Bella gulped. Her mind was whirling in a thousand different thoughts. Lexus' head was dipping slowly and she knew what was coming.
Her eyes closed as she waited in anticipation then she suddenly remembered something.
Lexus found himself flipped over on the bed, with Bella on top. It didn't help his raging emotions, it only intensified it.
Bella closed her eyes and told the lie that she always used to get out of sex with him in her past life. "I'm on my period and I have cramps"
Before she could finish her sentence her face had warmed up more than the weather. Her red ears made her look very adorable to Lexus. Then her words registered.
Bella found herself pinned down one more time. Her face caressed by Lexus' shaky hands. "Did I hurt you? I'm sorry". His hands went down to her tummy and rubbed it.
She was smiling like a cat as he continued his ministrations before she remembered the matter on ground. Her hands held his own and stopped him. His eyes searched hers. She just gave a smile. "Can I be alone?"
As much as he felt sad, he was happy she was opening up to him. "Okay, I'll ask Nanny Blanca to send some medicine for ...um that" his cheeks tinted slightly.
She nodded and laid properly in bed. After he tucked her in he left a kiss on her head then went to get Nanny Blanca.
She jumped out of bed as soon as she heard the fading footsteps. She walked to her walk in closet and knocked twice.
Two heads peeked out. "Hi ma'am" they chorused.
"You heard and saw nothing"
"Yes ma'am" Faye and Henrietta chorused.
Bella went to her door and turned the knob, locking them inside. She was counting her minutes. She had ten to fifteen minutes before Nanny Blanca came up.
She sitted herself on the bed and faced the young ladies in front of her. "Why?"
The single worded question shook the maids to their core. They knew they had to tell her that there was no real reason other than the extra income.
"We're sorry Young Miss" Henrietta said.
Bella nodded her head at her. She seemed like the elder of the two. "Just Miss Bella is fine. No need for extra formalities"
They nodded in unison. Faye's hands were clutching her dress so tightly her knuckles were white.
"I won't tell on you" Bella said softly. Their shoulders obviously slumped in relief. A wicked smile surfaced on Bella's face as she chanted 'pause for effect' in her head. "But", their eyes widened as they didn't see that coming, "you have to work for me instead. You have to tell her only what I say you should. Money isn't a problem, nor security for your families"
She looked deep into Faye's eyes. "I know your mother's life is on the line. I'll have her transferred into a private hospital. Her medical bills will be catered for"
Faye couldn't believe her ears. Her eyes stung with the unshed tears that she had held for a long time. She grabbed Henrietta's hand, because she felt her knees turning to jelly.
Bella uncrossed her legs and moved closer to Henrietta. She went to her drawer and took out a business card. She handed it to her. "That's the card of our family's lawyer. I'll speak a word or two for your brother's release. I know he was framed"
"How...?" Henrietta asked. "How did you know all this?"
Bella's smirk only widened. "Shouldn't the question be 'who framed my brother'? Wouldn't you like to know?" She sat back down and leaned back with her elbows digging into the soft mattress.
Her eyes traveled to the picture on her bedside table. "After all it would be an epic story to tell that she who stretched her hand to help you rise is the same one who pushed you down in the first place"
Their eyes widened and she chuckled. Being reborn was better than expected. She'll have enough minions to take Cassandra down.
"Miss Bella—that's..."
"You don't have to believe me Henri. But think about it. Your righteous, holier than thou brother raping a girl, who just happens to be Cassie's cousin? And she'll convince this so-called cousin to withdraw her charges? Wouldn't a good person want justice? But instead she uses it against her best friend" Bella bats her eyelids to appear pitiful.
"If she really wanted to help, she'd do it for free. Any kindness that's being paid for is worthless" she sits up and turns her eyes away from the picture of that irritable Alan on her table and faces the maids who were already on the floor. She was surprised but tried to rein her expressions.
"Do this for your mother Faye. Wouldn't she want you to do the right thing?" Taking a deep breath she said, "you have till tonight to give me an answer. You may take the rest of the day off. You may leave"
Their scrambled to their feet and walked out very slowly. Once outside her room, they composed themselves before going downstairs. They couldn't believe everything that she said. Especially Henrietta. But deep down they had already made a decision.
Bella resumed her place under her duvet. Her actions today was too brash. She shouldn't have scolded the maids openly. This has to be a covert operation.
Although right now she felt like a don or some mafia boss. She knew that she had won them over. After all, a person's weakness is another's strength.
Cassie used their family members as their weakness. But they were her strengths in winning those two over. Ah, it feels nice to have underdogs.