bella?"

Her eyes widened, and her legs lost their stance. It was him!

He was just outside the bathroom. And… he called her Bella. Anthony was the only one who ever called her that and she loved it whenever he did. His British accent to be thanked, him calling her name always did things to her. It awakened things within her, whether she wanted it to or not.

"Sooner or later, you will come out, Bella and I will be waiting here."

Scanning the exquisite restroom, Isabella saw no potential exit. So, she bade goodbye to her idea of doing the cliché; escaping through the toilet's window.

Finding her stance, Isabella reasoned that it was better she went out. If at all Anthony had not changed, one thing about him is that he never gives up till he gets what he wants. And she knew better than to try to drag the situation at hand.

"Finally." Her eyes evading his own, Isabella resumed walking.

As she expected, he did not allow it. Isabella immediately felt her arm being slightly pulled, next thing, her chest was glued to his huge body, she looked so little in his hold. "I won't allow you to run this time around Bella."