"Oh sir I'm so greatful our family will be forever indebted to you"Mr Murray embrace Xander "Thank you"
"No it's all okay, she's fine now all yours to dote on but I advice you to go through all I told you about, she's strong but the event had impact on her"Xander expression turn grim.
"Sure Mr Mack, I'll make sure she's okay and will continue to go through the medical..."
"Dad,oh Mr Mack can I have a quick word with you?"Isabelle Murray interrupt "It's gonna be quick "
"Yes, I'll call you later Mr Murray"Xander walk away after sharing a few hugs with the excited father, Isabelle chortle "The media's are going to be swarming at your house,I can stop it"
"It's okay,I envy you, they won't leave you alone"Xander ran his hand through his hair "I'm going to miss everyone, I'll be leaving tomorrow and though I've been anticipating for this day I'm a little bit sad"
"It's natural"
"I don't want to poke into your business but I noticed that you were staring at your watch is anything the problem? you've helped me a lot and if I could be of any help..."She trail off,Xander smile.
"I'm okay, I'm just anxious when I hear your name which is coincidentally my wife name,you don't have to worry about me but thanks" Xander smile fondly "You'll be free soon,relish it"
"I will,is she okay?Can I see her?I want to apologise"
"I'll make sure the meeting happen"Xander promise,she smile and walk away to the car,Xander check his phone for any message and recieved a call instead. "Is she okay?is she with you?"He throw the questions at jakub in a swift.
"Yes,a guy drove her to the mall"Xander mouth twitch "Ian fablan,he helped in calming her down a little"
"Is she upset?"Xander skip the topic with Ian keeping that for later "Have she eaten anything?"
"No,she spotted someone at the mall and that as kept her quiet for a while so I'm not sure if she's upset or not,the required men are here,jed and the other"
"I'll see them later for now focus on my wife, you're good at cooking aren't you?"Jakub groan inwardly "Cook something nice for her, I'll be there soon".
"Sure"
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Thanks Ian"Isabelle said earnestly "I appreciate all this"
"It's nothing ma'am,now that I'm sure you're safe I'll take my leave"Ian dangle his car keys.
"Call me Isabelle it's easy,Jakub thanks for cooperating with me today"Isabelle walk to the parking lot "I'll see you in R&D soon"Ian beam.
"Okay,thanks Isabelle"He wink at the irritated jakub and drove off.
"Ma'am I'll make you something quick"Jakub said as Isabelle sit on the couch "Sir will be..."
"Can I not hear about you boss?you don't need to make me anything I've hands and pola and the other girl will be here tomorrow"
"He instructed me to cook something and I'm sorry I can..."
"As you wish but I won't eat any of it"Isabelle close her eyes "Stop staring at me"
"Okay"Jakub walk to the kitchen "Ma'am should I bring you anything"
"Jakub you're not my maid, I've my hands"Isabelle stress her words and amble to the room.
Isabelle lock the door and bring out a card with a written number,she walk to the curtain and move it to see the window,she press a red bottom and a shatterglass like surface,she press in the numbers and slowly the window flung open, Isabelle grin to herself staring at a dark room,she couldn't believe there's something like this even though Maja showed her the blueprint of the place.
Two particular photo frame stood elegantly on a black glass desk with series of computers,she pick up the frame and trace the baby face of Xander,she heave sadly and put the frame back in place then proceed to run the place down looking for the CD,she didn't believe Xander would really help not after the stunt he made earlier today,she is angry, upset and she doesn't know why, Xander was free to do anything he wants and she too was free and that alone gives her the peace of mind she needed but why is she so upset?.
One..two..three..
The clock ticks familiar to her ears,sending goosebumps into her, she'd spotted the scars...scars from triplicate and still she'd not seen him, she'd not seen anyone,'her mind was playing games with her' She thought and scream in anger, 'NOTHING' a BIG fat NOTHING!!!, Isabelle collapse on the floor.
"The CD,issy that's only what I need from you" She block her ears " I'll hunt you, I'll break you till I get what I want"
"The evidence is all in there,I won't stop the attack on you,I might be your uncle but I'm just as wicked and cruel as your father"
" Let me go....leave me... Isabelle leave, Isabelle go don't let them catch up with you"Isabelle stood up her hands shivering,her body trembling,the sound of a car screech reach her ears,taking one last look at the room she stride to the door and stop spotting something she hasn't, something different, something she'd never noticed,she pick up the frames and gasp,the people are different,looking at it from a different angle you'd think it's the same pics just the background is different but it's all different.
The hair,the eyes,the mouth,the expressions...only the face are alike,gold, black,blue gray,the color swam in taking away her reason to think,she took snaps and put it back in the proper place before running out of the room.
"Isabelle"Xander take a halt in front of the room and peeked in "Isabelle"Isabelle heart skip a beat,she curl her leg on the nearest couch beside the window,Xander figure loomed and just when Isabelle thought he won't stop calling he left,she sigh and close her eyes,she remove a large painting of Debra on the wall and check the pictures to themselves, Isabelle frown checking the pictures on her phone again strangely they were the same,the eyes are no longer different,the changes are no longer there, all she could see is one happy boy and in the portrait a woman full of life "There you are" Isabelle phone fall from her hand,she gasp clutching her chest "I'm..."
"Why won't you leave me alone?"Isabelle shrieked overcome by anger " Go to your woman and leave me alone" She put the portrait back in place,kick her phone away and stomp out of the room,Xander pick it up and put it on the bed before going after her.
"Isabelle will you..." He crouch beside Isabelle when she sit on the armchair "I didn't sleep with her"
"I don't care whether you do,your life is your life my life is mine"Xander Adam Apple Bob,he scratch the back of his neck clenching his jaw.
"Is that what you think?that low of me?"
" I don't expect anything good from you" Isabelle look away knowing her words are harsh but the anger in her right now could behead him so she focus on other things than to look into than pain stricken face,Xander pause his lips taking a stride back to the room,Isabelle bury her face in the pillows.
~~~~~~~~
"Issy"Isabelle heard her name outside of a house built with woods and in the center of a narrow street"Issy"She came out to see whoever is calling her and gulp.
"Katy"She called in surprise,a man holding both her tied hands glance at her with a grin, Isabelle ran back,the man kick Katy in the stomach and ran after her, Isabelle fell rolling on the ground like a tossed meat,she stood up immediately but the hands were already in her throat,the man lift her up by the throat and drag her to where the weak Katy is,he pick up the gun beside her and point it at Isabelle "I don't know anything,I didn't do anything"She scream.
"Your existence is a curse morella,a curse"And the bullet went off, Isabelle gasp waking up,she glance around and noted she's still on the armchair and jakub as finished making dinner,he look up at her startled as she is.
"Are you alright madam?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm alright"Her heart jump out of it's compartment when the doorbell rang "What,what..."
"Should I get you anything?"Jakub ask in concern, Isabelle shake her head and ran to the door, she open it and almost fell unconscious right there,Katy grin and lift the carton of the fast-food she ordered.
"Didn't expect to see me so soon?"Katy frown waiting for an invite to come in "Aren't you hungry issy?"Isabelle mouth quiver,she look at katy quizzically unable to form a word "It's okay I'll just drop it"
"No, no come in, it's late"Isabelle gather her wits and sit on the couch her hands on her knee,Katy noticed the strange reaction and open her mouth to ask what's wrong when Isabelle spoke "You're not leaving tonight right?"
"If you want me to stay"Katy beam "I brought you what you needed,the sandwiches and... I'm not a good cook infact I'm horrible so I ordered everything, I'll dish it out... Isabelle is something the matter?"
"No,no,not at all"Isabelle stutter "Not at all"She repeated hoping to reassure herself but it helped a little.
Xander stare in daze at his laptop unwilling to work,he press his lips into thin line then lean and rub his temple,he felt bad to see her in that state because he himself has been in that same state, he'd seen a lot of people go through that but his was different,he really did have a normal discussion about Gary to his ex,he knew she is uninterested and never going back to him but her strange persistent to know where he is had choked him.
If Gary had been someone else he would've gotten rid of her a long time ago but whenever he try to set the lines the still in love ex interferes,telling him she's going to leave and yes she did left,left him alone,gave him back his peace,made him stop thinking about his mistake of ever meeting her but now she's back,just one single day of her appearance had jeopardize his well laid plan,the death certificate is almost done and more than anything he wants to set Isabelle mind to something different,he wants to change her mind about the divorce but the ox of a woman....Xander frown a bit staring at his mother portrait.
Nothing is different but seeing it in Isabelle hand confuses him, Isabelle,from the time she came back into his life or rather the time he came back into her life she'd always avoided staring at him or any portrait of his mother's in the face 'Sometimes the guilt in us won't let us move forward' she'd explained one night but he doesn't see any connection with his mom and her guilt,yes! she'd been there when his mother died but that doesn't mean she was the cause,only few knows why she was in the car that day,even he doesn't know what took her attention so hard that she as to leave in the middle of the night.
Does she know something?Xander shook his head and dial his grandfather number,he was wrong not in his accusations but the one he threw at her in the car, he'd blow her in the gut by being discreet with Zuzzana and his outburst had invoked a new feeling of doubt in her,Xander glance at the exclusive window beside the corner of the room and tilt his head noticing the curtains are up a little.
"Son,Gary is improving greatly if that's what you want to ask about"Grandpa mack spoke softly "I'll be leaving soon"
"Sasha wedding is fast approaching,why don't you stay? Grandma will come here too you don't have to go to her when she whines"
"Don't let her hear those words from you, I'll go back them travel back here with them all in a day or two"Xander massage his brows "You didn't come to see your friend"
"I'll come there tomorrow,just been pretty occupied,Grandpa you were telling me about something...about Aunt"
"I need rest Xander,why don't we talk about it when you visit?you can bring your wife along with you"Grandpa mack utter.
"If only you're me right now"
"Why boy?what happened?got into a big fight again?Can you two ever agree to one thing without first tearing your head off, I'm sure it's about the doctor,you didn't tell him you arrived"Xander close his eyes.
"I did Grandpa, it's about Zuzzana"There was a long silence at the other end of the phone "Not you too"
"When did she arrive?"
"A week ago,Gary is crazy about her and as much as I hate her I love Gary,and you know how the guy is once I snap her head off he falls to the ground dead and it pains me the crazy lady knows"Xander sigh "I liked her and that's the truth,she was sexy and beautiful a substitute for Isabelle but that died a long time ago,I can see the reality now"
"We'll talk tomorrow Xander,your grandma is calling,take care of yourself"The call disconnected,Xander throw it on the desk and look at the window again,he always as a private sturdy or private rooms in his house for privacy and protection of property and no one has ever found out,but why does he feel his achievement in keeping all this to himself is gone,his mouth slightly open when he glance at the computer showing the CCTV cameras in the room.
Isabelle smirk her lips together and twirl in front of the mirror showing off her tight short wrapped skirt and blouse, katy laugh from the other side holding out a package,she and Katy had more than bonded over the weeks to Isabelle at first it's practically because of her nightmare and the eye opening that something might happen to her but it changed,Katy niceness made Isabelle warm towards her.
"You look gorgeous Isabelle but you're gonna be late on your first day at work"
"I want to look smitten"She remove the content in the package and her pupils dilated "What?"She remove a maxi top and white trouser and scream "I asked for a dress"Isabelle curse Maja inwardly.
"That's kind of great but I wonder why you can't wear the ones in your closet"Katy check the maxi top "It's gonna be awesome on you"
"I'll learn to manage,I must"She put the contents back in the package hiding a small kitty book quickly before Katy could see it "Now let's go,hope your boss won't bite your ear off "Katy lower her gaze her heart suddenly heavy with the remark.
"It's been a week issy"Isabelle grin and gait out of the room "When will you two talk to each other?"
"I'm not going to lower myself to talk to him when I know I'm not at fault,you say talk?,how can I talk to a person who for example isn't at home 6:30 in the morning,you must believe me Katy I tried to appease your boss"Isabelle smile widen when she see jed and Sebastian her new bodyguards though she doesn't like them because she hated being monitored but they've been more than supportive listening to her and her rant and that's what she needs someone who as the ears to listen.
"Good morning ma'am"Jed open the car while the Sebastian open the other for katy "Ms. Katy"
"Morning Jed and you too seb"Isabelle enter the car with her pouted face.
"Hi "Katy breath out and glance at Isabelle "You really aren't trying "
"Who tells you that?"Isabelle said nonchalantly realizing her lies had been figured out.
"You said that in your first statement, it's none of my concern I know but the way Xander behaves is now..."
"That's not my fault"Isabelle cut in "Not my fault at all"
"Why are you two at loggerheads?what could make such a nice couple as you decide not to talk to each other again"Isabelle sneer and scoff then snigger,katy exhale.
"Nothing,we realized that we should stay away besides this will be over soon,Katy relax you're best at reining his temper just keep doing the good work"Isabelle continue to laugh.
Jeremy Marek suck back his anger when he saw Isabelle striding towards him,a smile reform his facial expression as he talk to the Account management "Make sure everything is in order and I mean this month sales,got it?"
"Yes sir"They chorused.
"Now let's welcome our new CEO"Jeremy said,the employees heart all sank, they'd heard the news that there was going to be someone else, someone believed to have the support of their 'meticulous boss' as they dubbed Xander but they never expect it to happen so soon.
"Ms. Isabelle"Jeremy stretch his hand for a handshake, Isabelle take it with a smile and laugh when he led her to the elevator "What can I say about your beauty miss!!"
"Well anything can be said about it but right now we both have to be serious"Jeremy drop his smile.